I received my Ubitx v6 a couple of weeks ago.? I assembled it and I did make two contacts.? It did work.? I bought an enhanced 2.8 Nextion board and installed it.? I have no background in programming or electronics, so it took several attempts to get KD8CDC firmware 1.2 loaded.? All the controls seem to work fine but I do not hear is my usual noise floor.? I did not hear anybody. ? I connected the antenna coax to another radio and it works fine.? I connected my TinySA with a 10 dB attenuator and saw no signal on the screen.? I tried different bands.? I connected the same setup to one of my handhelds and saw a signal spike right where I expected it.? Finally I connected a wattmeter to the ubitx v6 and did not see any power out put.? I tried both USB and CW.? I then connected the wattmeter to my handheld and it read 7 watts as expected.?

I then thought I may have screwed up the calibration somehow.? I have spent the last three days googling and reading messages in this group.? All threads have lead to dead ends.? I have tried to hear WWV at 10 MHz.? I hear absolutely nothing.? Same at 5 MHZ and 15 MHZ.? Works fine on my other HF radios.? I tried to tune in an AM radio station.? Nothing.? I read that I can use my NanoVNA or my Tiny SA to calibrate the ubitx v6.? I am already way above my paygrade and don't know how to do that.

Needless to say I am very frustrated.? I don't believe I bricked the ubitx, I am just not smart enough to figure this out on my own.? I don't know if this has any relevance.? My ubitx v6 shipment was delayed over a week because they found a "bad batch of coils and the boards were not passing their tests."??? Like I said, it worked when I got it.? I would appreciate any help I can get.

snaulty,

How did you load the firmware into the Nano?? Did you use the Arduino IDE and compile and download or load the precompiled hex file with XLoader?

From your description, I would first verify that you installed the correct file version of the KD8CEC software if you used the HEX file or that you had the correct #Define options set if you did the compile and download.? I assume that you used the HEX file and that a possible issue is you used the wrong file/folder from the archive.? There are versions for the v2 to v3 uBitx, and then for the v5 and v6.? The correct file name is:
UBITXV5_CEC_V1.200_NX.hex

Note the V5 is also the one to use for the v6.

Did you replace the Nano when you changed to the Nextion display?? If so, then you will need to calibrate.

Let us know how you loaded the software.

73
Evan
AC9TU

开云体育

Oh my, I feel for you. ?

I would put it back the way it was with original tft and software if calibration doesnt work.Evans right, if ur calibration is off, you wont be able to hear an elephant fart sitting next to you.

Like you said, you made a couple of contacts before you re-did the software and display. like evean said, you will have to re calibrate your NANO,

reverse the process, uload the hex file for the original software and then slooowly go forward after getting the radio back to original.

But if you dont want to go back to original, just calibrate like evan stated. plenty of files,videos on this here and youtube.

I believe Ashhar has a video on calibrating the ubitx also. Mifght be wrong but i would watch all of them and then tackle the calibration first, and if that doesnt work, then install the original software.

73
David
ac9xh

I used both methods plus I originally tried using .tft file on a micro SD card and load it that way.? It seemed to work but not all the buttons functioned. That file was ubtix_28_E.tft ? Then I loaded the hex file you mentioned above with XLoader.? Now all the buttons worked.? However, I could no longer hear anyone.? I decided to revert back to the original firmware.? I could not find a hex file for it so I followed Ashhar's video to use Auduino IDE to compile and upload the original firmware v6.1 (the .zip file said v6.3 but the .ino file was labeled 6.1.)?

No, I have not replaced the Nano nor have I removed it from the socket.?

I have tried several methods to recalibrate but I cannot hear WWV at 10MHz or at 5MHZ or 15MHz.? I tried to tune in an AM radio station and hear nothing.? If there are instructions somewhere to use the NanoVNA or TinySA to recalibrate the ubitx v6, I would be grateful.? I believe I have messed up the calibration somehow, and everytime I try to recalibrate, I make it worse.??

BTW, I did take the board out and inspected the solder joints with a bright light and magnifier.? They look good.? I checked each component and nothing looks scorched.? I want to go back and recheck the wiring harness for the Nextion screen.? Thank you for your help.

I am back to the original firmware and all I hear is white noise.? I don't know how to check the oscillators yet.? Thank you

I had but the original screen and firmware back before I wrote my original message.? I had to use Ashhar's video with the Arduino IDE software to do that.? I have tried many video's on recalibrating but all fail because I cannot hear WWV nor can I hear an AM radio station.? Thank you

snaulty,

There are three major steps that all need to be done.
1 - Adjust the BFO so you can hear the low beating tones
2 - Calibrate against a known AM signal.? I use a signal generator that I have verified to be on frequency.
3 - Adjust the BFO to hear voices in the 300 to 3,000-hertz range.

