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John Randall
 

Ok, Got it all running now, so now to get some RF into my transverter and see if it kicks over.

73
John
?
Digitally signed mail - M0ELS
Re: error: message

John Randall
 

No space in? callsign window M0ELS, but put spaces in the message window?
M0ELS JO01 27

73
John

?
Digitally signed mail - M0ELS

From: Andy Cutland
To: qrplabs@...
Sent: Monday, 29 July 2013, 22:49
Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] error: message

?


Hi John,

Are you including a space after your suffix. If you are then take it out.

73"s
De Andy

------------------------------
On Mon, Jul 29, 2013 12:59 PM PDT John Randall wrote:

>Trying to run the hardware in wspr mode, but keep getting error : message. Any ideas as it happens with no message or with one.
>
>CW mode brings up the clock >00 WHICH IS COUNTING DOWN i PRESUME TO TX MODE.
>
>
>73
>John
>
>?
>Digitally signed mail - M0ELS
Re: error: message

Hans Summers
 


Hi John

The requirements on callsign entry for WSPR are on page 4 of the manual (v2.03).?

WSPR will try to take your callsign from the "Callsign" setting and will make sure it satisfies the listed callsign requirements for WSPR. If the callsign is empty or invalid (doesn't satisfy the right format for WSPR) then the kit will try to use the "Message" parameter instead, in case you have put your callsign in there. If that is empty/invalid too then you will get that error message "Error: Message".?

In your case you must just enter "M0ELS", and as Andy says, NO space character at the end. (Unnecessary note: you could put a space character at the beginning, and it would be fine, i.e. " M0ELS". But if you do not, the kit will put one in automatically).

73 Hans G0UPL


On Mon, Jul 29, 2013 at 8:59 PM, John Randall <m0els@...> wrote:
?

Trying to run the hardware in wspr mode, but keep getting error : message. Any ideas as it happens with no message or with one.
CW mode brings up the clock >00 WHICH IS COUNTING DOWN i PRESUME TO TX MODE.

73
John
?
Digitally signed mail - M0ELS
Re: error: message

Andy Cutland
 

Hi John,

Are you including a space after your suffix. If you are then take it out.

73"s
De Andy


------------------------------

On Mon, Jul 29, 2013 12:59 PM PDT John Randall wrote:

Trying to run the hardware in wspr mode, but keep getting error : message. Any ideas as it happens with no message or with one.

CW mode brings up the clock >00 WHICH IS COUNTING DOWN i PRESUME TO TX MODE.


73
John

?
Digitally signed mail - M0ELS
error: message

John Randall
 

Trying to run the hardware in wspr mode, but keep getting error : message. Any ideas as it happens with no message or with one.
CW mode brings up the clock >00 WHICH IS COUNTING DOWN i PRESUME TO TX MODE.

73
John
?
Digitally signed mail - M0ELS
New file uploaded to QRPLabs

[email protected]
 

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the QRPLabs
group.

File : /Using the Ultimate 2 on 472 kHz with an external PA.pdf
Uploaded by : chmbrsbrry <b.chambers@...>
Description : External PA for the modified U2 on 472kHz

You can access this file at the URL:


To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:

Regards,

chmbrsbrry <b.chambers@...>
Sick as a dog

"m0els"
 

Yesterday, I lost a whole day due to me reacting to an arthiritis drug, which I took the night before. Things are settling down now and scratching around, I found an old Navibe GPS unit ( looks like a GPS antenna ) and its still working. So I have a few options now to play with when I am up to it. A cheap way to seal the gap around the LCD display is to use bathroom silicon sealant which can be coloured black with some model aircraft paint or dye. I applied it with a match stick to get an even bead around the hole.

73
John
Trials and tribulations sorted ;-)

"andyfoad@..."
 

Been a bit quiet lately but looks like I'm back in business.

I had 3 problems manifest themselves on about the same time
which made me untold puzzlement and frustration.

1) PSU problem.

U2 worked fine in the beginning but I changed the PSU design and
it kept dying on me. Being what I'd class as noting more than simple
low current DC supply I treated it as such. That meant I didn't
run multiple earths from each voltage regulator and just relied upon
a common series earth on the veroboard layout to connect my
regulators together. Bad move.

The last regulator in the cascased regulator chain, the 5v one
kept dying. In effect it had a 4 inch long earth lead to get to real
earth. The result was everything was fine until 5v regulator was
added and then it honked, and backed up the line.

Adding more earth straps to the whole verobaord layout as if it was
an rf circuit plus decoupling cured it.

