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Date

Re: PSK31 ghosts below my signal

 

The audio input comes from fldigi to the sound card to a easydigi (audio transformer isolator)? then to the uBIT.? How do i to check for errant tones?

No I didn't align the rig....can I do that without test equip?

I sort of hate to use it as is, or am I being a weenie?


Re: PSK31 ghosts below my signal

 

On Sat, Nov 03, 2018 at 08:14:36PM -0700, Don - KM4UDX wrote:
Raj, Diane, and the group:? I got a better picture and annotated the signals.?
You also asked if I could TX without any audio. So I just hit the PTT with no voice and got a picture. I can see a what I think is a carrier. But I must defer to experts! I've tried to both insert and attach pictures. Thank you!!!
Yes that's your suppressed carrier.

What I see is two sidebands of crud as well as your main signal
at 500 Hz away from the suppressed carrier. It's hard to tell but the
two sidebands look inverted from each other to me. I'd be looking at what the
audio going into the radio looks like next. Here I am making the assumption
the sideband filter is not knocking down the opposite sideband and
close to the suppressed carrier properly. If the audio going in does
not have that ~500Hz component then it must be in the radio.
Also, have you aligned the radio? That lower sideband looks a smidgen stronger
than the upper sideband to me.











--
- db@... db@...


Re: ubitx v4 current consumption

 

you got your answer.
?the expected current values were stated at 12V dc supply.
?as the voltage increases, current? too.
all the best.


On Sun, Nov 4, 2018 at 3:12 PM jan bruggeman <jan@...> wrote:
Input voltage is 13.2 v


Re: ubitx v4 current consumption

 

without raduino connected, consumption is 0.25 a. With raduino, consumption goes up to 0.4 - 0.45 a.


Re: ubitx v4 current consumption

 

Input voltage is 13.2 v


Re: ubitx v4 current consumption

 

What is input voltage, 12, 12.5, 13., 13.5, 13.8?


On Sun, Nov 4, 2018 at 3:04 PM Mvs Sarma <mvssarma@...> wrote:
?Did you connect raduino?


On Sun, Nov 4, 2018 at 2:11 PM jan bruggeman <jan@...> wrote:
Hello,

I just wired up my v4 ubitx board and it seems to work fine (still have to make a decent antenna). However, I notice that the current drawn by the board itself (no connectors plugged in) is 0.25 - 0.28 amps, which seems too high in comparisom with what's described in the documentation ()

Is this current draw normal and if not, what to do about it ?


Re: ubitx v4 current consumption

 

?Did you connect raduino?


On Sun, Nov 4, 2018 at 2:11 PM jan bruggeman <jan@...> wrote:
Hello,

I just wired up my v4 ubitx board and it seems to work fine (still have to make a decent antenna). However, I notice that the current drawn by the board itself (no connectors plugged in) is 0.25 - 0.28 amps, which seems too high in comparisom with what's described in the documentation ()

Is this current draw normal and if not, what to do about it ?


ubitx v4 current consumption

 

Hello,

I just wired up my v4 ubitx board and it seems to work fine (still have to make a decent antenna). However, I notice that the current drawn by the board itself (no connectors plugged in) is 0.25 - 0.28 amps, which seems too high in comparisom with what's described in the documentation (https://ubitx.net/2018/02/03/typical-current-draw-on-the-ubitx/)

Is this current draw normal and if not, what to do about it ?


New file uploaded to [email protected]

[email protected] Notification
 

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the [email protected] group.

File: default_settings_ubitx.btx

Uploaded By:

Description:
Backup file with the default settings for uBitx.

You can access this file at the URL:
/g/BITX20/files/default_settings_ubitx.btx

Cheers,
The Groups.io Team


Re: the cause for the spurs, found!

 

Will any of these mods be incorporated into uBitx v4 or even a new version soon?

--
72 and God bless
KD4EPG


Re: PSK31 ghosts below my signal

 

Raj, Diane, and the group:? I got a better picture and annotated the signals.?
You also asked if I could TX without any audio. So I just hit the PTT with no voice and got a picture. I can see a what I think is a carrier. But I must defer to experts! I've tried to both insert and attach pictures. Thank you!!!
?


Re: the cause for the spurs, found!

 

allison,

i tried with just a regular 2n2222a in place of the 2n3904 (as per your recommedation). instead of the 220 ohm collector load, i used a bifilar transformern with the center tap going to the final mixer. here are the results :
(even with the 2n2222a, the performance is acceptable)

On Sun, 4 Nov 2018, 02:47 ajparent1/KB1GMX <kb1gmx@... wrote:
Great you found the likely cause of the 2IF spur.

Now why is the 45mhz IF distorting?

Two things, it needs to be clean to at least -6 or so DBM and how much gain is needed to
get to that from the ouput of the 45mhz crystal filter.

I'd suggest starting with transistors that actually have performance at 45mhz.

Allison


Re: the cause for the spurs, found!

 

i used a two section LPF, with a corner freq of 36 mhz. 47pf, 300nh, 100pf, 300nh, 47pf.
the lpf had to be mounted away from the mixer to be clean. i dont know why.

