|
All:
The FDIM conference was a good time and the trip to nearby Xenia for the Hamvention was also great. The rain didn't help, but it was better than last year, and I'm sure it will be even better next year.
Friday night was a sort of Show-and-Tell at FDIM and we used that opportunity to show our JackAl board in action. This photo shows a little more about what it is and does:
At the show, Al hooked up a noise generator to the ?BITX to show how the filters work. (There are 4 preset filters for CW and 4 for SSB.) In addition, you can customize one CW and SSB filter to the bandwidth you desire. You might be able to see that the skirts are pretty steep for the filters on the scope in the background. The setting of the CW custom skirts are set differently, in that you pick a center frequency (e.g., 700Hz in the shot below), press the encoder, and then you see this:
In this case, turning the encoder CCW increases the bandspread (i.e., the 440 red number above, although it looks orange in the photo) by simultaneously moving the skirts (480Hz and 920Hz) further apart. If you turn the encoder CW, you narrow the bandspread. Most CW users will probably center the bandpass on their favorite sidetone frequency, which centers the bandpass on that frequency.
The demo used a 5" display, although a 7" display is also available. The third knob on the front is for a second encoder that we use for everything from setting the CW keyer speed to adjusting the filter skirts. You can see some of the plots on the panel at the rear of the picture above for some of the board's features (e.g., filter responses, compression, etc.) Those will be included in the documentation when the (downloadable) manual is finished.
The JackAl board has the following features:
????5" or 7¡±
touch screen 800x480 TFT color display ??? Dual VFO's ??? RIT ??? S meter ??? RTC ??? CW keyer, 5 to 50wpm (we could go up to 100wpm, but...really?)
??? Up to 50 CW preset messages, selectable at runtime...perfect for contest messages
??? Touch screen function and control selection (e.g., band changes, RIT, mode, VFO, VFO increment, LSB/USB, etc.) ??? Automatic LSB/USB selection based on frequency (overrideable)
??? One touch frequency increment changes (1Hz to 1MHz in multiples of 10...the white underscore in the frequency window)
??? Dual encoders (frequency, features) ??? EEPROM storage of user preferences (one-click reset to "factory" defaults) ??? Uses Teensy 3.6 processor (1Mb flash @180MHz) and companion audio board ??? Support for 3 external CW push button switches (NO) for sending stored CW messages (e.g., contesting) ??? Hardware AGC using IF take-off ?? ? Audio AGC with adjustable threshold
??? Mic compressor with adjustable threshold ??? 8 band audio equalizer
??? Receive audio filter: ??????? 48dB/octave (8 pole equivalent DSP filters) ??????? 4 CW presets (150, 300, 400, 600, [or none] Hz 3dB bandwidth) + 1 user-defined knee frequencies (at runtime!) filter ??????? 4 SSB presets (1500, 1800, 2200, 3000, [or none] Hz 3dB bandwidth) + 1 user-defined knee frequencies (at runtime!) filter ??? ??? Variable Notch filter, encoder adjustable, use specified Q
??? 7 watt power amplifier
The board will be distributed with all (surface mounted) parts in place. The user must supply the Teensy 3.6 ($30), its supporting audio board ($15), and the 5" ($34) or 7" ($44) touch screen displaying (using the RA8875 controller chip, BuyDisplay.com). We expect the JackAl board to sell for $50. We may need to adjust this price as we have only received "ballpark" cost estimates for the board since we only have the Gerber files for the Beta board. Currently, we are using less than 20% of the available flash memory (out of 1Mb) and less than 15% of the SRAM (256K), so there is plenty of memory resources available for adding "stuff". The board also brings out a number of I/O pins to help your experimentation. With the exception of removing one SMD resistor on the ?BITX board and soldering two wires to those pads, all interconnections are via existing connectors.
Our best guess is that after finishing the modified Gerber files, production, Beta testing, and writing support manuals, it will be probably two months before we begin distribution. We will announce its availability here as soon as we can. BTW, if anyone knows a high-quality PCB manufacturer who also does pick-and-place at reasonable prices, we are getting quotes and would like to know about them.
Jack Purdum, W8TEE Al Peter, AC8GY
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Very nice unit Jack, with plenty of extras possible too with the Teensy 3.6 (DSP, decoders and more).
If I build a desktop oriented uBitx where I don't have to watch the consumption like for my portable unit, I will most likely be interested.
