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I have been watching the development of the uBitx through the recent revisions and querying some owners. If I am not mistaken there are still issues with one or more components of the latest rev. I have emailed hfsigs?support to ask when these will be addressed, but have yet to receive a reply.
I get the spirit of this is modding, tweaking and tinkering - but doesn't the fact that there are clear issues with components put pause in anyone else to purchase? Or do you just find a replacement and move on?
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Often the blanket statements made here are simply too broad. For example, I now own 3 BITX's and 4 ?BITX's and all of them are in spec for 80M, 40M, and 20M. Two are within a dB of being in spec on 15M, but all are outta whack on 10M. For me, since I use 40M and 20M most of the time, I'm fine with my rigs. YMMV.
Jack, W8TEE
On Monday, October 8, 2018, 1:03:17 PM EDT, Eliot Ricciardelli via Groups.Io <ke0n@...> wrote:
I have been watching the development of the uBitx through the recent revisions and querying some owners. If I am not mistaken there are still issues with one or more components of the latest rev. I have emailed hfsigs?support to ask when these will be addressed, but have yet to receive a reply.
I get the spirit of this is modding, tweaking and tinkering - but doesn't the fact that there are clear issues with components put pause in anyone else to purchase? Or do you just find a replacement and move on?
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I am specifically referring to the current rev of the uBitx. Specifically - the audio chip issue and the IMD issue. You stated all of yours are in spec and didn't mention any component issues so I assume you have none. That is helpful, thank you.
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If what you have read is holding you back, perhaps you are really oriented more towards a production radio.? I personally would not count on seeing more than incremental changes, to the basic design, in the future.
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Eliott
The latest version of the uBITx is the v4, which doesn't have an
audio chip at all (it has discrete transistors).?
The v4 board MAY have audio issues ... a small proportion of
owners have experienced audio distortion.? There is a known fix
for this issue and the fix is documented on ubitx.net.? The audio
also has a bit lower output than the v3 board.
You discuss the IMD issue, but this doesn't appear to affect most
users in practice.?? It may result in some splatter if you are
over-driving the audio, but really can't be considered a major
impediment to a purchaser.?
There are several other issues (see
for a
summary of pros and cons).
If you don't want to modify the board to fix issues that really
matter (harmonics - the most substantial mod that is required),
spurs (requires 3 parts), and to add an AGC (multiple parts) then
I suggest you don't bother buying the kit.?? You may have to wait
a while to see a further upgrade from HF Signals though (if ever)!
If you don't mind spending a bit of time having fun making these
changes, then go for it!? Lots of us out there are having fun.
73
Mike ZL1AXG ubitx.net
?
On 9/10/18 6:26 AM, Eliot Ricciardelli via Groups.Io wrote:
I am specifically referring to the current rev of the uBitx.
Specifically - the audio chip issue and the IMD issue. You stated
all of yours are in spec and didn't mention any component issues
so I assume you have none. That is helpful, thank you.
|
Mike, what are the three parts to resolve spurs? I might have missed something.
Il 10/ott/2018 08:38, "Mike Woods" < mhwoods@...> ha scritto:
Eliott
The latest version of the uBITx is the v4, which doesn't have an
audio chip at all (it has discrete transistors).?
The v4 board MAY have audio issues ... a small proportion of
owners have experienced audio distortion.? There is a known fix
for this issue and the fix is documented on .? The audio
also has a bit lower output than the v3 board.
You discuss the IMD issue, but this doesn't appear to affect most
users in practice.?? It may result in some splatter if you are
over-driving the audio, but really can't be considered a major
impediment to a purchaser.?
There are several other issues (see
for a
summary of pros and cons).
If you don't want to modify the board to fix issues that really
matter (harmonics - the most substantial mod that is required),
spurs (requires 3 parts), and to add an AGC (multiple parts) then
I suggest you don't bother buying the kit.?? You may have to wait
a while to see a further upgrade from HF Signals though (if ever)!
If you don't mind spending a bit of time having fun making these
changes, then go for it!? Lots of us out there are having fun.
73
Mike ZL1AXG
?
