I use a Raspberry Pi4 to run WSJT-X 2.5.0 with an IC-7300 and it¡¯s fine.? So I transferred the USB cable to the QDX and set up a new configuration for QDX exactly as described by Hans in the manual.
I get a constant error message ¡® Rig Control Error ¨C do you want to reconfigure the radio interface?¡¯?
The good news is that something is working - WSJT-X recognises the QDX, hovering over the port information brings up ¡®dev/ttyACM0?? QRP Labs QDX transceiver¡¯ and it decodes FT8 on 30m and 40m.? But only after I managed to set FT8 and the band by clicking on ¡®Retry¡¯ and quickly trying to click on the mode and band menus before the amber spot turned back to red.? I¡¯m not fast enough with a mouse to succeed more than maybe 1 in 10 attempts so it¡¯s an exercise in frustration.??
On 30m, the message detail shows:
Hamlib error:? communication timed out
kenwood_open: no response from rig
kenwood.c(863): kenwood_open return (-5)?
rig.c(1026): rig_open return(-5) while opening connection to rig
?
However on 40m, the message detail shows:
Hamlib error:? Protocol error
kenwood_open: cannot get identification
kenwood.c(880): kenwood_open return (-8)
rig.c(1026) rig_open return(-8) while opening connection to rig
?
I tried selecting TS440S, TS480 and, for good measure, several of the other Kenwood HF rigs listed but no difference.
I have checked and resoldered the USB connector on the QDX board and it looks fine.? I have also tried a different USB cable.?
I should be most grateful for any suggestions as to how to resolve this issue.
Many thanks.
?
Chris? G4CWS
|
Re: QDX has no power out
#qdx
I get 40V with dhe RF probe (2x Voltage Peak of die Wave => about 4Watts). But no Sigs at the BNC connector anymore. Seams to be something destroyed between the P.A. and the low passes ? Any idea? I designed the QDX fpr 12V 3:2 Transformer. Matthias, When testing the PA I suggest powering the QDX with as low a voltage as possible, 7 volts or less, I'm not sure of the absolute minimum. Possibly as low as 5.5 volts, The regulators are specified 1 volt drop-out. Check C34 and all soldered joints on LPF inductors. Operation of the BPF selection can be checked on receive. Testing volts at L5, 7 or 9 should show low (0.6 volts?) on the selected band. 73 Alan G4ZFQ
|
Re: QDX Surface Mount inductors
Hello Andrew
You asked:
"Hans, what was the original manufacture part number of the inductors you were using?"
I am attaching to this post, a photograph of the SMD reel label. So that should answer your question...?
Before any smart person notices that the date code is 2020-09-08 which is AFTER I manufactured the QDX kits (around January 2020)... yes, that is because this is the current reel of 3000pcs of this inductor that we are using. We are also using the reel for other kit manufacturing too such as the QCX-mini. But it's always the same supplier and the same part number as shown on this photo.?
73 Hans G0UPL
On Thu, Nov 4, 2021 at 4:25 PM Andrew Lenton < a@...> wrote: Hi all,
Thanks for your responses, I do have have a number of spectrum analysers, and I have a surface mount work station, I can remove the inductors with a hot air pencil, and fit different ones with ease. After I have built the kit with originals parts, I will measure the harmonic content, let's assume the power is 37dBm, then 60dBc would be -23dBm (25mW), I would like to see harmonic content -36dBm (250nW), or -54dBm (3.98nW), this may be a tall order?
I have HF coupler and some high pass filters and HF notches, for HF so can make the measurements. What spec are we supposed to meet?
Yaesu FTDX 10 is quoted at -50dBc for 100 Watts! on HF!
Hans, what was the original manufacture part number of the inductors you were using? I would like to look up the spec sheet.
RF design, does have a tendency to bite you!. all part of the fun
73 G8UUG
|
On the TX signal, 5V tolerant I/Os and Pull-up resistors
Hi Fred
The 5V tolerant IO and the pull-up resistors to?+5V are all a red herring.?
According to the BS170 datasheet, the device has a gate threshold voltage of typically 2.1V but it could be as low as 0.8V or as high as 3.0V. I was nervous about?3.3V logic perhaps not driving it at sufficient voltage to be properly "ON". In other words not much safety margin between the 3.3V operating voltage of the microcontroller - bearing in mind the output will?not quite be rail-to-rail - and the worst case gate threshold?of the MOSFET.
My plan therefore was to use 10K pull-up resistors to?+5V. Then when I wanted the MOSFETs "On", I would set the I/O pin to be an input; and the 10K resistor would pull the MOSFET gate to?+5V. When I wanted the MOSFET to be "Off", I would set the I/O pin to be an output and set its level low. This is why you see these 10K pull-up resistors at the gates of the Tx/Rx switch Q6, and the three band select switches, and Q2 (on the TX signal).?
