Hi Jerry,
Thanks for the additional information. I've been reading many of your explanations of the interworking of the si5351 with interest. Especially the tidbit about it using a variable delay line to implement non-integer dividers.?
Tom, wb6b
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Re: New VK4PLN Audio Daughter Board + BCI
Hi.
I'm thinking I'll make the board so it reaches all the way to the LPF relays.
One end is supported by the connector and then you can just glue a couple of 12mm stand offs on the first and last relay for the board to screw to.
Ill leaver the extra area blank for prototyping...
What would be best in the area? Me-Squares? or Through holes?
Thanks for the feedback.
73, Nick VK4PLN
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Sounds like the CEC firmware uses about the same math as the stock uBitx code: ? ?? /g/BITX20/message/37973What calibration does is to set the value of si5351bx_vcoa This is the frequency of the nominally 875mhz? oscillator inside the si5351 that is locked to the 25mhz reference crystal. So if if it is being adjusted in steps of 8750, that's in increments of 10 parts per million. As the value of si5351bx_vcoa is moved, the clk0,1,2 outputs from the si5351 get adjusted proportionally on any subsequent calls to si5351bx_setfreq() ? With an operating frequency of 7.0 mhz, each increment in that "calibration number" of 10ppm would move it by 70 hz. At 30mhz, the shift per calibration number increment is 300hz. Jerry
On Wed, May 30, 2018 at 09:11 pm, Tom, wb6b wrote:
I only know about the CEC firmware. In that case it is the offset of the 25mhz crystal. The calibration number would be 0 if the 25mhz crystal was exactly correct.
If you use the CEC uBITX Manager, the master calibration number, in the Manager, is the calibration number you zero beat on times 8,750. So, the Master Calibration can vary from zero to large values. In my case I zero beat at 18, so 18 x 8,750 = 157,500.
[For sake of completeness, I'll add that in my case the "USB Calibration" sounded best at at 11,995,655.]
?
Also, I discovered you need to turn the power off to the uBITX and back on after each attempt to calibrate. (If connected, be sure to disconnect the USB cable, too, to remove that source of power to the processor.) Otherwise, the calibration (I think it is the value of the second LO frequency) shifts farther away from center each time you repeat the calibration step.?
The calibration steps appear to be 10hz with the CEC firmware. It may be different with the factory firmware.
Tom, wb6b
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Need Clarification on uBitx v. 4 Schematic
Regarding the new version 4 schematic:
Do new components Q942 and Q952 connect in parallel with the IRF510's as per schematic or
are?the RD15HV's meant to be used as an?alternative to the IRF510's?
Thanks,
Mike
-Mike
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The standard 8-way looms are colored per resistor code, 0 - 7. These correspond to pins 1 - 8 then 9 - 16. Smaller connectors similarly color 0? onward for numbers 1 up. I don't have a ubitx so I can't comment on labelling, but I presume a close relationship to the bitx-40.
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Sorry, disregard. ubitx doesn't use the wiring looms. my bad ... :(
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Re: SDR as Waterfall display
So I¡¯ve actually done this¡ I used this SDR:? ?? which tunes down to 24 MHz.? I tapped into the uBITx IF at TP14 on the rev4 schematic¡ before the 45 MHz roofing filter so the IF spectrum is still wide banded¡ used a 5pf cap as not to load the IF.? I ran that into an IF amplifier made from a MC1350P circuit for 45 MHz right out of the app note.? The response from 1-30 MHz is not flat, so I took an analog pin from the Arduino to set the AGC on the MC1350P and developed a table that generates an AGC voltage for each band as selected that is calibrated basis a known input signal to give dBm on the waterfall.? The software I used for the spectrum display is Freq-show from here: .? It works very well.? I will post a video when my ubitx is back together (currently adding¡ yes¡ a ¡°second¡± receiver¡ ohhhhh!).? I¡¯m not an expert coder, but once this Python app can be coded into the Teensy, I think we have an all-in-one solution!
?
?
Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ
?
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ralph Mowery
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2018 2:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] SDR as Waterfall display
?
