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Re: Freq Calibration

 

OK, the direct freq entry was the key.? Freq error on 30M and 20M around 4Hz, Which I think is fine.
Thanks Oliver
Mark
KU3O


Re: Freq Calibration

 

Hey Oliver,
I select the 30M band and tune to 10MHz using the Tune knob.? I select SAM demod and use the Fine Tune to get the freq error down to the lowest value possible.? Then I start the Calibration routine.? I then use the Filter knob to adjust the correction factor to lower the freq error to about 0.15Hz.? That then shows up on the graph in the appropriate spot.? That's the graph with the Run Mean, Avg Mean, Std Dev, etc.? I let that run for 30 min then exit and save.
The display then goes back to the operating display (waterfall, etc) and the freq shows 10000190.? When I tune to 10000000 using the Fine Tune knob, I get a very low freq audio tone.? Looks like a little less that 200Hz (ish) on the audio spectrum.
When I shut down and restart then tune to 10MHz, SAM shows a 190 Hz error against my freq standard.
I'll try your recommendation and let you know.
Thanks
Mark
KU3O


Re: Freq Calibration

 

Are you saying that if you tune to 10 MHz and select SAM demodulation, you measure a frequency offset of 190 Hz?

A gotcha with the frequency calibration is that it matters how you tune to 10 MHz -- don't touch the fine tune knob! The math under the hood in the frequency calibration routine doesn't account for the fine tune frequency offset. Instead, tune by pressing the Dir Freq (Direct Frequency) button and entering 10 on the button pad. Does that help?



On Monday, April 7th, 2025 at 8:35 PM, epif18 via groups.io <epif18@...> wrote:

Hey 'yall,
I'm running a V12, 66.9, TCXO.? I've run freq cal and I'm off by 190 hz.? I've hard coded the cal value into si5351.init as well as 0.0.? The 190 hz error shows against my freq standard (10MHz) as well as my Siglent sig gen.? Zero beat is at 10,000,190. And when I'm listening to some SSB net on 20M, the best audio comes in at +190 hz (assuming they run the net on a whole freq).? Freq cal shows an error of 0.15Hz throughout the 20 min.? I adjust the cal factor to a freq error of 0.15Hz before I start cal.? I've run cal multiple time with the same results.? Everything is temp stabilized.
190 Hz isn't that bad but I'd like it to be close to zero.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Mark
KU3O


Freq Calibration

 

Hey 'yall,
I'm running a V12, 66.9, TCXO.? I've run freq cal and I'm off by 190 hz.? I've hard coded the cal value into si5351.init as well as 0.0.? The 190 hz error shows against my freq standard (10MHz) as well as my Siglent sig gen.? Zero beat is at 10,000,190. And when I'm listening to some SSB net on 20M, the best audio comes in at +190 hz (assuming they run the net on a whole freq).? Freq cal shows an error of 0.15Hz throughout the 20 min.? I adjust the cal factor to a freq error of 0.15Hz before I start cal.? I've run cal multiple time with the same results.? Everything is temp stabilized.
190 Hz isn't that bad but I'd like it to be close to zero.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Mark
KU3O


Re: More testing on PA

 

Greg
You are correct very easy to over drive 160-80M. I tried lowering input but 6m really suffered.
I changed a lot of caps across input to t3 with lower drive but just could not get 6M close.
I started taking turns off L2 which started at 6uH. Tried the cap switching on each turn I removed, kept getting better.
Ended up with 3uH and 68pF cap across primary. -2dB input. I had the high gain on low bands building a 2kw LDMOS amp.?
A friend came up with a attenuator tuned for .5-1.4 Mhz I installed on input. I believe we can compensate with carful drive input tuning on T41. Tim W4YN
?


Re: RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

 

Yep...

Jack, W8TEE

On Monday, April 7, 2025 at 01:38:51 PM EDT, K9HZ <bill@...> wrote:


Yes the T41 radio was designed as a prototype(e-ing) platform.? If you make the base radio better for your desires with your changes, that¡¯s excellent.? That¡¯s what it¡¯s about.

?

?

Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ

?

Owner - Operator

Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC

Staunton, Illinois

?