HOWEVER... I was mistaken. Because the transistor I used is BSS123 and according to its datasheet, its gate threshold voltage is minimum 0.8V, typical 1.7V, and maximum 2V. Therefore there is a lot more head room than I had expected with a BS170. So in the end, I did NOT keep to my original plan. I simply have the TX, RX and Band control signals all active all the time as Outputs, and set to high (3.3V) or low (0V) by the firmware. In either case (high or low), the pull-up to?+5V is of no consequence. It is an 0.5mA annoyance when the pin is at 0V, and a 0.17mA annoyance when the pin is at 3.3V. Nothing else.?
The microcontroller is not operated out of its spec. There is no possibility of damage. The pull-up resistors are ignored by the current firmware. Irrelevant. Unnecessary.?
As a matter of fact, in Rev 2 of the PCB, I simply deleted those pull-up resistors. I am talking about R5, R10, R11, R12 and R14. They are not required.?
Fred if you want to remove these resistors please go ahead. It makes no difference...?
73 hans G0UPL
|
Re: QDX has no power out
#qdx
Hi all
General:?
Please be patient... this is a new rig, and we have yet to accumulate?collective trouble-shooting experience. I have just had a nice QSO with Earl 4Z4TJ on JS8Call, 5W QDX at both ends, on 40m. I also copied Earl on 20m WSPR yesterday. My QDX has been working faultlessly all weekend. I logged in to my PC remotely from my mobile phone and had many QSOs around Europe on FT8 on 20m and 40m, as well as working Muhsin TA1MHS on FT4, FT8 and JS8Call on Saturday. Even middle of the night last night I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep... went downstairs and sat on the sofa operating FT8 for an hour on 40m. That put me to sleep :-)?
The rig works and is reliable. Nevertheless we are now nearly 500 people building it at once, and some problems are going to arise, and we will need to build up some collective experience with operating and troubleshooting, this is normal. So please nobody be disappointed. There are a growing group of us with working QDX, even making QDX-to-QDX QSOs. So be patient we'll all get there.?
Firmware
Please do make sure you are on the latest firmware. We need to have a common reference point and not introduce more unknowns into the equation.?
No transmit power due to assembly faults
There are many possible reasons for this.?
1. Low Pass Filter toroid connection problems; this should be identifiable with a DMM in continuity mode. But even if it shows continuity during your test, this is not a 100% guarantee that all is well - if you have an intermittent connection, you could "pass" the DMM test but fail power transmission when you turn the board over, for example. If you have low pass filter toroid wire issues (enamel not burned/scraped off), this could also cause low receive signal strength.?
2. Another cause of failure to receive well can be soldering issues on the receive signal path: the large T50-2 band pass filter toroid L12, or the receive mixer phase splitter trifilar transformer T2. In the case of T2, you have not just wire enamel issues to consider, but also, did you get all the 6 wires in the correct 6 holes.?
3. If receive is working OK, but transmit has no power output, this points the finger at the output transformer or the T1 output transformer, or L14 choke. Again enamel on wires. Or in the case of T1, there could be shorts between winding caused by nicks to the enamel.?
4. Another possibility is issues in the band switching. There are four through-hole inductors, that have to be installed by removing the SMD inductors, as per the manual. If there are any mistakes here, then the corresponding band low pass filter cannot be switched into the circuit and you will get no power output on that band (as well as reduced receiver sensitivity).?
No transmit power due to configuration issues
Now if your radio is assembled properly, you can STILL have no transmit.?
An easy mistake to make, is to improperly configure WSJT-X on the "Radio" setting screen. By default, QDX VOX (Voice Operated Transmit) is disabled. Therefore CAT on WSJT-X must be properly configured, selecting Kenwood TS-440S as the CAT protocol. But you must also set up PTT method as CAT. The default in WSJT-X and JS8Call is VOX.?
If your QDX has VOX disabled, but the PTT Method set up in WSJT-X is VOX, then the PC will produce the correct sounds but QDX will just ignore them and not commence transmission.?
Of course you have to have selected the QDX sound card in the Audio setting too... and who knows, maybe in Windows there are other details to take care of in the audio settings. Same applies to Linux.?
If on the other hand, you enable VOX on the QDX, then it is easy to mistakenly send PC sounds to the QDX and enable the transmitter when you do not intend to do so. So CAT control of PTT is preferable.?
Dropped USB connections
If you suffer dropped USB connections - then I cannot rule out firmware bugs, they may be found - but a very definite possibility is common mode feedline current issues (RF in shack). On Friday when I had just put up the antenna at the new QTH I had this problem (the antenna orientation is not very ideal). Every time I put the radio into transmit, the USB connection got dropped. That was solved with a feedline choke consisting of 10 turns coax around an FT240-43 ferrite core. After that all the problems disappeared.?
It is also worth noting that a shorter USB cable could help, or clip-on ferrite on the USB cable.?
RF problems, grounding problems, all are very real and I think underestimated by many radio amateurs. Maybe you think you have a good ground. Maybe you even drove into the actual soil, a big copper rod. Still if your shack is upstairs, then shack ground will be several meters above the real ground, and several meters cannot be ignored even at HF!?