- f

On Sat, 3 Nov 2018, 13:00 iz oos <and2oosiz2@... wrote:

Which corner frequency for the LPF solution should be used, 50Mhz?


Il 03/nov/2018 08:19, "iz oos" <and2oosiz2@...> ha scritto:

Excellent finding! Adding a low pass filter seems the easiest solution. At which impedance should be designed? 50ohm, 500ohm? Where exactly place it, considering the schematics of ver. 3 and ver. 4. I hope it doesn't involve cutting traces on the board.


Il 03/nov/2018 03:39, "Ashhar Farhan" <farhanbox@...> ha scritto:
the 45 mhz if amplifier is distorting and producing a second harmonic at 90 mhz. this mixes with the local oscillator to produce a spur at 90 mhz - local oscillator.

here is how it happens :

the spur moves down as you tune up.
when the radio is tuned to 28 mhz, the spur is at 17 mhz. when the ubitx is tuned to 28.150 mhz, the spur is on 16.850 mhz.?
at 28 mhz, the local oscillator? is at 73 mhz.
there is a signal X such that :
X - local oscillator = 17 mhz
local oscillator is 73Mhz.
X - 73 = 17, X must be 90 MHz.

after checking the spur on a number of frequencies between 15 MHz and 30 MHz, it was confirmed that the above formula works consistently to predict the spur.?

what is th cure?
there are three solutions
1. decrease the distortion of the if amp by modifying or replacing the IF amp (the tx side at least)
2. add a low pass or bandpass filter between the final mixer and the if amp.
3. move to 60 mhz or 70 mhz IF insteead of 45 mhz. a double or triple bandpass should do it.

this is a result of joint investigation between Raj and I.

- f



Re: the cause for the spurs, found!

Joe Puma
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Will this new discovery require any work in the areas that Allisons power flatten mod provides? changing the 6 3904¡¯s and other related parts. Reason I am asking is I am about to do that mod (easy version) as I have all the parts but if any work in that area needs to be done for addressing these spurs maybe Ill wait to see what solutions are available.?

My guess is one thing shouldn¡¯t have to do with the other and the replacing the 3904¡¯s with 2n2222A should be a good thing anyway.?


Joe



On Nov 3, 2018, at 6:28 PM, Glenn <glennp@...> wrote:

Allison, a Mini-circuits "PHA-1" might do the trick. I don't have any though.

I don't know how you would get on with it switching direction, back to the Rx side in the Bi-Amp arrangement. Somebody here was experimenting with MMIC bi-amp though but not seen any outcome.


Re: Si5351 correction question

 

All three local oscillators into the uBitx that determine the operating frequency
are sourced by the si5351.
And the clocks out of the si5351 are strict ratios of the 25mhz reference frequency
So any error in the 25mhz reference clock will be exactly proportional to the error in your displayed operating frequency.
Assuming the firmware was done correctly.

Example:
When tuning to the rig to 14.0mhz, you find that you are receiving a signal at 14.001 mhz.
Then the 25mhz reference must be at 25.0*14.001/14 = 25.001786 mhz?

That's a 1e6 * 200hz/14000000hz = 14.3 ppm difference.? ?(where 1e6=1,000,000, to convert a ratio to parts-per-million)
Makes me wonder how much of a temperature change is involved here.
Mark had previously reported a roughly 1ppm drift in his Adafruit si5351 board.?

Jerry


On Sat, Nov 3, 2018 at 04:33 PM, K5ESS wrote:
FWIW when I operate 20 meter FT8 with my uBitx the WSJT-X waterfall display clearly shows about a 200 Hz upward drift for the first 10 to 12 minutes after I power it on. I don't know how that would translate to the drift in the 25 MHz crystal reference.
Mike
K5ESS


Re: Poor mans spectrum analyzer #ubitx

Joe Puma
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Here are some other softwares you can try.



If you have a sdrplay

Joe


On Nov 3, 2018, at 7:51 PM, Joe Puma <kd2nfc@...> wrote:

I¡¯ve used my 100 watt radio next to a receive antenna for a rtl-sdr. I have fried am/fm filters and the sv1afn upconverter (a few times) but never the dongle. I have locked them up on the usb bus and had to unplug them to reset but that¡¯s about it. You will overload the dongle with an antenna going outside but without anything plugged in it might make it deaf for a ubitx with outside antenna and you in the house. A indoor whip seems doable or a piece of wire.?

I could see you using it as a comparative measurement tool. I¡¯ve used a rtl-sdr to look at characteristics of a filter with a cheap eBay noise source or using a directional coupler to measure swr of antennas. I¡¯m still an infant out here but I¡¯ve played with sdr¡¯s for a while. Baby toys for beginners I guess lol?


Joe



On Nov 3, 2018, at 5:45 PM, iz oos <and2oosiz2@...> wrote:

I don't know the circuit of the hackRF, but I wouldn't use any antenna connected to the SDR. You could fry its frontend unless it has some protection (I.e. Back to back diodes) at the antenna input. You just see a lot of overloading of your receiver. Having a 8bits ADC the dynamic range is similar to the RTL stick, 48db, so you need to attenuate a lot at least removing the antenna.