On 9/10/18 6:26 AM, Eliot Ricciardelli via Groups.Io wrote:
I am specifically referring to the current rev of the uBitx.
Specifically - the audio chip issue and the IMD issue. You stated
all of yours are in spec and didn't mention any component issues
so I assume you have none. That is helpful, thank you.
|
Iz
Spurs news item:??
Just 3 parts and you will have that one licked.?? However, it may
just be an expensive way of introducing -6dB of gain!
Mike
On 10/10/18 7:56 PM, iz oos wrote:
Mike, what are the three parts to resolve spurs? I might have
missed something.
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Mike, see my SIMPLER spur fix without loss of Po!
Tested on two boards here..
Raj
At 10-10-18, you wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Iz
Spurs news item:? ??
Just 3 parts and you will have that one licked.? ?? However, it may
just be an expensive way of introducing -6dB of gain!
Mike
On 10/10/18 7:56 PM, iz oos wrote:
Mike, what are the three parts to resolve spurs? I might have missed
something.
Il 10/ott/2018 08:38, "Mike Woods"
<mhwoods@...> ha
scritto:
- Eliott
- The latest version of the uBITx is the v4, which doesn't have an
audio chip at all (it has discrete transistors).??
- The v4 board MAY have audio issues ... a small proportion of owners
have experienced audio distortion.?? There is a known fix for this
issue and the fix is documented on
.?? The audio also has a bit
lower output than the v3 board.
- You discuss the IMD issue, but this doesn't appear to affect most
users in practice.? ?? It may result in some splatter if you are
over-driving the audio, but really can't be considered a major impediment
to a purchaser.??
- There are several other issues (see
for a summary
of pros and cons).
- If you don't want to modify the board to fix issues that really
matter (harmonics - the most substantial mod that is required), spurs
(requires 3 parts), and to add an AGC (multiple parts) then I suggest you
don't bother buying the kit.? ?? You may have to wait a while to see
a further upgrade from HF Signals though (if ever)! If you don't mind
spending a bit of time having fun making these changes, then go for
it!?? Lots of us out there are having fun.
- 73
- Mike ZL1AXG
- ??
- On 9/10/18 6:26 AM, Eliot Ricciardelli via Groups.Io wrote:
- I am specifically referring to the current rev of the uBitx.
Specifically - the audio chip issue and the IMD issue. You stated all of
yours are in spec and didn't mention any component issues so I assume you
have none. That is helpful, thank you.
- --
- Mike Woods
- mhwoods@...
--
Mike Woods
mhwoods@...
|
I only just noticed it after I posted
my reply to Iz, but your mod is now up on the website!
A very simple fix, albeit requiring the ordering of surface mount
parts ...? The question is why does it work to reduce the spurs?
Mike
On 10/10/18 8:22 PM, Raj vu2zap wrote:
Mike, see my SIMPLER spur fix without loss of Po!
Tested on two boards here..
Raj
At 10-10-18, you wrote:
Iz
Spurs news item:? ??
Just 3 parts and you will have that one licked.? ?? However, it
may
just be an expensive way of introducing -6dB of gain!
Mike
On 10/10/18 7:56 PM, iz oos wrote:
Mike, what are the three parts to resolve spurs? I might have
missed
something.
Il 10/ott/2018 08:38, "Mike Woods"
<mhwoods@...>
ha
scritto:
- Eliott
- The latest version of the uBITx is the v4, which doesn't
have an
audio chip at all (it has discrete transistors).??
- The v4 board MAY have audio issues ... a small
proportion of owners
have experienced audio distortion.?? There is a known fix
for this
issue and the fix is documented on
.??
The audio also has a bit
lower output than the v3 board.
- You discuss the IMD issue, but this doesn't appear to
affect most
users in practice.? ?? It may result in some splatter if
you are
over-driving the audio, but really can't be considered a
major impediment
to a purchaser.??
- There are several other issues (see
for a summary
of pros and cons).
- If you don't want to modify the board to fix issues that
really
matter (harmonics - the most substantial mod that is
required), spurs
(requires 3 parts), and to add an AGC (multiple parts)
then I suggest you
don't bother buying the kit.? ?? You may have to wait a
while to see
a further upgrade from HF Signals though (if ever)! If you
don't mind
spending a bit of time having fun making these changes,
then go for
it!?? Lots of us out there are having fun.