Have you used the BFO Tuning Aid?? Do you see a plateau?? If there is no plateau, I believe you have the wrong software loaded, or the calibration is far from adjustment.??

I have recently read two reports of a dead receiver traced to a failing Si5351 clock chip.? I had this happen to one recently purchased v6 that I worked on for another Ham.? I could not find a plateau with that BFO either.? I had to replace the Raduino board as I did not have time to replace just the Si5351 chip.

With the KD8CEC software, a PC program can save the calibration and other configuration parameters.? It is Memory Manager:


The program is here:



Mark, AJ6CU has been updating and expanding the hardware base for the KD8CEC software.? Here is a link to his GitHub site.? He is developing extensions and improvements to Dr Lee's software.


If you load the KD8ECE firmware back on the v6, use the memory manager program and post a saved file.? That can tell us if there are valid values in the calibration settings.

73
Evan
AC9TU

Evan: 1. I have searched for the beating tones.? I have only gone 200 kHz above and below 10MHz looking for the tones.? I will test farther out than that if you would like.

2. I have a friend who was Electrical Engineering professor.? He still has his equipment.? He can help me with the signal generator if needed

3. I have used the BFO Tuning Aid.? I do not get a nice plateau like Ashhar does in his video.? I get a line of noise from one side the other.? Turning the tuning knob does not seem to do anything.

4. I have been using the ubitx Memory manager program ever since I installed the Nextion board.? Every time I do something, I do a backup.? I will try to attach the .btx file I made right after I installed the Nextion board.? That way you can see my configuration on the first boot up with the Nextion board.

5. I was not aware of Mark, AJ6CU.? I did note if you have the Arduino Nano, he advises one not to use his Ver 2.0 software.? If I have to get a new Raduino board, I will.? I personally feel that it is FAR out of alignment and that I am the cause.? I have spent three days trying to fix it but have probably just made things worse.? I bought this transceiver as a learning tool.? I am frustrated right now but I am not giving up yet.? Thank you for taking the time to help me troubleshoot this.? Stuart KN4RGB

snaulty,

I could open and review the calibration settings you sent me.? The values are very wrong, so if that is what is in the uBitx now, it will not receive.

The important value to get right first is the BFO (USB) setting.? The value you have in the file is 11092000.? It should be within 2000 of 11056000, or 11054000 to 11058000.? These are not hard values, but what I have seen.

This is the last v6 that I worked on:



I would suggest connecting the Nextion screen and reloading the 1.2 Nano software.? Load the above values using Memory Manager and then try the calibration process.

I will stress again that you FIRST make the BFO adjustment to get the ratios between the SSB filter and the IF frequencies.? The 3 significant steps are:
1 - Set the BFO for the low-end tones
2 - Do the zero beat calibration of a known AM signal
3 - Set the BFO for best voice operation.

The way that I set the BFO and Calibration values with the Nextion and CEC firmware is to use the "Yellow Box" that is part of the KD8CEC firmware.? You get to the Yello Box by holding in the tuning encoder until it pops up.? The Yellow Box menu is extended by rotating the encoder until Settings On?? is displayed and pressing the encoder.? The box disappears, so you must press and hold the encoder again.? When the box comes up, you should be able to rotate the encoder to the BFO and Calibration settings to make the adjustments.

Other than the yellow box, the basic steps are the same as in the video:


I still believe you have the software for the v2 to v4 loaded, NOT the v5.? Verify that the files are:
UBITXV5_CEC_V1.200_NX.hex?
in the UBITXV5 folder.

Also, be sure you are using the correct XLoader program, as there are versions for RC models that will not work with the uBitx unless you update the devices file.? If you have difficulty loading the hex file, post back with questions and a screenshot of the XLoader screen.

73
Evan
AC9TU

OP noted that I advised against trying v2 of CEC software on a nano. Generally, I still adhere to this. But in the case of calibration difficulties I have relaxed that advice. ?My new Settings Editor has a “calibration wizard” that exactly implements the advice Evan provided above (bfo,master cal, bfo). It also allows you to see in real time the effects of your tweaks. And when it reads in the calibration settings it alerts you if you are outside the reasonable range.?

There is a YouTube video playlist in using theSettings Editor, trying the beta of V2 CEC and using the Calibration Wizard. ?

?

