Re: KD8CEC - Nextion Display - IAN questions
Ian :?
I am very impressed with KB8CEC v1.094, this plus the Nextion Display is a real game changer for the uBITX !?
It feels like I am now using a new radio ;-)?
Can I make a suggestion for some future enhancements ?
1) Make the Tuning Step an on-screen button so that tapping on it will allow the selection of the tuning step.
?
? ?This is something that anyone using both CW and SSB will want to change all the time and it is difficult to get at currently.
2) Provide an on-screen button to access the CW settings.
? ?Things like offset and break-in delay don't get changed very often but ?CW operators who are using Iambic keying
? ?need to be able to quickly change code speed?. Also many of us use both?paddles and straight keys so it would also be nice to
? ?able to quickly access selection that from the display. This also makes adjusting an antenna tuner simpler if you can switch
? from Iambic to Straight Key and push the DIT paddle to generate a carrier.?
One thought is that you might be able to make it context sensitive so that buttons specific to CW operation only appear when the mode is CWU or CWL ??
Just a thought.?
Thanks for all of the great work on this !
Cheers
Michael VE3WMB?
|
Re: ubitx code version 4.3 for review, testing
Any files that appear in the sketch directory are assumed to be part of the sketch and are included by the IDE. Each file will have its own tab in the Source Code Window.
Jack, W8TEE
On Sunday, June 24, 2018, 7:14:09 PM EDT, Craig Wadsworth <cwadsworth@...> wrote:
Neophyte question: The code is in several files.? May different files be merged into the Arduino IDE as desired?
|
I accidentally blew the IRF510 out. I didn't have any, but I found some VN88AFD parts. They produce the same power out on all bands as the IRF510 did. They have much less gate capacitance, so should be easier to drive. Not saying they are better, but they seem to be equivalent in the uBitx. Pin order is different.?
Howard
|
Re: Nextion Display vs 1602 LCD - Current Consumption
#ubitx
Whoops ... the 250 mA is for the whole rig.?
The Raduino + Nextion Display should account for 41 mA + 108 mA ?~= ?149 mA.
So the current through the L7805 on the Raduino Board should be about 150 mA which should be fine.?
I still suggest using a heatsink.
Cheers
Michael VE3WMB?
|
Re: Nextion Display vs 1602 LCD - Current Consumption
#ubitx
Michael
Perfect !!! I considered using a $ 2 price regulator for RPI on ebay, but decided to cancel.
I will disassemble another transceiver to find the heat sink
Ian
Today I upgraded my uBITX (v3) to use KD8CEC v1.094 and a Nextion 2.8" display, so I am now able to answer my
previous question about current draw of the display and whether the L7805 regulator on the Raduino board is up to the task
of powering this display.?
Prior to doing the upgrade I measured my RX current draw as 162.5 mA, running off of a 12.5 v SLA battery.?
A previous posting to this group established that the 16x2 LCD Display draws about 21 mA so the rig + Raduino (without LCD) should
be around 142 mA
With my Nextion 2.8" Display and backlight set to 100 % I am now seeing a total current draw for the uBITX of? 250 mA.
That indicates that my 2.8" Nextion Display is drawing about 108 mA.? ?
The L7805 regulator on the Raduino board is rated for at least 1A so it should be fine with a 250 mA total current draw.
I did go ahead and put a heatsink on it and I even used some silicon-based heatsink compound.?
For fun I took a meat thermometer and held it against the Heatsink and I got a reading of 56.5 C !
The rig had been powered up for over an hour.? This part is rated for up to 150 C.?
My recommendation is that if you are going to add the Nextion Display you should? put a TO-220 compatible heatsink on the L7805 5V regulator on the Raduino board.
Cheers
Michael VE3WMB?
-- Best 73 KD8CEC / Ph.D ian lee kd8cec@...
(my blog)
|
Re: Nextion Display vs 1602 LCD - Current Consumption
#ubitx
Today I upgraded my uBITX (v3) to use KD8CEC v1.094 and a Nextion 2.8" display, so I am now able to answer my
previous question about current draw of the display and whether the L7805 regulator on the Raduino board is up to the task
of powering this display.?
Prior to doing the upgrade I measured my RX current draw as 162.5 mA, running off of a 12.5 v SLA battery.?
A previous posting to this group established that the 16x2 LCD Display draws about 21 mA so the rig + Raduino (without LCD) should
be around 142 mA
With my Nextion 2.8" Display and backlight set to 100 % I am now seeing a total current draw for the uBITX of? 250 mA.
