Hi Folks, After assembling and using the uBitx for a week, realized that there are few not so smooth areas in the firmware that needed a little tweaking. After almost a month, feel like it has reached a stage where I can do with a little feedback.? The code has not been forked from , but cloned and put up in my own . Have made the following additions and tweaks.
Code additions by vu3gwn@...
?* UI fixes, CALLSIGN addition
?* Button text normalization, VFO A/B UI
?* Added RX
*? Current values to Frequency calibration and BFO calibration
You can add your own callsign which will show up in the bottom. to do that just open up ubitx.h and change the value for?CALLSIGN_VER
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Does the radio receive work?? If so, then the BFO and the diode IC are OK, as it is used for both transmit and receive.
Since the problem started after making the modification for the AGC, can you undo that mod and see if the radio works?
I suspect that there is an error in the AGC modification that you made, as that is when the problem started.? It would also help members in this group to know which AGC mod you installed.
I do not understand how the MAX9814 electret microphone amp is being used.? That would normally not be wired to the VOL signals for the receive volume control.? Are you using the electret amp as a preamp for the receive audio?? The information that you are giving me is confusing.? Is it possible to post pictures of the modifications that you made, or better yet sketches of the circuit schematic on how the modifications were installed?? This for any and all modifications that you have made in the audio sections of the radio.?
I would start with just the receiver, and get it working again before going on to the transmitter.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: Ubitx V3 Transmit lock
I was not aware that the v3 uBiTx had the Nano soldered in place.? The v4 and v5 that I have are socketed.? I would speculate that the soldering was to reduce the height and maybe cost.? That could also explain the upside-down mounting on the other side of the Raduino board when they went to a socketed Nano.? The header pins with socket would have been too high to fit between the Raduino board and the display.? If you do replace the Nano, I would suggest adding the sockets and moving the Nano to the other side of the Raduino board.? Be sure the Nano you purchase has the header pins separate, as you will need to solder them in so that they are on the side of the Nano with the Reset button (Upside down from normal).? This is to allow for mounting on the other side of the Raduino.? You will also need the female headers to solder on the Raduino.? I have found that pre-assembly before soldering, tacking the 4 corner pins onto both the Nano and the Raduino in place, then removing the Nano to finish soldering all of the pins works to ensure that the headers line up.
I have found this tool:??to be very effective at desoldering.? I used it to upgrade the relays on my two v4 boards to bring the harmonics suppression into compliance (verified with an RSP2 spectrum analyzer).? There are no instructions on how to use it, so I searched the internet and found this YouTube video:??Note that the tool demonstrated is not the same tool as the one from Amazon, however the use is the same. It worked well for me, leaving the holes open and the removed relays intact.? The tool was also less expensive than the one mentioned in the video.
There may be an alternative to replacing the Nano, one that will require you to modify the program.? I believe there is a spare analog pin on the Nano (at least there is on the v4 board) that you could use in place of the key input.? It has been used for S meter measurement inputs.? You could use the spare control wire from the Raduino as the key input and change the pin definition in the Nano program.? I would not suggest going this route, as there are other benefits by making the Nano replaceable, and the damage to the Nano may have taken out more of the ADC circuit than just that one input.? If up to the program change, it would not hurt to try.
Above are suggestions, as I do not have a v3 and there could be issues that I am not aware of in the mods.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Hi
Thank you Sarma vu3zmv for the answer.
I do not have such a diode on hand, but I soldered the current one and the measurement indicates that it is probably working.
I didn't mention it before but I have an additional built-in amplifier on MAX 9814 between VOL-H and VOL-M. When I remove it, I can't hear anything.
I'll order the LEDs and keep looking.
?
Best regards
Karol SQ6POH
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Karol,pkeease tryvto check and replace if faulty? bat54s at demod level. This is an smd with 2 diodes in series. All the best? Sarma vu3zmv
On Tue, 14 Apr 2020, 5:44 pm , < sq6poh@...> wrote: Hello everyone
I am new here, I have been using my uBitx for about 2 years. In general, everything was fine until you try to build AGC.
Radi has lost a lot of tenderness. I have the impression that the audio track does not work. The transmitter switches on but no signal comes out. The transmitter is rather efficient because in CW the power is correct.