73
Mark

--
AJ6CU
KD8CEC 2.0, Nextion Screens,? and open source uBITX Raduino boards for Arduino IOT, BLE, RP2040, Teensy 4.0, and Raspberry Pi Pico
https://github.com/aj6cu

Evan and Mark:? I have read and reread your messages.? I have tried everything you suggested.? Mark, I successfully loaded your v2.0 hex file and ran ubitx settings editor.? I tried your configuration manager but when I get to Ashhar's BFO configuration aid, it is just a solid wall of noise.? I clicked on the arrows left and right for a megahertz each way and the screen does not change.? Nothing is moving.? Listening to WWV at 10MHz or tuning in a strong AM station do not work because I hear absolutely nothing.?

I did note that under the settings manager system tab, it does not list anything about my hardware.? In your video those fields were populated.

I thought that I might have wired the nextion board wrong.? If I had the Rx and Tx reversed, the radio would not work.? I followed the instructions by WB2CBA – Barbaros Asuroglu.? I checked my wiring over and over.and it looks correct.? When I put the original screen back in and load the original firmware, Rx and Tx still do not work.? I guess I have nothing to lose by reversing Rx and TX now, unless the damage is already done.?

So if this is a hardware problem, what do I do next?? Just buy some arduino nano's to try?? Get a new Raduino board?? If so where?? Other ideas?

I want to thank everybody for the help and suggestions.? I really appreciate it.? Stuart KN4RGB

snaulty,

Not having any plateau indicates the wrong hex file, the wrong parameters for the XLoader, or the Si5351 chip failed.

The only way to check the Si5351 chip is with a frequency counter, an oscilloscope, or possibly with another receiver.? You need some way to verify that the chip is generating the clock signals.? Do you have access to one of these devices?

Please post a screenshot of the XLoader screen just before you start the download.? That might tell us something.

73
Evan
AC9TU

A unlikely possibility, that I only mention because I have done it more than once…, when I got a flat signal I did not have a valid antenna connected. I got into this mess because I injected a 10mhz signal to get I good zero beat for master cal and then forgot to reconnect the antenna.?

--
AJ6CU
KD8CEC 2.0, Nextion Screens,? and open source uBITX Raduino boards for Arduino IOT, BLE, RP2040, Teensy 4.0, and Raspberry Pi Pico
https://github.com/aj6cu

Hit the send button too soon. In terms of populating that final tab, the nano should only have a few things populated like the version number, software serial etc. most should be NA. It’s gets interesting when you have a teensy or pico version.?

take a look at the log after you do the load and see if it says that you have a valid calibration for a v6. ?Like Evan said, you can also get no signal with the wrong version of CEC loaded because of CEC sees invalid calibration numbers it defaults to a midpoint in the range for the uBITX board it was compiled for. ?And it does this silently… ?so you think you have a reasonable calibration number for your system, but because CEC was compiled for a different motherboard version it ignores what is in the eeprom ?

73
Mark

But Evan is right in too.?
--
AJ6CU
KD8CEC 2.0, Nextion Screens,? and open source uBITX Raduino boards for Arduino IOT, BLE, RP2040, Teensy 4.0, and Raspberry Pi Pico
https://github.com/aj6cu

Evan and Mark:?

1. Yes, I have a friend who has all that equipment and much more.? Just let me know where to? take the readings and what values to expect.?

2. attached in a .jpg file that shows the XLoader parameter the last time I uploaded.? The file is one Mark had me upload to use his ubitx settings editor.? I had four choices of .hex file and this one more closely matched my setup.?

3. the .jpg also shows where I get stuck.? You can see the BFO calibration graph in the middle.? No matter how many time I click on the red right and left arrows, the graph does not change.?

4. If you feel I am loading the wrong firmware, just give me a url to the one you feel would be correct and I will load it.? Does not matter if it is .hex, .tft, .hmi, or source code.? I will load it.

5. If the ST5351 is bad, how much is a new Raduino board and where do I get one?

Stuart KN4RGB

Stuart

i can’t read the xloader parameters. Not enough resolution on the jpg. At this point, I think V2 is confusing the issue and not helping. I recommend following Evan’s advice and either go back to the OEM software or CEC 1.2 and try from there.?

A Raduino swap out is probably a good thing to try at this point (if you have one). Unfortunately mine are all packed away for the moving company and I will not see them again for at least 3 weeks.?

73
Mark
--
AJ6CU
KD8CEC 2.0, Nextion Screens,? and open source uBITX Raduino boards for Arduino IOT, BLE, RP2040, Teensy 4.0, and Raspberry Pi Pico
https://github.com/aj6cu

Attached is a better .jpg of the XLoader screen.

I will try and install the original screen and firmware.

Definitely the right file. Starting to agree with the folks that are wondering whether there is a hardware problem.?

73
Mark
--
AJ6CU
KD8CEC 2.0, Nextion Screens,? and open source uBITX Raduino boards for Arduino IOT, BLE, RP2040, Teensy 4.0, and Raspberry Pi Pico
https://github.com/aj6cu