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I swapped stock TFT with Nextion 2.8" TFT in my Ubitx V6 . Attached pdf is explaining the modification procedures.
73's
Barb, WB2CBA
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Nice work, Barb! I wondered how hard it would be to do that.
=Vic=
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Very nice! I wonder what the current draw looks like with the new display? I wonder if it’s more or less than the stock TFT??
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On Jan 6, 2020, at 3:06 PM, wb2cba@... wrote:
?I swapped stock TFT with Nextion 2.8" TFT in my Ubitx V6 . Attached pdf is explaining the modification procedures. 73's Barb, WB2CBA
<UBITX V6 NEXTION TFT DISPLAY MODIFICATION.pdf>
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Hi Bill,
Before the mod I checked each display’s datasheet to compare power consumption and ?both draws around 60 to 65 ma of current.
I didn’t actually measure the current draw on the raduino board 7805 regulator but it does feel hot with both displays, stock and nextion. May be it is a good idea to swap the heatsink with a notch bigger one.
I used the rig continously for almost 3 hours yesterday for qso’s and nothing smoked up so I think it’s surviving the heat ?:)
Barb, WB2CBA
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Sounds excellent. I may do what you did. I’m looking at ways to save on current and I really like the CDC code. If you remove the 5v from the display I assume the radio will still operate? With your hookup it would be easy to add a switch.
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On Jan 6, 2020, at 4:50 PM, wb2cba@... wrote:
? Hi Bill,
Before the mod I checked each display’s datasheet to compare power consumption and ?both draws around 60 to 65 ma of current.
I didn’t actually measure the current draw on the raduino board 7805 regulator but it does feel hot with both displays, stock and nextion. May be it is a good idea to swap the heatsink with a notch bigger one.
I used the rig continously for almost 3 hours yesterday for qso’s and nothing smoked up so I think it’s surviving the heat ?:)
Barb, WB2CBA
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RE: ease of screen reprogramming, might one be able to invert the display in Nextiin Editor, mount the screen upside down, and then have access to the card slot? It's worth a try.
Ted K3RTA
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I have read on Groups.io that the Nextion editor does have an invert setting that will allow for mounting the display with the microSD card on the top.? It would require downloading, installing and then recompiling? and downloading the Nextion display pages, though it is doable.
FWIW
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Perhaps an sd card extender would be the solution. I use one on my 3d printer.
73
MM0BEF_______ Brian
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I did this mod to my V6 and with the Nextion display my current draw dropped from 350ma to 250ma (TFT draws 100ma more!) also I wired a on off switch so I could remove 5v from the display. With the display off I’m seeing just 150ma. I will also add the 5v regulator is running much cooler. I like the option of shutting off the display to save on battery life.
One other thing I did differently was instead of using a angled display plug I just simply solder to the back side of the board (keeps the wires out of the way) I also drilled the Nextion mounting holes a little wider so all 4 mounting screws are in place on the front of the display.
73 thanks for the great mod. Bill ng1p?
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On Jan 6, 2020, at 5:29 PM, bill richardson via Groups.Io <ng1p.bill@...> wrote:
? Sounds excellent. I may do what you did. I’m looking at ways to save on current and I really like the CDC code. If you remove the 5v from the display I assume the radio will still operate? With your hookup it would be easy to add a switch. On Jan 6, 2020, at 4:50 PM, wb2cba@... wrote:
? Hi Bill,
Before the mod I checked each display’s datasheet to compare power consumption and ?both draws around 60 to 65 ma of current.
I didn’t actually measure the current draw on the raduino board 7805 regulator but it does feel hot with both displays, stock and nextion. May be it is a good idea to swap the heatsink with a notch bigger one.
I used the rig continously for almost 3 hours yesterday for qso’s and nothing smoked up so I think it’s surviving the heat ?:)
Barb, WB2CBA
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And here is the pic: 
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On Jan 11, 2020, at 6:19 PM, bill richardson via Groups.Io <ng1p.bill@...> wrote:
? I did this mod to my V6 and with the Nextion display my current draw dropped from 350ma to 250ma (TFT draws 100ma more!) also I wired a on off switch so I could remove 5v from the display. With the display off I’m seeing just 150ma. I will also add the 5v regulator is running much cooler. I like the option of shutting off the display to save on battery life.
One other thing I did differently was instead of using a angled display plug I just simply solder to the back side of the board (keeps the wires out of the way) I also drilled the Nextion mounting holes a little wider so all 4 mounting screws are in place on the front of the display.
73 thanks for the great mod. Bill ng1p? On Jan 6, 2020, at 5:29 PM, bill richardson via Groups.Io <ng1p.bill@...> wrote:
? Sounds excellent. I may do what you did. I’m looking at ways to save on current and I really like the CDC code. If you remove the 5v from the display I assume the radio will still operate? With your hookup it would be easy to add a switch. On Jan 6, 2020, at 4:50 PM, wb2cba@... wrote:
? Hi Bill,
Before the mod I checked each display’s datasheet to compare power consumption and ?both draws around 60 to 65 ma of current.
I didn’t actually measure the current draw on the raduino board 7805 regulator but it does feel hot with both displays, stock and nextion. May be it is a good idea to swap the heatsink with a notch bigger one.
I used the rig continously for almost 3 hours yesterday for qso’s and nothing smoked up so I think it’s surviving the heat ?:)
Barb, WB2CBA
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One more note. In the CEC setup on the display you and lower the brightness of the display to further lower the current draw. Doing this I’m now down to just 200ma. Also you can set a timer o turn on the back light after 3 minutes. With the backlight off I’m seeing 170ma of current draw (this is measured at the power plug of the V6) again with power (5v ) removed from the Nextion the current drops to 150ma.