Silly me for treating a simple DC circuit as DC circuit rather
than an RF one ;-)

2) Internal ATU problems.

After weeks of succesfull operation I found I could no longer tune
the LF bands correctly. Thinking it was my newly installed quad loop
playing up I concentrated on finding an aerial fault.

Turnout out to be an earth wire come off in the ATU !

3) LPF open circuit.

Once I'd got that lot sorted out I kept getting the output dying
on me. Argggggghh! Now I thought that my new PSU was playing up,
but instead on the 9/12v supply line instead of the previous 5v
line.

By this time I was getting a bit suicidal ;-)

Then I accidentally touched one of the LFP toroids and it flickered back on. Turned out to be a fry joint which after many weeks of use
had decided to show itself.

Now I can start enjoying my U2 again !!!

Aint radio life great eh ?

73 de Andy G0FTD
Re: Ultimate 2 QRSS no work

"Paul KE7HR"
 

The GPS is not needed to make WSPR work. All of my U2 WSPR work has been without a GPS. A few iterations of setting the 20 MHz oscillator frequency are required, but mine has run for more than a week solid with less than 1 second drift after adjustment. Because one of my applications for WSPR will never have GPS, I may eventually build an accurate real time clock based on the ChronoDot module and an Arduino to simulate the GPS, but so far I have not seen the need.

For the final output power supply I used a cheap switching regulator from eBay. Similar to:

I use them because they are more efficient than the linear regulator. Less heat, and heatsinking, and the signal is not interfered with as far as I can tell.

There are versions of the LM2596 regulator with a voltmeter now attached that I see on eBay which might be nice for setup.

Yes, the manual for Hans kit and the WSPR documentation makes good reading. Enjoy.

Paul KE7HR

--- In QRPLabs@..., "Don" <don1mh@...> wrote:

Paul,
From what you said, a variable PS just for the final or finals might be interesting. Use a LM-317 and pot for regulator. Bad news yesterday. Was going th use my old FV-M8 for the GPS. Data out was good on scope, but no 1 pps output. Using it on other projects, I never needed this output. What a letdown! Checked it over and over. Nothing. Sparkfun shows FV-M8 retired, so went with the EM-406A. Guess WSPR will have to wait a few days. OK on questions. I should read the manual!

Don
Re: V2.01 processor chip used as stand-alone CW keyer ?

Hans Summers
 


Hi Tom

I re-studied the code.?

The processor doesn't wait for any feedback from the DDS. It just talks to it and hopes it listens.?

However, it does expect communication back from the LCD! So this probably explains why you see no output. ?I believe that you can cheat it into thinking that the LCD is present, by connecting D7 LCD connection to Ground via a 1K resistor. This connection is pin 3 of the microcontroller. So, connecting the v2.01 chip pin 3 to Ground via a 1K resistor *should* (according to my theory), work.

73 Hans G0UPL


On Sat, Jul 27, 2013 at 9:37 PM, dl2wb <t.blinn@...> wrote:
?

Dear fellows,

since I received the V2.02a firmware chip, I have one obsolete V2.01 processor in the shelf.
I thought about using it as a standalone CW beacon keyer.

So I set up a dummy board which provides 5 V with decoupling, the XTAL with caps and the keying FET with a pull-up.
There is no DDS module, no display, no push-buttons attached.

In the original U2, after turning on the power, the processor comes up straight away and starts keying (GPS setting = off).
On my dummy board it does not.
I put it several times back and forward but without any success on the dummy board.

Obviously the processor gets stuck as it misses some feedback from the DDS or the display.

Any idea of how to get the V2.01 chip run standalone as a simple keyer on a dummy board ?

Regards from Bavaria,
Tom, DL2WB
Re: Any BPF 50 MHz design

Hans Summers
 


Nobody claimed it yet!

73 Hans


On Sat, Jul 27, 2013 at 9:29 PM, dl2wb <t.blinn@...> wrote:
?

Any updates on the competition so far ?
Did anyone already claim the U2 ?
The 50 MHz short skip season is not yet over...

Regards from sunny Bavaria,
Tom, DL2WB



--- In QRPLabs@..., "Paul KE7HR" wrote:
>
> The reception reports will have to wait until the updated firmware chip arrives so that I can get a 6 meter signal out of the U2... Else, I have a design that will fit. Also, waiting the filter boards so that I can build the design to fit the U2... They should be in the same shipment.
>
> Good challenge, though!
>
> Paul KE7HR
>
> --- In QRPLabs@..., Hans Summers wrote:
> >
> > All
> >
> > If someone builds a 6m design, 7-element LPF which will fit on the kit PCB,
> > I am happy to stock them in the shop. I think it would be good if someone
> > proves it works first ;-)
> >
> > One free Ultimate2 kit (or other kits of equivalent value) to whoever
> > proves the U2 works on 6m, and has reception reports to prove it!
> >
> > 73 Hans G0UPL
>
V2.01 processor chip used as stand-alone CW keyer ?