A tuner? 1.05 : 1 SWR? Yes but SWR does not prevent feedline problems either. Many people put a tuner in the shack between them and their coax feedline. But actually what you are now tuning is your antenna?+ feedline combination. Now since your coax is effectively now actually part of your antenna, you could have a significant RF right there brought into your shack.?
So a lot of problems can and do occur, and can be different with different radios, or different power supplies... and yet are not the fault of the radio.?
By "dropped USB connections" that can mean the audio connection and/or the serial data connection.?
Transmitting?out of band
Remember also that if you try to transmit on bands or frequencies below 80m, or above 20m, then QDX will just refuse. In that case the LED will not start flashing.?
Please transmit at full volume
Never use the slider on the right hand side of the WSKJ-X window, to try to reduce output power. This has NO effect on the QDX except to reduce the accuracy of the audio frequency measurement. The same applies to any gain settings in your audio settings on your machine. There is NO POINT AT ALL to running WSJT-X at anything other than full volume.?
"TX" signal and "RX" signal
These two signals are not automatically complimentary.?
When the radio is switched from Receive to Transmit, the RX signal will go low. During Receive, it will go high.?
The TX signal is more accurately a Key-down signal.?
Now the RX signal will go low, when the radio is switched into transmit state by the appropriate CAT command from WSJT-X. However the TX signal will not go high, until valid audio is detected and measured. Only at that point, will QDX activate the TX signal (put it high i.e. 3.3V).?
In order to get TX high, two conditions are necessary (assuming VOX is disabled, and WSJT-X is set up for PTT Method: CAT):
a) The radio must have been placed into transmit mode by receiving a CAT Command?
b) The radio must receive audio from WSJT-X and measure it properly; so WSJT-X must be sending audio to the QDX USB emulated sound card correctly (WSJT-X configuration, any other sound configurations on your PC).?
5V tolerant pins...?
To avoid introducing too much info to this thread, Fred W0FMS, I am going to reply separately to lay this one to rest.?
73 Hans G0UPL
On Mon, Nov 8, 2021 at 9:09 AM Hans Summers via <hans.summers= [email protected]> wrote: Hi all
There are a lot of points I need to make, in relation to this long thread.?
Long post is coming soon...? -------- Original message -------- From: Fred Spinner < fred.spinner@...> Date: Mon, Nov 8, 2021, 7:48 AM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] QDX has no power out #qdx So...... I think I very well might be making a circuit mod to mine before firing it up....?
According to what I am reading from STM the 5V tolerant pins on the STM32s are only tolerant as digital INPUTS!? Not analog inputs nor digital or anog outputs! I think the pull up on the TX circuit needs to go to VDD 3.3V and not VCC 5V.? The 5 mA limit on the pin should not be violated with the 10k pull up, but STM does not recommend pulling up an output to 5V.? At least according to what I am reading.?
Maybe removing R5 and putting a 10k resistor to VDD 3.3v as a pullup instead to the gate of the BSS123 could help... If the pin isn't toast already.? That still should be enough to saturate that FET and trigger TX.? Alternatively a diode might be able to be added to that TX line to isolate the output from 5V but still pull down the TX circuit.
I think maybe if you two are lucky you might only be latching up that line... One hopes...?
I still think many of the B and C pins could be used as an alternative TX line from the small amount of research that I did tonight though, but again not to VCC.?
But yeah, probably stirring up a hornets nest here tonight again.?
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 9:12 PM Ronald Taylor < wa7gil@...> wrote: Fred both my regulators have the required output voltages 5 and 3.3. Thanks? Okay so one last question out of curiosity.? Are both voltage regulators regulating correctly? 3.3v and 5v?? Especially at 12v the AMS regulators still make me a little nervous.
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 8:45 PM Evan Hand < elhandjr@...> wrote: On Sun, Nov 7, 2021 at 09:23 PM, Ronald Taylor wrote:
yes the TX IO pin dies work under some conditions
Ronald,
On my QDX the TX has never worked and I have not seen any output even in the Tune mode (That was the first transmit I tried to see power output).
Currently, the receiver is pretty deaf, receiving only sometimes on very strong signals and the level indicator for receive in WSJT-X seems to vary between starts.? Sometimes green and OK but most times very low and Red.
I was able to verify audio to the QDX from WSJT-X.? To do so you need to have a terminal program on the same PC as the WSJT-X software and set up the QDX for VOX and radio to NONE.? This allows you to run the Input Analysis function in the QDX terminal.? With that setup, I was able to verify that audio was getting to the QDX.\
As you have observed, the panel light indicates that it is going into transmit mode.
The trace of the TX line is soo thin and in the middle of other very thin runs that I am hesitant on cutting the run to trigger the TX signal with a jumper.
At this point, I guess it is a waiting game for Hans to jump in and help.? I do not believe that I have read where anyone else has the information and tools to dig into the processor and program.
Really disappointed at this time.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
QDX crashed after 25 QSO?s
my QDX crashed after 25 QSOs on 40m and 30m. I changed to 20m. 5W power output. Voltage of the lead Battery about 13V . Than I smelled some smoke. No Power Output anymore an two melted BS170 Transistors. No Idea, what hapened.
