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peeps,
The recent availability of the small DC buck converter boards based on the MP1584 and M2338 came a little too late to make it to the sbitx production. However, given the unusually large number of PA failures due to the LM338 mounting issues, HF Signals will be posting a Free upgrade kit to all the existing owners of sbitx (full and basic kits). We are trying to work out the logistics of doing this. It will involve removing the heatsink clamp, cutting out the LM338, reclamping the IRFs and installing the new regulator by soldering three wires. The new regulator will not need a heatsink. The upgrade kit will also contain a spare pair of IRFZ24Ns.? These will go out by Thursday if all is well. These parts are costly in one-offs and HF Signals will be able to buy them cheaply, test and send them across in an envelope.?
For those kits and radios that are not yet shipped they will come with the new regulator installed.
- f
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Excellent, thank you so much for supporting the early adopters so well.
Ken, N2VIP
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On Aug 14, 2022, at 11:01 PM, Ashhar Farhan <farhanbox@...> wrote:
peeps,
The recent availability of the small DC buck converter boards based on the MP1584 and M2338 came a little too late to make it to the sbitx production.
However, given the unusually large number of PA failures due to the LM338 mounting issues, HF Signals will be posting a Free upgrade kit to all the existing owners of sbitx (full and basic kits). We are trying to work out the logistics of doing this.
It will involve removing the heatsink clamp, cutting out the LM338, reclamping the IRFs and installing the new regulator by soldering three wires. The new regulator will not need a heatsink.
The upgrade kit will also contain a spare pair of IRFZ24Ns.
These will go out by Thursday if all is well.
These parts are costly in one-offs and HF Signals will be able to buy them cheaply, test and send them across in an envelope.
For those kits and radios that are not yet shipped they will come with the new regulator installed.
- f
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That¡¯s extremely nice!
Great work.
Gordon
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On Aug 15, 2022, at 00:42, Ken N2VIP <ken@...> wrote:
?Excellent, thank you so much for supporting the early adopters so well.
Ken, N2VIP
On Aug 14, 2022, at 11:01 PM, Ashhar Farhan <farhanbox@...> wrote:
peeps,
The recent availability of the small DC buck converter boards based on the MP1584 and M2338 came a little too late to make it to the sbitx production.
However, given the unusually large number of PA failures due to the LM338 mounting issues, HF Signals will be posting a Free upgrade kit to all the existing owners of sbitx (full and basic kits). We are trying to work out the logistics of doing this.
It will involve removing the heatsink clamp, cutting out the LM338, reclamping the IRFs and installing the new regulator by soldering three wires. The new regulator will not need a heatsink.
The upgrade kit will also contain a spare pair of IRFZ24Ns.
These will go out by Thursday if all is well.
These parts are costly in one-offs and HF Signals will be able to buy them cheaply, test and send them across in an envelope.
For those kits and radios that are not yet shipped they will come with the new regulator installed.
- f
|
The upgrade kit is great news and continued support to the early adopters?
Art
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On Aug 15, 2022, at 00:01, Ashhar Farhan <farhanbox@...> wrote:
? peeps,
The recent availability of the small DC buck converter boards based on the MP1584 and M2338 came a little too late to make it to the sbitx production. However, given the unusually large number of PA failures due to the LM338 mounting issues, HF Signals will be posting a Free upgrade kit to all the existing owners of sbitx (full and basic kits). We are trying to work out the logistics of doing this. It will involve removing the heatsink clamp, cutting out the LM338, reclamping the IRFs and installing the new regulator by soldering three wires. The new regulator will not need a heatsink. The upgrade kit will also contain a spare pair of IRFZ24Ns.? These will go out by Thursday if all is well. These parts are costly in one-offs and HF Signals will be able to buy them cheaply, test and send them across in an envelope.?
For those kits and radios that are not yet shipped they will come with the new regulator installed.
- f
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Thank you Ashhar - quite the gesture of support for your customers!
On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 5:51 AM Art N2AJO < olson339@...> wrote: The upgrade kit is great news and continued support to the early adopters?
Art N2AJO? ? peeps,
The recent availability of the small DC buck converter boards based on the MP1584 and M2338 came a little too late to make it to the sbitx production. However, given the unusually large number of PA failures due to the LM338 mounting issues, HF Signals will be posting a Free upgrade kit to all the existing owners of sbitx (full and basic kits). We are trying to work out the logistics of doing this. It will involve removing the heatsink clamp, cutting out the LM338, reclamping the IRFs and installing the new regulator by soldering three wires. The new regulator will not need a heatsink. The upgrade kit will also contain a spare pair of IRFZ24Ns.? These will go out by Thursday if all is well. These parts are costly in one-offs and HF Signals will be able to buy them cheaply, test and send them across in an envelope.?
For those kits and radios that are not yet shipped they will come with the new regulator installed.
- f
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Thank you!
sBitx #39 73 Goody K3NG
On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 12:21 PM Lou KI5FTY < lscalpati@...> wrote: Thank you Ashhar - quite the gesture of support for your customers!
On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 5:51 AM Art N2AJO < olson339@...> wrote: The upgrade kit is great news and continued support to the early adopters?
