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The schematic for the Q74 gate shows an input signal called TX/RX. I see only a TX or RX flag on the schematic that I have for an old BITX40 v3. Where do I get “TR/TX” from or is “TX” or “RX” from the PTT relay the signal to use?
Help appreciated.
Ted
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Sent from for Windows 10
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Not sure that I understand what you are asking for the BITX40, as there is not a Q74 in that rig.? If your question is for the uBITX (any version), the T/R signal that controls the gate of Q74 is a 5 volt signal direct from the Raduino board.? It is labeled T/R, not TX/RX.? It is also connected to Q15 that then drives the K1 relay.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Thanks for the reply Evan.
I seem to be having trouble matching the right BITX board to the right schematic to the right version of the Pop Fix mod etc.
I have a BIXT40 V3 old board that was passed on to me with no documentation. It is now working okay but wanted to do the PopFix mod.
You are right the BITX 40 that I have does not have a Q47 Mosfet. The schematic and parts list that I found on the net for this mod uses a Mosfet designated Q74 as well as a diode, resistor and a couple of caps. The drain of Q74 goes to
flag M2 or the Vol H of the volume control and the source to Gnd. It shows the gate being fed by “TX/RX” but my Arduino wiring diagram does not show a signal called this “TX/RX”. Is this signal only on the uBITX? and this mod cannot be used on a BITX 40. The
signal that controls the K1 relay is a 12v supply from the PTT sw. and not a 5v signal. I seem to be confused between BITX40 and uBITX 40 and trying to find the right mod for Popfix.
Any thoughts are welome.
Ted
VA7CTA
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Sent from for Windows 10
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Show quoted text
From: Evan Hand
Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2020 12:36 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] BITX40 Pop Fix
?
Not sure that I understand what you are asking for the BITX40, as there is not a Q74 in that rig.? If your question is for the uBITX (any version), the T/R signal that controls the gate of Q74 is a 5 volt signal direct from the Raduino
board.? It is labeled T/R, not TX/RX.? It is also connected to Q15 that then drives the K1 relay.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Ted,
I do not have any experience with the single band versions of the BITX transceivers.? The best help that I can provide is a link to the ubitx.net pages on Pop Fix:
I believe that you will need to adapt what is there, as almost all are for the multiband uBITX series.? The good thing that I see is most of the terminal descriptors are the same.? The not so good part is that with the original BITX series, there is not a Raduino with the Nano and 5volt level control signals.? As the fix from Allison uses the 5volt level to turn the transistor on before power to the transmitter stages through the relay, you will need to come up with the equivalent.? If you do not have the Raduino and the Nano, then you would need to build an inverter from the PTT signal to drive the gate of "Q74" high when the PTT signal goes low.? I would use a second 2n7000 as an inverter:
Again, these are suggestions that I have NOT verified as I do not have a rig to do the testing.
Hopefully, someone on this board has the first-hand experience and can set us straight.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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This this the original fix for the Bitx40.
works too..
regards,
Paul
KL7FLR
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Thanks Paul. It is obvious I don’t know what I have. More later.
?
Ted VA7TA
?
Sent from for Windows 10
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Show quoted text
From: Paul KL7FLR
Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2020 4:03 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] BITX40 Pop Fix
?
This this the original fix for the Bitx40.
works too..
regards,
Paul
KL7FLR
|
Hi Evan
Probably obvious I don’t know what I have. Don’t know difference between Arduino Raduino Nano etc.
The main board has BITX 40 v3 on it.
There is a LD display board. Plugged into this board is a board with mini USB jack and xtal oscillator and a 5v regulator. On this board (Raduino?) is a small board labeled Nano. This small board has a 30 pin connection. Pins 16 and 17
of this connector are labeled TXD0 and RXD1 respectively as per the schematic I found on the internet. There is nothing labeled “TX/RX”. It is a single band SSB only rig.
It appears to match the November cct description from-
?
Page 3. Published in 2017.
I thought TXD0 meant it was a data o/p pin and not a 5v logic pin?
If true will assume I have to find a different mod or listen to the pops.
73
Ted VA7CTA
?
?
?
?
?
Sent from for Windows 10
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toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: Evan Hand
Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2020 3:54 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] BITX40 Pop Fix
?
