Re: QDX pairs nicely with the Micro PA50
James, Yes, it's a voltage and amp controlled board, found on Aliexpress a while back. Shoot me a note if you need a link. KO4AWH@...?The Case is indeed printed. I designed it for a quick means of protection of the board on the workbench. Joshua KO4AWH
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Re: Si5351a issues with frequency resolution (step size) at 144MHz (or even lower frequencies)
Ron,? I don't know if any links exist to the original Clockbuilder Desktop, but I have the installation .zip file and can send you a copy if you need one.? I've used it and the new Clockbuilder Pro. The desktop version seems easier to use, but the Pro version (once you figure it out) seems to provide more information. I have not used either one enough to be aware of their limitations. It hasn't helped me so far. I can generate a set of bit values, which could then be assembled into bytes and uploaded to appropriate?registers, but I'm still struggling?with register names and sizes which don't always seem to correlate between the spec sheet and the Clockbuilder Pro output. No doubt it's my mistake and eventually I'll start to understand it better.
It would be nice if some code (Arduino/C++) existed that took the Clockbuilder Pro register bit calculation results, assembled them into bytes and uploaded them to the Si5351. I guess parts of the required?code must already exist as parts of the Arduino library.? I did make an attempt at using?si5351.set_freq_manual, using the VCO frequency that clockbuilder found and hoping that the librartycode would do the rest, It seemed to work for one frequency, but for another it generated a very ugly, very wide spread signal, so obviously there's more to it than what I tried. Still learning here, only been battling with it for about a week!? I'm using 64 bit integers (ULL) and appropriate(?) coding, but I'm still doing no better then getting within a couple of Hz of the desired frequency, with significant variation in step size when trying to make equal steps of a few Hz.
Bob, KA1GT
On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 12:35 PM Ron Carr < rcarr@...> wrote: Bob,
It looks as though to generate signals in the 144mhz range, the Si5351 will be using a fixed output divider of 6.? A simple Si5351 library that uses fixed point and does nothing fancy but does allow fractional frequencies should have a 1/6 hz accuracy, in that the PLL frequency is calculated to the nearest hz using fixed point.? To get a one hz change at 144mhz the PLL will change by 6 hz.? ( divider is 6 ).? To do better would require calculating the PLL frequency to a fractional frequency.? The NT7S library uses the target frequency scaled up by 100 for fractional frequencies, but I didn't look to see if it was scaling up the PLL frequency also.? I also found two NT7S libraries, one under etherkit which I think is the one everyone uses and some older C code that is aimed at Arduino.? I wonder which you tried.
Ron? KE1MU
Does anyone know where to download the old version of clockbuilder?? The new Pro version is crippled and no longer allows assigning PLL's to outputs or allows integer output dividers.
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Re: Si5351a issues with frequency resolution (step size) at 144MHz (or even lower frequencies)
Ron,? try it: ?step to Software
--
Gyula HA3HZ
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If you go to the Superbat WWW site you can order a premade coax feeder of the length you require.
--
Compton
VK2HRX
Sydney, Australia
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Hi Willie,?
No, never bothered to write this up as its final design is still not done. Are they ever? Case lettering, serial/USB ports, and PPS ports are on the list. Also, the CAD used for the case caused me a lot of problems so I'm learning a new one, FreeCAD. Like it but a bit of learning curve as compared to the TinkerCAD style one used for this case. It will be a while before case is updated. I can publish the current case on Thingiverse if there is interest. There is a photo attached that shows the original case on Thingiverse that inspred my case. You can also see some of the misery the new CAD I used put me through. The flaws in the case are in the file.?
Aside from the case, the wiring and programming are fairly straight forward. I will attach the power and switch wiring diagram to this post. I made a spreadsheet of the programming but that is probably half the fun of the kit. I did manipulate the text in the mega328 to say "Press the Top button to start" instead of the right button as the buttons are now mounted vertically.
Happy to answer any questions.
Howard
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Here's one Jim. It's 15' so a little longer than you were looking?for but not too bad...
73 .. Ron
On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 12:14 PM Jim Bennett / K7TXA via <w6jhb= [email protected]> wrote: I¡¯d like to place my QLG2 antenna just outside my shack; already have a conduit in place for several antenna coax runs. Unfortunately, the supplied coax for the GPS is about three meters too short. I don¡¯t see any identifying marks on it. Can anyone tell me what extension coax I¡¯d need to look for to make this happen so I don¡¯t have an unruly length of coax hanging in my shack?