All the best,
73, John (VK2ETA)
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This is, as the MTV people would say, Pimp my Rig! We all are excited and await more details. Perhaps, we could preview a block diagram and a video of how-to? JackAl will be a game changer. This is goof and bad. The good is what started with Bob Larkin's DSP-10 : A homebrewer can leverage simple computer boards to produce as sophisticated and feature rich radios as the top end radio manufacturers. The bad news is that software even in non-SDR(Hardrock radios) is here to stay. Homebrewing will need programmkng skills as well. Unless, we use boards like JackAl as drop-ins. - f
On 21 May 2018 9:01 am, "John" < vk2eta@...> wrote: Very nice unit Jack, with plenty of extras possible too with the Teensy 3.6 (DSP, decoders and more).
If I build a desktop oriented uBitx where I don't have to watch the consumption like for my portable unit, I will most likely be interested.
All the best,
73, John (VK2ETA)
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Hello Jack and Al,
This JackAl board, is it a front end control board for the uBitX? About the CW keyer not going above 50 WPM; I think most CW ops run between 25 WPM to 35 WPM. During contest I can copy up to 45 WPM sometimes. Any faster and my ears don't hear anything other than dits. I have glancing over the posts on the JackAl but its mostly French to me. I've been trying to comprehend the workings of electronic for many years but so far nothing between my ears has clicked.?
Best 73,
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very nice! how sweet would that look in this...  --
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I used to have a Kaypro II. It was one of the few 5.25" systems that could copy onto multiple CPM formats.
Jack, W8TEE
On Sunday, May 20, 2018, 11:58:01 PM EDT, Doug W <dougwilner@...> wrote:
very nice! how sweet would that look in this...  --
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My goal is to get my speed up to 30wpm...still have a ways to go!
Jack, W8TEE
On Sunday, May 20, 2018, 11:45:49 PM EDT, Terry Morris <terry.kb8amz@...> wrote:
Hello Jack and Al,
This JackAl board, is it a front end control board for the uBitX? About the CW keyer not going above 50 WPM; I think most CW ops run between 25 WPM to 35 WPM. During contest I can copy up to 45 WPM sometimes. Any faster and my ears don't hear anything other than dits. I have glancing over the posts on the JackAl but its mostly French to me. I've been trying to comprehend the workings of electronic for many years but so far nothing between my ears has clicked.?
Best 73,
|
That looks promising.
Dual encoders is a big win, can have one hand on that decade step size and the other hand on the tuning knob.
I've settled on decade steps too, works well.
The stock uBitx tuning is too erratic for me.
I assume the audio board is also from PJRC.?
Am curious what the delays are like.
Two agc options, one strictly audio in the Teensy? (for those that don't want to hack the rig)
and one somehow involving "IF-takeoff"???
That IF-takefoff would have to be at the output of the 12mhz filter,
and would be difficult to do without getting swamped by the (unshielded) BFO
uBitx needs a momentary bat-handled SPDT switch, center off.
Using the encoder switch doesn't cut it, and would be nice to have that second throw
Though a 7" touch screen would work too.
Jerry.
|
Jerry:
Yep, the audio board is also from PJRC and we really like it. I'm pretty sure you're also correct on the IF takeoff point, but Al is the EE brains, I just stand behind him and try to look smart. He'll answer your question tomorrow. What's the SPDT CO switch for?
Jack, W8TEE
On Monday, May 21, 2018, 12:23:21 AM EDT, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io <jgaffke@...> wrote:
That looks promising.
Dual encoders is a big win, can have one hand on that decade step size and the other hand on the tuning knob.
I've settled on decade steps too, works well.
The stock uBitx tuning is too erratic for me.
I assume the audio board is also from PJRC.?
Am curious what the delays are like.
Two agc options, one strictly audio in the Teensy? (for those that don't want to hack the rig)
and one somehow involving "IF-takeoff"???
That IF-takefoff would have to be at the output of the 12mhz filter,
and would be difficult to do without getting swamped by the (unshielded) BFO
uBitx needs a momentary bat-handled SPDT switch, center off.
Using the encoder switch doesn't cut it, and would be nice to have that second throw
Though a 7" touch screen would work too.
Jerry.
|
Jack,
How wide is that breadboard that you¡¯re using, about 9-12 inches? I know it¡¯s going to be a couple of months till JackAl will be available, but I want to move to a larger enclosure now, to prepare for it.