That indicates that my 2.8" Nextion Display is drawing about 108 mA.? ?
The L7805 regulator on the Raduino board is rated for at least 1A so it should be fine with a 250 mA total current draw.
I did go ahead and put a heatsink on it and I even used some silicon-based heatsink compound.?
For fun I took a meat thermometer and held it against the Heatsink and I got a reading of 56.5 C !
The rig had been powered up for over an hour.? This part is rated for up to 150 C.?
My recommendation is that if you are going to add the Nextion Display you should? put a TO-220 compatible heatsink on the L7805 5V regulator on the Raduino board.
Cheers
Michael VE3WMB?
|
Re: #ubitx-help advice needed-display issue
#ubitx-help
So, then, regarding the wire-up of the jack/switch/fuse/et cetera:? Positive pole of jack to one pole of fuse: other pole of fuse to one pole of switch: other pole of switch to red and brown wires of radio power connector.? That it???? Also, negative pole of jack to one pole of second fuse: other pole of second fuse to black wire of radio power connector, and to black end of diode: ring end of diode to positive pole of power jack.? Yes???
|
Re: RFI from uBitx TX after AGC and other mods installed
Thanks Don, I'll try some RG-174 then.? I might not have time until Wednesday, flying out tomorrow for a two day trip, but will report back when I try it.
I assume one coax with shield to ground at both ends - unlike the RF gain control coax, which is two coax cables, grounded at the pot end but shields not connected at the AGC board.? Let me know if that's not right.
73,
Rowland K4XD
|
Schematic . . . What Schematic . . mine?
As I worked on my uBitx I made changes . . .duh . . doesn't everybody?
As I progressed I found I forgot what I had hooked to what.
I used cardboard for my front panel to help make a template for control placement.
Easy to cut new holes or move the placement.
Forgot to document what I had wired to what and where.
Now I am wanting to install a push button to be able to read both board voltage and PA voltage.
Also adding a analog watt meter to the mix.
First picture shows work so far and has room to add the above controls.
All fine and well. . . except . . . I didn't make a schematic of what I had already wired.
2nd pic shows the other side with wiring.
As this was a proto-type I left most wires too long as to make easy mods. That's fine.
BUT I didn't document what I had already wired.
Now I have to retrace wiring to find out where to hook up new contriols.
Moral of story . . . Make notes and a schematic.
Sure will help id something becomes . . . disconnected.
|
Re: New uBitx V3 QRP Transceiver For Sale $120 Shipped
|
Re: KD8CEC - Nextion Display - IAN questions
Kevin,
Yes, that's right, I will only support 2.4 "and 2.8" for the time being.?However, on my distribution list, you will find the GUI files for 3.2 "and 3.5".
They were converted to 3.5 "using the 2.8" GUI.
It will work normally, but it will probably look a little awkward.?
In the Nextion Editor, you can convert to a different resolution with a click of the mouse.
But I keep getting emails saying that I have successfully converted to 3.2, 3.5 "or even 7" LCD.
They work nicely by modifying the entire GUI to fit the LCD.?
You can ask them to get a 3.5 "file.?But please wait for the beta version to finish. There are a few additional features to add.
Ian KD8CEC
-- Best 73 KD8CEC / Ph.D ian lee kd8cec@...
(my blog)
|
Try sending email to? ??hfsignals?at?gmail?dot com
Replace the "at" and "dot" with something more appropriate.
If they do send you a replacement it might take a month to arrive, and have import duty issues.
I know many electronics hobbyists use heat guns meant for embossing, or melting a colored powder into paper
Something like this:
? ???
Likely the cheapest way to go.
But you could buy a full solder rework station, others in the forum may have recommendations of which.
Maybe cover the display connector and blue pot of the Raduino with cloth to protect them from heat,
cover the Raduino entirely with metal foil to further protect it from heat,
clamp the Raduino in a vice,
cut an opening in the foil to expose the Nano.
Blast?away with the heat gun while tugging at the Nano, lifting the nano free of the pins it was soldered down to.?
Then remove the pins one by one from the Raduino using a soldering iron.
That will probably work better then cutting the pins, I had trouble when I did it that way.