I have not tried it,but from the circuit description the first conversion is at 45 MHz.? I would try laying a short insulated wire near Q10.? You may even be able to tap off the emitter of q12 with a low value capacitor.?
Then tune the SDR ( I assume we are talking the about $ 15 TV dongle, but does not matter)? to around 45 MHz.??
There may be more out now, but the two that I bought a number of years ago, one goes from about 25 MHz up and the other starts at 50 some MHz.
?
?
On Wed, May 30, 2018 at 3:06 PM, brad martin <emclinux@...> wrote:
I noticed that the CEC firmware has an SDR mode but this seems to be where the audio as as well are transmitted to the SDR and handled there.? Seems to be a good method for digital or recording but is there a way to just use the SDR as a waterfall display and still have the radio function as normal (i.e. have audio come out the radio speakers)?
?
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Re: New VK4PLN Audio Daughter Board + BCI
Holes in the corners for mounting¡ of course¡
?
?
Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ ?
?
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Nick VK4PLN
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2018 8:05 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [BITX20] New VK4PLN Audio Daughter Board + BCI
?
Hi Everyone.
I am working on a new board that will give a few extra features to stock uBitx.
Its an Audio board providing easy access to Audio I/O pins. (add in your own AGC board, External amplifier...)
A place for an SSM2167 Mic Pre-amp. (with filtering for feedback and shutdown on TX)
Simple 4 component PTT POP fix. (BS170)
Switchable 200hz CW filter. (LM324)
and a bonus Snap off section with a 3.5MHZ BCI filter for the RX chain.
Here is a pre-view, NOTE this is a WORK-IN-PROGRESS.
Suggestions and corrections welcome.
73 Nick VK4PLN
?
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Hi, I only know about the CEC firmware. In that case it is the offset of the 25mhz crystal. The calibration number would be 0 if the 25mhz crystal was exactly correct. If you use the CEC uBITX Manager, the master calibration number, in the Manager, is the calibration number you zero beat on times 8,750. So, the Master Calibration can vary from zero to large values. In my case I zero beat at 18, so 18 x 8,750 = 157,500. [For sake of completeness, I'll add that in my case the "USB Calibration" sounded best at at 11,995,655.]
?
Also, I discovered you need to turn the power off to the uBITX and back on after each attempt to calibrate. (If connected, be sure to disconnect the USB cable, too, to remove that source of power to the processor.) Otherwise, the calibration (I think it is the value of the second LO frequency) shifts farther away from center each time you repeat the calibration step.?
The calibration steps appear to be 10hz with the CEC firmware. It may be different with the factory firmware.
Tom, wb6b
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Re: boosting the power on 28 MHz
#ubitx
I'm constantly surprised at the interest in 10 meters. I always check 15. If its dead I go to 20. If it has anything on it I check 10 and hear nothing here in NC with a simple EFHW..
But 10 was a blast back in 1954!!? ?:)
73, Bo W4GHV since '54
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Re: The new uBITX boards are here
I proudly display my Post bamboo slide rule along with the latest in Electronic and Radio engineering texts.? The slide rule glass slide is cracked.? Overheated during a physics final exam? ;-)? Mike K5ESS ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2018 12:37 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] The new uBITX boards are here ? I've got a slide rule and CRC book of math tables as well, buried in a box deep in the basement.
Also an HP35, nearly worn out from a decade of use but still works, batteries long since dissintigrated.
Most smartphone and laptop calculators try to emulate the look and feel of a desktop calculator,
which I find exceeding silly.? No history.? No scripting.? Very limited.
I kick off python whenever I need to do a bit of math, be it add a bunch of numbers
or?prototype some nasty fixed point calculations.? It's as easy to use as any calculator
for the basic stuff, but can do much much more.
On Tue, May 29, 2018 at 10:03 pm, Terry Morris wrote: I still have my slide rule and books with the logrithms Allison.
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When setting the calibration, is the change from 0 absolute (based on the clock on the radiuno), or relative (based on the previous saved calibration?
