Re: Daylight radio toroids
I redid my test gig and came up with some interesting figures for the bird cage. The Q was in excess of 300. Series capacitor of 270PF with 28T of 24ga wire. Series resonate frequency approx. 5.9MHZ. L measured around 2.15uf. ? K3BO ? Sent from for Windows ?
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From: barry halterman via groups.ioSent: Thursday, August 18, 2022 2:57 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [BITX20] Daylight radio toroids ? I don¡¯t think things are working the way they should OR I am not interpreting the data correctly. I really have not measured Q before with the NanoVNA. The micrometals? core showed a resonance of 13MHZ with a Q of 1000. The bird cage showed a resonance of 28MHZ with a Q in excess of 40,000. Those inductors were just from port1 to ground. Something does not add up:{ I used NanoVNA-saver and my SAA2 to get those figures. 73 K3BO Sent from for Windows ? ? It might be reading it correctly. Try reading a yellow core Micrometals/Amidon toroid for comparison. ? On Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 9:39 PM barry halterman <kthreebo@...> wrote: First attempt to measure Q not too good. 79...My test fixture might not be up to snuff. ? On Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 10:01 AM barry halterman via <kthreebo=[email protected]> wrote: Ashhar, yes I do but never measured Q with either units. Hints? ? On Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 9:39 AM Ashhar Farhan <farhanbox@...> wrote: Barry, Do you have a nanovna or th antuino? You could measure the Q of these easily. ? On Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 6:59 PM barry halterman <kthreebo@...> wrote:   After reading about toroids and the pit falls, I did some experiments using sewing machine bobbins.
The bobbins that I have are JANOME and are 20mm x 10mm with a center hole 6mm. I have attached a few
Pictures of the "bird cage". I have no idea what they are made from but the microwave test did not phase them.
If the losses of toroids is the material, these bobbins are 80 percent air with a little scaffolding to hold the wire.
The "bird cage" has 28turns of 24ga that measured 2.15 uh.
I would appreciate comments, good or bad.
73
Barry
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
I found the reason for zero voltage to U7: that pc trace vaporized. This was after I repaired it two nights ago. This left the RPi branch intact with power unchanged. I believe this is from a second set of IRFZ24N PA mosfets fried. This happened within a few milliseconds when I pressed the PTT button on the microphone, exactly the same way the first pair blew the other night. I don¡¯t know what to do next.
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
Unless their teacher is in the LICW Club! -- Rich
------ Original message------ From: Gordon Gibby Date: Thu, Aug 18, 2022 6:37 PM Cc: Subject:Re: [BITX20] sBitx process no longer starts
Isn¡¯t it so nice to have open source equipment? ? Makes it so much easier to diagnose.
I cracked this radio open for the first time today to show 4 middle school students, who were reasonably well impressed. ??
Guess what they elected to do the next time or a little ham club meets? ? They want to learn Morse code!
This puzzled me so we talked it over with an education major and she said that students of that age group love secrets. ?If I get them doing Morse code, I bet I can turn them into amateur radio operators eventually. ?They will be so pleased to be able to send secret messages!!
Gordon Gibby.? On Aug 18, 2022, at 18:16, Steve Beckman > wrote:
? Hi John;
The error message you're getting is coming from the i2cbb.c module (so great to have access to the sBitx source code!) That module is generating the error because it's finding the I2C serial data line is at a logic 0 / low voltage level when it should not be. Looking at the sBitx schematic, the Bit-Banged I2C bus communicates with the SI5351 synthesizer chip through pins 39 and 37 of the connector mating the digital daughterboard to the motherboard. Pin 39 is right on the end of the connector, so that's of note and worth a careful look. The SDA and SCL lines have to be pulled high with resistors R1 and R2, both 3.3 K Ohms, or else they can float low and cause this error.
So - possible problems: 1) Pin 39 from the digital board not mating properly with the motherboard - check that the digital board is fully inserted into the motherboard. 2) Regulator U7 on the main board not providing 3.3v to the SI5351 and the two pull-up resistors R1 and R2 3) R1 on the motherboard missing or damaged 4) SI5351 shorted / damaged
Hopefully it's just the mating of the digital daughterboard to the main motherboard - and you'll be back on the air shortly.
73; Steve, N3SB
On Thu, Aug 18, 2022 at 5:56 PM John Terrell, N6LN < N6LN@...> wrote: I also ran raspi-config to make sure i2c was enabled. No change. I get the same error.
