Re: Not Displaying the Frequency....
On Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 10:22 PM, jerry-KF6VB wrote:
you gotta get the basics right. THEN you add all the fancy stuff.
Fun stuff!
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Re: Not Displaying the Frequency....
On 2025-02-01 22:06, K9HZ wrote: Hmmm Stripping functionality out of the radio. Quite the dilemma when you
will likely prefer to "do more" with your radio long-term than less... Stripping functionality was just done as a test. As a solution - doing video in small chunks is just as functional as doing it all at once. And - you gotta get the basics right. THEN you add all the fancy stuff. - 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
Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO.
Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO.
email:? bill@...
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
<[email protected]> On Behalf Of jerry-KF6VB
Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 11:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Not Displaying the Frequency....
Things are a little improved. There is a call to tft.fillRect() that erases
the area where the frequency is displayed. Theorizing that audio interrupts
are held back while that's done, I split it up into 5 fillRect()s. So -
clear this little bit, then come up for air and let the audio go. Then
clear the next little bit, then come up for air... etc.
I disabled updating VFO-B, and divided the clear of the current frequency
into 10 mini-clears. Much Better! The audio is still chunky, but you can
hear what you're tuning past.
An obvious next step is to *selectively* rewrite stuff. Why erase and
rewrite stuff that hasn't changed? Keep a string variable "displayed
frequency". Or to make it even simpler, have an array of 8 bytes:
Character displayed in first position, character displayed in second
position - etc. Then erase and rewrite ONLY those characters that have
changed.
- Jerry, KF6VB
On 2025-02-01 20:39, jerry-KF6VB wrote:
I suspect I understand...and it's not good.
I think that SPI requires precise timing, and audio interrupts are
disabled during long video transfers.
Yet... the audio works fine while the spectrum, the S-meter bargraph,
and the waterfall update. Sigh.
- Jerry, KF6VB
On 2025-02-01 18:50, jerry-KF6VB wrote:
...When tuning.
The tuning of the T41 ( V12, I2C front panel, I2C encoders ) is
unpleasant. As you tune around, you get tiny blips of sound,
interspersed with long display updates. You basically cannot hear
what you're tuning past.
I just tried commenting out the bit of code that displays the
frequency as you tune. Tuning is much better.
There is still a burst of nasty noise with each encoder *tick*, but
it's short, and you can easily hear what you're tuning past.
Naturally, that's not a real fix. The instant you start tuning,
the frequency display is wrong...and that's just wrong!
What would be a fix? A few things: First of all, we *could* do a
timer thing where we don't bother to display the frequency until we
stop tuning. There was tuning, and now there isn't? Ok, display
where we got to. Still not optimal.
I note that it always updates ALL the digits of the frequency, even
those that haven't changed. It even redisplays the VFO B frequency.
Surely it doesn't need to update all that.
Also - I wonder why on earth the audio pauses or stops or gets
discarded while it writes the display? Surely audio interrupts can
continue during this time....?
- Jerry, KF6VB
|
Re: Not Displaying the Frequency....
Hmmm Stripping functionality out of the radio. Quite the dilemma when you
will likely prefer to "do more" with your radio long-term than less...
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
Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO.
Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO.
email:? bill@...
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected]< [email protected]> On Behalf Of jerry-KF6VB Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 11:06 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Not Displaying the Frequency.... Things are a little improved. There is a call to tft.fillRect() that erases the area where the frequency is displayed. Theorizing that audio interrupts are held back while that's done, I split it up into 5 fillRect()s. So - clear this little bit, then come up for air and let the audio go. Then clear the next little bit, then come up for air... etc. I disabled updating VFO-B, and divided the clear of the current frequency into 10 mini-clears. Much Better! The audio is still chunky, but you can hear what you're tuning past. An obvious next step is to *selectively* rewrite stuff. Why erase and rewrite stuff that hasn't changed? Keep a string variable "displayed frequency". Or to make it even simpler, have an array of 8 bytes: Character displayed in first position, character displayed in second position - etc. Then erase and rewrite ONLY those characters that have changed. - Jerry, KF6VB On 2025-02-01 20:39, jerry-KF6VB wrote: I suspect I understand...and it's not good.
