Re: Slow Hell with U2 and U1

g3zjo

On 06/06/2013 00:27, Dave wrote:
Recently I have been confused by the differing results on Slow Hellschreiber with the new U2 when compared to my earlier U1 version.Hi Dave

I think you are the only person to have mentioned Hell Modes on the U2, and there have been no replies.

During initial tests I abandoned the Hell Modes early on as all results I was getting were indecipherable.
The frequency shifts (modulation) to produce Hell is critical. Being an FSK Mode it is suffering from the arithmetic software bug in v2.01, which is producing almost random shifts.
Additionally  being a 'fast' mode the bandwidth due to the transients software bug in v2.01 is excessive.

Standby for the essential software release v2.0X.

73 Eddie G3ZJO

Re: U2 Final Voltage

"Yannick"

#1319

Hi,

I have not checked the topology chosen by Hans for the PA and this is just for comparison.
With the KD1JV ATS/MTR series of transceivers, we achieved 5W from 3 Bs170 at 12V on 20 meters CW.
Power drops to around 3W at 9V.
They are happy at 12V not getting hot if run to a 50 ohm load.
However the are getting touchy if the impedance goes too low and keeping them at 10V makes the PA sturdier.

The highest frequency achieved with the ATS/MTR is 15 meters, but I am not sure this limit comes from a restriction in the PA. Overall this is more a design choice and the main limit being the power consumption of the DDS in receive mode. These are rigs to bring in SOTA expedition and must be small and use as little as possible power from batteries.

I repeat this if is for CW and I guess for continuous transmission I would not go above 1W.

Last thing, the ATS/MTR series use a MSP430 micro-controller. I have started to modify KD1JV code to turn the MTR into a QRSS beacon. However it is such a good transceiver and buying one is so hard that I finally built my own QRSS/WSPR DDS beacon design...

73,
Yan.
---
Yannick DEVOS - XV4Y

Show quoted text

--- In QRPLabs@..., "andyfoad@..." <andyfoad@...> wrote:

Has anyone tried running 3 x BS170's at 12v yet AND measured the
output at 28Mhz please ?

(Please note, if you have nit used 28Mhz yet then you might need
to tweek the blue DDS pot to get it started.)

I run a full house of BS170's at 9v @ 28MHZ and get 260mw.

73 de Andy G0FTD

Re: U2 Final Voltage

"Paul KE7HR"

#1318

Thanks, Dave.  I have a bag of BS170 and don't see marks to identify the maker...  I put a heatsink on for good measure and also a variable PA supply separate from the supply that feeds the board.  Now everything runs quite cool, even at the full 12 volts.  I have reduced the output to 1 watt (20 vpp into 50 ohms) and it should now run ice cold even with high duty cycle.

I ran a test from 5 volts up to almost 12 volts (the variable supply needs 1.5 volts or so for regulation) and built a chart.  The result is in the Files section, if anyone wants to look at the output vs. supply voltage for 80 meters.  The output was sent to a dummy load and the voltage across the load was measured with an oscilloscope.

I also put several photos in the KE7HR folder that show the U2 in a box with a homebuilt heatsink.  It is just about ready for the backpack...

KE7HR Paul in Phoenix, AZ

Show quoted text

--- In QRPLabs@..., "Dave" <airdry@...> wrote:

Paul

I was running a matched set of 3 Fairchild transistors and they are rated for 830 ma max and can take quite a bit of heat max 150c which should put over 2 watts out. I am using a small wattmeter and with 9 volts to the pa I can get 1.2 watts out on 30m

Dave

Re: U2 Final Voltage

"andyfoad@..."

#1317

Has anyone tried running 3 x BS170's at 12v yet AND measured the
output at 28Mhz please ?

(Please note, if you have nit used 28Mhz yet then you might need
to tweek the blue DDS pot to get it started.)

I run a full house of BS170's at 9v @ 28MHZ and get 260mw.

