Re: U3S transmitting- how to troubleshoot
Hi Ted
Wrong frequency. You entered the WSPR center frequency "USB dial frequency" from the WSPRnet homepage. This is the frequency you set on a USB receiver in order to get the WSPR 200Hz sub-band centred at 1500 Hz audio. The frequency you enter into the Ultimate3S must be the ACTUAL transmit frequency. So add 1500Hz to your frequency configuration and try again :-)
73 Hans G0UPL
On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 9:38 PM, Ted Timmons <ted@...> wrote: Wow, thanks for all the replies, people! First, let me give my relevant settings from the config menu, then I'll go through the troubleshooting suggestions.
"mode" setting: mode 0, relay 0, the freq is set to "007,038,600", WSPR, power output is set to 20db, and the mode is enabled. Message is blank. Call is set. Locator is properly set from GPS. Frame/start is set to "12 04". I used offsets to keep from transmitting at 0, 10, 20, etc, which I think are more likely to get stepped on. Calibration is set to "08 120". Ref freq, which I haven't changed, is currently showing 27,003,269. Last calibration cycles said "-002" and "-004", which seems like it is close.
Okay, individual troubleshooting: Chris: right, no 'scope. With a DVM I see a couple of volts when it is transmitting. Alan: thanks for the reminder on calibration taking a long time. No HF RX (yet). I have the frequency listed above; that's correct, right? That's what is listed on wsprnet. Hans: thanks for the FAQ link, good to have another reminder on the calibration. The only other hint I see there is that maybe "08" is too low for a calibration step.
In any case, I'll leave it running. I was nervous to leave it running in the shack since I didn't know what it was doing, but it seems like it is probably just calibrating.
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Re: U3S transmitting- how to troubleshoot
Wow, thanks for all the replies, people! First, let me give my relevant settings from the config menu, then I'll go through the troubleshooting suggestions.
"mode" setting: mode 0, relay 0, the freq is set to "007,038,600", WSPR, power output is set to 20db, and the mode is enabled. Message is blank. Call is set. Locator is properly set from GPS. Frame/start is set to "12 04". I used offsets to keep from transmitting at 0, 10, 20, etc, which I think are more likely to get stepped on. Calibration is set to "08 120". Ref freq, which I haven't changed, is currently showing 27,003,269. Last calibration cycles said "-002" and "-004", which seems like it is close.
Okay, individual troubleshooting: Chris: right, no 'scope. With a DVM I see a couple of volts when it is transmitting. Alan: thanks for the reminder on calibration taking a long time. No HF RX (yet). I have the frequency listed above; that's correct, right? That's what is listed on wsprnet. Hans: thanks for the FAQ link, good to have another reminder on the calibration. The only other hint I see there is that maybe "08" is too low for a calibration step.
In any case, I'll leave it running. I was nervous to leave it running in the shack since I didn't know what it was doing, but it seems like it is probably just calibrating.
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Re: QCX kit #748 arrived today!
I ordered the 40 meter version right in the middle of the frenzy back on September 6th (Serial # they gave me is 934) and I got the notice yesterday that it had been shipped.? That's after they ran out of parts for the 40 meter version and shortly thereafter the 20 meter version as well.? According to the website, new parts have arrived and the shipping service is getting them out just as quickly as possible.?
The only thing that would be nicer than receiving the shipping notice would be getting a tracking number to go with it - LOL
W0EB
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Re: QCX kit #748 arrived today!
Hi Cory
It's not *that* bad... firstly, Karl's order wasn't placed 8th August (QCX wasn't even launched until the 21st); he ordered it on 28th August. Typo. Also... the density of orders was naturally highest in the first day then the first week etc... it has reached a more steady level now... and the QRP Labs shipment office are cranking through them ever faster... Serial number 2,000 was ordered today, of which 1,122 have been shipped out already.?
73 Hans G0UPL
On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 8:15 PM, Cory Clemmer <cclemmer@...> wrote: I ordered a 40m QCX yesterday (Nov 7th 2017), so that means I should receive mine somewhere around Feb 6th 2018.
I was emailed the order number (#14,164) but I think there will be another email with my QCX order serial number from what I understand.
73, Cory - KD9INL
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Re: QCX kit #748 arrived today!
Yes Cory, this is true, or at least it was for me; a kit number will be Emailed to you soon.? 73, Karl, KO8S
On Wednesday, November 8, 2017 12:17 PM, Cory Clemmer <cclemmer@...> wrote:
I ordered a 40m QCX yesterday (Nov 7th 2017), so that means I should receive mine somewhere around Feb 6th 2018.