I think that SPI requires precise timing, and audio interrupts are
disabled during long video transfers.
Yet... the audio works fine while the spectrum, the S-meter bargraph,
and the waterfall update. Sigh.
- Jerry, KF6VB
On 2025-02-01 18:50, jerry-KF6VB wrote:
...When tuning.
The tuning of the T41 ( V12, I2C front panel, I2C encoders ) is
unpleasant. As you tune around, you get tiny blips of sound,
interspersed with long display updates. You basically cannot hear
what you're tuning past.
I just tried commenting out the bit of code that displays the
frequency as you tune. Tuning is much better.
There is still a burst of nasty noise with each encoder *tick*, but
it's short, and you can easily hear what you're tuning past.
Naturally, that's not a real fix. The instant you start tuning,
the frequency display is wrong...and that's just wrong!
What would be a fix? A few things: First of all, we *could* do a
timer thing where we don't bother to display the frequency until we
stop tuning. There was tuning, and now there isn't? Ok, display
where we got to. Still not optimal.
I note that it always updates ALL the digits of the frequency, even
those that haven't changed. It even redisplays the VFO B frequency.
Surely it doesn't need to update all that.
Also - I wonder why on earth the audio pauses or stops or gets
discarded while it writes the display? Surely audio interrupts can
continue during this time....?
- Jerry, KF6VB
|
Re: Not Displaying the Frequency....
I think you already know the answer...
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
Moderator: North American QRO Group at Groups.IO.
Moderator: Amateur Radio Builders Group at Groups.IO.
email:? bill@...
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Show quoted text
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected]< [email protected]> On Behalf Of jerry-KF6VB Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 8:51 PM To: [email protected]Subject: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Not Displaying the Frequency.... ...When tuning. The tuning of the T41 ( V12, I2C front panel, I2C encoders ) is unpleasant. As you tune around, you get tiny blips of sound, interspersed with long display updates. You basically cannot hear what you're tuning past. I just tried commenting out the bit of code that displays the frequency as you tune. Tuning is much better. There is still a burst of nasty noise with each encoder *tick*, but it's short, and you can easily hear what you're tuning past. Naturally, that's not a real fix. The instant you start tuning, the frequency display is wrong...and that's just wrong! What would be a fix? A few things: First of all, we *could* do a timer thing where we don't bother to display the frequency until we stop tuning. There was tuning, and now there isn't? Ok, display where we got to. Still not optimal. I note that it always updates ALL the digits of the frequency, even those that haven't changed. It even redisplays the VFO B frequency. Surely it doesn't need to update all that. Also - I wonder why on earth the audio pauses or stops or gets discarded while it writes the display? Surely audio interrupts can continue during this time....? - Jerry, KF6VB
|
Re: Not Displaying the Frequency....
Things are a little improved. There is a call to tft.fillRect() that
erases the area where the frequency is displayed. Theorizing that
audio interrupts are held back while that's done, I split it up into 5
fillRect()s. So - clear this little bit, then come up for air and let the
audio go. Then clear the next little bit, then come up for air... etc.
I disabled updating VFO-B, and divided the clear of the current frequency
into 10 mini-clears. Much Better! The audio is still chunky, but you can
hear what you're tuning past.
An obvious next step is to *selectively* rewrite stuff. Why erase and rewrite
stuff that hasn't changed? Keep a string variable "displayed frequency". Or to
make it even simpler, have an array of 8 bytes: Character displayed in first position, character displayed in second position - etc. Then erase and rewrite
ONLY those characters that have changed.
- Jerry, KF6VB
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Show quoted text
On 2025-02-01 20:39, jerry-KF6VB wrote: I suspect I understand...and it's not good.
I think that SPI requires precise timing, and audio interrupts are
disabled during long video transfers.
Yet... the audio works fine while the spectrum, the S-meter bargraph,
and the waterfall update. Sigh.
- Jerry, KF6VB
On 2025-02-01 18:50, jerry-KF6VB wrote:
...When tuning.