Jerry?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sun, Jun 24, 2018 at 05:06 pm, f1mqj wrote:
So it looks like a bad nano board and i might have to change it (main problem is to extract it without destroying raduino PCB as we discuss early)
1-Do you know if I can get spare Raduino and how (#ubitxsupport #ubitxwarranty) ? perhaps i could get one as warranty feature, because mine never worked fine (if possible with nano socket, or without nano board -i've already some)
2-i'll try to borrow an air heater (looks fine for the job, Vince do you have a link to yours ? 852, 878) or use diagonal cutters (perhaps dremmel but i fear leaving a lot of small metal particles)
I'll give you news
73 - Remi
?
|
Re: KD8CEC - Nextion Display - IAN questions
Lowell, Thnk you for your work. LCDs usually consume much current in the backlight. Decreasing the backlight brightness will certainly reduce current consumption. Adjusting the brightness of the backlight generates noise.?
I think this is probably a problem with LCDs that use most inverter type backlights. I think that the way to reduce the brightness in hardware is coming soon.
Perhaps users who use uBITX as Portable will also be able to use Nextion LCD.
Just got in a 2.4 and a 3.2 Nextion display.? I'd seen some comments on the current draw and the possible need for a heat sink on the existing 5V regulator or maybe even a separate supply. So I just measured both on the bench.
Supply voltage was 5.04 VDC.
2.4 display was 125 ma.? 3.2 display was 110 ma.? Both at full brightness.
These are both above (~25 to 35 or so) what is listed on the manufacturers website.
I did not check with the display in sleep mode.
-- Best 73 KD8CEC / Ph.D ian lee kd8cec@...
(my blog)
|
Re: I need a V3 or V4 uBitx board.
I sent the email weeks ago
|
Re: BITX QSO Afternoon/Evening, Sunday, June 24, 3PM & 7PM Local Time, 7277 kHz in North America, 7177 kHz elsewhere.
Calling CQ and listening on 7.277
WS4JM
|
Re: Keypad for Raduino...?
Hi Jack. That whole idea of using voltage to determine keyer state makes me nervous.
Even something as simple as corrosion on the contacts can make a difference. True. But then again I figure if I know how it works, and with some appropriate debug code always built in, it would be pretty easy to track down a keypad problem. Partially to address this issue, my SNA code has a min and max for each key value and includes a calibration menu item to determine the average value to use (which is then used to calculate the min and max). Not only does this work for resistors that are slightly different values (but still within tolerance) and can handle a slight variation in contact resistance as well. If I wanted to really minimize contact issues, I'd use something other than a (USD) $5-$10 keypad :-) I used the cheap one because the SNA started out as not much more than a simple proof of concept. Funny how proof of concept projects become the final project :-P You are right, however, in that the problem has caused people to rethink the
problem(s) and that's almost always good. I couldn't agree more. Maybe other will get some ideas from my SNA code. (I haven't done a whole lot more with it since I picked up an HP 8591E spectrum analyzer with a tracking generator. Although I was pleased to see my little SNA agreed with the HP SA :-) 73 - Mark N1VQW
|
Re: Understanding Spurious Emissions
Rahul,
I came to the same conclusion a while ago.? Your estimates of loss are a bit higher than
my measurements but we are talking maybe 2-3db but its all the same in that there is?
way too much TX path gain.
However the spur is visible when the input to the last mixer is -10dbm.
Also the balanced mod can be pushed harder to? maybe -13dbm is not bad and it helps
the carrier to signal ratio some.? The 12mhz filter in mine measures under 4DB loss when
modded for 2160hz bandpass.? My 45mhz us less than 5db loss.
I have the gains for TX 12mhz of 7db and 45mhz of 8db and its still high but?
closer.? That much gain is not needed as the modulator is already a fairly
large signal.
Allison
|
Thanks Jerry, Vince, Ralph and others I cutted the pcb to disconnect capa and socket REF pin from the AREF processor pin (if the problem have been a short capa or short circuit on this part of PCB it may erase the problem)  BUT no change : i've still contact (0 ohm) between AREF processor pin and ground (and 220mA if powered !) So it looks like a bad nano board and i might have to change it (main problem is to extract it without destroying raduino PCB as we discuss early) 1-Do you know if I can get spare Raduino and how (#ubitxsupport #ubitxwarranty) ? perhaps i could get one as warranty feature, because mine never worked fine (if possible with nano socket, or without nano board -i've already some) 2-i'll try to borrow an air heater (looks fine for the job, Vince do you have a link to yours ? 852, 878) or use diagonal cutters (perhaps dremmel but i fear leaving a lot of small metal particles) I'll give you news 73 - Remi
|
Re: Understanding Spurious Emissions
Farhan,
The filter are fine.? They work as they should for a low pass filter.??
The problem is 28mhz makes it though the respective low pass filters
and everything below 28mhz.
Allison
|
Re: KD8CEC - Nextion Display - IAN questions
|
Jay - WS4JM