I was emailed the order number (#14,164) but I think there will be another email with my QCX order serial number from what I understand.
73, Cory - KD9INL
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Hi Peter; ? This is quite interesting.? I am waiting for my 20m QCX to be shipped.? The question I have, does the 20m LPF experience the same or similar loss?? Should the windings be -2 as you described for the 30m version???
72/73; Kurt - W2MW
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [QRPLabs] 30m Filter plots
From: "G0DZB" < g0dzb@...>
Date: Wed, November 08, 2017 10:59 am
To: [email protected]
I've built the 30m filter on a bit of PCB and connected it to my
MiniVNApro to plot its response.
I took 3 measurements:
Blue plot is with 19t 20t 19t as described in the manual.
Green plot is with 1 less turn on each coil.
Red plot is with 2 less turns on each coil.
At 10.116Mhz losses are 1.54dB, 0.73dB and 0.53dB respectively.
It looks like the filter has been designed with too low a cut off
frequency.
5W in with 1.5dB loss = 3.6W
5W in with 0.53dB loss = 4.4W
The second plot shows there is little difference by 20Mhz, all are >
50dB attenuation.
So I shall be building my 30m QCX with 2 less turns on the filter
inductors.
PeterO
G0DZB
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Re: QCX kit #748 arrived today!
I ordered a 40m QCX yesterday (Nov 7th 2017), so that means I should receive mine somewhere around Feb 6th 2018.
I was emailed the order number (#14,164) but I think there will be another email with my QCX order serial number from what I understand.
73, Cory - KD9INL
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Re: QCX 7mhz Output Filter
OK Alan, when I'm feeling brave I'll try winding a new version of L4, with 19 turns instead of 16 and let you know how I get on.
J
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Re: U3S-19 in the air...struggling for altitude
30/20m WSPR (data)
30/20M JT9 (altitude m /speed kts)
JT9 seen here -
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Re: Power output Ultimate 3s
Finished building the Ultimate? 3s a week ago.?? Worked from the first power up.? I have the 20 meter band pass filter. Now I'm getting approx. 50 mw out.? This is 6 volts PP at 50 ohms.?? Is this normal? Ray, If you are confident in your power measurement then try 30m. The 20m LPF should not significantly attenuate on 30m. If you get more power then maybe you have a similar problem as the QCX constructors are having. Try taking a turn or two off the LPF cores and see if 20m power rises. Preferably carefully one at a time. 73 Alan G4ZFQ Running the TX at 5 volts with a single output transistor.? The output transistor gets warm to the touch.? The black toroid is bifilar wound. Is it possible if one winds the bifilar winding with too many turns per cm, does that affect the output?
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Quick question to the group.??
Finished building the Ultimate? 3s a week ago.?? Worked from the first power up.? I have the 20 meter band pass filter.
Now I'm getting approx. 50 mw out.? This is 6 volts PP at 50 ohms.?? Is this normal?
Running the TX at 5 volts with a single output transistor.? The output transistor gets warm to the touch.? The black toroid is bifilar wound.?? Is it possible if one winds the bifilar winding with too many turns per cm, does that affect the output?
I've ordered the 30 meter band pass filter and it should be here in a week or two.? Have also ordered the QCX which hopefully arrive before the end of the month.?? Building these kind of reminds me of Heathkit/Eico days. (-:? :-)
72
Ray VE7AVG
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U3S-19 in the air...struggling for altitude
Just launched my last flight for 2017.Had issues with wind during launch and had to modify some weight issues but in the air.
Jim,N2NXZ
Seen as U3S18 here -
Lift is VERY low and hoping clouds do not take her down.
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Re: QCX T1 installation: A better way?
Hi Hans,
Thanks for that and info. That is exactly how I removed turns from my LPF, I just resoldered the lead to the top pad instead of trying to get it back in the hole, a lot less headache.
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On Nov 8, 2017, at 6:14 AM, Hans Summers < hans.summers@...> wrote: Hi all
Just a quick observation. It is indeed VERY difficult to replace components, or to take turns off toroids and get the wire back into the hole when it is filled with solder. Here I do have solder braid (which does not work in this case) but I don't have a solder sucker. I know, I ought to get organised. Separate topic. But anyway - what I wanted to say (observe) is that there isn't any harm just soldering the component (or wire) on the top side of the PCB, not going through the hole at all. I do this all the time :-)
73 Hans G0UPL
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Re: QCX T1 installation: A better way?