I called a lot of CQ?s on 20m . About 10 times (15sec. TX 15 sec. RX). QDX was in the Case . Got to warm ?
Good SWR. I replaced all BD170 Transistors. fortunately I got 4 of them.
After replacing still no power. I can hear the Sigs with my TS940, I can receive all other Stations and at the output of allTransistors I get 40V with the RF probe (2x Voltage Peak of die Wave => about 4Watts). But no Sigs at the BNC connector anymore. Seams to be something destroyed between the P.a. and the low passes ? Any idea? I designed the QDX fpr 12V 3:2 Transformer.
73 de Matt, DL1SER
|
Re: QDX has no power out
#qdx
my QDX crashed after 25 QSOs on 40m and 30m. I changed to 20m. 5W power output. Voltage of the lead Battery about 13V . Than I smelled some smoke. No Power Output anymore an two melted BS170 Transistors. No Idea, what hapened.
I called a lot of CQ?s on 20m . About 10 times (15sec. TX 15 sec. RX). QDX was in the Case . Got to warm ?
Good SWR. I replaced all BD170 Transistors. fortunately I got 4 of them.
After replacing still no power. I can hear the Sigs with my TS940, I can receive all other Stations and at the output of allTransistors I get 40V with dhe RF probe (2x Voltage Peak of die Wave => about 4Watts). But no Sigs at the BNC connector anymore. Seams to be something destroyed between the P.a. and the low passes ? Any idea? I designed the QDX fpr 12V 3:2 Transformer.
73 de Matt, DL1SER
|
Re: QDX has no power out
#qdx
Hi Wolfgang,
my QDX crashed after 25 QSOs on 40m and 30m. I changed to 20m. 5W power output. Voltage of the lead Battery about 13V . Than I smelled some smoke. No Power Output anymore an two melted BS170 Transistors. No Idea, what hapened.
I called a lot of CQ?s on 20m . About 10 times (15sec. TX 15 sec. RX). QDX was in the Case . Got to warm ?
Good SWR. I replaced all BD170 Transistors. fortunately I got 4 of them.
After replacing still no power. I can hear the Sigs with my TS940, I can receive all other Stations and at the output of allTransistors I get 40V with dhe RF probe (2x Voltage Peak of die Wave => about 4Watts). But no Sigs at the BNC connector anymore. Seams to be something destroyed between the P.A. and the low passes ? Any idea? I designed the QDX fpr 12V 3:2 Transformer.
Greetings
Matthias
|
Re: QDX has no power out
#qdx
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, at 09:23 PM, Ronald Taylor wrote:
Gregg, yes the TX IO pin dies work under some conditions.
All, Based on the above post I went back and checked the TX line while connected to my Raspberry Pi.? I found it was now going high.? I still did not have output, so checked the gates of the BS170s and for two of them on one side of the push-pull, the drive was distorted.? The other two were as expected.? I then pulled all 4 of the MOSFETs and tested them.? The two with the distorted gate signal failed.? The tester reported them as a resistor network instead of a MOSFET.? The other two were fine. I then replaced the two bad devices with spares and installed the other two original MOSFETs AND changed back to the windows computer to take back my workbench area for the repairs.? Again powered it up and now no TX signal.? Switched back to the Raspberry Pi with cords stretched out across the work area.? I got some output that varied by the band selected with 20 meters being the highest at over 300mw and 80 the lowest at only 110mw. Got out the oscilloscope and started probing? ?In the process?I shorted out one of the gates for the newly replaced MOSFET and let the smoke out.? I blame this on the temporary way I had set things up.? I had to divert my gaze to set the probe and then look at the scope.? I now have to replace the BS170s again. ?As of this post, I still have to remove, test, and replace the MOSFETs and then test the 74ACT08 to see if I took it out in the process. The key learnings for me are: 1 For some reason, the Windows computer will not interface correctly to the QDX. I will need to look into this after I get the QDX back working 2 The MPU did not have a physical output issue, there is something in the program that is turning off the TX line even though the LED is flashing like it is on with the Windows computer. 3 Be VERY careful around the BS170 MOSFETs and their driver.? It is very easy to slip and pop something. It is late and I am tired and liable to make mistakes.? I will try to get some sleep and go at it going in the morning.? Hopefully, I did not take out the 78ACT08.? If I did, that device looks like it is replaceable.? I also need to figure out why the low power.? One step may be to verify that the correct low pass filter is being selected.? I think that the RF filter scan should have shown something.? They all seemed OK, though most are right at the edge of the passband.? I assume that is to knock down the 2nd harmonic.? Hans, I still am confused as to what is going on with the Windows computer.? It works fine with a USB dongle to a different digital transceiver that needs audio in and out.? As stated above, I plan to look at that after I get the QDX to work. Thought I should post all on the contradictory data that I got, caused by changing computers to test.? Also that at least up to the point that I fried one of the BS170s the MPU was working as far as physical outputs are concerned.? There is still the issue with the Windows computer. 73 Evan AC9TU
|
Re: Elecraft KXUSB with QCX Mini
Rich and the group,
the KXUSB is a FTDI device which may be field reprogrammed to "invert" signals. In this case both RxD and TxD are inverted. This is how they may do a direct connection from USB to a RS232 (whit inverse logic at TTL levels). It may be a plausible reason for the gibberish you read on your terminal screen.
jon, ea2sn / ae2sn
|
Re: QDX has no power out
#qdx
Hi all
There are a lot of points I need to make, in relation to this long thread.?