The tuning of the T41 ( V12, I2C front panel, I2C encoders ) is
unpleasant. As you tune around, you get tiny
blips of sound, interspersed with long display updates. You basically
cannot hear what you're tuning past.
I just tried commenting out the bit of code that displays the
frequency as you tune. Tuning is much better.
There is still a burst of nasty noise with each encoder *tick*, but
it's short, and you can easily hear what you're
tuning past.
Naturally, that's not a real fix. The instant you start tuning, the
frequency display is wrong...and that's just wrong!
What would be a fix? A few things: First of all, we *could* do a
timer thing where we don't bother to display
the frequency until we stop tuning. There was tuning, and now there
isn't? Ok, display where we got to. Still not optimal.
I note that it always updates ALL the digits of the frequency, even
those that haven't changed. It even
redisplays the VFO B frequency. Surely it doesn't need to update all that.
Also - I wonder why on earth the audio pauses or stops or gets
discarded while it writes the display? Surely
audio interrupts can continue during this time....?
- Jerry, KF6VB
|
Re: Not Displaying the Frequency....
I suspect I understand...and it's not good.
I think that SPI requires precise timing, and audio interrupts are disabled during long video transfers.
Yet... the audio works fine while the spectrum, the S-meter bargraph, and the waterfall update. Sigh.
- Jerry, KF6VB
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 2025-02-01 18:50, jerry-KF6VB wrote: ...When tuning.
The tuning of the T41 ( V12, I2C front panel, I2C encoders ) is
unpleasant. As you tune around, you get tiny
blips of sound, interspersed with long display updates. You basically
cannot hear what you're tuning past.
I just tried commenting out the bit of code that displays the
frequency as you tune. Tuning is much better.
There is still a burst of nasty noise with each encoder *tick*, but
it's short, and you can easily hear what you're
tuning past.
Naturally, that's not a real fix. The instant you start tuning, the
frequency display is wrong...and that's just wrong!
What would be a fix? A few things: First of all, we *could* do a
timer thing where we don't bother to display
the frequency until we stop tuning. There was tuning, and now there
isn't? Ok, display where we got to. Still not optimal.
I note that it always updates ALL the digits of the frequency, even
those that haven't changed. It even
redisplays the VFO B frequency. Surely it doesn't need to update all that.
Also - I wonder why on earth the audio pauses or stops or gets
discarded while it writes the display? Surely
audio interrupts can continue during this time....?
- Jerry, KF6VB
|
Not Displaying the Frequency....
...When tuning.
The tuning of the T41 ( V12, I2C front panel, I2C encoders ) is unpleasant. As you tune around, you get tiny
blips of sound, interspersed with long display updates. You basically cannot hear what you're tuning past.
I just tried commenting out the bit of code that displays the frequency as you tune. Tuning is much better.
There is still a burst of nasty noise with each encoder *tick*, but it's short, and you can easily hear what you're
tuning past.
Naturally, that's not a real fix. The instant you start tuning, the frequency display is wrong...and that's just wrong!
What would be a fix? A few things: First of all, we *could* do a timer thing where we don't bother to display
the frequency until we stop tuning. There was tuning, and now there isn't? Ok, display where we got to. Still not optimal.
I note that it always updates ALL the digits of the frequency, even those that haven't changed. It even
redisplays the VFO B frequency. Surely it doesn't need to update all that.
Also - I wonder why on earth the audio pauses or stops or gets discarded while it writes the display? Surely
audio interrupts can continue during this time....?
- Jerry, KF6VB
|
Re: T41 receive attenuator working?
The latest RF boards have holes in the back, behind the PE4302 chips for easier soldering the back pad. ?That said, ill look into having RF boards made with the PE4302’s and the si5351 pre placed. ?I don't think that would cost much. ?
Dr.?William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ ? Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch – K9ZC Staunton, Illinois ? Owner – Operator Villa Grand Piton - J68HZ Soufriere, St. Lucia W.I. Rent it: www.VillaGrandPiton.com
email:??bill@... ?