Ted,
I do not have any experience with the single band versions of the BITX transceivers.? The best help that I can provide is a link to the ubitx.net pages on Pop Fix:
I believe that you will need to adapt what is there, as almost all are for the multiband uBITX series.? The good thing that I see is most of the terminal descriptors are the same.? The not so good part is that with the original BITX series, there is not a Raduino
with the Nano and 5volt level control signals.? As the fix from Allison uses the 5volt level to turn the transistor on before power to the transmitter stages through the relay, you will need to come up with the equivalent.? If you do not have the Raduino and
the Nano, then you would need to build an inverter from the PTT signal to drive the gate of "Q74" high when the PTT signal goes low.? I would use a second 2n7000 as an inverter:
Again, these are suggestions that I have NOT verified as I do not have a rig to do the testing.
Hopefully, someone on this board has the first-hand experience and can set us straight.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Ted,
Based on what you have described so far, I believe that you do have a BITX40 with the Raduino board in place of the VFO.? That version does not use the Nano for any of the rig control EXCEPT for the frequency.? What that means to you is if you want to remove the pops, then either the circuit that Paul provided or Allison's circuit on ubitx.net with the 2N7000 inverter in front of it.? This adds another 2n7000 and a 1 meg resistor to the parts list.? You would connect the gate of the inverter MOSFET to the PTT line and the output of the inverter to the diode to the gate of the second MOSFET.? The TX line is connected to the diode with the resistor across it.
Again I must warn that I have not tested this, as I do not have a BITX 40 to experiment with.
Good Luck in protecting your ears!
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Ted,
Sorry, did not answer your question on the TXD0 and RXD1 questions.? Those are the serial links of the Nano used for updating the software and serial communication.? In the uBITX, it is used for CAT control and other options.? In the BITX 40, it is only used to update the firmware.
If I remember reading correctly, there are software mods that along with some hardware modifications you can get some added features like CAT control and WSPR functions, though I have long since deleted those links.? You could search through the ubitx.net site for them.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Thankyou Evan.
That clears up a lot of questions and answers the issue of just where this thing is in the evolution of the BITX. I’ll have to consider just how far I want to pursue improvements. I understand it was designed to be experimented with but
my knowledge and expertise is limited. On the other hand I do like to make things work. It all might depend on availability of parts.
Just read a list of 100 ways to be involved with ham radio so not hard to find busy work. Hi.
Be safe!
?
Ted VA7CTA
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: Evan Hand
Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2020 5:31 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] BITX40 Pop Fix
?
Ted,
Sorry, did not answer your question on the TXD0 and RXD1 questions.? Those are the serial links of the Nano used for updating the software and serial communication.? In the uBITX, it is used for CAT control and other options.? In the BITX 40, it is only used
to update the firmware.
If I remember reading correctly, there are software mods that along with some hardware modifications you can get some added features like CAT control and WSPR functions, though I have long since deleted those links.? You could search through the ubitx.net site
for them.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
The BitX40 with the Raduino is a pretty neat rig and I still enjoy mine, particularly as a temporary mobile rig with a mag-mounted hamstick. The first thing you might do, Ted, is to install some upgraded software. Allard Munter. PE1NWL, wrote a wonderful sketch that does not require any hardware changes and fixes some issues on its own. Little things like tuning "clicks" and stability are vastly improved. Additionally, he has a number of very simple and well-illustrated hardware changes that add more and more functionality. You need only to install the free Arduino IDE software on your computer to compile and load the "sketch" to the Raduino, and it is fully reversable as the original sketch is also available n Github, but I doubt anyone ever goes backward. You can find Allard's sketch and documentation here:
=Vic=
|
Thanks Vic for your good info and kind thoughts. I had no thoughts of getting involved with BITX until a friend gave up on building his kit. I have a QCX from QRP-Labs for CW. After getting first license (VA3CTA) in 1959 and basically being away from electronics
and ham radio until??2016, it is hard to catch up on technology changes. I will take your suggestion and learn how to update Raduino software. I feel fortunate?to ?have this?hobby in retirement.