I checked and even replaced Q6, Q70-Q74.
He has no further ideas.
?
greetings
Karol SQ6POH
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Hello everyone
I am new here, I have been using my uBitx for about 2 years. In general, everything was fine until you try to build AGC.
Radi has lost a lot of tenderness. I have the impression that the audio track does not work. The transmitter switches on but no signal comes out. The transmitter is rather efficient because in CW the power is correct.
I checked and even replaced Q6, Q70-Q74.
He has no further ideas.
?
greetings
Karol SQ6POH
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Hi Christian,
I would like to have a copy of that. My email should be able to handle it if yours can.
wrcromwell@...
73,
Bill KU8H
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Show quoted text
On 4/14/20 6:57 AM, Christiaan PA3FUN wrote: Hi All.
I'm using my ubitx v3 for a couple of months now. I'm primarily using it for CW using the official 4.3 code-base (n¨®t Ian's CEC code) and found quite some "room for improvement".
First of all I added setup-code so the output of the first mixer can exactly be mixed onto that first IF's center frequency. Just in case that first IF is n¨®t exactly centered around 45MHz. In the same way I added setup-code so the output of the 2nd mixer ends-up exactly at the right place regarding the 12MHz xtal-filter. Using both functions it's easy now, just using your ears, to optimize the radio's performance.
I've also added some code so as to calibrate the SI5351A's frequency so that when you tune to f.i. 3.560KHz you're exactly there. For this you do need however a frequency-counter or another (properly calibrated) HF-radio.
Another thing that bothered me was the fact the radio generates a short burst of "spurious" every time again upon it's first (CW-)key-down. I did some research and found out / can confirm this is caused by too slow discharge of two electrolytic caps (C52 & C64) causing both the TX- and RX-circuits between the 1st and 2nd filter to be concurrently active causing an oscillation that's fed to the then active TX-amplifier-stages. Short-term solution: remove these two caps from the PCB.
Besides the above points I identified a number of bugs.
I'm not (yet) familiar with how Github works; should anyone be interested in this code (and using uBitX v3 hardware) just let me know.
73's Christiaan PA3FUN
--
bark less - wag more
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Re: ubitx V6 SSB Transmit Audio Distortion (voice only)
My vote goes to Vic,
73,
Bill KU8H
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Show quoted text
On 4/14/20 6:42 AM, Vic WA4THR via groups.io wrote: The Baofeng mics are notorious for sounding bad all on their own. Google them and there are a number of fixes people have made from enlarging the hole in the case to replacing the element and padding the interior. If you have set the BFO per Ashar Farhan's video, and the receive sounds good, you are probably just dealing with that microphone.
=Vic=
--
bark less - wag more
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Re: ubitx V6 SSB Transmit Audio Distortion (voice only)
Hi,
The BFO does in fact affect your transmit audio and is exactly the same in transmit as in receive. That is how *all* SSB transceivers work. I have read some reports from others and had my hands on one of those Baofeng mics. I am not impressed with the Baofeng mic at all. Just my opinion. It used to be that the mic amp was a separate adjustment but isn't in this radio. For my own purposes I don't care about that but it may not be possible to make the radio work right on both SSB and CW except by pure dumb luck getting the right mic. I have never connected a mic to my own V3. I may feed soundcard audio into it but that has a separate control of the mic input level. It should do that okay.
Two takeaways. The BFO is in play for receive and transmit in the SSB mode (but not CW transmit). The Baofeng mic is a problem - may or may not work with the microBitX. Depends on the individual mic.
Good luck with your radio and...
73,
Bill KU8H
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Show quoted text
On 4/13/20 10:27 PM, Glen Dingley wrote: After building this rig and doing all the alignments, the receive audio sounds great. Also the CW transmits great and right on frequency. The issue I am having is SSB transmit audio is distorted.
Everyone is telling me it is hard to understand me when I talk into the stock Baofeng mic. Some say it sounds off frequency but when they tune up and down, my audio does not improve.
Does anyone know what I need to adjust or change? I really don't want to mess with BFO again as it took me forever to get that all correct. And I don't think BFO affects transmit audio quality, does it?