Long post is coming soon...?
73 Hans G0UPL http://qrp-labs.com
-------- Original message -------- From: Fred Spinner <fred.spinner@...> Date: Mon, Nov 8, 2021, 7:48 AM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] QDX has no power out #qdx So...... I think I very well might be making a circuit mod to mine before firing it up....?
According to what I am reading from STM the 5V tolerant pins on the STM32s are only tolerant as digital INPUTS!? Not analog inputs nor digital or anog outputs! I think the pull up on the TX circuit needs to go to VDD 3.3V and not VCC 5V.? The 5 mA limit on the pin should not be violated with the 10k pull up, but STM does not recommend pulling up an output to 5V.? At least according to what I am reading.?
Maybe removing R5 and putting a 10k resistor to VDD 3.3v as a pullup instead to the gate of the BSS123 could help... If the pin isn't toast already.? That still should be enough to saturate that FET and trigger TX.? Alternatively a diode might be able to be added to that TX line to isolate the output from 5V but still pull down the TX circuit.
I think maybe if you two are lucky you might only be latching up that line... One hopes...?
I still think many of the B and C pins could be used as an alternative TX line from the small amount of research that I did tonight though, but again not to VCC.?
But yeah, probably stirring up a hornets nest here tonight again.?
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 9:12 PM Ronald Taylor < wa7gil@...> wrote: Fred both my regulators have the required output voltages 5 and 3.3. Thanks? Okay so one last question out of curiosity.? Are both voltage regulators regulating correctly? 3.3v and 5v?? Especially at 12v the AMS regulators still make me a little nervous.
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 8:45 PM Evan Hand < elhandjr@...> wrote: On Sun, Nov 7, 2021 at 09:23 PM, Ronald Taylor wrote:
yes the TX IO pin dies work under some conditions
Ronald,
On my QDX the TX has never worked and I have not seen any output even in the Tune mode (That was the first transmit I tried to see power output).
Currently, the receiver is pretty deaf, receiving only sometimes on very strong signals and the level indicator for receive in WSJT-X seems to vary between starts.? Sometimes green and OK but most times very low and Red.
I was able to verify audio to the QDX from WSJT-X.? To do so you need to have a terminal program on the same PC as the WSJT-X software and set up the QDX for VOX and radio to NONE.? This allows you to run the Input Analysis function in the QDX terminal.? With that setup, I was able to verify that audio was getting to the QDX.\
As you have observed, the panel light indicates that it is going into transmit mode.
The trace of the TX line is soo thin and in the middle of other very thin runs that I am hesitant on cutting the run to trigger the TX signal with a jumper.
At this point, I guess it is a waiting game for Hans to jump in and help.? I do not believe that I have read where anyone else has the information and tools to dig into the processor and program.
Really disappointed at this time.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Re: QDX has a short somewhere?
Nach 25 QSOs habe ich auch einen Crash bekommen ich hab mein QDX im Koffer. 25 QSOs auf 7 und 10,1 MHz. Spannung ca. 13 V. 5W Ausgangsleistung. Als das Desaster. 2 DER BS170 wurden zerst?rt. Rauch.?
Ich habe alle 4 entfernt und ersetzt. Keine Ausgangsleistung der Antenne. Aber 40V DC am Ausgang des Transformator (designed vor12v). With the rf probe that means 4Watts. I can hear z
The Signal on my TS940. But not power at the Antenna output. Seems to be a damage at the switches to the low passes. ??. I see no chance what happened. What did I wrong?
|
Re: QDX has no power out
#qdx
Reference:?
?
Read the section on 5v tolerant lines.? Page 17.
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 9:48 PM Fred Spinner via <fred.spinner= [email protected]> wrote: So...... I think I very well might be making a circuit mod to mine before firing it up....?
According to what I am reading from STM the 5V tolerant pins on the STM32s are only tolerant as digital INPUTS!? Not analog inputs nor digital or anog outputs! I think the pull up on the TX circuit needs to go to VDD 3.3V and not VCC 5V.? The 5 mA limit on the pin should not be violated with the 10k pull up, but STM does not recommend pulling up an output to 5V.? At least according to what I am reading.?
Maybe removing R5 and putting a 10k resistor to VDD 3.3v as a pullup instead to the gate of the BSS123 could help... If the pin isn't toast already.? That still should be enough to saturate that FET and trigger TX.? Alternatively a diode might be able to be added to that TX line to isolate the output from 5V but still pull down the TX circuit.
I think maybe if you two are lucky you might only be latching up that line... One hopes...?
I still think many of the B and C pins could be used as an alternative TX line from the small amount of research that I did tonight though, but again not to VCC.?