Or, if the calibration is set +1 for three consecutive (independent) adjustments, is the stored adjustment X+1 because X is reset to a baseline at the start of each adjustment, or X+3 because each of the separate +1 adjustments are added to the stored calibration?
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I have been working to keep the power transistors cooler.?
Initally I added a 80mm fan to blow across the transistors and board.?
When doing ft8 I would get significant heating of the power transistors.Everything is run with a 13.8v linear power supply. ?The transistors would heat up enough ?to make them too hot to keep my fingers against.?
I added a shroud similar to the one shown covering the stock heatsinks. It did not help that much. I had a fairly small but 1" tall computer heat sink, cut it in half and tapped in mounting holes. The should dhad to be redesigned to fit them but now I have not been able to feel more than only very slight heating wile running the FT8 tuning feature.?
this worked so well I added a similar heatsink to my bitx40.
73?
Dave
K0MBT
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Re: SDR as Waterfall display
If you have a dongle capable of direct sampling, or, an UpConverter you can tap the antenna between K1 and K3.? This will give the dongle full bandwidth whereas KD8CEC's method presents only the IF bandwith to the dongle.? Tapping between the two relays will take the input to the dongle to ground when transmitting.? So far (2 weeks or so) I have had no issues.? In my case, I have an up converter and dongle permanently mounted inside the case.? I also have put in a 4 port mini usb hub to plug the dongle and the raduino into.? That way I only have 1 usb connection coming out of the radio.
On Wed, May 30, 2018 at 4:15 PM brad martin < emclinux@...> wrote: I think mine bottoms out at 52mhz but I can probably put the rf through the direct sample mod on the rtlsdr. I assume if I transmit that the RF is not going to go directly into the sdr as in the rf out is a different path
On Wed, May 30, 2018 at 3:42 PM Ralph Mowery < rmowery42@...> wrote: I have not tried it,but from the circuit description the first conversion is at 45 MHz.? I would try laying a short insulated wire near Q10.? You may even be able to tap off the emitter of q12 with a low value capacitor.?
Then tune the SDR ( I assume we are talking the about $ 15 TV dongle, but does not matter)? to around 45 MHz.??
There may be more out now, but the two that I bought a number of years ago, one goes from about 25 MHz up and the other starts at 50 some MHz.
de ku4pt
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Its a bit confusing but the 5 pin connector which has yellow, orange, red, brown, and black wires is plugged into the connector on the bottom of the Raduino. This connector has 16 pins and only 5 are used. If you view the Raduino with the LCD facing you then the pins used on the 16 pin connector are the first 5 on your left with yellow being the wire that connects to the furthest left most pin.?
On May 29, 2018 3:46 PM, < rozanski@...> wrote: Hi need help with the wiring of a bitx40 got to the part where you do the 8 pin on the raddduino board but then it said ti hook up the 5 pin connector?to the board don't bknow if I got the wrong? raduino board or something changed from the picture in the assembly? but I cant find the hook up fot the 5 pin connector my board has all pins on the bottom side
thank you
Adam ka2uol
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Re: New VK4PLN Audio Daughter Board + BCI
Hi
I could change it, but that would increase cost for end user,
The LM324 are 50c the LM4562 are $5 each...
Will there be a noticeable difference with a 700hz cw signal?
