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Calibration
#calibration
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Hello, I just got my rig running and tried tuning it up but can not find any info for ver 5.1 info! tried the write up at the ubitx site don't know for what ver and one for uBitx v4.3 and it kinda worked but the instructions do not match what I am seeing on my rig. by playing with the freq and bfo It's way off.
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Adrien F4IJA
For me it's still a thing to do with my V5 board. In Europe it's not easy to catch wwv broadcast stations. So with wspr reports I was able to see frequencies of reporters and it seems that I'm just about 50hz drifted so I guess it's quite good indeed.?
The difficult part is the BFO adjustment. We don't really know the values you change. I can now understand voices but I can't say if it's on the right frequency.? Need to make some improvements in my wiring first and I'll check again.? -- 73's Adrien F4IJA |
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I would also recommend the built-in WSPR function in KD8CECs firmware to calibrate the frequency offset. ? |
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Thanks for replying to my request for help. See the following link:
I am going to update my firmware to KD8CEC 1.061 or 1.072 because KM6SN put together a very well done manual and it documents exactly how use the new firmware. The tune up and BFO adjustments have been improved in the new firmware. I am now waiting for a USB to Mini cable I just ordered for my laptop to Arduino Nano firmware update. I think that KD8CEC has corrected a lot of things and he also has a path forward for some great mods. Gonna add BCI filter, AGC fix and a 700 HZ cw filter. I think a lot of the problems have to do with not having AGC. I live in an area that has a lot of AM broadcast stations so the BCI filter should get rid of the interference. I like CW so I will put in the audio 700hz filter from the 4 State QRP club. Have Fun.... Dave N8KZ |
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Please be aware that the new v5 boards need to have the CEC version 1.2 or higher.? The IF frequency changed between the v4 and v5 boards.? IF you are going to go back to an older version of CEC for use on the v5 board you will need to go into the source and change the IF frequencies, recompile and then download.
Also be aware that the stock firmware requires a dummy load and separate receiver or frequency counter to calibrate.? The CEC software does not need the dummy load to calibrate. The HF Signals' Tuneup web page instructions for step 2 are WRONG (Ashhar, this REALLY needs to be fixed!).? The stock firmware that I received on my v5 board put the uBITX into TRANSMIT mode at 10mhz.? Maybe this has changed with newer boards. Since in my country (USA) 10MHz is not a valid ham frequency, a dummy load must be used.? I am pretty sure that this was done to facilitate the production testing/calibration process, however it does cause a problem if you are trying to calibrate and do not know that it will go into transmit mode at 10mhz.? It can also cause damage to the uBITX if left in this mode too long without a proper load. (note: QRP-Labs makes a nice 20 watt kit:? For the stock firmware, dummy load and receiver/frequency counter setup, it is fairly easy to set the receiver to 10mhz (I assume that you calibrated the receiver/freq counter before this) and adjust the calibration until you get a zero beat on the receiver or 10 MHz on the counter.? Using a frequency counter, it is just a matter of connecting? to the counter through an attenuator to reduce the signal (the QRP-Labs dummy has a tap on it).? Most counters will work with a short wire held near the dummy load, no physical connection needed.? If you have an oscilloscope with a frequency counter built in, you could use it.? Most oscilloscopes are not that accurate, so I do not recommend this approach, unless being used as a relative reference.? Once the master clock has been calibrated, I have found that the BFO is best adjusted with a free audio spectrum analyzer software.? Connect a mic to the PC, find a frequency with only static, hold the mic close to the speaker and adjust until the amplitude of the signal displayed is between 500 and 2500 Hz. Free PC software:? Above is my free advice, please use with caution as I could be wrong and will not assume any responsibility for it's use. Good luck! 73 Evan AC9TU |
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I went back and checked the QRP-Labs dummy load.? The connection is a filtered power indication.? This may not work for frequency counters, as the filter will lower the signal.? The small wire near the dummy is probably the best approach if you do not have a true attenuator.
Apologize for the miss information. 73 Evan AC9TU? |
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Thank you for saving this old dog from barking up the wrong tree. I will down load V 1.2, Big help thanks again...
I have a dummy load and a good comm receiver to check the ubitx tx with. The TX and RX are working but the BFO adjustment for clear audio is very bad. cw works very nice and clear! OK big help CUL 73 Dave N8KZ |
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Well this is a work in progress. Every thing keeps getting improved and a lot of the guys doing the improvements assume everyone knows the history of how thing evolved. So whats happening here is all all the information a newbie needs is not tied together in one place. So here is what I found out so far to get my mbitx V5.1 running right after I got everything running and the wiring checked ok using the factory firmware.
?Here is what information and files that I found helped me get my rig running right? for thr mbitx V5.1 as of 9-22-2019.: 1. down loaded uBITX_CEC_V1.200_16P.hex? file in folder. I found a programming USB to MINI cable at my local drug store today. Download the hex file using XLoader software. A software driver needs to be installed in your computer to talk to the Nano in the mbitx radio. 2. Read the KD8CEC uBitx manual for V1.072 by Rod KM6SN manual ua1072_087 at web site: ubiix.net/manual-kd8cec-firmware/ Learn how to use the three types of button presses on the indexer knob push button. I wondered why the separate button was required in paralleled with the existing indexer push button....and now I know the rest of the story. A lot of whats in this manual works for the V1.2. 3. Go to this web site and read all the links:? CUL on the Bands 73 Dave N8KZ |
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Attached is my calibration spreadsheet calculator, I use a free office app called Open Office.
It looks like it's gonna work,,,,will test it this week end....but maybe you can check it out and let me know if it's right? I have a good comm receiver to measure my mbitx freq. output. My mbitx is transmitting 5 watts into a 50 ohm 15 watt dummy load. The comm RX has a 1 ft wire antenna with 40 db of attenuation cranked into it. OK fer now CU all Later 73 Dave N8KZ |
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?Regarding the USB cable that fits the raduino, at least the earlier versions, I found it to be the same as the one that came switch my NIKON DSLR camera. I bought a second cable on Ebay, that is the same. ?It is NOT the same as the ones found inmost stores. Those are a bit different, and fit most android cellphones,etc. ?I have a variety of those that I bought at the Dollar Tree. ?I don't know what the newer Raduino's take,only what the early version that most older Arduino NANO takes ?Some stores that sell NIKON and maybe some other cameras would have the cable,albeit, usually at a higher price. ?There is a big difference in the end that fits the NANO/Raduino compared to the more common type that fits most Androids. ?Wayne WA2YNE |
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This one, The two that I bought,plus the Raduinos that I have all use the USB cable that is like the ones my NIKON camera uses. They are now selling some that use the same cable that most Android cell phones use. ?There is a difference. ?The cables cannot be interchanged between the two types. ?I cannot say what cable the newer Raduinos use, having not seeing them or pix of the USB connectors on them. ?Wayne WA2YNE |
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For those who do not know you can remove the rest of the link starting from the question mark? This link would then be? This applies to other links Regards Lawrence On Thu, Sep 26, 2019 at 4:12 AM Wayne Leake <wayneleake@...> wrote:
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The item is removed by On Thu, 26 Sep 2019, 1:18 pm Lawrence Galea, <9h1avlaw@...> wrote:
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