But yeah, probably stirring up a hornets nest here tonight again.?
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 9:12 PM Ronald Taylor < wa7gil@...> wrote: Fred both my regulators have the required output voltages 5 and 3.3. Thanks? Okay so one last question out of curiosity.? Are both voltage regulators regulating correctly? 3.3v and 5v?? Especially at 12v the AMS regulators still make me a little nervous.
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 8:45 PM Evan Hand < elhandjr@...> wrote: On Sun, Nov 7, 2021 at 09:23 PM, Ronald Taylor wrote:
yes the TX IO pin dies work under some conditions
Ronald,
On my QDX the TX has never worked and I have not seen any output even in the Tune mode (That was the first transmit I tried to see power output).
Currently, the receiver is pretty deaf, receiving only sometimes on very strong signals and the level indicator for receive in WSJT-X seems to vary between starts.? Sometimes green and OK but most times very low and Red.
I was able to verify audio to the QDX from WSJT-X.? To do so you need to have a terminal program on the same PC as the WSJT-X software and set up the QDX for VOX and radio to NONE.? This allows you to run the Input Analysis function in the QDX terminal.? With that setup, I was able to verify that audio was getting to the QDX.\
As you have observed, the panel light indicates that it is going into transmit mode.
The trace of the TX line is soo thin and in the middle of other very thin runs that I am hesitant on cutting the run to trigger the TX signal with a jumper.
At this point, I guess it is a waiting game for Hans to jump in and help.? I do not believe that I have read where anyone else has the information and tools to dig into the processor and program.
Really disappointed at this time.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Re: QDX has no power out
#qdx
So...... I think I very well might be making a circuit mod to mine before firing it up....?
According to what I am reading from STM the 5V tolerant pins on the STM32s are only tolerant as digital INPUTS!? Not analog inputs nor digital or anog outputs! I think the pull up on the TX circuit needs to go to VDD 3.3V and not VCC 5V.? The 5 mA limit on the pin should not be violated with the 10k pull up, but STM does not recommend pulling up an output to 5V.? At least according to what I am reading.?
Maybe removing R5 and putting a 10k resistor to VDD 3.3v as a pullup instead to the gate of the BSS123 could help... If the pin isn't toast already.? That still should be enough to saturate that FET and trigger TX.? Alternatively a diode might be able to be added to that TX line to isolate the output from 5V but still pull down the TX circuit.
I think maybe if you two are lucky you might only be latching up that line... One hopes...?
I still think many of the B and C pins could be used as an alternative TX line from the small amount of research that I did tonight though, but again not to VCC.?
But yeah, probably stirring up a hornets nest here tonight again.?
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 9:12 PM Ronald Taylor < wa7gil@...> wrote: Fred both my regulators have the required output voltages 5 and 3.3. Thanks? Okay so one last question out of curiosity.? Are both voltage regulators regulating correctly? 3.3v and 5v?? Especially at 12v the AMS regulators still make me a little nervous.
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 8:45 PM Evan Hand < elhandjr@...> wrote: On Sun, Nov 7, 2021 at 09:23 PM, Ronald Taylor wrote:
yes the TX IO pin dies work under some conditions
Ronald,
On my QDX the TX has never worked and I have not seen any output even in the Tune mode (That was the first transmit I tried to see power output).
Currently, the receiver is pretty deaf, receiving only sometimes on very strong signals and the level indicator for receive in WSJT-X seems to vary between starts.? Sometimes green and OK but most times very low and Red.
I was able to verify audio to the QDX from WSJT-X.? To do so you need to have a terminal program on the same PC as the WSJT-X software and set up the QDX for VOX and radio to NONE.? This allows you to run the Input Analysis function in the QDX terminal.? With that setup, I was able to verify that audio was getting to the QDX.\
As you have observed, the panel light indicates that it is going into transmit mode.
The trace of the TX line is soo thin and in the middle of other very thin runs that I am hesitant on cutting the run to trigger the TX signal with a jumper.
At this point, I guess it is a waiting game for Hans to jump in and help.? I do not believe that I have read where anyone else has the information and tools to dig into the processor and program.
Really disappointed at this time.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Re: QDX has no power out
#qdx
Fred both my regulators have the required output voltages 5 and 3.3. Thanks?
Okay so one last question out of curiosity.? Are both voltage regulators regulating correctly? 3.3v and 5v?? Especially at 12v the AMS regulators still make me a little nervous.
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 8:45 PM Evan Hand < elhandjr@...> wrote: On Sun, Nov 7, 2021 at 09:23 PM, Ronald Taylor wrote:
yes the TX IO pin dies work under some conditions
Ronald,
On my QDX the TX has never worked and I have not seen any output even in the Tune mode (That was the first transmit I tried to see power output).
Currently, the receiver is pretty deaf, receiving only sometimes on very strong signals and the level indicator for receive in WSJT-X seems to vary between starts.? Sometimes green and OK but most times very low and Red.
