I can control output power. Am not near my T41 so can’t test voltages dave, n3ds
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On Apr 14, 2025, at 3:41?PM, Oliver KI3P via groups.io <oliver@...> wrote:
? Added the following at line 748 of : ? ? ? ? ? ? SetRF_OutAtten(adjuster);
The version on GitHub should be able to set the TX attenuation now -- can't test it myself unfortunately.
On Monday, April 14th, 2025 at 2:56 PM, Oliver KI3P via groups.io <oliver@...> wrote:
I'm away from my radio at the moment. Can someone with a working radio confirm that this affects them too? Will take a look at the code tonight and see if I can find anything obvious.
-------- Original Message -------- On 4/14/25 1:33 PM, K9HZ wrote: Good question… the TX attenuator should work the same way… so either there is a bug in the software… or there is a problem with the MCP23017. Since the RX side works I think its probably a bug in the code. Oliver will know. ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ? ? V12.6 RF board. 'Menu/RF Set/RF in Atten' works fine, I get the appropriate 3.3v at pins 21 - 26 as adjustments are made. But 'RF Out Atten' doesn't work the same. I don't see any voltage on pins 1 - 6 as adjustments are made. What am I missing?
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Ok so the software wasn’t there to adjust the TX attenuator.? How the heck did Al calibrate the output power then? ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Oliver KI3P via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2025 2:41 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [AmateurRadioBuilders] Attenuator problem? Added the following at line 748 of : ? ? ? ? ? ? SetRF_OutAtten(adjuster); The version on GitHub should be able to set the TX attenuation now -- can't test it myself unfortunately. On Monday, April 14th, 2025 at 2:56 PM, Oliver KI3P via groups.io <oliver@...> wrote:
I'm away from my radio at the moment. Can someone with a working radio confirm that this affects them too? Will take a look at the code tonight and see if I can find anything obvious.
-------- Original Message --------
On 4/14/25 1:33 PM, K9HZ wrote:
Good question… the TX attenuator should work the same way… so either there is a bug in the software… or there is a problem with the MCP23017. Since the RX side works I think its probably a bug in the code. Oliver will know. ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ? ? V12.6 RF board. 'Menu/RF Set/RF in Atten' works fine, I get the appropriate 3.3v at pins 21 - 26 as adjustments are made. But 'RF Out Atten' doesn't work the same. I don't see any voltage on pins 1 - 6 as adjustments are made. What am I missing?
?
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When RX_BPF is LOW/FALSE/0, S21 between J23 and J18 (assuming receive is bridged to transmit in the TR switch) should be low, meaning less than -45 dB. That's what is shown in the plot on the right.
When U8 was blown S21 was actually between -3 and -8 dB.
On Monday, April 14th, 2025 at 3:28 PM, jerry-KF6VB <jerry@...> wrote:
On 2025-04-13 14:45, Oliver KI3P via groups.io wrote:
Hi Jerry,
I posted the measurement I used to prove that U8 was bad here:
/g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/message/33289
*** So - you did this measurement with RX_BPF_SEL = False, right?
-Jerry, KF6VB
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Added the following at line 748 of : ? ? ? ? ? ? SetRF_OutAtten(adjuster);
The version on GitHub should be able to set the TX attenuation now -- can't test it myself unfortunately.
On Monday, April 14th, 2025 at 2:56 PM, Oliver KI3P via groups.io <oliver@...> wrote:
I'm away from my radio at the moment. Can someone with a working radio confirm that this affects them too? Will take a look at the code tonight and see if I can find anything obvious.
-------- Original Message -------- On 4/14/25 1:33 PM, K9HZ wrote: Good question… the TX attenuator should work the same way… so either there is a bug in the software… or there is a problem with the MCP23017. Since the RX side works I think its probably a bug in the code. Oliver will know. ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ? ? V12.6 RF board. 'Menu/RF Set/RF in Atten' works fine, I get the appropriate 3.3v at pins 21 - 26 as adjustments are made. But 'RF Out Atten' doesn't work the same. I don't see any voltage on pins 1 - 6 as adjustments are made. What am I missing?
|
On 2025-04-13 14:45, Oliver KI3P via groups.io wrote: Hi Jerry,
I posted the measurement I used to prove that U8 was bad here:
/g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/message/33289
*** So - you did this measurement with RX_BPF_SEL = False, right? -Jerry, KF6VB
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Music to my ears! Thanks Bill!