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
John - I just made a few resistance measurements on my sBitx. With power turned off and disconnected:
?-- Pin 3 of U7 to case of either driver transistor (free-standing transistors with heat sinks) - shorted. Confirms that 12 Volts is getting to U7. ?-- Tab of U7 to Ground - about 2K Ohms.
Regulator U7 is only powering the SI5351 and a 25 MHz oscillator. It's got an easy life!! Really surprised that it could have failed.
73; Steve, N3SB
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
A great summary by Steve, so is U7 suspect ? Are you getting voltage in or out of it ?
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
Isn¡¯t it so nice to have open source equipment? ? Makes it so much easier to diagnose.
I cracked this radio open for the first time today to show 4 middle school students, who were reasonably well impressed. ??
Guess what they elected to do the next time or a little ham club meets? ? They want to learn Morse code!
This puzzled me so we talked it over with an education major and she said that students of that age group love secrets. ?If I get them doing Morse code, I bet I can turn them into amateur radio operators eventually. ?They will be so pleased to be able to send secret messages!!
Gordon Gibby.?
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On Aug 18, 2022, at 18:16, Steve Beckman <ssteven3sb@...> wrote:
? Hi John;
The error message you're getting is coming from the i2cbb.c module (so great to have access to the sBitx source code!) That module is generating the error because it's finding the I2C serial data line is at a logic 0 / low voltage level when it should not be. Looking at the sBitx schematic, the Bit-Banged I2C bus communicates with the SI5351 synthesizer chip through pins 39 and 37 of the connector mating the digital daughterboard to the motherboard. Pin 39 is right on the end of the connector, so that's of note and worth a careful look. The SDA and SCL lines have to be pulled high with resistors R1 and R2, both 3.3 K Ohms, or else they can float low and cause this error.
So - possible problems: 1) Pin 39 from the digital board not mating properly with the motherboard - check that the digital board is fully inserted into the motherboard. 2) Regulator U7 on the main board not providing 3.3v to the SI5351 and the two pull-up resistors R1 and R2 3) R1 on the motherboard missing or damaged 4) SI5351 shorted / damaged
Hopefully it's just the mating of the digital daughterboard to the main motherboard - and you'll be back on the air shortly.
73; Steve, N3SB
On Thu, Aug 18, 2022 at 5:56 PM John Terrell, N6LN < N6LN@...> wrote: I also ran raspi-config to make sure i2c was enabled. No change. I get the same error.
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
Voltage is zero at the common point of R1, R2 and the large tab of U7.?
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
Hi John;
The error message you're getting is coming from the i2cbb.c module (so great to have access to the sBitx source code!) That module is generating the error because it's finding the I2C serial data line is at a logic 0 / low voltage level when it should not be. Looking at the sBitx schematic, the Bit-Banged I2C bus communicates with the SI5351 synthesizer chip through pins 39 and 37 of the connector mating the digital daughterboard to the motherboard. Pin 39 is right on the end of the connector, so that's of note and worth a careful look. The SDA and SCL lines have to be pulled high with resistors R1 and R2, both 3.3 K Ohms, or else they can float low and cause this error.
So - possible problems: 1) Pin 39 from the digital board not mating properly with the motherboard - check that the digital board is fully inserted into the motherboard. 2) Regulator U7 on the main board not providing 3.3v to the SI5351 and the two pull-up resistors R1 and R2 3) R1 on the motherboard missing or damaged 4) SI5351 shorted / damaged
Hopefully it's just the mating of the digital daughterboard to the main motherboard - and you'll be back on the air shortly.
73; Steve, N3SB
On Thu, Aug 18, 2022 at 5:56 PM John Terrell, N6LN < N6LN@...> wrote: I also ran raspi-config to make sure i2c was enabled. No change. I get the same error.
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
I also ran raspi-config to make sure i2c was enabled. No change. I get the same error.
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Not having put this into my V6 yet, but I would suggest you spend a few more $$ and get the enhanced version instead of the basic or discovery.? See?
The basic and discovery have less memory and a slower processor. Although not a lot of difference in the 2.8" size, you might need to trim down some of the functionality of the screens or have less headroom when new stuff comes out.?
Just a thought for $4 more...
73
Mark
AJ6CU
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
I checked the multi-pin connector. It¡¯s fine.?
Here¡¯s the cmd line error: (see photo)
I2CBB connection lost: i2c_start_cond
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
Yeah, it's very easy to be a row of pins out and you need to be careful of that as it has the potential to cause mucho damage.