73 de Andy G0FTD

Re: U2 Final Voltage

"Dave"

#1316

Sorry that should be 830 mw max dissipation on the bs180 to-92
Dave

Show quoted text

--- In QRPLabs@..., "Paul KE7HR" <ke7hr@...> wrote:

My U2 was putting just over 12 volts peak to peak into 50 ohms on 80 meters using a 5 volt final drive (LM2596 switching regulator) with one final.  I installed the other two finals and only got an increase of 1 volt peak to peak (about 60 mW increase).  I put the full battery voltage to the finals (12.6 volts) and now get just over 30 volts peak to peak or about 2.25 watts.  Since the BS170 is only rated at 350 mW I will next start cutting down the voltage to the finals with another regulator to get the power down to about 1 watt.

What are others with the three finals running for voltages?

I have run a couple of nights with the 12 volts final voltage on WSPR with the devices touching a nice big piece of aluminum.  A better, field portable, type of heat sink will be worked out...  For other modes with 100% transmit, I would really not recommend pushing the devices this hard.

Screen shots from the oscilloscope of the voltages into 50 ohms in the photos section.

KE7HR

Re: U2 Final Voltage

"Dave"

#1315

Paul

I was running a matched set of 3 Fairchild transistors and they are rated for 830 ma max and can take quite a bit of heat max 150c which should put over 2 watts out. I am using a small wattmeter and with 9 volts to the pa I can get 1.2 watts out on 30m

Dave

Show quoted text

--- In QRPLabs@..., "Paul KE7HR" <ke7hr@...> wrote:

My U2 was putting just over 12 volts peak to peak into 50 ohms on 80 meters using a 5 volt final drive (LM2596 switching regulator) with one final.  I installed the other two finals and only got an increase of 1 volt peak to peak (about 60 mW increase).  I put the full battery voltage to the finals (12.6 volts) and now get just over 30 volts peak to peak or about 2.25 watts.  Since the BS170 is only rated at 350 mW I will next start cutting down the voltage to the finals with another regulator to get the power down to about 1 watt.

What are others with the three finals running for voltages?

I have run a couple of nights with the 12 volts final voltage on WSPR with the devices touching a nice big piece of aluminum.  A better, field portable, type of heat sink will be worked out...  For other modes with 100% transmit, I would really not recommend pushing the devices this hard.

Screen shots from the oscilloscope of the voltages into 50 ohms in the photos section.

KE7HR

U2 Final Voltage

"Paul KE7HR"

#1314

My U2 was putting just over 12 volts peak to peak into 50 ohms on 80 meters using a 5 volt final drive (LM2596 switching regulator) with one final.  I installed the other two finals and only got an increase of 1 volt peak to peak (about 60 mW increase).  I put the full battery voltage to the finals (12.6 volts) and now get just over 30 volts peak to peak or about 2.25 watts.  Since the BS170 is only rated at 350 mW I will next start cutting down the voltage to the finals with another regulator to get the power down to about 1 watt.

What are others with the three finals running for voltages?

I have run a couple of nights with the 12 volts final voltage on WSPR with the devices touching a nice big piece of aluminum.  A better, field portable, type of heat sink will be worked out...  For other modes with 100% transmit, I would really not recommend pushing the devices this hard.

Screen shots from the oscilloscope of the voltages into 50 ohms in the photos section.

KE7HR

Slow Hell with U2 and U1

"Dave"

#1313

Hello All

I am really enjoying this kit and have had great results on WSPR and other modes. From Canada on 20 meters the U2 easily Wsprs around the world and the frequency calibration is very stable and accurate to a few hertz. A tremendous project by Hans.

Recently I have been confused by the differing results on Slow Hellschreiber with the new U2 when compared to my earlier U1 version.

I have tried different speeds , different shifts and different frequencies ( 30 and 40 meters) and it seems to me that the print received from my U1  is more legible than the print from my U2.

I would appreciate it if you could view the crop photos under VE3KCL and see if you have any ideas what settings or conditions could be causing difference in the definition of the print.

I built the U2 with 3 matched bs170s and am running 5 volts to the chip and 7 to 9 volts to the PA using a 7805 for regulation . Output is from .5 watts to about 1.5 watts depending on the band and PA voltage.
Idling current is 120 ma from the power supply and transmit goes to 270 to 350 ma depending on the band and antenna tuning.
Antenna is a G5RV and tuned by a matchbox to about 1.2:1

Any Ideas?