Owner ¨C Operator

Villa Grand Piton ¨C 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 Greg KF5N via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 12:26 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

?

What happened here is a series of rapid prototypes with incremental improvements.? I've got working hardware and software.? Forwards not backwards!

?

--

73 Greg KF5N


--
Jack, W8TEE


Re: RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Yes the T41 radio was designed as a prototype(e-ing) platform.? If you make the base radio better for your desires with your changes, that¡¯s excellent.? That¡¯s what it¡¯s about.

?

?

Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ

?

Owner - Operator

Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC

Staunton, Illinois

?

Owner ¨C Operator

Villa Grand Piton ¨C 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 Greg KF5N via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 12:26 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

?

What happened here is a series of rapid prototypes with incremental improvements.? I've got working hardware and software.? Forwards not backwards!

?

--

73 Greg KF5N


Re: RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

 

What happened here is a series of rapid prototypes with incremental improvements.? I've got working hardware and software.? Forwards not backwards!
?
--
73 Greg KF5N


Re: boards and kits and stuff

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I¡¯m back for a while and working on kits again.? I put a very high priority on the new Display Driver board that fixes the T41 display freeze issue and allows a nice long cable to the display.? I offer a 3.3V ONLY kit and a 3.3V and 5V kit (until I run out of 3.3V kits¡­ then I will only stock the combo 3.3V and 5V kit).? ??I¡¯m still writing the assembly manual for the display kits but it should be done by this afternoon.? I will order the last few parts for them today¡­ I should have them by Tuesday and will begin shipping them then.? Also new to the list is the 20W Dummy Load/ 40 db attenuator tap for the calibration steps.? I¡¯ve attached the full list so you can look it over if you need something.?? Those boards and Kits with $0.00 are not in stock.? Remember, don¡¯t send me money, I¡¯ll invoice you¡­ and make SURE you include your address.? All prices below are without shipping, taxes, and Paypal fee.?

?

I will be at FDIM Thursday night¡­ and have a booth at Hamvention (Booth 4111 in Building 4) where we will have a special guest¡­ Al Peter to show off the T41 and answer any questions.? I will be selling boards and kits both places and you won¡¯t have to pay shipping on them if you carry them away.

?

Respond via my private email bill@... as to not clog the space here with our transactions.

?

?

?

?

Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ

?

Owner - Operator

Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC

Staunton, Illinois

?

Owner ¨C Operator

Villa Grand Piton ¨C 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 Duane B via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 11:57 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] boards and kits and stuff

?

Hi Bill.

?

I'm new to the group and wanted to know if it is too late to get a set of boards?? If not, how much are they?

?

73, K5CA - Duane


Re: boards and kits and stuff

 

Hi Bill.
?
I'm new to the group and wanted to know if it is too late to get a set of boards?? If not, how much are they?
?
73, K5CA - Duane


Re: RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

 

Hi Greg,
No driver. No change from the original V11? display schematic. I use the HC125 without serial resistors. The display cable is 7 inches without ferrite because never had any problems


Re: RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

So Greg why don¡¯t you go back and read the emails that went between Al, me, you, et al on this subject¡­? instead of trying perform revisionist history.

?

?

Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ

?

Owner - Operator

Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC

Staunton, Illinois

?

Owner ¨C Operator

Villa Grand Piton ¨C 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 Greg KF5N via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 11:36 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

?

So my T41-2 radio can easily receive a Tiny SA set to the minimum output of -115 dBm.? The signal can be easily heard from the speaker and seen in the spectral display on all bands.

It uses the same SPI driver device as V10/V11.

?

I believe Alain is also using the same SPI buffer.? The point is, it's not a single thing which makes or breaks EMI and the noise floor.? It's a combination of design

attributes.? It's almost certain that V12 could have used the same SPI buffer as V10/V11, and with the various changes like the 4-layer boards, it would have

worked just fine.? And without anyone complaining about the display functionality!

?

I'm getting some new attenuators and other stuff and I will be able to improve the accuracy of my measurements soon.

?