"dl2wb"
 

Dear fellows,

since I received the V2.02a firmware chip, I have one obsolete V2.01 processor in the shelf.
I thought about using it as a standalone CW beacon keyer.

So I set up a dummy board which provides 5 V with decoupling, the XTAL with caps and the keying FET with a pull-up.
There is no DDS module, no display, no push-buttons attached.

In the original U2, after turning on the power, the processor comes up straight away and starts keying (GPS setting = off).
On my dummy board it does not.
I put it several times back and forward but without any success on the dummy board.

Obviously the processor gets stuck as it misses some feedback from the DDS or the display.

Any idea of how to get the V2.01 chip run standalone as a simple keyer on a dummy board ?

Regards from Bavaria,
Tom, DL2WB
Re: Any BPF 50 MHz design

"dl2wb"
 

Any updates on the competition so far ?
Did anyone already claim the U2 ?
The 50 MHz short skip season is not yet over...

Regards from sunny Bavaria,
Tom, DL2WB

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

The reception reports will have to wait until the updated firmware chip arrives so that I can get a 6 meter signal out of the U2... Else, I have a design that will fit. Also, waiting the filter boards so that I can build the design to fit the U2... They should be in the same shipment.

Good challenge, though!

Paul KE7HR

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

All

If someone builds a 6m design, 7-element LPF which will fit on the kit PCB,
I am happy to stock them in the shop. I think it would be good if someone
proves it works first ;-)

One free Ultimate2 kit (or other kits of equivalent value) to whoever
proves the U2 works on 6m, and has reception reports to prove it!

73 Hans G0UPL
Re: Modified U2 kit

Barry Chambers
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

On 26/07/2013 22:11, Charlie , W5COV wrote:
?

Barry ,

I plan to use one of mine on 472 kHz. also . Would you mind sharing your amplifier drawing ?

Best Regards.

73 , Charlie , W5COV

On 7/26/2013 1:05 PM, Barry Chambers wrote:
?

Hans

I've just uploaded a file showing my mods to the U2 kit to drive an
external class E PA. My main interest is using the U2 on 472kHz but the
same idea would work for other bands. At present my PA produces about 35
watts of RF which is hardly QRP but when the radiating efficiency of
antennas at 472kHz is taken into account (virtually zero!) then the rig
really is QRP.

The mods to the U2 are as follows:

Remove Q2 and R2.
Replace the toroid L1 with a 12v miniature relay (e.g. 60-1992 from
Rapid). This has a single changeover contact and is easily driven by Q1.
The gate of Q1 is driven as before by the control line PB5 (pin 19) on
the ATmega168. This goes 'low' during a non-transmitting period and
'high' during a transmission.
My class E PA uses a IRF510 MOSFET running at 24v and requires a square
wave driver signal at 472kHz; this is provided from the QOUT1 pin 7 on
the DDS. This is then routed through the NO contacts on the relay during
the transmit period. During the no-transmit period, the relay NC
contacts short the PA driver signal line to 0v.

Hope this might be of interest to other members of the group.

Having butchered my U2, I guess that I'll now have to buy another one
for its proper use!

--

73

Barry, G8AGN



Charlie

Many thanks for your interest. I'll scan it and post in the Files section after the weekend.

-- 

73

Barry, G8AGN
Re: Ultimate 2 QRSS no work

"Don"
 

Paul,
From what you said, a variable PS just for the final or finals might be interesting. Use a LM-317 and pot for regulator. Bad news yesterday. Was going th use my old FV-M8 for the GPS. Data out was good on scope, but no 1 pps output. Using it on other projects, I never needed this output. What a letdown! Checked it over and over. Nothing. Sparkfun shows FV-M8 retired, so went with the EM-406A. Guess WSPR will have to wait a few days. OK on questions. I should read the manual!

Don

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

Don, your numbers sound about right, though all of my testing has been at 80 meters. In the files and photo section you can see some screen shots of what I found there. On 80 meters I can get as much as 2.5 watts out with 12 volts to the final, but "throttle back" to 1 watt (20 vpp into 50 ohms) both for the challenge and better battery life for my portable operation.