Dave  Ve3kcl

Re: QRSS Arduino Shield Switches

"Mike W"

#1312

Dale, be sure the Shield does'nt get claustrophiobia.
It seems a common problem with homebrewed equipment these days.
Probably something to do with global warming or summat. :-)

Show quoted text

On 4 Jun 2013 at 18:53, w0r wrote:

Thanks Hans

I set the switches and started Argo and everything seems to work properly.
Now I need to put it into an enclosure and put it on the air.

Thanks again

73's Dale W0IR

From: QRPLabs@... [mailto:QRPLabs@...] On Behalf Of
Hans Summers
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 5:07 PM
To: QRPLabs@...
Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] QRSS Arduino Shield Switches

Hi Dale

In the sample sketch provided, two of the switches (S3, S4) set the speed:

                                         // Read the switches, to set the
mode and speed
  mode = digitalRead(SWITCH1) + 2 * digitalRead(SWITCH2);
  ditSpeed = digitalRead(SWITCH3) + 2 * digitalRead(SWITCH4);

and refer to the speed array at the front of the sketch:

const unsigned int speeds[] = {1, 30, 60, 100};   // Speeds for: 12wpm,
QRSS3, QRSS6, QRSS10

So 

Switch 3 off, Switch 4 off: 12wpm

Switch 3 on, switch 4 off: 3s dits

Switch 3 off, switch 4 on: 6s dits

Switch 3 on, switch 4 on: 10s dits

Similarly for mode:

#define MODE_NONE 0                      // Mode NONE means the Power
Amplifier is disabled
#define MODE_QRSS 1                      // QRSS mode (i.e. ordinary CW)
#define MODE_FSKCW 2                     // FSK CW mode
#define MODE_DFCW 3                      // DFCW mode

So:

Switch 1 off, switch 2 off: OFF

Switch 1 on, switch 2 off: QRSS

Switch 1 off, switch 2 on: FSK/CW

Switch 1 on, switch 2 on: DFCW

73 Hans G0UPL

On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 8:53 PM, Dale <w0ir@...> wrote:

Can some on tell me what the switch setting should be on the QRSS Arduino
Shield. I believe I should be running the board QRSS3.
Thanks Dale W0IR

Re: QRSS Arduino Shield Switches

"w0r"

#1311

开云体育

Thanks Hans

?

I set the switches and started Argo and everything seems to work properly. Now I need to put it into an enclosure and put it on the air.

?

Thanks again

73’s Dale W0IR

?

Show quoted text

From: QRPLabs@... [mailto:QRPLabs@...] On Behalf Of Hans Summers
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 5:07 PM
To: QRPLabs@...
Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] QRSS Arduino Shield Switches

?

Hi Dale

?

In the sample sketch provided, two of the switches (S3, S4) set the speed:

???????????????????????????????????????? // Read the switches, to set the mode and speed

? mode = digitalRead(SWITCH1) + 2 * digitalRead(SWITCH2);

? ditSpeed = digitalRead(SWITCH3) + 2 * digitalRead(SWITCH4);

and refer to the speed array at the front of the sketch:

const unsigned int speeds[] = {1, 30, 60, 100};?? // Speeds for: 12wpm, QRSS3, QRSS6, QRSS10

So?

?

Switch 3 off, Switch 4 off: 12wpm

Switch 3 on, switch 4 off: 3s dits

Switch 3 off, switch 4 on: 6s dits

Switch 3 on, switch 4 on: 10s dits

?

Similarly for mode:

#define MODE_NONE 0????????????????????? // Mode NONE means the Power Amplifier is disabled

#define MODE_QRSS 1????????????????????? // QRSS mode (i.e. ordinary CW)

#define MODE_FSKCW 2???????????????????? // FSK CW mode

#define MODE_DFCW 3????????????????????? // DFCW mode

So:

?

Switch 1 off, switch 2 off: OFF

Switch 1 on, switch 2 off: QRSS

Switch 1 off, switch 2 on: FSK/CW

Switch 1 on, switch 2 on: DFCW

?

