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Hi All,

Are there people out there using the uBITX for the FT8 digital mode?

Please let me know your experiences with that.

Public post or private email, your choice.

Thanks in advance,

Rod KM6SN

I've been making progress on getting the BitX-40 to work on FT-8. It transmits and receives but I haven't gotten it all hooked up permanently yet; hopefully I'll get to that tomorrow.?

The only issue I had was keying the transmitter. I built a VOX circuit using an LM358 and LCA-110 SSR.

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John - WA2FZW

Hi,

I got FT8 working with the uBITX, an EASY-DIGI interface and a cheap USB-RS232 dongle.? I've been using FT8 transmissions to measure antenna performance using pskreporter.info, grabbing the occasional DX on the side while I'd have the antenna up.??

The one problem I encountered was that my laptop (Macbook) would not recognize the external audio plug.? It turns out this was caused by the uBITX output volume:? if it was anything above the minimum audio level, the Mac would treat it as a non-audio signal and default to the internal mic.? If you have a Mac I recommend starting with the lowest audio level on the uBitx, and raising it as needed (likely it won't be needed.)

Thanks, Xcott K2CAJ

I have been running FT8 on both the Bitx40 and the Micro for some time now. I used a easydigi kit and a rs232 interface for PTT. I have also tested the CEC cat software setup as a FT-817 and also works very well.

Only thing I have seen is drive levels from the radio below 1200Hz and above 2000Hz is very low.

I chose to reduced my overall output power to be 5w or under on all bands by setting the drive with CW key down on 80M in small bursts. FT8 can be very demanding on the finals so running full power on the stock setup might not be a good thing. I have been looking at adding a fan or case mounting my finals with isolation kits.

Best of luck

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David

?N8DAH

On Mon, Mar 12, 2018 at 04:26 pm, N8DAH wrote:

Only thing I have seen is drive levels from the radio below 1200Hz and above 2000Hz is very low.

Don't know about the uBitX? (mine is still in the box), but on the BitX, did you remove C91 & C92. That made a big difference in output on USB. I tune using the?"Tune" button?on WSJT-X. It puts out a 1,500 Hz tone at the normal output level. That?allows me to set the audio level and?tune the Mag Loop so that it's peak performance is in the middle of the spectrum.
?
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John - WA2FZW

I've been playing with it for 2 days on 17 and 20m. Just used the cat control and a USB soundcard.
Have worked distances up to 1900 miles, even received a reception report from Italy. And that with my unturned 10-160m end-fed up in the attic.

John

I ran some FT8 tests with my uBITX as soon as it was assembled.??

Output power levels were 11W at 3.5 and 7 MHz, and about 4W at 10 and 14 MHz.? According to PSK Reporter, my signal was decoded all over North America, with strong SNRs reported by receivers with good propagation paths from Oregon.? I made at least one contact on each band before opening the rig back up to experiment with RV1 and the PA power supply. Note that my antenna is a fan dipole in the attic, with an embarrassingly long feedline (repurposed RG-59) and a manual tuner at the rig in my home office.? So feedline losses are awfully high.

I am running WSJT-X on a 7 inch tablet purpose-built?around a Raspberry Pi and a cheap USB soundcard dongle.? The soundcard interface is based on a design by W2DEN (which is in turn based on a design by KK7UQ).? You can see the tablet, and my uBITX, in the gallery at uBITX.net.

I'm using?KD8CEC’s firmware. So I should be able to use CAT control for PTT.? But there seems to be a bug in my WSJT-X release that is interfering with CAT functionality. (Either that or I fouled something up when compiling it on the Raspi.)? So for WSJT-X I use an external PTT relay driven by a USB-Serial converter.? CAT control for Fldigi works fine.

In summary, the uBITX is a great rig for FT8, even at out-of-the-box power levels.? That said. I am now splitting off the PA power so I can drive the finals with 24 VDC.? That will help make up for the inefficient antennas that I use while portable. Early testing indicates that with a 24 VDC supply for the PA I can get 20 watts on 3.5-14 MHz, 11 watts at 18 MHz, and 7 watts at 21-28 MHz.? Total current draw was 0.7 to 2.2 amps, measured while transmitting with a 25 VDC supply.? Note that those power levels were reached after also performing the "power leveling" mods suggested by?K9HZ and?WB2VXW.

Mark (AE7TO)

Hi all

i wanted to comment about FT8 using the uBitx.?
I got hooked on the Bitx 40 and followed Jacks and Allards mods, and decided to switch I’ve t to the uBitx. And of course deciding which thread to follow for mods, hit on KD8CEC approach early on.?

It it was a bit tough to follow his website, as I’m not a software guy, but with a few questions and missteps I have the rig modified to the latest.?
Very difficult keeping up with Dr. Ian he the. Jumps to interfacing with a raspberry Pi. So I figured what the hell I’ll try that. Uggg, but again with a little help I now have a Pi3 running WSJTX and plugged into the uBitx with CAT control and for the last month strictly using it on multiple bands on FT8. Is it possible yes does it work? ?Yes if you are looking for a challenge try it. If you do t take some risks you never advance.?
My 2 cents and Props to Dr Ian Lee for his interest and support to the group.?
Next is to get the Pocket WSJTX working. ?