Thanks,
Dale, WB9BKJ
|
Keep in mind it's a touch screen so the "<" and ">" control the increment. (The white underline in the Frequency Window shows the current increment step, 1KHz.) You could easily redo the code to have the frequency increment controlled by the 2nd encoder.
Jack, W8TEE
On Monday, May 21, 2018, 12:23:21 AM EDT, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io <jgaffke@...> wrote:
That looks promising.
Dual encoders is a big win, can have one hand on that decade step size and the other hand on the tuning knob.
I've settled on decade steps too, works well.
The stock uBitx tuning is too erratic for me.
I assume the audio board is also from PJRC.?
Am curious what the delays are like.
Two agc options, one strictly audio in the Teensy? (for those that don't want to hack the rig)
and one somehow involving "IF-takeoff"???
That IF-takefoff would have to be at the output of the 12mhz filter,
and would be difficult to do without getting swamped by the (unshielded) BFO
uBitx needs a momentary bat-handled SPDT switch, center off.
Using the encoder switch doesn't cut it, and would be nice to have that second throw
Though a 7" touch screen would work too.
Jerry.
|
The Plexiglass panel in the picture is 11x5 1/8" but is bigger than it needs to be. One of the people at FDIM plans to mount JackAl vertically to make it thinner. Of course, you can always go deeper on the case. The current board is 100x80mm, but we will be putting a few extra parts on it, so plan on 100x100mm, possibly a tad less.
Jack, W8TEE
On Monday, May 21, 2018, 12:38:05 AM EDT, dmason@... <dmason@...> wrote:
Jack,
How wide is that breadboard that you¡¯re using, about 9-12 inches? I know it¡¯s going to be a couple of months till JackAl will be available, but I want to move to a larger enclosure now, to prepare for it.
Thanks,
Dale, WB9BKJ
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|
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Pressing down on a switch handle is easier then pressing in on that encoder shaft,
With the latter, the rig scoots across the desk and often as not the frequency changes a little bit.
Having an up direction on the switch gives the user interface a lot more options.
Though not a requirement.? I can live with a single switch on the encoder shaft.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sun, May 20, 2018 at 09:35 pm, Jack Purdum wrote:
What's the SPDT CO switch for?
?
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JackAl,?
Interesting presentation Al did at the Show and Tell. ?Last minute trip to Dayton for the Hamfest and sneak a ride over to Club Night and Show and Tell, and a JackAl¡
Eagerly waiting for the chance get one.
Craig KM4YEC
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 20, 2018, at 11:17 PM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io < jjpurdum@...> wrote:
All:
The FDIM conference was a good time and the trip to nearby Xenia for the Hamvention was also great. The rain didn't help, but it was better than last year, and I'm sure it will be even better next year.
Friday night was a sort of Show-and-Tell at FDIM and we used that opportunity to show our JackAl board in action. This photo shows a little more about what it is and does:
<FDIMDebut001.JPG>
At the show, Al hooked up a noise generator to the ?BITX to show how the filters work. (There are 4 preset filters for CW and 4 for SSB.) In addition, you can customize one CW and SSB filter to the bandwidth you desire. You might be able to see that the skirts are pretty steep for the filters on the scope in the background. The setting of the CW custom skirts are set differently, in that you pick a center frequency (e.g., 700Hz in the shot below), press the encoder, and then you see this:
<IMG_0468.JPG>
In this case, turning the encoder CCW increases the bandspread (i.e., the 440 red number above, although it looks orange in the photo) by simultaneously moving the skirts (480Hz and 920Hz) further apart. If you turn the encoder CW, you narrow the bandspread. Most CW users will probably center the bandpass on their favorite sidetone frequency, which centers the bandpass on that frequency.
The demo used a 5" display, although a 7" display is also available. The third knob on the front is for a second encoder that we use for everything from setting the CW keyer speed to adjusting the filter skirts. You can see some of the plots on the panel at the rear of the picture above for some of the board's features (e.g., filter responses, compression, etc.) Those will be included in the documentation when the (downloadable) manual is finished.
The JackAl board has the following features:
????5" or 7¡±
touch screen 800x480 TFT color display ??? Dual VFO's ??? RIT ??? S meter ??? RTC ??? CW keyer, 5 to 50wpm (we could go up to 100wpm, but...really?)