On question 1: not in the latest version.
On question 2: The number counting up to 162 is the bit being sent. The number varying between 0 and 3 is the number of the tone being sent. WSPR sends 162 bits as four tones separated by about 1.4 Hz.

Have fun with it.

Paul KE7HR

--- In QRPLabs@..., "Don" <don1mh@> wrote:

Paul,
The U2 is getting well! With the software I have (a few days ago), I was able to get my 5 character call in just fine. I think Reset helped a lot. And editing wasn't done right yesterday. Plus I had the LP filter unplugged while testing. I'm using a 3A commercial variable bench supply. I'm finding it's better to disconnect the + to shut down, rather than turn off the main switch. Same turning on the U2. I think turn on transients from supply might give chips some fright!

OK here are some readings and two questions:
RF out of LPF with 47 ohm load resistor
U2 current, not TX-ing = 130 ma
U2 current, TX-ing = 260 ma
P-P RF voltage on scope when transmitting = 12.5 volts

Question 1: Should I see my call on display when TX-ing?
Question 2: What do the numbers mean in middle of the display?
I see a pair of numbers advancing. One space over, I see
0 to 3 in no particular order.

Thanks...Don
YAY! my Trimble GPS works again

"Philip"
 

Got some 2.03 chips in the post this morning and now my trusty old Trimble GPS module is working again...

Now I can run both U2 rigs under GPS control...

Happy days
Thanks Hans..


Philip G4JVF
Re: A big wind up

"Philip"
 

Question now is, shall I rewind them all to make them look neater?

Nah! no chance :)



Philip G4JVF

--- In QRPLabs@..., Keith Maton <nentecular@...> wrote:

Ahh, that's an easy one to answer. It looks like you wound the coils the opposite way to me and so had to twist them awkwardly to make them fit on the boards.

73 Keith.


On 27 Jul 2013, at 12:11, Philip <pcteee@...> wrote:

Why are yours neater than mine Keith? :)

Philip G4JVF

--- In QRPLabs@..., Keith Maton <nentecular@> wrote:

I've been doing the same...



Just waiting for the others to appear in the shop.

73 Keith, G6NHU


On 24 Jul 2013, at 16:17, p19547ct <pcteee@> wrote:

Got a batch of U2 filters the other day so I've been keeping
out of the heat and building them up....
Just need a 600meter one when Hans gets them in..

Used a bit of perforated board to keep them safe and easy to
just pick up and swap to the live socket for band changing...

Picture here...


Much fun

Philip G4JVF
Re: A big wind up

Keith Maton
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Ahh, that's an easy one to answer. ?It looks like you wound the coils the opposite way to me and so had to twist them awkwardly to make them fit on the boards.

73 Keith.


On 27 Jul 2013, at 12:11, Philip <pcteee@...> wrote:

?

Why are yours neater than mine Keith? :)

Philip G4JVF

--- In QRPLabs@..., Keith Maton wrote:
>
> I've been doing the same...
>
>
>
> Just waiting for the others to appear in the shop.
>
> 73 Keith, G6NHU
>
>
> On 24 Jul 2013, at 16:17, p19547ct wrote:
>
> > Got a batch of U2 filters the other day so I've been keeping
> > out of the heat and building them up....
> > Just need a 600meter one when Hans gets them in..
> >
> > Used a bit of perforated board to keep them safe and easy to
> > just pick up and swap to the live socket for band changing...
> >
> > Picture here...
> >
> >
> > Much fun
> >
> > Philip G4JVF
> >
> >
>
Re: A big wind up

"Philip"
 

Why are yours neater than mine Keith? :)


Philip G4JVF

--- In QRPLabs@..., Keith Maton <nentecular@...> wrote:

I've been doing the same...



Just waiting for the others to appear in the shop.

73 Keith, G6NHU


On 24 Jul 2013, at 16:17, p19547ct <pcteee@...> wrote:

Got a batch of U2 filters the other day so I've been keeping
out of the heat and building them up....
Just need a 600meter one when Hans gets them in..

Used a bit of perforated board to keep them safe and easy to
just pick up and swap to the live socket for band changing...

Picture here...


Much fun

Philip G4JVF
Re: A big wind up

Keith Maton
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I've ?been doing the same...


Just waiting for the others to appear in the shop.

73 Keith, G6NHU


On 24 Jul 2013, at 16:17, p19547ct <pcteee@...> wrote:

?

Got a batch of U2 filters the other day so I've been keeping
out of the heat and building them up....
Just need a 600meter one when Hans gets them in..

Used a bit of perforated board to keep them safe and easy to
just pick up and swap to the live socket for band changing...

Picture here...


Much fun

Philip G4JVF
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