73
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Re: New VK4PLN Audio Daughter Board + BCI
Nick
looks great, and a good way to add mods to the uBITX
would you consider a pair of LM4562s for the CW filter?...a little quieter, and would use the same R/C components
Bill K6SIK
On Wednesday, May 30, 2018 6:05 PM, Nick VK4PLN <nickpullen@...> wrote:
Hi Everyone. I am working on a new board that will give a few extra features to stock uBitx. Its an Audio board providing easy access to Audio I/O pins. (add in your own AGC board, External amplifier...) A place for an SSM2167 Mic Pre-amp. (with filtering for feedback and shutdown on TX) Simple 4 component PTT POP fix. (BS170) Switchable 200hz CW filter. (LM324) and a bonus Snap off section with a 3.5MHZ BCI filter for the RX chain. Here is a pre-view, NOTE this is a WORK-IN-PROGRESS.  Suggestions and corrections welcome. 73 Nick VK4PLN
|
New VK4PLN Audio Daughter Board + BCI
Hi Everyone. I am working on a new board that will give a few extra features to stock uBitx. Its an Audio board providing easy access to Audio I/O pins. (add in your own AGC board, External amplifier...) A place for an SSM2167 Mic Pre-amp. (with filtering for feedback and shutdown on TX) Simple 4 component PTT POP fix. (BS170) Switchable 200hz CW filter. (LM324) and a bonus Snap off section with a 3.5MHZ BCI filter for the RX chain. Here is a pre-view, NOTE this is a WORK-IN-PROGRESS.  Suggestions and corrections welcome. 73 Nick VK4PLN
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Yes, the pin numbering for the 16 pin Raduino connector? is swapped end-for-end on the
Raduino schematic vs how it is shown on both versions of the uBitx schematic.
That's unfortunate.
In both versions of the uBitx schematics, pin 2 has 12v, and the Raduino has 12v on the
corresponding pin 15.??
The Raduino also has pin 16 tied to 12v,, the corresponding pin 1 on both versions of
the uBitx main board is left unconnected.
The schematic of the first version of the uBtix shows pin 1 grounded, this schematic is not correct.
Those boards were built with pin 1 a no connect.
? ??
There is no link from the hfsignals.com homepage to the older version of the uBitx.
That's also unfortunate, as there are thousands of such boards in existence.
This has been corrected in the new schematic for the uBitx here, showing it to be a no connect:
? ??
?
The Bitx40 main board does not have such a connector, just a wiring harness.
That extra 12v wire on pin 16 of the the Raduino connector is left unused.
Here's the schematic for the Bitx40, which also shows the Raduino:
? ??
Here's the latest schematic for the Raduino from the uBitx section of the website:
? ??
I believe the Raduino for the Bitx40 and the uBitx is identical except for how the?
contrast pot and the connectors get stuffed, and of course the firmware.
The raw PC board is likely identical.
Jerry
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Show quoted text
On Wed, May 30, 2018 at 05:10 pm, <tituskz1g@...> wrote:
The schematic diagram for the "B? ubitx" board (base board for Arduino Nano, Si Labs oscillator, LCD...) has an error at the P3 connector, "OSCILLATORS." The pin numbers are in reverse order and thus do not match the pin numbers on the main transceiver board schematic diagram.? P3 also shows pins 15 and 16 (which should be pins 1 and 2) both connect to the +12V for the LM7805 regulator.? Pins 1 and 2 on the mating connector in the diagram show pin 1 connects to ground and pin 2 connects to +12V.
It would help to have the signals labeled at P3 on the "B? ubitx" board, and to have the same name "OSCILLATORS" for the connector in each diagram.? The color of the connecting wires also would help at other connectors.
Another minor point...? It might help those of us who think about mods and hacks to know whether signals are inputs, outputs, or bidirectional.
Thanks.
--
Jon Titus, KZ1G
Herriman, UT USA
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The schematic diagram for the "B? ubitx" board (base board for Arduino Nano, Si Labs oscillator, LCD...) has an error at the P3 connector, "OSCILLATORS." The pin numbers are in reverse order and thus do not match the pin numbers on the main transceiver board schematic diagram.? P3 also shows pins 15 and 16 (which should be pins 1 and 2) both connect to the +12V for the LM7805 regulator.? Pins 1 and 2 on the mating connector in the diagram show pin 1 connects to ground and pin 2 connects to +12V.
It would help to have the signals labeled at P3 on the "B? ubitx" board, and to have the same name "OSCILLATORS" for the connector in each diagram.? The color of the connecting wires also would help at other connectors.
Another minor point...? It might help those of us who think about mods and hacks to know whether signals are inputs, outputs, or bidirectional.
Thanks.
--
Jon Titus, KZ1G
Herriman, UT USA
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Nick VK4PP
K9HZ
atouk
_Dave_ AD0B