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447
BUG 301
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Re: QDX on packet radio ?
On Sun, Jan 22, 2023 at 06:26 PM, Joshua KJ7LVZ wrote:
I have a full BPQ node running at the house
Heck I was and other were running BPQ back in the 90's. A great AX25 packet switch along with the famous F6FBB BBS software. -- - 73 de Andy -
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Re: QCX+ toroid wire length
I appreciate all the help.? I have enough information to figure it out.
Thanks to all!
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On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 07:14 PM, Jim Bennett / K7TXA wrote:
I¡¯d like to place my QLG2 antenna just outside my shack; already have a conduit in place for several antenna coax runs. Unfortunately, the supplied coax for the GPS is about three meters too short. I don¡¯t see any identifying marks on it. Can anyone tell me what extension coax I¡¯d need to look for to make this happen so I don¡¯t have an unruly length of coax hanging in my shack?
The supplied coax is usually RG174. But any 50 Ohm stuff as an extension will do. ? -- - 73 de Andy -
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I¡¯d like to place my QLG2 antenna just outside my shack; already have a conduit in place for several antenna coax runs. Unfortunately, the supplied coax for the GPS is about three meters too short. I don¡¯t see any identifying marks on it. Can anyone tell me what extension coax I¡¯d need to look for to make this happen so I don¡¯t have an unruly length of coax hanging in my shack?
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447
BUG 301
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Re: Si5351a issues with frequency resolution (step size) at 144MHz (or even lower frequencies)
Bob,
It looks as though to generate signals in the 144mhz range, the Si5351 will be using a fixed output divider of 6.? A simple Si5351 library that uses fixed point and does nothing fancy but does allow fractional frequencies should have a 1/6 hz accuracy, in that the PLL frequency is calculated to the nearest hz using fixed point.? To get a one hz change at 144mhz the PLL will change by 6 hz.? ( divider is 6 ).? To do better would require calculating the PLL frequency to a fractional frequency.? The NT7S library uses the target frequency scaled up by 100 for fractional frequencies, but I didn't look to see if it was scaling up the PLL frequency also.? I also found two NT7S libraries, one under etherkit which I think is the one everyone uses and some older C code that is aimed at Arduino.? I wonder which you tried.
Ron? KE1MU
Does anyone know where to download the old version of clockbuilder?? The new Pro version is crippled and no longer allows assigning PLL's to outputs or allows integer output dividers.
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Re: QCX Mini 40m RX birdies
I have built many QCX minis. I have never noticed this before, but
then, I never looked before either. However, once I noticed the one at
7,052 after I had replaced the SI5351A, I started wondering. Hence my
curiosity and searching from 7 to 7,150 and noticing others. I only
have one 40m mini at the moment in the shack so cannot compare to
others. It could be that whatever disabled my original SI5351A did
more damage that isn't immediately apparent with symptoms other than
these signals. Yes, I do know a substitute SI5351A is being utilized
in these kits - my replacement came from Skyworks Solutions via
Mouser. Skyworks for those who may not know, took over SI. My main
question is: do I need to keep looking (in the audio chain?) for an
issue or is this normal?
FWIW, all voltages in IC5-IC10 are nominal.
-mike/w1mt
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On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 10:53 AM Hans Summers <hans.summers@...> wrote: Nevertheless though I haven't specifically gone hunting for birdies, I have always found the QCX a very clean receiver to operate (untroubled by birdies).
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Re: QCX Mini 40m RX birdies
Hello Rod
What you say about birdies in direct conversion receivers is true in so far as, they does not suffer the multiple mixing products inherent in superhets and dependent on how much filtering and shielding is impoenented.?
However that doesn't mean a QCX must be birdie free. Spurii may occur in the PLL oscillator (Si5351A), from spurious mixing between the 20MHz and 27MHz oscillators in QCX, and also from the digital circuits - which means not just the microcontroller but also the LCD module that has its own internal oscillator too.? So it isn't a pure analog direct conversion receivers situation. Nevertheless though I haven't specifically gone hunting for birdies, I have always found the QCX a very clean receiver to operate (untroubled by birdies).