I was able to verify audio to the QDX from WSJT-X.? To do so you need to have a terminal program on the same PC as the WSJT-X software and set up the QDX for VOX and radio to NONE.? This allows you to run the Input Analysis function in the QDX terminal.? With that setup, I was able to verify that audio was getting to the QDX.\
As you have observed, the panel light indicates that it is going into transmit mode.
The trace of the TX line is soo thin and in the middle of other very thin runs that I am hesitant on cutting the run to trigger the TX signal with a jumper.
At this point, I guess it is a waiting game for Hans to jump in and help.? I do not believe that I have read where anyone else has the information and tools to dig into the processor and program.
Really disappointed at this time.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Re: QDX has no power out
#qdx
Okay so one last question out of curiosity.? Are both voltage regulators regulating correctly? 3.3v and 5v?? Especially at 12v the AMS regulators still make me a little nervous.
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 8:45 PM Evan Hand < elhandjr@...> wrote: On Sun, Nov 7, 2021 at 09:23 PM, Ronald Taylor wrote:
yes the TX IO pin dies work under some conditions
Ronald,
On my QDX the TX has never worked and I have not seen any output even in the Tune mode (That was the first transmit I tried to see power output).
Currently, the receiver is pretty deaf, receiving only sometimes on very strong signals and the level indicator for receive in WSJT-X seems to vary between starts.? Sometimes green and OK but most times very low and Red.
I was able to verify audio to the QDX from WSJT-X.? To do so you need to have a terminal program on the same PC as the WSJT-X software and set up the QDX for VOX and radio to NONE.? This allows you to run the Input Analysis function in the QDX terminal.? With that setup, I was able to verify that audio was getting to the QDX.\
As you have observed, the panel light indicates that it is going into transmit mode.
The trace of the TX line is soo thin and in the middle of other very thin runs that I am hesitant on cutting the run to trigger the TX signal with a jumper.
At this point, I guess it is a waiting game for Hans to jump in and help.? I do not believe that I have read where anyone else has the information and tools to dig into the processor and program.
Really disappointed at this time.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Re: QDX has no power out
#qdx
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021 at 09:23 PM, Ronald Taylor wrote:
yes the TX IO pin dies work under some conditions
Ronald, On my QDX the TX has never worked and I have not seen any output even in the Tune mode (That was the first transmit I tried to see power output). Currently, the receiver is pretty deaf, receiving only sometimes on very strong signals and the level indicator for receive in WSJT-X seems to vary between starts.? Sometimes green and OK but most times very low and Red. I was able to verify audio to the QDX from WSJT-X.? To do so you need to have a terminal program on the same PC as the WSJT-X software and set up the QDX for VOX and radio to NONE.? This allows you to run the Input Analysis function in the QDX terminal.? With that setup, I was able to verify that audio was getting to the QDX.\ As you have observed, the panel light indicates that it is going into transmit mode. The trace of the TX line is soo thin and in the middle of other very thin runs that I am hesitant on cutting the run to trigger the TX signal with a jumper. At this point, I guess it is a waiting game for Hans to jump in and help.? I do not believe that I have read where anyone else has the information and tools to dig into the processor and program. Really disappointed at this time. 73 Evan AC9TU
|
Re: Terminal Diagnositc Use
#qdx
I remembered the free Windows one from a long time ago as I was reading your response. I was drawing a blank before.?
And, yes, it looks like it has a "hub" app available to split ports.?
I used to play a lot with STM32s about a year ago or so, but my memory about specifics is getting rusty.? I will need to study the schematic and device more closely to see if I can recommend an IO line.? The problem with replacing the device is that Hans would need to program it for you because of the code protection he is?using.? Plus they are not easy to find now in the current clown world supply chain.? Used to be on everything but I am looking into other manufacturers of embedded ARM processors because ST Microelectronics seems to be about the worst off now...?
Yeah, a lot of those lines are not brought out on the non BGA packages.?
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 8:25 PM Evan Hand < elhandjr@...> wrote: Thank you, Fred, I was aware of the Windows programs to split the ports.? I did not look into any free version, only one that cost $200 PER MACHINE which was outrageous in my opinion.
A good option would be for Hans to try to find two pins close together to allow for easy swap if needed.? Reading through the documentation, not sure this is possible.? I noted that the pin used is the only one of the PD series made available on the chip.? I am assuming that is to allow for max ratings on that pin.
The correct answer is to replace the MCU.? Not looking forward to that job.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Re: Terminal Diagnositc Use
#qdx
Thank you, Fred, I was aware of the Windows programs to split the ports.? I did not look into any free version, only one that cost $200 PER MACHINE which was outrageous in my opinion.
A good option would be for Hans to try to find two pins close together to allow for easy swap if needed.? Reading through the documentation, not sure this is possible.? I noted that the pin used is the only one of the PD series made available on the chip.? I am assuming that is to allow for max ratings on that pin.
The correct answer is to replace the MCU.? Not looking forward to that job.
73
Evan
AC9TU
|
Re: QDX has no power out
#qdx
Gregg, yes the TX IO pin dies work under some conditions. I have not installed the original firmware release. I¡¯ll give that a shot. I did load the latest version today but same results. Thanks.. Ron
Hi Ron,
I was thinking that since Tune works, this is looking like a software glitch? In other words, the I/O TX pin does work sometimes, but not always. Have you tried re-downloading the original firmware (pre-release?)