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On Feb 1, 2025, at 9:35?AM, jerry-KF6VB <jerry@...> wrote:
? On 2025-02-01 06:53, D Solt via groups.io wrote:Thanks Jerry. ?I now have 3 boards built with the attenuator and the
spectrum doesn't move up and down on any of them. ?I'll try monitoring
right at the attenuator with a sig gen input. ?It is a difficult chip
to install and I'm guessing I don't have it soldered on all pins.
*** Yeah, I think I had to install two or three before it finally worked.Those chips - and the si5351a - really beg for pick-n-place.I think it worked after... ?...I got some low temperature solder paste and diluted it with liquid flux.Put a tiny drop on each land under a microscope with a brand new Xacto knife tip.Soldered it on a little computerized hot plate. ???????????????????- Jerry, KF6VB
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Re: T41-EP V11 PA Board JP1 Reference
Thanks Greg. I will do the bias adjustment and then remove the
resistor.
?
73 Rocco
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From: Greg KF5N via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 3:46 AM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] T41-EP V11 PA Board JP1
Reference
?
Hi Rocco, the jumper is used only for setting the bias of the IRF510
transistors.
It forces the bias voltage generator circuitry to ON.? So it is only
used temporarily, in the preliminary tune-up of the amplifier.
?
--
73 Greg KF5N
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Re: More on the display driver
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Re: T41 receive attenuator working?
On 2025-02-01 06:53, D Solt via groups.io wrote: Thanks Jerry. I now have 3 boards built with the attenuator and the
spectrum doesn't move up and down on any of them. I'll try monitoring
right at the attenuator with a sig gen input. It is a difficult chip
to install and I'm guessing I don't have it soldered on all pins. *** Yeah, I think I had to install two or three before it finally worked. Those chips - and the si5351a - really beg for pick-n-place. I think it worked after... ...I got some low temperature solder paste and diluted it with liquid flux. Put a tiny drop on each land under a microscope with a brand new Xacto knife tip. Soldered it on a little computerized hot plate. - Jerry, KF6VB
|
Re: T41 receive attenuator working?
Thanks Jerry.? I now have 3 boards built with the attenuator and the spectrum doesn't move up and down on any of them.? I'll try monitoring right at the attenuator with a sig gen input.? It is a difficult chip to install and I'm guessing I don't have it soldered on all pins.
dave, n3ds
When I change the attenuator, I can see it clearly across the entire
spectrum display.? Everything just moves down.
? ? ? ? ? ? ?- Jerry, KF6VB
On 2025-01-31 17:15, D Solt via wrote:
> Thanks Oliver. I’ll try this
> dave
>
>> On Jan 31, 2025, at 6:14?PM, Oliver KI3P via
>> <oliver=[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> ?
>>
>> Here's one way to test it.
>>
>> Load the latest code onto the Teensy. It has an option under the RF
>> set menu to change the input attenuation.
>>
>> Then, put a 10 MHz (or whatever) signal into the RF_in SMA connector
>> and hook an oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer to the output side of
>> the attenuator bypass jumper.
>>
>> You should see the signal amplitude change when you adjust the RF
>> input attention setting in the RF menu.
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> On 1/31/25 9:46 AM, D Solt via wrote:
>>
>>> How do I tell if the receive PE4302 attenuator is working.? I
>>> can't tell any difference in received signals at whatever settings
>>> or when I jumper it out.? I have two RF boards built up and they
>>> behave the same.? Before I swap the chips out, I wanted to get
>>> some inputs. I haven't gotten to testing the transmitter circuits
>>> yet.
>>> dave, n3ds
>
>
>
> Links:
> ------
> [1] /g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/message/32529
> [2] /mt/110916510/243852
> [3] /g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/post
> [4] /g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/editsub/243852
> [5]
> /g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/leave/10484476/243852/1943518115/xyzzy
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Re: More on the display driver
Wont matter what side of the board you solder it/ plug it into… just put the connectors on the opposite side of the board and keep the board faced the same way… meaning the chip faces the BACK SIDE of the 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 Tim via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 7:22 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] More on the display driver? For those who have not populated board yet could there be an additional version that soldered to back side of board? Would make sense for 7" display
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Re: More on the display driver
For those who have not populated board yet could there be an additional version that soldered to back side of board?