On Thu, 18 Aug 2022 at 21:16, John Terrell, N6LN < N6LN@...> wrote: I¡¯ll check the 40 pin connector. I had to take it out to switch out the finals. I may have put it back incorrectly or bent a pin, although I took care to avoid damage. As you know the reassembly of the unit is delicate and tedious.
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
I¡¯ll check the 40 pin connector. I had to take it out to switch out the finals. I may have put it back incorrectly or bent a pin, although I took care to avoid damage. As you know the reassembly of the unit is delicate and tedious.
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Re: #sbitx - an ugprade kit is on the way
#sBitx
Ashhar,
We all accepted some risk inherent in a developer¡¯s edition. I imagine most of us would have been happy just to learn of the fix. To send upgrade kits free of charge was extraordinary. Thanks much!
Regards,
Craig
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Re: Connecting the sBitx Digital Audio Board to a x86 PC
For quite a while "just buy an HL2" wasn't an option. Another batch is finally available.
You would need to install an i2s interface in the PC and they seem to be shockingly expensive, why on earth would you want to do this ?
If you want to hook an SDR directly to your PC there are a plethora of SDR's which do this off the shelf, just buy an HL2.
On Thu, 18 Aug 2022 at 14:44, Rafael Diniz < rafael@...> wrote: Hi all,
I'm trying to find a solution to remove the raspberry and use a PC
connected to the sbitx digital audio board. For the control signals
(Si5351A and some others) I'll use a arduino (just like in the uBitx),
but for the pins which go to the audio codec, should I use a USB to I2S
adapter? Any suggestion?
Cheers,
Rafael Diniz
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
John - try opening up the command prompt window, going into the sbitx directory, and starting the sbitx program directly from the command line ./sbitx
You may get an error?message or some other clue that will be useful in debugging the problem.
73; Steve, N3SB?
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Hi Jim,
Yep, that is exactly the model Nextion I used. It will most likely come with a card telling you to download the latest editor software. I did that and re-compiled the .tft file, which seems to work, so I can send you that if it helps.
I¡¯ve got the components coming for the S-meter as well, so we can compare notes as we go - WhatsApp is fine for me.
73
Jonathan
G5LUX
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Re: sBitx process no longer starts
I would guess the codec on the digiboard isn't responding, maybe pull the pi & digiboard and check the connectors, check of any signs of issues, if all looks good put back together and fire it up to see if it works.
I assume you are using Ashhar's image in an unmodified state correct ?
On Thu, 18 Aug 2022 at 19:59, John Terrell, N6LN < N6LN@...> wrote: Previously my sBitx (sn#12) started without trouble. Now it hangs for about 30 seconds and then I get a dialog box asking whether I want to terminate the process as it¡¯s taking too long to start. I downloaded another RPi image to a new 32GB micro SD card and it still hangs. See the screenshot.?
suggestions?
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Re: Connecting the sBitx Digital Audio Board to a x86 PC
It has i2s pins and runs linux so in theory it should be possible to port the code with some adaptions. The China site seems to be out of stock though, a shame wouldn't mind buying one to play with.
On Thu, 18 Aug 2022 at 15:14, Rafael Diniz < rafael@...> wrote: Other option for me which needs a x86 CPU, could be a Rock Pi X, which
already has the 40-pin raspberry header and uses the same form factor of
the Pi:
Rafael
On 8/18/22 16:43, Rafael Diniz wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm trying to find a solution to remove the raspberry and use a PC
> connected to the sbitx digital audio board. For the control signals
> (Si5351A and some others) I'll use a arduino (just like in the uBitx),
> but for the pins which go to the audio codec, should I use a USB to
> I2S adapter? Any suggestion?
>
> Cheers,
> Rafael Diniz
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Re: Connecting the sBitx Digital Audio Board to a x86 PC
You would need to install an i2s interface in the PC and they seem to be shockingly expensive, why on earth would you want to do this ?
If you want to hook an SDR directly to your PC there are a plethora of SDR's which do this off the shelf, just buy an HL2.
On Thu, 18 Aug 2022 at 14:44, Rafael Diniz < rafael@...> wrote: Hi all,
I'm trying to find a solution to remove the raspberry and use a PC
connected to the sbitx digital audio board. For the control signals
(Si5351A and some others) I'll use a arduino (just like in the uBitx),
but for the pins which go to the audio codec, should I use a USB to I2S
adapter? Any suggestion?
Cheers,
Rafael Diniz
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John Terrell, N6LN
Craig Wadsworth
Shirley Dulcey KE1L