73
Ted VA7CTA
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
The BitX40 with the Raduino is a pretty neat rig and I still enjoy mine, particularly as a temporary mobile rig with a mag-mounted hamstick. The first thing you might do, Ted, is to install some upgraded software. Allard Munter. PE1NWL, wrote a wonderful
sketch that does not require any hardware changes and fixes some issues on its own. Little things like tuning "clicks" and stability are vastly improved. Additionally, he has a number of very simple and well-illustrated hardware changes that add more and more
functionality. You need only to install the free Arduino IDE software on your computer to compile and load the "sketch" to the Raduino, and it is fully reversable as the original sketch is also available n Github, but I doubt anyone ever goes backward. You
can find Allard's sketch and documentation here:
=Vic=
|
Hi Vic
Back looking for more help. I have been playing with an Arduino Uno R3 kit and had an IDE on my laptop. I actually removed it and installed another Arduino IDE via amunters instructions. I added pinchangeinterupt to the library and could
include it in a sketch but can’t seem to follow the instructions to download the actual software (sketch}.
I don’t get the green button that says “clone or download” when I go to “Amunter/BITX40”. Can you help again?
Ted
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: Vic WA4THR via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2020 2:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] BITX40 Pop Fix
?
The BitX40 with the Raduino is a pretty neat rig and I still enjoy mine, particularly as a temporary mobile rig with a mag-mounted hamstick. The first thing you might do, Ted, is to install some upgraded software. Allard Munter. PE1NWL,
wrote a wonderful sketch that does not require any hardware changes and fixes some issues on its own. Little things like tuning "clicks" and stability are vastly improved. Additionally, he has a number of very simple and well-illustrated hardware changes that
add more and more functionality. You need only to install the free Arduino IDE software on your computer to compile and load the "sketch" to the Raduino, and it is fully reversable as the original sketch is also available n Github, but I doubt anyone ever
goes backward. You can find Allard's sketch and documentation here:
=Vic=
|
I am not sure where you are having trouble, Ted. Do you get any error messages at the bottom of the IDE screen when compiling? Do you have the right USB port selected when connected to the Raduino? My previous programming had been with Fortran on punched cards, then some Basic compiling on an old TRS-80, so the Arduino and C++ was totally new. When I started messing with firmware I found the "Raduino Software for Geezers" very helpful: /g/BITX20/message/26522?p=,,,20,0,0,0::Created,,software+for+geezers,20,2,0,5045944Once I sorted that out I was able to load Allard's sketch and then start modifying it to allow displaying an S-meter and voltmeter, and Allard was very helpful when I got stuck in the software. =Vic=
|
Ted ,? click on the green ncode button and a popup will show you a download link Dave? kc2ipx
On Sun, Jul 26, 2020 at 11:18 PM BevTed Stanier < bevtedstan@...> wrote:
Hi Vic
Back looking for more help. I have been playing with an Arduino Uno R3 kit and had an IDE on my laptop. I actually removed it and installed another Arduino IDE via amunters instructions. I added pinchangeinterupt to the library and could
include it in a sketch but can’t seem to follow the instructions to download the actual software (sketch}.
I don’t get the green button that says “clone or download” when I go to “Amunter/BITX40”. Can you help again?
Ted
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?
?
The BitX40 with the Raduino is a pretty neat rig and I still enjoy mine, particularly as a temporary mobile rig with a mag-mounted hamstick. The first thing you might do, Ted, is to install some upgraded software. Allard Munter. PE1NWL,
wrote a wonderful sketch that does not require any hardware changes and fixes some issues on its own. Little things like tuning "clicks" and stability are vastly improved. Additionally, he has a number of very simple and well-illustrated hardware changes that
add more and more functionality. You need only to install the free Arduino IDE software on your computer to compile and load the "sketch" to the Raduino, and it is fully reversable as the original sketch is also available n Github, but I doubt anyone ever
goes backward. You can find Allard's sketch and documentation here:
=Vic=
|
Thanks Vic and Dave
?
Not sure how I got there but now have a sketch called Master Bitx compiled okay with included library. Had to stop there as found I don’t have right USB cable connection for NANO.
73
Stay safe.
Ted VA7CTA
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: Vic WA4THR via groups.io
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2020 2:57 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] BITX40 Pop Fix
?