73 Hans G0UPL

?

On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 8:53 PM, Dale <w0ir@...> wrote:

?

Can some on tell me what the switch setting should be on the QRSS Arduino Shield. I believe I should be running the board QRSS3.
Thanks Dale W0IR

?

Re: QRSS Arduino Shield Switches

Hans Summers

#1310

Hi Dale

In the sample sketch provided, two of the switches (S3, S4) set the speed:

                                         // Read the switches, to set the mode and speed
  mode = digitalRead(SWITCH1) + 2 * digitalRead(SWITCH2);
  ditSpeed = digitalRead(SWITCH3) + 2 * digitalRead(SWITCH4);

and refer to the speed array at the front of the sketch:

const unsigned int speeds[] = {1, 30, 60, 100};   // Speeds for: 12wpm, QRSS3, QRSS6, QRSS10

So?

Switch 3 off, Switch 4 off: 12wpm

Switch 3 on, switch 4 off: 3s dits

Switch 3 off, switch 4 on: 6s dits

Switch 3 on, switch 4 on: 10s dits

Similarly for mode:

#define MODE_NONE 0                      // Mode NONE means the Power Amplifier is disabled
#define MODE_QRSS 1                      // QRSS mode (i.e. ordinary CW)
#define MODE_FSKCW 2                     // FSK CW mode
#define MODE_DFCW 3                      // DFCW mode

So:

Switch 1 off, switch 2 off: OFF

Switch 1 on, switch 2 off: QRSS

Switch 1 off, switch 2 on: FSK/CW

Switch 1 on, switch 2 on: DFCW

73 Hans G0UPL

Show quoted text

On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 8:53 PM, Dale <w0ir@...> wrote:

?

Can some on tell me what the switch setting should be on the QRSS Arduino Shield. I believe I should be running the board QRSS3.
Thanks Dale W0IR

QRSS Arduino Shield Switches

"Dale"

#1309

Can some on tell me what the switch setting should be on the QRSS Arduino Shield. I believe I should be running the board QRSS3.
Thanks Dale W0IR

Re: Wire guage on LPF's ?

"Colin XSD"

#1308

开云体育

Yes Andy, that was my thinking as well.

?

What I have done on other boards is clear the hole with a piece of the Enamelled Copper Wire with the end cut across at 45degrees, it seems good enough to clear the excess solder and if you are too heavy handed (like I often am) the wire will just bend before it does any damage (unlike a drill bit).

?

73, Colin M0XSD.

?

Show quoted text

From: andyfoad@...

Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 11:34 AM

To: QRPLabs@...

Subject: [QRPLabs] Re: Wire guage on LPF's ?

?

Hi Colin,

Yeah I got sway with it on one, but not the other. Just a bit too
much plating in the whole to allow it to fit.

Using 0.5mm wire is nicer though. It does allow quite a bit more
tensile strength to hold the toroids in place.

73 de Andy

--- In mailto:QRPLabs%40yahoogroups.com, "Colin XSD" wrote:
>
> Hi Andy,
>
> If it is any help, I have managed to used 0.5mm Enamelled Copper Wire on an LPF, it was a tight fit but not too tight once the Enamelling was cleared off.
>
>
> 73, Colin M0XSD.
>
>

Re: Wire guage on LPF's ?

"andyfoad@..."

#1307

Hi Colin,

Yeah I got sway with it on one, but not the other. Just a bit too
much plating in the whole to allow it to fit.

Using 0.5mm wire is nicer though. It does allow quite a bit more
tensile strength to hold the toroids in place.

73 de Andy

Show quoted text

--- In QRPLabs@..., "Colin XSD" <m0xsd@...> wrote:

Hi Andy,

If it is any help, I have managed to used 0.5mm Enamelled Copper Wire on an LPF, it was a tight fit but not too tight once the Enamelling was cleared off.

73, Colin M0XSD.

Re: Wire guage on LPF's ?

"andyfoad@..."

#1305

Cheers Hans.