David?
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On Apr 14, 2025, at 12:53?PM, K9HZ via groups.io <bill@...> wrote:
? Hi David!? Welcome aboard!?? I shipped your boards today so you can get started in about 3 days! ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ? ? Just getting started with this amazing group and I wanted to write a quick note of introduction. I have long been a kit builder and tinkerer with electronics.? My first real success was a Wilderness Sierra that I built back in 1996.? I've been hooked ever since.? For the past year or so I have been running a Hermes Lite with Thetis and have been totally amazed by what it can do. I have absolutely no formal electronics knowledge and have always just figured stuff out at my own pace.? I am really looking forward to building the T41 modules, learning about SDTs and getting to know the folks in this community. I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.? If there is anyone near me that is a part of this group and would be interested in gathering for a meet up to talk shop and compare notes, let me know by emailing me directly, off the forum. Thanks to everyone who makes this amazing learning opportunity and community possible.
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I'm away from my radio at the moment. Can someone with a working radio confirm that this affects them too? Will take a look at the code tonight and see if I can find anything obvious.
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-------- Original Message -------- On 4/14/25 1:33 PM, K9HZ wrote: Good question… the TX attenuator should work the same way… so either there is a bug in the software… or there is a problem with the MCP23017.?? Since the RX side works I think its probably a bug in the code.? Oliver will know. ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ? ? V12.6 RF board. 'Menu/RF Set/RF in Atten' works fine, I get the appropriate 3.3v at pins 21 - 26 as adjustments are made. But 'RF Out Atten' doesn't work the same. I don't see any voltage on pins 1 - 6 as adjustments are made. What am I missing?
|
Hi David!? Welcome aboard!?? I shipped your boards today so you can get started in about 3 days! ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of David Dill via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2025 1:49 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AmateurRadioBuilders] introduction? Just getting started with this amazing group and I wanted to write a quick note of introduction. I have long been a kit builder and tinkerer with electronics.? My first real success was a Wilderness Sierra that I built back in 1996.? I've been hooked ever since.? For the past year or so I have been running a Hermes Lite with Thetis and have been totally amazed by what it can do. I have absolutely no formal electronics knowledge and have always just figured stuff out at my own pace.? I am really looking forward to building the T41 modules, learning about SDTs and getting to know the folks in this community. I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.? If there is anyone near me that is a part of this group and would be interested in gathering for a meet up to talk shop and compare notes, let me know by emailing me directly, off the forum. Thanks to everyone who makes this amazing learning opportunity and community possible.
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Hi everyone.
?
Just getting started with this amazing group and I wanted to write a quick note of introduction.
I have long been a kit builder and tinkerer with electronics.? My first real success was a Wilderness Sierra that I built back in 1996.? I've been hooked ever since.? For the past year or so I have been running a Hermes Lite with Thetis and have been totally amazed by what it can do.
?
I have absolutely no formal electronics knowledge and have always just figured stuff out at my own pace.? I am really looking forward to building the T41 modules, learning about SDTs and getting to know the folks in this community.
?
I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.? If there is anyone near me that is a part of this group and would be interested in gathering for a meet up to talk shop and compare notes, let me know by emailing me directly, off the forum.
?
Thanks to everyone who makes this amazing learning opportunity and community possible.
?
73
David Dill
W0NP
dsdill@...