N2AIE
Vince

I've been playing with FT8 and WSPR with both the BITX40 and ?BITX.? I'm using an easydigi for switching PTT and isolating Rx audio.? I found the loss was too high on the Tx side so I'm going right from the sound card to the rig for Tx.? I set up both my radios with a mono jack for the speaker and TRRS for mic/PTT and corresponding cables on the eaydigi so everything is interchangeable.? I'm using this sound card and this FTDI cable? The audio cables were in my junk box but I think they were from digikey.? I have the sound card and FTDI cable plugged into a small unpowered USB hub with the easydigi hot glued on top with the cables all hot glued for strain relief.? It is ugly as sin but sits out of sight and works.
--

I got my ubitx running with wsjt-x.?

Read that the WB8CEC firmware has functionality to act as a controller through the USB cable. So I installed it in my microbitx.I rewired the mic cable and speaker cable with a dpdt switch to put it in digital mode or with the mic and speaker Previously had bought an easy digi but only used the transformers for isolation on the audio circuit.?

In the first 12 hours I have logged a station in France and one in Jamaica, Both further than the 1500 miles previous record on 80 meters.
Dave
K0MBT

Yesterday was one month of my uBITx in operation and it's been
100% FT8.? I posted my FT8 initial first week comments in:

???? /g/BITX20/message/46494

After one month, I've had 252 FT8 contacts.? This has been with
a modest random length end-fed 59 ft antenna with one end up in
a tree.? I've worked 80m, 60m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, & 15 meters.
Almost all contacts have been 4 watts or less.? The results have
been great.? It includes 45 of 50 US states confirmed toward WAS
(I'm still trying to nail down those last 5 states).?? It also
includes New Zealand, Australia, Russia AS, Samoa, Cuba, Japan,
and Canada.

So, I've been very happy with FT8.? I'll be even happier when
the subspot cycle turns up.....:)

Tom
AB7WT

WSJT-X version 1.9 is the first version that has the hamlib fixes that support CAT control for the μBitx.
/g/BITX20/message/44363

Since we're on the topic of FT8 and other digital modes, is it common practice to use an online log?? I've been logging my voice QSO's in a notebook and just counting on the log file for WSJT-X for FT8.? I really only use FT8 to test propagation and don't consider myself a heavy user.? Of course there is no requirement to log online but is it expected with digital modes?? I would just assume stick to best/common practices if there is such a thing.
--

I've been running my uBITX stock hardware @ 12v since I fired it up.? I've got Ian's wonderful firmware and I soldered up a EasyDigi and plugged it into a SFF PC running Ubuntu.? The uBITX runs through a 1.7MHz HPF (Local broadcast interference) and out to a EFHW in an inverted L.? I'm up over 700 FT8 contacts on 80/40/30/20/17/15.? I'm at 48 of 50 WAS (AK, RI missing) and have gotten some of the same DX as others to the Caribbean, Europe, South America and Oceania.? It has been amazing fun already.

I'm in the process of trying to get ARIM/ARDOP running, just for giggles.

I've got my CW key printed up, but I haven't wired it up yet, so I've got to do that.? I don't have a SSB QSO yet, but it'll happen.? I have a local ham who has offered to be it, but I want it to be a surprise when it happens.

Rob AG5OV

I think the vast majority of FT8ers are hoping their contacts are logged into LOTW for awards sake.

The latest and craziest one in my opinion is the working of all the grid squares on the earth!?

But I will admit to doing the county hunters stuff for years. There were 3079 of them. ?

But don't feel obligated, enjoy it the way you want. 73. Bo W4GHV since '54

Hoping all u digital gurus can help.?
I'm wanting to use ft8 on my unit.?

I never have used digital except some packet early in life. I know there is an USB port on the radruino board. I know I can use a mini USB to regular USB to computer. Now the questions I have are,?

1.what software do I need to load the radruino to recognize this.?
2.what software is everyone using that is compatible to the units after any upgrades.?
3.basically help. I started out with a johnson Viking transmitter crystal controlled with a hallicrafters s38b receiver with light switch controlling a Relay for to, r control. ?used hw8,paccomm transceivers, ten ten 509,ss transceiver ,some mfj,. So mainly analog Operations with cw, qrp straight key. If anyone has a tutorial for hams like me would u send a link. I use vertical antennas with outbacker jr and homemade aluminum pipe antenna with loading coil. Also end fed dipole capable of multiband with my mfj versatuner. Anyone up to guiding me to a tutorial on this ft8 ,etc.? I'm computer savvy but software lacking.?

73s
David
Ka9koj
My email reflects my recent callsign. I gave it up for my original callsign I obtained when I was first licensed in 1980
kg9rb@...