Use a round wooden toothpick and put it through the molten solder, reheat and jam it through.? Bamboo toothpicks work great.
73 Larry KB3CUF
On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 9:28 AM, Alan G4ZFQ <alan4alan@...> wrote:
?I'm waiting for the feds to update the regs to allow operation from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz.?
I hope that's not too long.
You could test the RX on Dial 5.364700 (TX 5.366200+/-) as used in EU.
Conditions not been too good X-pond the last few days but usually signals make it OK.
73 Alan G4ZFQ
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Re: QCX T1 installation: A better way?
I'm waiting for the feds to update the regs to allow operation from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz. I hope that's not too long. You could test the RX on Dial 5.364700 (TX 5.366200+/-) as used in EU. Conditions not been too good X-pond the last few days but usually signals make it OK. 73 Alan G4ZFQ
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Re: QCX T1 installation: A better way?
Hi all
Just a quick observation. It is indeed VERY difficult to replace components, or to take turns off toroids and get the wire back into the hole when it is filled with solder. Here I do have solder braid (which does not work in this case) but I don't have a solder sucker. I know, I ought to get organised. Separate topic. But anyway - what I wanted to say (observe) is that there isn't any harm just soldering the component (or wire) on the top side of the PCB, not going through the hole at all. I do this all the time :-)
73 Hans G0UPL
On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 5:02 PM, va3rr via Groups.Io <va3rr@...> wrote: Just an update on my 60 metre QCX.? So, I did have to remove 5 turns from T1 to be able to peak the C1 trimmer.
Luckily, I have a solder sucker, because trying to poke a 30 AWG wire through a solder-filled hole is quite tricky.? I don't have an antenna for 60 metres, but a 25 foot length of wire run along the floor does cause the noise floor to increase when I jam it in the BNC connector and I can hear a few RTTY signals around 5340 kHz.
I also upgraded my firmware to version C.? I couldn't figure out how to do it with my linux laptop, so I had to spark up my Windows desktop (and wait for all those updates to load)
Now I guess I better build an antenna while I'm waiting for the feds to update the regs to allow operation from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz.? I believe I can already operate on ~5358.5?kHz
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Re: QCX T1 installation: A better way?
Just an update on my 60 metre QCX.? So, I did have to remove 5 turns from T1 to be able to peak the C1 trimmer.
Luckily, I have a solder sucker, because trying to poke a 30 AWG wire through a solder-filled hole is quite tricky.? I don't have an antenna for 60 metres, but a 25 foot length of wire run along the floor does cause the noise floor to increase when I jam it in the BNC connector and I can hear a few RTTY signals around 5340 kHz.
I also upgraded my firmware to version C.? I couldn't figure out how to do it with my linux laptop, so I had to spark up my Windows desktop (and wait for all those updates to load)
Now I guess I better build an antenna while I'm waiting for the feds to update the regs to allow operation from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz.? I believe I can already operate on ~5358.5?kHz
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Re: Building QCX output filter first.
I have never built one of these, but is it feasible to build an
external LPF with beehive trimmers instead of the fixed caps to bring
one spot on?
Chris, Possible but not really necessary. A LPF does not peak, it is not really too critical. I'm not sure I've ever seen an adjustable LPF. I guess if the inductors are too high then the amount of change to the capacitors could upset the design values of the LPF. It seems to be high inductance that is the problem, I too have not built one but others I have done I've just unsoldered one end and unwound until satisfactory results are achieved. THEN cut or even rewind a turn. 73 Alan G4ZFQ
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Re: Building QCX output filter first.
Hello Peter,
I have never built one of these, but is it feasible to build an
external LPF with beehive trimmers instead of the fixed caps to bring
one spot on?
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
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Show quoted text
Has anyone built their QCX's output filter first on a bit of board to
"tune up" the turns on the L1,L2,L3 ? PeterO
G0DZB -- 2E0ILY Best regards, Chris mailto:chris@...
--
Best regards, Chris Wilson (2E0ILY)
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Building QCX output filter first.
Has anyone built their QCX's output filter first on a bit of board to
"tune up" the turns on the L1,L2,L3 ?
PeterO
G0DZB
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Jim Sheldon
Kurt Zimmerman
Joel Caulkins/N6ALT
va3rr