??? Up to 50 CW preset messages, selectable at runtime...perfect for contest messages
??? Touch screen function and control selection (e.g., band changes, RIT, mode, VFO, VFO increment, LSB/USB, etc.) ??? Automatic LSB/USB selection based on frequency (overrideable)
??? One touch frequency increment changes (1Hz to 1MHz in multiples of 10...the white underscore in the frequency window)
??? Dual encoders (frequency, features) ??? EEPROM storage of user preferences (one-click reset to "factory" defaults) ??? Uses Teensy 3.6 processor (1Mb flash @180MHz) and companion audio board ??? Support for 3 external CW push button switches (NO) for sending stored CW messages (e.g., contesting) ??? Hardware AGC using IF take-off ?? ? Audio AGC with adjustable threshold
??? Mic compressor with adjustable threshold ??? 8 band audio equalizer
??? Receive audio filter: ??????? 48dB/octave (8 pole equivalent DSP filters) ??????? 4 CW presets (150, 300, 400, 600, [or none] Hz 3dB bandwidth) + 1 user-defined knee frequencies (at runtime!) filter ??????? 4 SSB presets (1500, 1800, 2200, 3000, [or none] Hz 3dB bandwidth) + 1 user-defined knee frequencies (at runtime!) filter ??? ??? Variable Notch filter, encoder adjustable, use specified Q
??? 7 watt power amplifier
The board will be distributed with all (surface mounted) parts in place. The user must supply the Teensy 3.6 ($30), its supporting audio board ($15), and the 5" ($34) or 7" ($44) touch screen displaying (using the RA8875 controller chip, ). We expect the JackAl board to sell for $50. We may need to adjust this price as we have only received "ballpark" cost estimates for the board since we only have the Gerber files for the Beta board. Currently, we are using less than 20% of the available flash memory (out of 1Mb) and less than 15% of the SRAM (256K), so there is plenty of memory resources available for adding "stuff". The board also brings out a number of I/O pins to help your experimentation. With the exception of removing one SMD resistor on the ?BITX board and soldering two wires to those pads, all interconnections are via existing connectors.
Our best guess is that after finishing the modified Gerber files, production, Beta testing, and writing support manuals, it will be probably two months before we begin distribution. We will announce its availability here as soon as we can. BTW, if anyone knows a high-quality PCB manufacturer who also does pick-and-place at reasonable prices, we are getting quotes and would like to know about them.
Jack Purdum, W8TEE Al Peter, AC8GY
|
Hi Jack,
I'm at 15 and having a ball!
Norm vk5gi
McLaren Vale
South Australia
|
Great project! Coming to the big screen near you.
I have used MyRO PCB in the past for both board fabrication and pick-n-place assembly and soldering. They have some English-speaking folks in their Canadian office, but written communication is the best means.?
You can send them parts, or they can source, or any desired mix. They generally buy from Digikey. They have been very competitive in quantities from 10 to 1000 pieces (what I needed).
The also provide rapid and detailled quotations.
73,
Paul K2AYZ
|
We'll keep you posted! Good seeing you...
Jack, W8TEE
On Monday, May 21, 2018, 2:07:49 AM EDT, Craig Thibodeaux <km4yec@...> wrote:
JackAl,?
Interesting presentation Al did at the Show and Tell. ?Last minute trip to Dayton for the Hamfest and sneak a ride over to Club Night and Show and Tell, and a JackAl¡
Eagerly waiting for the chance get one.
Craig KM4YEC
On May 20, 2018, at 11:17 PM, Jack Purdum via Groups.Io < jjpurdum@...> wrote:
All:
The FDIM conference was a good time and the trip to nearby Xenia for the Hamvention was also great. The rain didn't help, but it was better than last year, and I'm sure it will be even better next year.
Friday night was a sort of Show-and-Tell at FDIM and we used that opportunity to show our JackAl board in action. This photo shows a little more about what it is and does:
<FDIMDebut001.JPG>
At the show, Al hooked up a noise generator to the ?BITX to show how the filters work. (There are 4 preset filters for CW and 4 for SSB.) In addition, you can customize one CW and SSB filter to the bandwidth you desire. You might be able to see that the skirts are pretty steep for the filters on the scope in the background. The setting of the CW custom skirts are set differently, in that you pick a center frequency (e.g., 700Hz in the shot below), press the encoder, and then you see this:
<IMG_0468.JPG>
In this case, turning the encoder CCW increases the bandspread (i.e., the 440 red number above, although it looks orange in the photo) by simultaneously moving the skirts (480Hz and 920Hz) further apart. If you turn the encoder CW, you narrow the bandspread. Most CW users will probably center the bandpass on their favorite sidetone frequency, which centers the bandpass on that frequency.
