First off, I do not have a v6.? I HAVE worked FT8 with both the v4 and v5 uBITX.

The jacks are the same for the v4, v5, and v6.? All are TRS (Tip Ring Sleeve) NOT TRRS that is standard for a laptop or cell phone headphones with microphones.? A TR only would short out the PTT on the mic input and the audio out of the headphone jacks.? DO NOT use tip and ring only (TR) plugs with the uBITX.

The way that I connect for FT8 is with a cheap USB sound card dongle to split the mic and speakers into two separate TRS jacks.? This makes it easier to wire as I have had issues with laptops not recognizing the mic input at the laptop jack.? I also use an EasyDigi kit to isolate grounds, though some have reported not needing it.? Since the headphone jack on the uBITX has both tip and ring connected to audio out of the rig, you do not need a special cable for the rig headphone connection to the PC (laptop) dongle mic input.? A standard 3.5 mm TRS on both ends works.? Not so for the mic input on the rig,? Here the sleeve is the PTT connection, so need to connect only the tip to tip and sleeve to the sleeve of the other cable (you do not need both channels of the stereo signal).? You need to have the ring of the microphone cable unconnected on the rig side. One last point, I have added clamp-on ferrites to all lines to and from the rig.? This is to reduce any RF issues in the shack causing distortion or erratic operation.

I am using KD8CEC software for CAT control.? That is how the PTT is activated.? In WSJT-X I have the comport set to the one that shows up when I plug in the USB cable to the uBITX Nano.? Radio selected is Yeasu FT-857, Baud for KD8CEC software is 38400, 8 bits, 2 stop bits, none for handshaking.? PTT is CAT Mode is USB.? Split operation is set to none.

The biggest issue that I have is the sensitivity of the volume control of the uBITX.? I have to run it with very little volume or I get the RED bar on the left of the FT8 window signaling input overload.? I also run the transmit level low, adjusting the power out measured with a Nissei SWR/Power meter to be the same power as CW (do not know of a better way to verify that I am not overdriving the audio).

Hope the above helps.? I would be interested in any experience with the v6 software, as I believe that cat control is included with the stock software.

73
Evan
AC9TU

Hey Ted,

Guess I was wrong about K8DCEC...since I don't have a Nextion display yet, haven't tried that yet...so let's see what the future holds...

With respect to FT8, my current setup is CAT connected to USB of the laptop. Audio out of uBitx goes to mic of the laptop and PTT key goes to the Speaker out of the laptop.

Unfortunately all I have are basic aux cables with TRS plugs, don't have any TS cables and I think I need TS for this work. With the lockdown, I can't buy nor I can make one for lack of materials.

So with this setup, I am able to do decode FT8. And in Configuration, I can't make WSJT-x work with uBitx. "Test Cat" button fails and so TEST PTT never gets enabled.

Read somewhere that the cable for PTT in into uBitx must be cable with only TS and not TRS...

If you have don'e something on this, please do share.

开云体育

Do it Rene. They are not very expensive. You need some time to learn how to do.

Rene

A nano VNA is inexpensive enough that I won't work hard to discourage you from buying one.

Let's just say you can build a good antenna for HF without one. An SWR meter can tell us if our antenna is to long or short. Very little inside a ubitx or bitx can be measured with one.

I work as an EE, been a ham for decades. Yes I will get one eventually.? But most hams do well without one. But if you are curious and want to learn, sure, get one.

73 curt wb8yyy

Hello i am thinking to buy an NanoVna analyzer. Maybe somone has? experience with the Bitx and anayzing his antenna etcetc???
Regards
Rene
Netherlands

I am able to work FT8 RX with Decode, no luck on TX yet. Still analyzing how K8DCEC build is able to do FT8.

Thought about it and its still an option. Have the patch ready. If Ashhar wants it, I will submit the changes.?

He can just submit as a patch. Its not a big deal. But if improvements will be ongoing then I agree, this is a good call out.

To the best of my knowledge, the KD8CEC Nano firmware on the Raduino is based on the uBITX version, type of display, how and what is connected,? and not on the size of the Nextion display.? You should be able to select the file from Dr. Lee's Github page:


Please read the FileNameInfo.txt file in the corresponding zip file that matches your version uBITX to help in picking the correct one.? There are really only 2 versions of Nano code: 1 for pre-v5 uBITX, and 1 for v5 (also works with v6).

73
Evan
AC9TU

Thank you for sharing your improvements!

But out of curiosity, why clone instead of fork?? Doesn't that make it harder for Ashhar to merge your improvements back into the stock code?? A "clone" is still a fork anyway, it just breaks the git tools for merging.

Hello!? Does the V6 stock firmware enable CAT control for us digital addicts?? Thanks so much as always.?

Could anyone tell me what version of the firmware I need to install in the raduino in order to use AJ6CU,s 5 inch Nextion files?

Sort of learning this Arduino thing as I go along and want to make sure I get it right.

Also a big Thank You to the guys who give so freely of their time and wealth of knowledge to help others. It is much appreciated.

Thanks and you all stay safe and well.? ? Ian K3HQL

Thank-you Karol!? I had not thought to use this module in this way.? I will try it out on my rigs to see how it works for them.

I am glad that you found the problem with your rig.??
73
Evan
AC9TU

Bob,

Luckily I still have one of my 3 units with original software.? I went back and verified that you need to go into setup mode by clicking Settings.? Then one of the options that come up is setting CW(Hand), (IambicA), or (IambicB) mode.? Should look like this:


The first time after powerup you need to turn on Setup mode.? Then go back a select the CW(Hand), it may be IambicA or IambicB.? You click the encoder, then turn it to Hand and click again.? Then either power cycle or click the Settings -> Off selection.

As Curt stated, you will need to play with it a little.?

Hope this helps.

73
Evan
AC9TU

Bob

With the rig on, press the main tuning knob. Its also a switch. A menu appears, turn this knob to see other menus. One relates to cw, when you see it press knob again. Then turn knob to see settings. A little experimenting you will see how this works.

Yes make sure you are in straight key mode, and that you installed the 4.7k resistor required.

Curt

Yeah, trying my best. FT8 with this OOB is what I am looking forward to...

Oh, you mean the TX minus tone for LSB and TX plus tone for USB? Always wondered why that was there? Is it not per design??

Hi Curt
?So your saying the delay there is a delay in the setup menu. I will check that out. Thanks

Hi Evan
?I don't recall seeing selection for straight key in the setup menus. Can you tell me how to navigate to it?

Thanks to both of you for replying.
Bob?
KA3VWT