Jerry
You are entitled to your opinion, I just don¡¯t happen to agree with you. ?The video online reference that I was sent refers to those components being present. ?
There are minimal connections to hook up the board, but I was unable to sort the connections to the Raduino from the details supplied. ?It was only with the excellent assistance of this forum that I managed to get it connected.
If you market a device as tested and working, it should arrive in that condition. ?Mine arrived intact. ?If it was likely to arrive damaged, I would rather pay another 10 bucks for better packing. ?But that is my opinion.
Finally, irrespective of price, if you are likely to need debugging expertise, then the seller should say so on their web site. ?In which case, I would not have bought it. ?As it is, I have paid the same money for a case which I now can¡¯t use.
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On 10 Sep 2019, at 6:04 pm, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io < jgaffke@...> wrote:
Roger,
L4 has not been stuffed on the Bitx40 since late 2016, when it first started shipping with the Raduino
to replace the rather unstable analog VFO.? (If L4 were stuffed, the analog oscillator would be
operating in addition to the VFO coming in from the Raduino, which would be a bad thing.)
Far as I know, C93 has never been stuffed, and certainly has no utility if using the Raduino VFO.
At $59 for a kit SSB transceiver, most of us are happy to do a bit of debug if necessary,
we might even learn something.? I'm confident that all Bitx40 boards go out after verifying
that they work, but there are occasional cold solder joints, and broken wires on inductors
due to rough handling in transport.? International post is tough on packages.? Some arrive
with tire tracks over the package, there are videos of workers walking over the top of?
packages to push more into voids in the container.
If you can't deal with some debug, you may not be a part of the intended audience for
most any electronics kit out there.??
Good luck seeking refund or replacement, I generally would not expect that on?
a low end kit such as this.? You are doing a significant part of the build, hfsignals
could not sell them at $59 if all the Bitx40's getting built had to work perfectly well
for builders of all possible skill levels.? But give it a try if so inclined.
Their email address is? ?"hfsignals at gmail dot com".
A better option might be to post it for sale in this forum.
I would like to see hfsignals provide schematics that exactly match what is shipped.
And assembly instructions that show the newer uBitx style Raduino connector.
Glib statements about how easy it is to make it work can discourage
those for whom this is not the case.
But at this price, most of us are quite happy with the Bitx40.
Jerry, KE7ER
|
Roger,
L4 has not been stuffed on the Bitx40 since late 2016, when it first started shipping with the Raduino
to replace the rather unstable analog VFO.? (If L4 were stuffed, the analog oscillator would be
operating in addition to the VFO coming in from the Raduino, which would be a bad thing.)
Far as I know, C93 has never been stuffed, and certainly has no utility if using the Raduino VFO.
At $59 for a kit SSB transceiver, most of us are happy to do a bit of debug if necessary,
we might even learn something.? I'm confident that all Bitx40 boards go out after verifying
that they work, but there are occasional cold solder joints, and broken wires on inductors
due to rough handling in transport.? International post is tough on packages.? Some arrive
with tire tracks over the package, there are videos of workers walking over the top of?
packages to push more into voids in the container.
If you can't deal with some debug, you may not be a part of the intended audience for
most any electronics kit out there.??
Good luck seeking refund or replacement, I generally would not expect that on?
a low end kit such as this.? You are doing a significant part of the build, hfsignals
could not sell them at $59 if all the Bitx40's getting built had to work perfectly well
for builders of all possible skill levels.? But give it a try if so inclined.
Their email address is? ?"hfsignals at gmail dot com".
A better option might be to post it for sale in this forum.
I would like to see hfsignals provide schematics that exactly match what is shipped.
And assembly instructions that show the newer uBitx style Raduino connector.
Glib statements about how easy it is to make it work can discourage
those for whom this is not the case.
But at this price, most of us are quite happy with the Bitx40.
Jerry, KE7ER
|
As raduino has taken over vfo , perhaps they stopped mounting those 2 parts .
Hi Vic
The video has helped a lot as I only needed the first minute to work out that the VFO is never going to oscillate as C93 and L4 are missing, per the picture below!? I put the scope on Q7 and unsurprisingly there is no signal.? They say they test all the boards before despatch, but this one can¡¯t have been tested.? Going to refer it back to HFS for either a replacement board or a refund.
Roger
Thanks Vic.? The wiring is correct, but I was intending to sort the bird's nest after checking the unit was working okay.? After the initial issue with the outdated instructions on how to connect the Raduino (as I didn¡¯t want to put 12v in the wrong place), I had fully expected the unit to work, based on the advertised text that said that they tested the units as working before they were despatched.? If I had known that it was a might or might not work I would not have purchased.
I don¡¯t have much time at the moment but I¡¯ll watch the video.
Roger On 9 Sep 2019, at 9:11 am, Vic WA4THR via Groups.Io < vhklein@...> wrote:
Ashar has a nice video on troubleshooting the BitX40 receiver that might prove useful. See it at:
I am wondering if there might be a bad solder connection on one of the toroids, as that has been reported before. You might take a close look.
Also, you may get better results shortening all the wiring. It is a bit hard to follow with the several bundles of loose wire.
=Vic=
|
Hi Vic
The video has helped a lot as I only needed the first minute to work out that the VFO is never going to oscillate as C93 and L4 are missing, per the picture below! ?I put the scope on Q7 and unsurprisingly there is no signal. ?They say they test all the boards before despatch, but this one can¡¯t have been tested. ?Going to refer it back to HFS for either a replacement board or a refund.
Roger
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Thanks Vic. ?The wiring is correct, but I was intending to sort the bird's nest after checking the unit was working okay. ?After the initial issue with the outdated instructions on how to connect the Raduino (as I didn¡¯t want to put 12v in the wrong place), I had fully expected the unit to work, based on the advertised text that said that they tested the units as working before they were despatched. ?If I had known that it was a might or might not work I would not have purchased.