--

73 Greg KF5N


Re: RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

 

So my T41-2 radio can easily receive a Tiny SA set to the minimum output of -115 dBm.? The signal can be easily heard from the speaker and seen in the spectral display on all bands.
It uses the same SPI driver device as V10/V11.
?
I believe Alain is also using the same SPI buffer.? The point is, it's not a single thing which makes or breaks EMI and the noise floor.? It's a combination of design
attributes.? It's almost certain that V12 could have used the same SPI buffer as V10/V11, and with the various changes like the 4-layer boards, it would have
worked just fine.? And without anyone complaining about the display functionality!
?
I'm getting some new attenuators and other stuff and I will be able to improve the accuracy of my measurements soon.
?
--
73 Greg KF5N


Re: RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

 

Hi Alain, what about the display?? A driver IC, and if so, what?
?
--
73 Greg KF5N


Re: RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Ok so it¡¯s not really a V11 radio.

?

Did you measure sensitivity the same way I did?? The trouble with this measurement is that we need a standard to compare against.

?

?

Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ

?

Owner - Operator

Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC

Staunton, Illinois

?

Owner ¨C Operator

Villa Grand Piton ¨C 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 Alain via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 10:46 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

?

I just measured a sensitivity of -134dbm on my V11 version,but changed PCB routing, added a motherboard to minimize wiring, added a lot of regulators and decoupling capacitors, for having this result.


Re: RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

 

I just measured a sensitivity of -134dbm on my V11 version,but changed PCB routing, added a motherboard to minimize wiring, added a lot of regulators and decoupling capacitors, for having this result.


Re: RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I said it¡¯s BELOW -100 db.? After that I start measuring the noise from the fluorescent lights in the room and my wife won¡¯t let me turn them off (her glass lab is in there too).? I do have a combo anechoic/ Faraday box in corner in my lab but it¡¯s in the process of getting moved to a different corner due to new flooring and paint.

?

I¡¯ll get some absolute numbers once I get some of these human things settled.

?

?

Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ VP2EHZ

?

Owner - Operator

Big Signal Ranch ¨C K9ZC

Staunton, Illinois

?

Owner ¨C Operator

Villa Grand Piton ¨C 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 Greg KF5N via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 9:15 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

?

So I think what you are saying is a standard receiver sensitivity measurement which the ARRL calls "MDS" (minimum discernible signal).

Receiver sensitivity is specified in dBm, which is decibels relative to 1 milliwatt (0 dBm).

?

But even if I'm not confused on that, I'm still confused with the numbers, especially 100 dB for V12, which is presumably (what I think you mean) a sensitivity of -100dBm.

Which is not very good at all!

?

--

73 Greg KF5N


Re: RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

 

So I think what you are saying is a standard receiver sensitivity measurement which the ARRL calls "MDS" (minimum discernible signal).
Receiver sensitivity is specified in dBm, which is decibels relative to 1 milliwatt (0 dBm).
?
But even if I'm not confused on that, I'm still confused with the numbers, especially 100 dB for V12, which is presumably (what I think you mean) a sensitivity of -100dBm.
Which is not very good at all!
?
--
73 Greg KF5N


Re: RA8875 display problems with T4.x - a visual study

 

Ken:
If you're like me, you order "pairs" of mpu's "just in case"...it's saved my bacon more than once. Anyway, I'm not sure it's worth $10. If I use just the 4.1, I tie up about $65 for backups. If I use both the 4.0 and 4.1, I'd tie up $111 ($65 + $46). It would be interesting to see if there's a performance improvement, however.

The other alternative that sounds interesting is to use an RP with its HDMI video capability for the display. It's plenty fast enough, but I know nothing about programming them, the IDE, or the library support.

Jack, W8TEE

On Monday, April 7, 2025 at 08:39:11 AM EDT, ken WA2MZE <wa2mze@...> wrote:


Circuit and sw details on splitting the functions over two processors?

Maybe one of the mcu's could be a T4.0 to save some bucks?







--
Jack, W8TEE


Re: More testing on PA

 

TNX Greg.
I will try reducing input and do more sweeps. I had 40db attenuation on output.
There a lot more gain on lower frequencies for sure, have you tried changing L2??
I have 7 turns on it now.
Tim W4YN