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Good question… the TX attenuator should work the same way… so either there is a bug in the software… or there is a problem with the MCP23017.?? Since the RX side works I think its probably a bug in the code.? Oliver will know. ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Tom - AJ8X via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2025 1:14 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AmateurRadioBuilders] Attenuator problem? V12.6 RF board. 'Menu/RF Set/RF in Atten' works fine, I get the appropriate 3.3v at pins 21 - 26 as adjustments are made. But 'RF Out Atten' doesn't work the same. I don't see any voltage on pins 1 - 6 as adjustments are made. What am I missing?
|
V12.6 RF board. 'Menu/RF Set/RF in Atten' works fine, I get the appropriate 3.3v at pins 21 - 26 as adjustments are made. But 'RF Out Atten' doesn't work the same. I don't see any voltage on pins 1 - 6 as adjustments are made. What am I missing?
|
Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] T41 V12 software development path forward
The book has that and I believe that the web site also has instructions on installing the Arduino IDE, the TeensyDuino, and the necessary libraries.
Jack, W8TEE
On Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 06:28:04 PM EDT, jerry-KF6VB <jerry@...> wrote:
On 2025-04-13 15:09, David Fine wrote: Oliver et al,
I second the need for a step by step guide of what software to use, It wouldn't take much to make the software "standalone". That is - being able to distribute it as a binary/hex file instead of making everybody compile the source. I believe that all that would be needed would be to make the callsign, ITU region, and grid square into EEPROM data. Let people enter it at the radio. - Jerry, KF6VB
-- Jack, W8TEE
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Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] T41 V12 software development path forward
On Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 05:28:06 PM CDT, jerry-KF6VB <jerry@...> wrote:
On 2025-04-13 15:09, David Fine wrote: Oliver et al,
I second the need for a step by step guide of what software to use, It wouldn't take much to make the software "standalone". That is - being able to distribute it as a binary/hex file instead of making everybody compile the source. I believe that all that would be needed would be to make the callsign, ITU region, and grid square into EEPROM data. Let people enter it at the radio. - Jerry, KF6VB
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Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] T41 V12 software development path forward
On 2025-04-13 15:09, David Fine wrote: Oliver et al,
I second the need for a step by step guide of what software to use, It wouldn't take much to make the software "standalone". That is - being able to distribute it as a binary/hex file instead of making everybody compile the source. I believe that all that would be needed would be to make the callsign, ITU region, and grid square into EEPROM data. Let people enter it at the radio. - Jerry, KF6VB
|
Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] T41 V12 software development path forward
Oliver et al,
I second the need for a step by step guide of what software to use, where and? to use it.? I am not a software person at all and in all honesty I don't know where to begin with the software.? I have programmed some Arduino's in the past using another Arduino, but it seems to me that this might be way past that. I am not quite ready to start testing, but hope to be there in the next week or two.? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Dave, W0DF
On Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 09:58:01 AM CDT, K9HZ <bill@...> wrote:
Hey Oliver, I have no problem with you moving the test routines to your GITHUB.? They surely will get more maintenance attention there than on my GITHUB… ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ?
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Oliver KI3P via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2025 9:26 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] T41 V12 software development path forward ? The README file on GitHub describes how to set up the build environment and install all the required libraries: In general, you should try to test each board as you build it. The hardware repository contains a variety of sketches to do so: It would be nice to have a step-by-step guide to using these sketches to test a radio. Maybe you, or someone else out there, would like to write this as you test your radio and contribute it back to the group?
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Hi Jerry,
?
I posted the measurement I used to prove that U8 was bad here:
?
Cheers,
Oliver KI3P
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At some point I will redo all the headers and pins again with new Tweeny and Hat. ? The last one I built I dispensed with the sockets and just soldered it all to the pins and the main board.? As long as I don’t “screw up” and short something out, I guess I’m ok… ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Tim via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2025 7:48 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [AmateurRadioBuilders] Latest FW Update? I went thru that, changed all the headers and pins to US made and , new Tweeny and Audio Hat, it was golden until yesterdays upgrade. I must have tweaked something pressing the reset button. The pins on expansion board must be off alignment just enough to cause issues. There is a lot of pins and headers that have to align perfectly. I wish they had brought the rest out to a pad where we could add an external PB. All good for now. At some point I will redo all the headers and pins again with new Tweeny and Hat.