Art N2AJO? ? peeps,
The recent availability of the small DC buck converter boards based on the MP1584 and M2338 came a little too late to make it to the sbitx production. However, given the unusually large number of PA failures due to the LM338 mounting issues, HF Signals will be posting a Free upgrade kit to all the existing owners of sbitx (full and basic kits). We are trying to work out the logistics of doing this. It will involve removing the heatsink clamp, cutting out the LM338, reclamping the IRFs and installing the new regulator by soldering three wires. The new regulator will not need a heatsink. The upgrade kit will also contain a spare pair of IRFZ24Ns.? These will go out by Thursday if all is well. These parts are costly in one-offs and HF Signals will be able to buy them cheaply, test and send them across in an envelope.?
For those kits and radios that are not yet shipped they will come with the new regulator installed.
- f
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Thank you so much, Farhan.? This is great!? I just received my Basic Kit. I'll wait for the upgrade before I put it together.? But I'll check out the boards visually :-)? If you can send an image of how you will be installing the new regulator, that would be helpful. I've seen a couple of images that folks have sent in which were great, but we just want to see how you were doing it. Thanks again!
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Well done.? Thank you
Jim
K5KKB?
sBitx 0016
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I was eyeballing an upgrade myself just for the increased energy efficiency, but I will be happy to get the kit with a buck converter selected for compatibility - Finding one that doesn't produce noise in the receiver would be trial and error for me otherwise!
The sBitx is shaping up to be a great portable radio after this upgrade, sounds like rx current should be competitive with the Yaesu FT817 but with all the advantages of a pi-powered SDR and built in digital modes!
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The current consumption in rx is now less than 0.5A, thats the same league as the venerable FT817ND (let me go and touch mine).? I guess if we have a way to switch off the display, it can even come down to 200mA. - f
I was eyeballing an upgrade myself just for the increased energy efficiency, but I will be happy to get the kit with a buck converter selected for compatibility - Finding one that doesn't produce noise in the receiver would be trial and error for me otherwise!
The sBitx is shaping up to be a great portable radio after this upgrade, sounds like rx current should be competitive with the Yaesu FT817 but with all the advantages of a pi-powered SDR and built in digital modes!
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Thanks,..
looking forward to receiving my kit.
vince
n2aie
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tnx a lot for the service. After first attempt to transmit the sBitx went dead but after unmounting the RPI and the display I found out that just the 4A fuse was blown. I am sticking to 5W until the buck converter is installed.?
Vy73 de
Rolf, DL8BAG?
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Farhan,? I can't say enough good things about the general idea and features of this radio (and potential features).? The first night I got it I was watching FT8 decodes and had my first QSO (SSB New York to Bulgaria). My sBitx (#69) let loose the next morning during a local 80 M net.? I was running about 25 Watts into a 2.5 : 1 antenna, and having my friends help me tweak the audio levels.? I've been too busy to spend a lot of time with this until last night, but finally did a tear-down and took some pictures.? I wanted to post these shots of my main board to see if anyone thinks I need to address anything else.? I had added an extension cable onto my power cord, and that's what originally flamed out. I have since ordered the recommended power supply and some materials to make a new proper power cord.? It was the next morning when I applied power again, thinking that I had just blown the cable that most of the damage in these pictures may have occurred.? I really appreciate your support of this project and I'm looking forward to getting the upgrade kit. Thanks for any assistance! --Neil, W2NDG  
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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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On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 12:01 AM, Ashhar Farhan wrote:
?
These will go out by Thursday if all is well.
?
?
- f
Will there be any notification they've shipped, and by what method? Not wanting to create any additional work for the HF Signals team, just nice to be able to keep an eye out for the delivery, especially as erratic as my usps delivery can be.
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Don, The shipping is itself working out to be 15 dollars from India (we haven't started stocking in the? usa yet). So, we have put all the upgrade kits into one box and sent it to USA. They should arrive in the next few days. From there they will be posted locally. I would expect them to get delivered by end of next week.
On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 12:01 AM, Ashhar Farhan wrote:
?
These will go out by Thursday if all is well.
?
?
- f
Will there be any notification they've shipped, and by what method? Not wanting to create any additional work for the HF Signals team, just nice to be able to keep an eye out for the delivery, especially as erratic as my usps delivery can be.
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I received my package today and everything is up and running beautifully! Thanks Ashhar. I look forward to enjoying the development of this unique product.
Jack
N6LN
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Have people received the sBitx regulator update yet? No sign of it here.
On Sun, Aug 28, 2022 at 11:44 PM John Terrell, N6LN < N6LN@...> wrote: I received my package today and everything is up and running beautifully! Thanks Ashhar. I look forward to enjoying the development of this unique product.
Jack
N6LN
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Haven¡¯t seen it yet here in 3 land.
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On Sep 2, 2022, at 15:41, Shirley Dulcey KE1L < mark@...> wrote:
Have people received the sBitx regulator update yet? No sign of it here. On Sun, Aug 28, 2022 at 11:44 PM John Terrell, N6LN < N6LN@...> wrote: I received my package today and everything is up and running beautifully! Thanks Ashhar. I look forward to enjoying the development of this unique product.
Jack
N6LN
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Jim K5KKB Steeb
Vince N2AIE
Rolf Schroeder
Neil Goldstein
Craig Wadsworth
John Terrell, N6LN
Shirley Dulcey KE1L