Glen W5GMD.
--
bark less - wag more
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Hi All.
I'm using my ubitx v3 for a couple of months now. I'm primarily using it for CW using the official 4.3 code-base (n¨®t Ian's CEC code) and found quite some "room for improvement".
First of all I added setup-code so the output of the first mixer can exactly be mixed onto that first IF's center frequency. Just in case that first IF is n¨®t exactly centered around 45MHz. In the same way I added setup-code so the output of the 2nd mixer ends-up exactly at the right place regarding the 12MHz xtal-filter. Using both functions it's easy now, just using your ears, to optimize the radio's performance.
I've also added some code so as to calibrate the SI5351A's frequency so that when you tune to f.i. 3.560KHz you're exactly there. For this you do need however a frequency-counter or another (properly calibrated) HF-radio.
Another thing that bothered me was the fact the radio generates a short burst of "spurious" every time again upon it's first (CW-)key-down. I did some research and found out / can confirm this is caused by too slow discharge of two electrolytic caps (C52 & C64) causing both the TX- and RX-circuits between the 1st and 2nd filter to be concurrently active causing an oscillation that's fed to the then active TX-amplifier-stages. Short-term solution: remove these two caps from the PCB.
Besides the above points I identified a number of bugs.
I'm not (yet) familiar with how Github works; should anyone be interested in this code (and using uBitX v3 hardware) just let me know.
73's Christiaan PA3FUN
?
?
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Re: ubitx V6 SSB Transmit Audio Distortion (voice only)
The Baofeng mics are notorious for sounding bad all on their own. Google them and there are a number of fixes people have made from enlarging the hole in the case to replacing the element and padding the interior. If you have set the BFO per Ashar Farhan's video, and the receive sounds good, you are probably just dealing with that microphone.
=Vic=
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Re: Ubitx V3 Transmit lock
Hello Terry,
Assuming nothing else is connected to that blue wire then there is an issue with the Nano. I also assume no change to the software.
Since changing the Nano requires reprogramming the new one, I would as a last ditch effort reprogram the existing Nano in place just to make sure.
Changing an Arduino from a V3 Raduino is no simple task (ask me how I know). My final option was to cut the Nano along the pins and then separate each pin before de-soldering but your de-soldering skills and equipment might be better than mine (that's not difficult..hihi).
All the best,
73, John (VK2ETA)
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Re: ubitx V6 SSB Transmit Audio Distortion (voice only)
Hello, also i have and had problems with bfo and with the mike. So the rig is not so verry wel at this side. Measuring from the housing and arduino is verey bad. So i bought a second hand Akai elektred with a little amp inside. Next week i am gonna test it. But the baofeng was bad, also when i removed the plug and putted the - wire and the audio on the computer.....the audio was realy bad. So i don't undeestand why some people have good audio and some people have bad audio on the same kind of rig from the same factory and as it said, tested before leaving the factory??. Regards
Rene
Netherlands
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Re: Ubitx V3 Transmit lock
Terry,
You are welcome.??
I should mention that the Nano inputs are susceptible to over-voltage damage.? There is 12 volts on the key shaper circuit that I found from the QRP guys.? If that got on the Nano analog input it would damage it.? Be careful that the 12 volts stays where it belongs.? Also, a FET failure could apply 12 volts to the Nano input, so check your key shaper before you reconnect it.
Good luck and happy hunting (for the problem)!
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: ubitx V6 SSB Transmit Audio Distortion (voice only)
Glen,
It could be RF feedback into the audio.? I had the same issue with my first uBiTx.? Distorted audio reported.? Fixed by putting ferrites and .01 bypass capacitors on the mic audio cable.? I also put a common mode choke on the coax coming into the shack.? The common-mode choke helped the most.?
If you have another receiver, then a potential test for the RF feedback is to transmit into a dummy load and monitor the signal on the other receiver.? There is not as much RF feedback with the dummy load, yet there should be enough signal to pick up on a nearby receiver.
FYI, In my case it was an off-center fed dipole from MFJ was the source of the feedback.? It is known to have potential feed line radiation issues.
The above is just a suggestion.