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Re: T41-EP V12 Board Connections and Development of the VHF-UHF Board
I can give you some insight for how the VHF-UHF module works.? It’s a complete module except for the I/Q decode and code.? It has its own antenna connections,? Connects to the control cable… has connections for the I/Q in and out (as one of the RF Boards)… Meaning it is a true SDT by itself less the I/Q Code/Decode and control that is provided by the MAIN board. ? ? Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: ? Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO. Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO. ? email:? bill@... ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of J P Watters via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2025 12:17 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AmateurRadioBuilders] T41-EP V12 Board Connections and Development of the VHF-UHF Board? Al and Jack could not have found a more capable pair to take the T41-EP project over the horizion into what we will find in the infinite Experimentation Beyond. I have searched but have not found a board interconnection diagram that shows how the VHF/UHF board is proposed to connect.? It seems like I have run across that but I need some guidance to find it.?
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Jerry,? Version 66.4 had a bug that caused my T41 to oscillate above 20m. 66.9 solved that. If you take out the MW high pass you need to make sure you have a dc blocking cap in its place. Oliver posted a lot on checking feedback from PA out to input.?
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On Apr 13, 2025, at 3:47?PM, Rick Price via groups.io <rickprice48@...> wrote:
? Hi Jerry, I was also having oscillations on high bands, traced mine back to the T/R switch plug in.? 20 pins in total but only one of them was a ground, pin 2 of the TR CTL. ?I had a loose fitting ground pin.? Replaced the socket, actually replaced two sockets after checking the tightness of a single pin in each hole.? I also added a ground wire from the top of the T/R board, scrapped away a little solder resist and soldered directly to the top of the board, to one of the ground holes above it on an unused INVTR jumper jack ground.? That alone solved my oscillation issue. Later found U6, inverter, was not changing state from R to T which could have added to the problem.? Even though I used Kapton tape for temp isolation, hot air still melted, distorted, the case end on two antenna relays, very small area to work in with hot air. ?Ended up removing all ANT relays and when I was finished only put one back for the time being. Rick, kN4AIE ? ? Hello all,
My T41 has been oscillating on bands higher than 20M. I think others
have traced
a similar problem to U8, the first analog switch in the receive path on
the K9HZ LPF control card.
I just looked at the card - U8 is going to be a challenging chip to
replace, and it
would be nice to test things first, and not replace it if it doesn't
need it. Can anybody supply details of such a test? I have a decent SA
with tracking generator.
- Jerry, KF6VB
|
On 2025-04-13 13:00, K9HZ wrote: Jerry… on the 1.8 MHZ filter… did you build it on the LPF or did
you just short across it?
*** I built it. - Jerry, KF6VB DR. WILLIAM J. SCHMIDT - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ
PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ
Owner - Operator
Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC
Staunton, Illinois
Owner – Operator
Villa Grand Piton – J68HZ
Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I.
Rent it: www.VillaGrandPiton.com [1]
Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO.
Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO.
email: bill@...
FROM: [email protected] <[email protected]>
ON BEHALF OF jerry-KF6VB
SENT: Sunday, April 13, 2025 1:29 PM
TO: [email protected]
SUBJECT: [AmateurRadioBuilders] U8 test
Hello all,
My T41 has been oscillating on bands higher than 20M. I think others
have traced
a similar problem to U8, the first analog switch in the receive path
on
the K9HZ LPF control card.
I just looked at the card - U8 is going to be a challenging chip to
replace, and it
would be nice to test things first, and not replace it if it doesn't
need it. Can anybody supply details of such a test? I have a decent SA
with tracking generator.
- Jerry, KF6VB
Links:
------
[1]
[2] /g/AmateurRadioBuilders/message/6392
[3] /mt/112245177/243852
[4] /g/AmateurRadioBuilders/post
[5] /g/AmateurRadioBuilders/editsub/243852
[6]
/g/AmateurRadioBuilders/leave/11522011/243852/920863695/xyzzy
|
K9HZ
Tom - AJ8X
Jack, W8TEE