I don¡¯t have much time at the moment but I¡¯ll watch the video.
Roger On 9 Sep 2019, at 9:11 am, Vic WA4THR via Groups.Io < vhklein@...> wrote:
Ashar has a nice video on troubleshooting the BitX40 receiver that might prove useful. See it at:
I am wondering if there might be a bad solder connection on one of the toroids, as that has been reported before. You might take a close look.
Also, you may get better results shortening all the wiring. It is a bit hard to follow with the several bundles of loose wire.
=Vic=
|
+1 for Dean's (KK4DAS)? approach.
(1) CAT control? USB cable drives both freq and TX/RX (PTT).??
(2) Audio patch cables drive the audio between laptop audio i/o and uBITX i/o.
The simplicity and reliability? of this approach wins the day.
Don
Km4udx
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As I recall, there have been reports of some of the small toroid leads being broken from rough shipping...seems like those reports were from the UK, too. These are great little radios and I have enjoyed mine a lot. I even had one running mobile check in to my session on the ECARS 40m net recently, from almost 700 miles away.
=Vic=
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Werner,
I reread your post.? Since the RX audio is perfect, the hum could be coming from either the mic input or the power supply due to higher current draw on transmit.
Do you get the hum with the mic input shorted?
I would also check the ground/shield connections of the mic connector and wiring to the audio connector on the main board.
FWIW
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Hi Werner,
It sounds to me like the problem could be the opposite, a ground loop where there shouldn't be one; maybe caused by the enclosure or standoffs touching something it shouldn't. Try to remove the screws holding the main board down and place a magazine or similar under it and test.
Best Regards, Jonas
The issue started when finnishing the enclosure. I did test the board on arrival and can¡¯t recall this issue.?
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Thanks Curt!
--
73! de KJ7EZN? ?Jim
|
Jim
I had an old kenwood mic, using what I had. I cut the cord after I identified the stock wiring. Let's see you need 3 pins, audio, ptt and return. If you are doing homebrew case, consider what you have in hand. Note Sunil supplies a 4 pin connector pair like tentec used to use.
Curt
|
Thank you to all that have relied! Neil
On Monday, September 9, 2019, 4:30:24 PM EDT, Doug W <dougwilner@...> wrote:
We have a wiki page on this topic you might find helpful. ? /g/BITX20/wiki/Digital-Setup? Like all wikis, if you have helpful information to add or find errors that need correcting it will help those that follow.? Also of interest, if you access this list from the website at /g/BITX20/topics there is a search function. --
|
Thanks Vic. ?The wiring is correct, but I was intending to sort the bird's nest after checking the unit was working okay. ?After the initial issue with the outdated instructions on how to connect the Raduino (as I didn¡¯t want to put 12v in the wrong place), I had fully expected the unit to work, based on the advertised text that said that they tested the units as working before they were despatched. ?If I had known that it was a might or might not work I would not have purchased.
I don¡¯t have much time at the moment but I¡¯ll watch the video.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 9 Sep 2019, at 9:11 am, Vic WA4THR via Groups.Io < vhklein@...> wrote:
Ashar has a nice video on troubleshooting the BitX40 receiver that might prove useful. See it at:
I am wondering if there might be a bad solder connection on one of the toroids, as that has been reported before. You might take a close look.
Also, you may get better results shortening all the wiring. It is a bit hard to follow with the several bundles of loose wire.
=Vic=
|
Re: Antuino update parts kit
Speaking of - I got my Antuino parts kit in the mail today.
Many interesting stamps on the envelope too.
|
We have a wiki page on this topic you might find helpful. ? /g/BITX20/wiki/Digital-Setup? Like all wikis, if you have helpful information to add or find errors that need correcting it will help those that follow.? Also of interest, if you access this list from the website at /g/BITX20/topics there is a search function. --
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I wonder, Ray: how is it to ZL? Dateline having some effect? :)
73
Dex ZL2DEX
|
Hi all--
I've got a microBitx out for delivery today and I am excited.? I have noticed quite a few pictures of folks using MFJ mics.? There are a plethora of connector options to choose from.? What are the favorites being used?
Thanks in advance --Jim
--
73! de KJ7EZN? ?Jim?
|
I went straight from the uBITx headphone jack to the mic jack on my laptop, and from the headphone jack on the laptop to the mic jack on the uBITx.? I had to adjust the levels for both the mic and headphone on the laptop, and keep the volume control on the uBITx low to avoid overdriving audio to the laptop.? I used the meter in wsjtx to verify the level in to the laptop and an external meter to measure RF power.? I adjusted for 10 watts on 20 meters.
It works on all digital modes just fine.
Dean
KK4DAS
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Re: Nextion Diisplay Fonts
Mark,
I did not realize that was possible. I will look into it - thanks!
Paul
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Neil,
?I too used a easydigi and a RS232 board for ptt. My site should have some interfaces coming soon that will be in and around 2, I will post more details on that later.
Below is what I used for my Bitx40 and uBitx.
http://kit-projects.com/Digital%20modes%20with%20A%20Bitx40.htm
--
David
?N8DAH
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I did much the same,? easydigi, and a small 4 port USB hub mounted in the back so that I only have one USB cable to the raspberri pi running the FT8 software.? KD8CEC firmware with Nextion display
I mostly leave it running in ft8 listen only mode,? it's been on 20m for a day or so, and it's interesting to see the propagation changes.
Good conditions to Europe from Australia, not so good to the USA apart from a few west coast stations.?
73
Ray VK3YNV
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Vic WA4THR
Bob Benedict, KD8CGH
Paul Galburt - K2AYZ
N8DAH