Il 03/nov/2018 18:53, "Nigel G4ZAL" <nigel@...> ha scritto:
I have no sophisticated bench test gear so I used my hackRF and the free Spectrum Analyzer software to 'look' at what my uBitx was transmitting whilst on FT8 on 7.074MHz and the result is quite disappointing although not unexpected.
uBitx was on an EFHW for 40M and the hackRF was on a short whip antenna.

I have some Axicom relays and shielded SMD inductors for L5/7 and will compare results after swapping out the bits and see if I can 'clean up my act' !

Nigel

<spec_an1a.jpg>





Re: Poor mans spectrum analyzer #ubitx

Joe Puma
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I¡¯ve used my 100 watt radio next to a receive antenna for a rtl-sdr. I have fried am/fm filters and the sv1afn upconverter (a few times) but never the dongle. I have locked them up on the usb bus and had to unplug them to reset but that¡¯s about it. You will overload the dongle with an antenna going outside but without anything plugged in it might make it deaf for a ubitx with outside antenna and you in the house. A indoor whip seems doable or a piece of wire.?

I could see you using it as a comparative measurement tool. I¡¯ve used a rtl-sdr to look at characteristics of a filter with a cheap eBay noise source or using a directional coupler to measure swr of antennas. I¡¯m still an infant out here but I¡¯ve played with sdr¡¯s for a while. Baby toys for beginners I guess lol?


Joe



On Nov 3, 2018, at 5:45 PM, iz oos <and2oosiz2@...> wrote:

I don't know the circuit of the hackRF, but I wouldn't use any antenna connected to the SDR. You could fry its frontend unless it has some protection (I.e. Back to back diodes) at the antenna input. You just see a lot of overloading of your receiver. Having a 8bits ADC the dynamic range is similar to the RTL stick, 48db, so you need to attenuate a lot at least removing the antenna.


Il 03/nov/2018 18:53, "Nigel G4ZAL" <nigel@...> ha scritto:
I have no sophisticated bench test gear so I used my hackRF and the free Spectrum Analyzer software to 'look' at what my uBitx was transmitting whilst on FT8 on 7.074MHz and the result is quite disappointing although not unexpected.
uBitx was on an EFHW for 40M and the hackRF was on a short whip antenna.

I have some Axicom relays and shielded SMD inductors for L5/7 and will compare results after swapping out the bits and see if I can 'clean up my act' !

Nigel



Re: Poor mans spectrum analyzer #ubitx

 

Yep, this keeps coming up in different forms. I agree you need to attenuate your receiver because of overloading the receiver. You are showing a common overload image on a SDR receiver. With my SDR I have a strong signal from my BITX 40 without an antenna on the SDR at all. I haven't tried to see how well I can accurately test the signal that way, but I would think a dummy load on the TX, and no antenna on the RX might be the easiest way to get a better picture of your emissions being tested in the same room. And don't use what ever you are doing for more power either, go barefoot.


Re: Si5351 correction question

 

FWIW when I operate 20 meter FT8 with my uBitx the WSJT-X waterfall display clearly shows about a 200 Hz upward drift for the first 10 to 12 minutes after I power it on. I don't know how that would translate to the drift in the 25 MHz crystal reference.
Mike
K5ESS

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mark Pilant
Sent: Friday, November 2, 2018 4:46 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [BITX20] Si5351 correction question

I have finally got my "Franken" uBitx to the point where it is receiving
signals; at least from my HP 8642A signal generator. But, there is something
strange going on, and I am wondering if anyone else has seen the same
strangeness.

When I originally ran the si5351 calibration program, everything looked
great and I have up with a correction number of 15380. The 10 MHz was
measured by my HP 53131A counter referenced to a GPSDO.

Fast forward to a little more testing, and I discovered signals I had been
receiving were no longer where they once were.

Running the calibration program again, with the same Adafruit Si5351 board,
I arrived at a correction number of 14210.

So my question is: has anyone else seen the same Si5351 use different
correction factors to generate the same output frequency?

Really scratching my head over this one.

73

- Mark N1VQW


Re: Poor mans spectrum analyzer #ubitx

Nigel G4ZAL
 

Agreed on the front end of the hackRF - this one has already been repaired by me as a friend gave it to me and said, it's deaf - if you can get it going again, it's yours as I have got a new one!
They are renowned for frying the pre-amp chip if it is activated and then a strong nearby signal is fired up close to it and that's what I had to replace (the pre-amp chip) to get it running again.
Apparently, Hams are often keying a handheld too close to it :-(


I used it with a short 1ft (30cm) whip and low gain settings in the spec-an software/hackRF, that's the best way to run it, low gains and increase as needed.
Without any antenna connected, I only saw the main signal at low levels.

The free spec-an s/ware for the hackRF is here, in Linux and Windows flavours (scroll down to the 'Downloads' section)...

I didn't need to run Zadig in my Windows 7 64bit machine as the hackRF installed in Windows automatically.

If you have a cheap RTL-SDR dongle and hack it for HF/use a converter, you can find spectrum analyser software for them as well.

Nigel.