- 73
- Mike ZL1AXG
- ??
- On 9/10/18 6:26 AM, Eliot Ricciardelli via Groups.Io
wrote:
- I am specifically referring to the current rev of
the uBitx.
Specifically - the audio chip issue and the IMD issue.
You stated all of
yours are in spec and didn't mention any component
issues so I assume you
have none. That is helpful, thank you.
- --
- Mike Woods
- mhwoods@...
--
Mike Woods
mhwoods@...
|
Are you saying that the second 45mhz mod can be removed from the TX with this mod? How much power loss is lost with the 45mhz is in place?
Nice work by the way. I’d like to try this for sure.
Joe
PS wheres Allison been? She must be on vacation.?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Oct 10, 2018, at 3:22 AM, Raj vu2zap < rajendrakumargg@...> wrote:
Mike, see my SIMPLER spur fix without loss of Po!
Tested on two boards here..
Raj
At 10-10-18, you wrote:
Iz
Spurs news item:? ??
Just 3 parts and you will have that one licked.? ?? However, it may
just be an expensive way of introducing -6dB of gain!
Mike
On 10/10/18 7:56 PM, iz oos wrote:
Mike, what are the three parts to resolve spurs? I might have missed
something.
Il 10/ott/2018 08:38, "Mike Woods"
<mhwoods@...> ha
scritto:
- Eliott
- The latest version of the uBITx is the v4, which doesn't have an
audio chip at all (it has discrete transistors).??
- The v4 board MAY have audio issues ... a small proportion of owners
have experienced audio distortion.?? There is a known fix for this
issue and the fix is documented on
.?? The audio also has a bit
lower output than the v3 board.
- You discuss the IMD issue, but this doesn't appear to affect most
users in practice.? ?? It may result in some splatter if you are
over-driving the audio, but really can't be considered a major impediment
to a purchaser.??
- There are several other issues (see
for a summary
of pros and cons).
- If you don't want to modify the board to fix issues that really
matter (harmonics - the most substantial mod that is required), spurs
(requires 3 parts), and to add an AGC (multiple parts) then I suggest you
don't bother buying the kit.? ?? You may have to wait a while to see
a further upgrade from HF Signals though (if ever)! If you don't mind
spending a bit of time having fun making these changes, then go for
it!?? Lots of us out there are having fun.
- 73
- Mike ZL1AXG
- ??
- On 9/10/18 6:26 AM, Eliot Ricciardelli via Groups.Io wrote:
- I am specifically referring to the current rev of the uBitx.
Specifically - the audio chip issue and the IMD issue. You stated all of
yours are in spec and didn't mention any component issues so I assume you
have none. That is helpful, thank you.
- --
- Mike Woods
- mhwoods@...
--
Mike Woods
mhwoods@...
|
Hope she's ok.? Sorta suddenly stopped posting.
|
Joe,
With 45MHz filter you may lose up to half the power. With SMD I get like 95% of stock.
Raj
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
At 11/10/2018, you wrote: Are you saying that the second 45mhz mod can be removed from the TX with this mod? How much power loss is lost with the 45mhz is in place?
Nice work by the way. I?�?d like to try this for sure.
Joe
PS wheres Allison been? She must be on vacation.
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Wow wow. Okay no wonder I couldn’t hear myself too well on websdrs after the mod. I thought it was just band conditions. I’ll order those coils ASAP!! Thanks Raj for your knowledge as always
Joe
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Oct 11, 2018, at 3:40 AM, Raj vu2zap <rajendrakumargg@...> wrote:
Joe,
With 45MHz filter you may lose up to half the power. With SMD I get like 95% of stock.
Raj
At 11/10/2018, you wrote:
Are you saying that the second 45mhz mod can be removed from the TX with this mod? How much power loss is lost with the 45mhz is in place?
Nice work by the way. I’d like to try this for sure.
Joe
PS wheres Allison been? She must be on vacation.
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Raj vu2zap