73 Hans G0UPL http://qrp-labs.com https://www.buymeacoffee.com/g0upl
-------- Original message -------- From: "Rod Smith via groups.io" <rodjsmith@...> Date: Mon, Jan 23, 2023, 12:05 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] QCX Mini 40m RX birdies Hi Mike
I really don't think those are birdies.? I take birdies to be signals generated internally by the receiver itself as a result of mixing products of internal oscillators .? Direct conversion is birdie free, certainly insofar as the numerous birdies almost inevitable in a superhet with non-zero IF will not exist.? Maybe the signals you hear are from (very) local QRI/ QRM?
I hope the signals you're hearing are below the noise when you have your antenna connected.
73
Rod
GOVKX
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Nice! Is there a writeup on this anywhere?
Thanks!
73, Willie N1JBJ
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On Jan 23, 2023, at 11:06 AM, Howard AC1MN <AC1MN@...> wrote:
I have built a few of these clock kits recently for myself and friends. Power was the first consideration and most everyone wanted 12V compatibility and backup. I used the buck converter mentioned by LY2H in this YouTube. Next backup is provided by a protected 18650 and inexpensive charger module. I strongly suggest the use of a protected 18650 and thoroughly testing as failure to do so could be catastrophic. Lithium Ion batteries can be dangerous. Electronic noise is a consideration but so far, no one has reported an issue. If you try this and have a noise issue, please let me know as I have some ideas on how to eliminate it.
The clock can run for many hours on a charged 18650 and is perfect for Field Day use. The case I designed was inspired by one I saw on Thingiverse.
Howard
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Re: QCX Mini 40m RX birdies
No.
In another post I mentioned that another receiver does not hear these sigs.
-mike/w1mt
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On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 9:56 AM Andre Thomas <andre1024@...> wrote:
Hi
Was the QCX+ maybe listening to the TV? :)
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Re: #qdx 1_08 firmware release
#qdx
Thanks, Michael. Yes I've let wsjt-x get old. My fault I've been using jtdx instead.
I'll uninstall hamlib and download and install the new tar files and see how it goes.
Thanks again.
--
Phill EA5JHA
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Re: #qdx 1_08 firmware release
#qdx
No issues updating my V.3 QDX. It's working great!
--
73, Dan - W2DLC
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I have built a few of these clock kits recently for myself and friends. Power was the first consideration and most everyone wanted 12V compatibility and backup. I used the buck converter mentioned by LY2H in this . Next backup is provided by a protected 18650 and . I strongly suggest the use of a protected 18650 and thoroughly testing as failure to do so could be catastrophic. Lithium Ion batteries can be dangerous. Electronic noise is a consideration but so far, no one has reported an issue. If you try this and have a noise issue, please let me know as I have some ideas on how to eliminate it.?
The clock can run for many hours on a charged 18650 and is perfect for Field Day use. The case I designed was inspired by one I saw on Thingiverse.??
Howard
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Re: QCX+ toroid wire length
To determine the approximate length of wire needed I have always used:
2*(Height of Toroid + Width of Toroid), that gives you the distance around the toroid, multiply that by the number of turns and then add about 10% until you get good at it and then even that can be reduced.
Of course, if there are only a few turns required then no measuring should be required. Since the wire is usually not much of a cost factor most kitters supply more than enough for the task.? Although it doesn't look good, if you should need to make it longer you certainly could add wire as long as the connection is on the outside of the toroid.
John KK4ITX
for Zephyrhills Area Amateur Radio Club Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.  ?????? Thomas A. Edison?????
On Monday, January 23, 2023 at 08:28:55 AM EST, Gmail <klingen2@...> wrote:
Isn¡¯t there a sheet in the band kit that lists the length of wire and number of turns for each? It¡¯s been awhile since I¡¯ve built my QCX+.
Rick WA3TUU?
On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 8:25 AM Ronald Taylor < wa7gil@...> wrote: The calculator Alan mentioned is at ? Select the toroid you are using, enter the number of turns and it will calculate the wire length needed plus a little extra for the ends. Good luck ¡.Ron I may have missed it, but I can't seem to find the wire length I need to wind the QCX+ toroids.? The QDX assembly manual listed the number of turns for a toroid and the wire length needed for that.
I would appreciate help in seeing what I've missed for the QCX+ assembly.
Gary AE6NP
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HA3HZ
Compton
Ronald Taylor
Phill
Daniel Conklin
KK4ITX John