73, Gregg W7GRM On Sun, Nov 7, 2021 at 7:59 PM Ronald Taylor < wa7gil@...> wrote: Fred I tried VOX and still not getting the TX enable from the STM32 under normal operation. Thanks?
Ron It would be an interesting data point for sure.? Good luck.?
Fred W0FMS
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 7:47 PM Ronald Taylor < wa7gil@...> wrote: Hi George. This unit is set up for 12 volt operation.?
Hi Gregg. The LED is confirming transmit with 3 blinks / ?pause / 3 blinks.?
Hi Fred. I have not tried VOX. Will try that.?
Thanks for all the inputs. ¡. Ron Have you tried VOX?? Interesting find..?
Fred W0FMS
QDX, not QCX¡. On Sun, Nov 7, 2021 at 7:37 PM Gregg Myers via <gregg.w7grm= [email protected]> wrote: Hi Ron,
Is the LED on the QCX confirming TX mode? If not, then maybe it is a failure to get the right CAT TX command accepted, which can be confirmed with CAT logging? Just a thought.
73, Gregg W7GRM On Sun, Nov 7, 2021 at 7:31 PM Ronald Taylor < wa7gil@...> wrote: Evan and all: I fiddled with this QDX a lot today and one thing I found was that if I wait to enable TX until right after a transmit sequence starts in WSJT-X, the QDX wil go into transmit mode and put out normal power until the end of that sequence. But it will not make any power when the next transmit sequence starts. The LED goes into the blinking mode as expected but no TX signal comes out of the STM32. I can then halt TX and wait for the next transmit sequence to start and then enable TX and get power out until the end of that sequence.?
I can also use the ¡°Tune¡± button to make it transmit and good power output is seen on all bands whenever I do that.?
So I have no idea what¡¯s?going on. The unit is receiving well on all bands.?
Ron
On Sun, Nov 7, 2021 at 12:30 Eike Lantzsch < zp6cge@...> wrote:
On Sonntag, 7. November 2021 14:38:02 -03 Wolfgang OE1MWW wrote:
> Same here - no power out - and more :-((
>
> Perfect built, this was my third qrp-labs project. At the first power
> on all looked fine, could enter the terminal, did an update to 1.01a
> firmware, but there was no TX power.
>
> Visually inspected the board, for 15 minutes, my coils and the rest -
> all looked 100% So I started to check on the 74ACT08 with my
> Lab-Meter. Unfortunately I touched somewhere the board as I lifted
> the meter pins. (where ?), the Lab-Power Supply, set to 12 Volt 0,8A
> max peeped - overload !! - and due to the current limit setting to
> 0,8A the voltage power supply dropped to ~ 3,8 Volt at 0,8A load. :-(
>
> Interesting, the power on cycle performed even with 3,8 volt, blinked
> and stayed red - and the PUTTY terminal could still access the STM32
> with all menu entries. Made a 'finger control' of all IC, to find
> out, where are the 0,8A at 3,8V volt are going?
>
> YES, wow - hot - looks like, into the AK5386 - *so QDX R.I.P.*
>
> For fire prevention ;-) I did not dare to raise the current limit at
> the power supply. Maybe I will risk another QDX, if next batch is
> available - I have to think about it. At least it was an enjoyable
> building adventure with the headband magnifier.
>
> 73's de OE1MWW
> Wolfgang
I'm really sorry for you. Especially because:
?
AK5386VT
|
|---|
Digi-Key Part Number
| 974-1034-2-ND - Tape & Reel (TR)
974-1034-1-ND - Cut Tape (CT)
974-1034-6-ND - Digi-Reel?
|
|
Manufacturer
| Asahi Kasei Microdevices/AKM
|
| Manufacturer Product Number
| AK5386VT
|
| Supplier
|
|
| Description
| IC ADC/AUD 24BIT 8K-216K 16TSSOP
|
| Detailed Description
| ADC, Audio 24 b 8k ~ 216k I?S 16-TSSOP
|
|
|
|
|
Part Status
| Obsolete
|
| Type
| ADC, Audio
|
| Number of Channels
| 2
|
| Resolution (Bits)
| 24 b
|
| Sampling Rate (Per Second)
| 8k ~ 216k
|
| Data Interface
| I?S
|
| Voltage Supply Source
| Analog and Digital
|
| Voltage - Supply
| 3.3V, 5V
|
| Operating Temperature
| -40¡ãC ~ 85¡ãC
|
| Mounting Type
| Surface Mount
|
| Package / Case
| 16-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width)
|
| Supplier Device Package
| 16-TSSOP
|
| Base Product Number
|
|
|
Obsolete
This product is no longer manufactured.
Anybody who wants to build an Amplifier with original RCA 8417 tubes?
I still have 2 NOS and I'm not daring to use this unobtainium.
73
Eike ZP6CGE
|
Fred Spinner
Ronald Taylor