The BFO will affect the transmit audio in the uBiTx.? If it is off, you can get a reduction of either the high or low audio frequencies as the skirts of the SSB filter will reduce the high or low signal if not adjusted correctly.? If your receive audio sounds good, then the transmitted audio should sound the same.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: ubitx V6 SSB Transmit Audio Distortion (voice only)
My damn spell check was on and screwed up some words, set your rough bfo to 11.056 then set you vfo using a sideband signal the go back to the bfo and make sure it is still set at 11.056. that is how I set mine up and I am getting good results just keep with it and it will get right on. My only complaint is the 1/8" phone jack's are a very loose fit I may change mine out. 73 Ki0ad
It took me 2 days to calibrate mine I found that tuning the rig to other people's web to sound the best. Also I set my bro to 11.056.5 so try that and remember to set the frequency To a ssb. signal not a am. Signal. 73 Ki0ad
On Mon, 13 Apr 2020, 8:27 p.m. Glen Dingley, < glen@...> wrote: After building this rig and doing all the alignments, the receive audio sounds great. Also the CW transmits great and right on frequency. The issue I am having is SSB transmit audio is distorted.
Everyone is telling me it is hard to understand me when I talk into the stock Baofeng mic. Some say it sounds off frequency but when they tune up and down, my audio does not improve.
Does anyone know what I need to adjust or change? I really don't want to mess with BFO again as it took me forever to get that all correct. And I don't think BFO affects transmit audio quality, does it?
Glen W5GMD.
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Re: Ubitx V3 Transmit lock
Hello Evan,
Thank you for your input.
I have removed the cw conditioner and restored the original keying circuit. There is no fault in the key jack or keying line. The +5VDC is present at the Raduino side of the pull up resistor but is only a fraction of a volt at the keying line (blue Raduino wire). The radio goes into cw mode transmit in this configuration even with the keying line to the key jack disconnected. Again,shunting out the pull up resistor puts the radio back into normal SSB operation.
There have been no changes to the antenna or feed line.
At this point I am agreeing with your damaged Nano assessment.
Thank you for your help.
Terry, WB9NVQ?
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Re: ubitx V6 SSB Transmit Audio Distortion (voice only)
It took me 2 days to calibrate mine I found that tuning the rig to other people's web to sound the best. Also I set my bro to 11.056.5 so try that and remember to set the frequency To a ssb. signal not a am. Signal. 73 Ki0ad
On Mon, 13 Apr 2020, 8:27 p.m. Glen Dingley, < glen@...> wrote: After building this rig and doing all the alignments, the receive audio sounds great. Also the CW transmits great and right on frequency. The issue I am having is SSB transmit audio is distorted.
Everyone is telling me it is hard to understand me when I talk into the stock Baofeng mic. Some say it sounds off frequency but when they tune up and down, my audio does not improve.
Does anyone know what I need to adjust or change? I really don't want to mess with BFO again as it took me forever to get that all correct. And I don't think BFO affects transmit audio quality, does it?
Glen W5GMD.
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Re: Ubitx V3 Transmit lock
Hello John,
The keying conditioner has been removed and keying circuit returned to original design. There is no short or fault on the keying jack. With the blue wire disconnected from 4.7 k pull up resistor the +5VDC is present across the resistor. When I reconnect the blue wire from the Raduino the voltage across the pull up resistor? drops to around .25 volts and the radio goes into cw mode transmit, and this is with the wire to the key jack disconnected. If I shunt out the pull up resistor the radio restores to normal SSB operation, transmit and receive.
Thanks for your input John
Terry,? WB9NVQ
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ubitx V6 SSB Transmit Audio Distortion (voice only)
After building this rig and doing all the alignments, the receive audio sounds great. Also the CW transmits great and right on frequency. The issue I am having is SSB transmit audio is distorted.
Everyone is telling me it is hard to understand me when I talk into the stock Baofeng mic. Some say it sounds off frequency but when they tune up and down, my audio does not improve.
Does anyone know what I need to adjust or change? I really don't want to mess with BFO again as it took me forever to get that all correct. And I don't think BFO affects transmit audio quality, does it?
Glen W5GMD.
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Guruprasad Belthur
Christiaan PA3FUN
Vic WA4THR
Glen Dingley W5GMD