I've just put in my order for some of the Scientific Wire Company.
(Used them for years, always a good supplier.)

I have plenty of 0.5mm, but the through plating is taking up a little
of the diameter, enough to make life a bit difficult so I'd rather
get a reel in and have it in stock for the future.

73 de Andy G0FTD

--- In QRPLabs@..., Hans Summers <hans.summers@...> wrote:

Hi Andy

The wire is specified as 28AWG (0.37mm). According to the PCB layout
program, the specified drill size for the toroid holes is 0.6mm but I
suppose some thickness is required also for the through-hole plating.Jun 4, 2013 at 11:34 AM, andyfoad@... <
andyfoad@...> wrote:

**


Can anyone confirm what the wire guage is as used on the LPF's
please ?

I make it either 28 or 30 SWG.

I've stuffed up a few toroids and run out of wire, so I need to be sure
of the guage, especially since the pcb holes are a tight fit with
very little tolerance, but yet I want to use the thickest I can
just to give it whatever (small) extra strength I can for what it's
worth.

73 de Andy G0FTD

Re: Wire guage on LPF's ?

"Colin XSD"

#1306

开云体育

Hi Andy,

?

If it is any help, I have managed to used 0.5mm Enamelled Copper Wire on an LPF, it was a tight fit but not too tight once the Enamelling was cleared off.

?

73, Colin M0XSD.

?

Show quoted text

From: andyfoad@...

Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 10:34 AM

To: QRPLabs@...

Subject: [QRPLabs] Wire guage on LPF's ?

?

Can anyone confirm what the wire guage is as used on the LPF's
please ?

I make it either 28 or 30 SWG.

I've stuffed up a few toroids and run out of wire, so I need to be sure
of the guage, especially since the pcb holes are a tight fit with
very little tolerance, but yet I want to use the thickest I can
just to give it whatever (small) extra strength I can for what it's
worth.

73 de Andy G0FTD

Re: Wire guage on LPF's ?

Hans Summers

#1304

Hi Andy

The wire is specified as 28AWG (0.37mm). According to the PCB layout program, the specified drill size for the toroid holes is 0.6mm but I suppose some thickness is required also for the through-hole plating.

73 Hans G0UPL

Show quoted text

On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 11:34 AM, andyfoad@... <andyfoad@...> wrote:

?

Can anyone confirm what the wire guage is as used on the LPF's
please ?

I make it either 28 or 30 SWG.

I've stuffed up a few toroids and run out of wire, so I need to be sure
of the guage, especially since the pcb holes are a tight fit with
very little tolerance, but yet I want to use the thickest I can
just to give it whatever (small) extra strength I can for what it's
worth.

73 de Andy G0FTD

Wire guage on LPF's ?

"andyfoad@..."

#1303

Can anyone confirm what the wire guage is as used on the LPF's
please ?

I make it either 28 or 30 SWG.

I've stuffed up a few toroids and run out of wire, so I need to be sure
of the guage, especially since the pcb holes are a tight fit with
very little tolerance, but yet I want to use the thickest I can
just to give it whatever (small) extra strength I can for what it's
worth.

73 de Andy G0FTD

U2 in Maine

"fn43pp"

#1302

I'm amazed how much I am smiling after getting the U2
put together, and screwing it into the 160M loop
that drapes around the back yard.

Seeing 4 others hearing me on WSPR is a real chuckle.
Especially since I'm using it on 30M !

It is getting hard rummaging around the local stores finding candies and cookies that still come in metal boxes. Not sure what I'll build the next one in !

Frank KA1QW

Re: U2 displayed code in WSPR mode

"g8ajm"

#1301

Hello Hans

Oh dear, how red can a face get, they are of course BS170s! Even worse, I do now recall reading the explanation of the code when I built the kit.  Also, I had the frequency set to 7,040,000 in error as I think it should have been 7,040,100 which of course gives me the familiar 100 code.  So, not a dumb question at all!

However still no spots, whereas when I first built it, I was getting spotted on most TX phases.  I think maybe I'll just build another one rather than chasing the fault.

Many thanks for your prompt and helpful reply.

Best wishes
Chris