With all the great work that KD8CDC has done I wonder why the V6 uBitx just didn’t go with the 2.8 Nextion and the CEC firmware? It’s just such a nice and more complete setup with a better foundation to continue to build on version recreating the wheel.
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On Jan 11, 2020, at 6:19 PM, bill richardson via Groups.Io <ng1p.bill@...> wrote:
? I did this mod to my V6 and with the Nextion display my current draw dropped from 350ma to 250ma (TFT draws 100ma more!) also I wired a on off switch so I could remove 5v from the display. With the display off I’m seeing just 150ma. I will also add the 5v regulator is running much cooler. I like the option of shutting off the display to save on battery life.
One other thing I did differently was instead of using a angled display plug I just simply solder to the back side of the board (keeps the wires out of the way) I also drilled the Nextion mounting holes a little wider so all 4 mounting screws are in place on the front of the display.
73 thanks for the great mod. Bill ng1p? On Jan 6, 2020, at 5:29 PM, bill richardson via Groups.Io <ng1p.bill@...> wrote:
? Sounds excellent. I may do what you did. I’m looking at ways to save on current and I really like the CDC code. If you remove the 5v from the display I assume the radio will still operate? With your hookup it would be easy to add a switch. On Jan 6, 2020, at 4:50 PM, wb2cba@... wrote:
? Hi Bill,
Before the mod I checked each display’s datasheet to compare power consumption and ?both draws around 60 to 65 ma of current.
I didn’t actually measure the current draw on the raduino board 7805 regulator but it does feel hot with both displays, stock and nextion. May be it is a good idea to swap the heatsink with a notch bigger one.
I used the rig continously for almost 3 hours yesterday for qso’s and nothing smoked up so I think it’s surviving the heat ?:)
Barb, WB2CBA
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I don't have a good answer for why he didn't base the v6 software on the CEC version, but the screen choice is absolutely cost driven. Nextion screens, while not all that expensive, are MUCH more expensive than the TFT that comes in the kits, which keeps costs lower.? I think it's the right choice.
Reed
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I haven't played around with the Nextion for years, but I felt constrained by the programming environment. I'm sure cost is a very important factor, too.
Jack, W8TEE
On Monday, January 13, 2020, 12:13:54 PM EST, Reed N <greenkid336600+groupsio@...> wrote:
I don't have a good answer for why he didn't base the v6 software on the CEC version, but the screen choice is absolutely cost driven. Nextion screens, while not all that expensive, are MUCH more expensive than the TFT that comes in the kits, which keeps costs lower.? I think it's the right choice.
Reed
-- Jack, W8TEE
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I agree Reed,
The nextion in bulk would be substansually more expensive than the one supplied with the V6. People will mod it close to the cec firmware though
, even though it has not the memory or speed-(bring back assembly language lol).
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All good points around cost. It will be interesting to see how the programming of the TFT goes.?
Things that would be great is a way to lower the current draw on the TFT perhaps a way to dim the back light. The current draw as is limits battery/field ops.
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On Jan 13, 2020, at 1:23 PM, mm0bef@... wrote:
?I agree Reed,
The nextion in bulk would be substansually more expensive than the one supplied with the V6. People will mod it close to the cec firmware though
, even though it has not the memory or speed-(bring back assembly language lol).
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A simple variable voltage divider as on the v5 would bim the display. Thats how im settong my v5 with v6 screen
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Bill,
Looking Good!
Now a question and a request.
The question is which Nextion 2.8" display did you use?? The enhanced or basic?
The request is if you could point me to the Nextion HMI or tft file you used for this build?? I have been searching for a 2.8' enhanced source for a build I have in process.
Thank-you and again, good job!
73
Evan
AC9TU
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I used this one:
Nextion 2.8 inch Display... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q36RBV2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
And then loaded the kd8cec code on it and updated the firmware on the v6 to the v5 CEC firmware?
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On Jan 14, 2020, at 7:28 AM, Evan Hand <elhandjr@...> wrote:
?Bill,
Looking Good!
Now a question and a request.
The question is which Nextion 2.8" display did you use?? The enhanced or basic?
The request is if you could point me to the Nextion HMI or tft file you used for this build?? I have been searching for a 2.8' enhanced source for a build I have in process.
Thank-you and again, good job!
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Bill,
Thank-you again.? i see that it is a "basic" 2.8" unit.? I know where to get the KD8CEC firmware for the Nano, are you saying that the source on Git hub had the tft file for the Nextion as well?? When I downloaded what was there I could not get it to work with my 2.8" Enhanced display.? I also could not get the source to compile, as it said that there was not enough memory.
I am new to the Nextion editor, so it may be something simple on the settings that I do not know about.? I have built 3 units, a 2.4", 3.2" and now a 3.5", however all have been from tft files.? I did not have the issues that are happening for me now.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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I used this guide to get started but off from this site I was able to find the later releases:
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On Jan 14, 2020, at 12:36 PM, Evan Hand <elhandjr@...> wrote:
?Bill,
Thank-you again.? i see that it is a "basic" 2.8" unit.? I know where to get the KD8CEC firmware for the Nano, are you saying that the source on Git hub had the tft file for the Nextion as well?? When I downloaded what was there I could not get it to work with my 2.8" Enhanced display.? I also could not get the source to compile, as it said that there was not enough memory.
I am new to the Nextion editor, so it may be something simple on the settings that I do not know about.? I have built 3 units, a 2.4", 3.2" and now a 3.5", however all have been from tft files.? I did not have the issues that are happening for me now.
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Barb WB2CBA
Vic WA4THR
Ted