I am not sure where you are having trouble, Ted. Do you get any error messages at the bottom of the IDE screen when compiling? Do you have the right USB port selected when connected to the Raduino?
My previous programming had been with Fortran on punched cards, then some Basic compiling on an old TRS-80, so the Arduino and C++ was totally new. When I started messing with firmware I found the "Raduino Software for Geezers" very helpful:
/g/BITX20/message/26522?p=,,,20,0,0,0::Created,,software+for+geezers,20,2,0,5045944
Once I sorted that out I was able to load Allard's sketch and then start modifying it to allow displaying an S-meter and voltmeter, and Allard was very helpful when I got stuck in the software.
=Vic=
|
Hi Ted, it appears that the github user interface has slightly changed, Instead of "clone or download", click on the green "Code" button and then choose "download ZIP":  73 Allard PE1NWL
|
Roger?
Now have a sketch and library installed and looking for cable.?
On Jul 27, 2020, at 2:58 PM, Allard PE1NWL < pe1nwl@...> wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hi Ted,
it appears that the github user interface has slightly changed,
Instead of "clone or download", click on the green "Code" button and then choose "download ZIP":
<dummyfile.0.part>
73 Allard PE1NWL
|
Vic and/or Dave
?
Trying to update BITX40 with early Nano version.
I found a cable at the Dollar Store that fits the Nano. It’s not blue and is fairly long. 6ft.
Sketch compiles okay but upload fails with error about can’t use Com 9?
Any thoughts?
Will check instructions again.
Ted
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: BevTed Stanier
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2020 7:36 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [BITX20] BITX40 Pop Fix
?
Thanks Vic and Dave
?
Not sure how I got there but now have a sketch called Master Bitx compiled okay with included library. Had to stop there as found I don’t have right USB cable connection for NANO.
73
Stay safe.
Ted VA7CTA
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?
?
I am not sure where you are having trouble, Ted. Do you get any error messages at the bottom of the IDE screen when compiling? Do you have the right USB port selected when connected to the Raduino?
My previous programming had been with Fortran on punched cards, then some Basic compiling on an old TRS-80, so the Arduino and C++ was totally new. When I started messing with firmware I found the "Raduino Software for Geezers" very helpful:
/g/BITX20/message/26522?p=,,,20,0,0,0::Created,,software+for+geezers,20,2,0,5045944
Once I sorted that out I was able to load Allard's sketch and then start modifying it to allow displaying an S-meter and voltmeter, and Allard was very helpful when I got stuck in the software.
=Vic=
|
If it is a "Charging Cable" it may not have the data leads.
If it is a data cable it will work for both data and charging.?
You do have to select the correct Arduino model and the correct boot loader for things ro work properly. You have to select the proper USB port on your operating system for it to talk to the Arduino.
_._
On Tue, Jul 28, 2020 at 5:53 PM BevTed Stanier < bevtedstan@...> wrote:
Vic and/or Dave
?
Trying to update BITX40 with early Nano version.
I found a cable at the Dollar Store that fits the Nano. It’s not blue and is fairly long. 6ft.
Sketch compiles okay but upload fails with error about can’t use Com 9?
Any thoughts?
Will check instructions again.
Ted
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?
?
Thanks Vic and Dave
?
Not sure how I got there but now have a sketch called Master Bitx compiled okay with included library. Had to stop there as found I don’t have right USB cable connection for NANO.
73
Stay safe.
Ted VA7CTA
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?
?
I am not sure where you are having trouble, Ted. Do you get any error messages at the bottom of the IDE screen when compiling? Do you have the right USB port selected when connected to the Raduino?
My previous programming had been with Fortran on punched cards, then some Basic compiling on an old TRS-80, so the Arduino and C++ was totally new. When I started messing with firmware I found the "Raduino Software for Geezers" very helpful:
/g/BITX20/message/26522?p=,,,20,0,0,0::Created,,software+for+geezers,20,2,0,5045944
Once I sorted that out I was able to load Allard's sketch and then start modifying it to allow displaying an S-meter and voltmeter, and Allard was very helpful when I got stuck in the software.
=Vic=
|
Vic WA4THR
David Nelson
Allard PE1NWL