Would make sense for 7" display
Tim
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Re: T41-EP V11 PA Board JP1 Reference
Hi Rocco, the jumper is used only for setting the bias of the IRF510 transistors.
It forces the bias voltage generator circuitry to ON.? So it is only used temporarily, in the preliminary tune-up of the amplifier.
?
--
73 Greg KF5N
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More on the display driver
I put together a mock-up of the display driver.? The board will look like this (that is the real ISO 7241M on the board…the board is from a previous attempt): ? 
? I envision it plugging into the display port and will extend OVER the interior of the MAIN board like you see in this picture: ?  ?
? Or ? 
? That way it does not extend outside of the MAIN board perimeter… so will not interfere with your current T41 V12 layout in your radio chassis.? You can see hot the display cable will plug into the board.? ?It won’t take long to generate gerbers and get boards…the schematic is simple.?? ?I’ll get with Oliver tomorrow to see if he can knock out the PCB and I’ll get a bunch made. ? ? 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@... ? ?
|
Many thanks for the comments , here and separately.? That is most helpful for me.
?
Additional note:? I have posted stuff about the RF design, including the three plug-in networks.? It is about half-way down in
under "Tuned Circuits."? This includes schematics and layouts for the three plug-in networks.?
?
More testing is going on and I will get that up as I can.
?
73, Bob? W7PUA
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Re: T41 receive attenuator working?
When I change the attenuator, I can see it clearly across the entire
spectrum display. Everything just moves down.
- Jerry, KF6VB
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On 2025-01-31 17:15, D Solt via groups.io wrote: Thanks Oliver. I’ll try this
dave
On Jan 31, 2025, at 6:14?PM, Oliver KI3P via groups.io
<oliver@...> wrote: ?
Here's one way to test it.
Load the latest code onto the Teensy. It has an option under the RF
set menu to change the input attenuation.
Then, put a 10 MHz (or whatever) signal into the RF_in SMA connector
and hook an oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer to the output side of
the attenuator bypass jumper.
You should see the signal amplitude change when you adjust the RF
input attention setting in the RF menu.
-------- Original Message --------
On 1/31/25 9:46 AM, D Solt via groups.io wrote:
How do I tell if the receive PE4302 attenuator is working. I
can't tell any difference in received signals at whatever settings
or when I jumper it out. I have two RF boards built up and they
behave the same. Before I swap the chips out, I wanted to get
some inputs. I haven't gotten to testing the transmitter circuits
yet.
dave, n3ds Links:
------
[1] /g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/message/32529
[2] /mt/110916510/243852
[3] /g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/post
[4] /g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/editsub/243852
[5]
/g/SoftwareControlledHamRadio/leave/10484476/243852/1943518115/xyzzy
|
Re: T41 receive attenuator working?
Thanks Oliver. I’ll try this dave
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Show quoted text
On Jan 31, 2025, at 6:14?PM, Oliver KI3P via groups.io <oliver@...> wrote:
? Here's one way to test it.
Load the latest code onto the Teensy. It has an option under the RF set menu to change the input attenuation.
Then, put a 10 MHz (or whatever) signal into the RF_in SMA connector and hook an oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer to the output side of the attenuator bypass jumper.
You should see the signal amplitude change when you adjust the RF input attention setting in the RF menu.
-------- Original Message -------- On 1/31/25 9:46 AM, D Solt via groups.io wrote: How do I tell if the receive PE4302 attenuator is working.? I can't tell any difference in received signals at whatever settings or when I jumper it out.? I have two RF boards built up and they behave the same.? Before I swap the chips out, I wanted to get some inputs. I haven't gotten to testing the transmitter circuits yet.
dave, n3ds
|
Re: T41-EP V11 PA Board JP1 Reference
Hi Greg,
?
I have a question regarding the JP1 pads between U2 and C24 on the V11 PA
board. I have a zero ohm resister there now but not sure why.
According to the schematic it looks like it should be a two pin jumper not
a resistor pad. I built the board quit awhile back and I can’t
find anywhere in my notes about it. I searched the site and couldn't find
anything there either. How did you deal with it? I’m just trying to
complete the project so I can move on.
?
73 Rocco WJ6U?
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K9HZ