The demo used a 5" display, although a 7" display is also available. The third knob on the front is for a second encoder that we use for everything from setting the CW keyer speed to adjusting the filter skirts. You can see some of the plots on the panel at the rear of the picture above for some of the board's features (e.g., filter responses, compression, etc.) Those will be included in the documentation when the (downloadable) manual is finished.
The JackAl board has the following features:
????5" or 7¡±
touch screen 800x480 TFT color display ??? Dual VFO's ??? RIT ??? S meter ??? RTC ??? CW keyer, 5 to 50wpm (we could go up to 100wpm, but...really?)
??? Up to 50 CW preset messages, selectable at runtime...perfect for contest messages
??? Touch screen function and control selection (e.g., band changes, RIT, mode, VFO, VFO increment, LSB/USB, etc.) ??? Automatic LSB/USB selection based on frequency (overrideable)
??? One touch frequency increment changes (1Hz to 1MHz in multiples of 10...the white underscore in the frequency window)
??? Dual encoders (frequency, features) ??? EEPROM storage of user preferences (one-click reset to "factory" defaults) ??? Uses Teensy 3.6 processor (1Mb flash @180MHz) and companion audio board ??? Support for 3 external CW push button switches (NO) for sending stored CW messages (e.g., contesting) ??? Hardware AGC using IF take-off ?? ? Audio AGC with adjustable threshold
??? Mic compressor with adjustable threshold ??? 8 band audio equalizer
??? Receive audio filter: ??????? 48dB/octave (8 pole equivalent DSP filters) ??????? 4 CW presets (150, 300, 400, 600, [or none] Hz 3dB bandwidth) + 1 user-defined knee frequencies (at runtime!) filter ??????? 4 SSB presets (1500, 1800, 2200, 3000, [or none] Hz 3dB bandwidth) + 1 user-defined knee frequencies (at runtime!) filter ??? ??? Variable Notch filter, encoder adjustable, use specified Q
??? 7 watt power amplifier
The board will be distributed with all (surface mounted) parts in place. The user must supply the Teensy 3.6 ($30), its supporting audio board ($15), and the 5" ($34) or 7" ($44) touch screen displaying (using the RA8875 controller chip, ). We expect the JackAl board to sell for $50. We may need to adjust this price as we have only received "ballpark" cost estimates for the board since we only have the Gerber files for the Beta board. Currently, we are using less than 20% of the available flash memory (out of 1Mb) and less than 15% of the SRAM (256K), so there is plenty of memory resources available for adding "stuff". The board also brings out a number of I/O pins to help your experimentation. With the exception of removing one SMD resistor on the ?BITX board and soldering two wires to those pads, all interconnections are via existing connectors.
Our best guess is that after finishing the modified Gerber files, production, Beta testing, and writing support manuals, it will be probably two months before we begin distribution. We will announce its availability here as soon as we can. BTW, if anyone knows a high-quality PCB manufacturer who also does pick-and-place at reasonable prices, we are getting quotes and would like to know about them.
Jack Purdum, W8TEE Al Peter, AC8GY
|
Some options to fix the "scoot" problem:
?? some non-skid rubber feet ?? a 10-penny nail through the case ?? a SPDT CO switch wired to the TUNINGENCODERSWITCH pin
Jack, W8TEE
On Monday, May 21, 2018, 1:07:59 AM EDT, Jerry Gaffke via Groups.Io <jgaffke@...> wrote:
Pressing down on a switch handle is easier then pressing in on that encoder shaft,
With the latter, the rig scoots across the desk and often as not the frequency changes a little bit.
Having an up direction on the switch gives the user interface a lot more options.
Though not a requirement.? I can live with a single switch on the encoder shaft.
On Sun, May 20, 2018 at 09:35 pm, Jack Purdum wrote:
What's the SPDT CO switch for?
?
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|
|
Terry Morris
Craig Thibodeaux
Paul Galburt - K2AYZ