Re: VFO Encoder Tuning Stops [1 Attachment]
Jack,
You nailed it!? This is such a great group, with really great members.? I also want to express my thanks to the group for receiving the QST Cover Plaque.?
I appreciate YOUR comments about my role in our book.? The way I see it though, I don't think either of us could have done it on our own.? Synergism!
73,
-dennis W6DQ Inyokern CA
On Thursday, August 11, 2016 8:31 AM, "Jack Purdum jjpurdum@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]" wrote:
?
[ from Jack Purdum included below]
Thanks for the email...it's sincerely appreciated. I should also thank a bunch of other readers, as the QST article won the Cover Plaque Award for the best article in that issue. It's a nice repro of the cover on a walnut back. (See pix.) I'm hopeful that they will take the (pending) Arduino Antenna Analyzer article, too. (Some pix already on the User Group site.)?
73, Jack, W8TEE
From: "Karl Schwab ktschwab@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: "SoftwareControlledHamRadio@..."
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:11 AM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Re: VFO Encoder Tuning Stops
?
Thanks Jack!? Boy, this is a lot of "kool" stuff you are doing!? I sent a letter via email,?just now,?to ARRL,?praising your 49-er/VFO article and this forum!? Let's see if it makes the pages of QST!
73, de Karl, KO8S (I smoked my D882, I'm waiting for a batch now from China!)
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Re: VFO Encoder Tuning Stops
Thanks for the email...it's sincerely appreciated. I should also thank a bunch of other readers, as the QST article won the Cover Plaque Award for the best article in that issue. It's a nice repro of the cover on a walnut back. (See pix.) I'm hopeful that they will take the (pending) Arduino Antenna Analyzer article, too. (Some pix already on the User Group site.)?
73, Jack, W8TEE
From: "Karl Schwab ktschwab@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: "SoftwareControlledHamRadio@..."
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:11 AM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Re: VFO Encoder Tuning Stops
?
Thanks Jack!? Boy, this is a lot of "kool" stuff you are doing!? I sent a letter via email,?just now,?to ARRL,?praising your 49-er/VFO article and this forum!? Let's see if it makes the pages of QST!
73, de Karl, KO8S (I smoked my D882, I'm waiting for a batch now from China!)
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Re: VFO Encoder Tuning Stops
Thanks Jack!? Boy, this is a lot of "kool" stuff you are doing!? I sent a letter via email,?just now,?to ARRL,?praising your 49-er/VFO article and this forum!? Let's see if it makes the pages of QST!
73, de Karl, KO8S (I smoked my D882, I'm waiting for a batch now from China!)
On Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:53 AM, "Jack Purdum jjpurdum@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]" wrote:
?
On the inexpensive KY-040 encoder, the power and ground leads are clearly marked and the center lead is to the switch. The two remaining pins are the clock and data leads. Just reverse those.?
BTW, I have an article titled?¡°Rotary
Encoders Revisited¡± in the April, 2016, issue of?QRP
Quarterly?that talks about rotary encoders. This article centers on a "variable speed increment". You know how the increment is changed on the Forty-9er by pushing on the encoder shaft and then rotating to the desired increment. This allows you to make large frequency changes more quickly. This article has the code that senses how fast you are turning the encoder shaft. If you are turning it quickly, the code changes the increment to 10K per detent. If you return to slowly turning it, it returns to your default increment (e.g., 100Hz). (You can set the "fast" increment value in the source code to whatever you want.) The advantage is that you don't have to mess around with pushes.selection when making large frequency jumps.
73, Jack, W8TEE
From: "ktschwab@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:17 AM
Subject: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Re: VFO Encoder Tuning Stops
?
Hello Dave;
In reading your post on reversing the leads of the encoder to reverse tuning; which leads would I reverse to accomplish this?seeing that there are 5 of them?? Thanks, Karl, KO8S
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Re: VFO Encoder Tuning Stops
On the inexpensive KY-040 encoder, the power and ground leads are clearly marked and the center lead is to the switch. The two remaining pins are the clock and data leads. Just reverse those.?
BTW, I have an article titled?¡°Rotary
Encoders Revisited¡± in the April, 2016, issue of?QRP
Quarterly?that talks about rotary encoders. This article centers on a "variable speed increment". You know how the increment is changed on the Forty-9er by pushing on the encoder shaft and then rotating to the desired increment. This allows you to make large frequency changes more quickly. This article has the code that senses how fast you are turning the encoder shaft. If you are turning it quickly, the code changes the increment to 10K per detent. If you return to slowly turning it, it returns to your default increment (e.g., 100Hz). (You can set the "fast" increment value in the source code to whatever you want.) The advantage is that you don't have to mess around with pushes.selection when making large frequency jumps.
73, Jack, W8TEE
From: "ktschwab@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:17 AM
Subject: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Re: VFO Encoder Tuning Stops
?
Hello Dave;
In reading your post on reversing the leads of the encoder to reverse tuning; which leads would I reverse to accomplish this?seeing that there are 5 of them?? Thanks, Karl, KO8S
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Re: Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
Me too!? I could not have done it without them!? de Karl, KO8S
On Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:05 AM, "Jack Purdum jjpurdum@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]" wrote:
?
I like the way this group helps one another...good stuff!
73, Jack, W8TEE
From: "ab1br@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 11:42 PM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Re: Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
?
Karl, ?I put a very small series resistor in the D882 emitter leg to calm it down. Still getting 2.5wts out into the dummy load. I also put a good chunk of aluminium for a heat sink on the D882s exposed collector connection.?I ordered a batch of D882s as I'd gone through several as well. However, I don't believe the importance of a good heat sink on the D882s collector can be over-estimated. Let me know if you'd like me to send you a new D882... ?have fun & 73, Jim ?AB1BR
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Re: VFO Encoder Tuning Stops
Hello Dave;
In reading your post on reversing the leads of the encoder to reverse tuning; which leads would I reverse to accomplish this?seeing that there are 5 of them?? Thanks, Karl, KO8S
|
Re: Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
I like the way this group helps one another...good stuff!
73, Jack, W8TEE
From: "ab1br@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 11:42 PM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Re: Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
?
Karl, ?I put a very small series resistor in the D882 emitter leg to calm it down. Still getting 2.5wts out into the dummy load. I also put a good chunk of aluminium for a heat sink on the D882s exposed collector connection.?I ordered a batch of D882s as I'd gone through several as well. However, I don't believe the importance of a good heat sink on the D882s collector can be over-estimated. Let me know if you'd like me to send you a new D882... ?have fun & 73, Jim ?AB1BR
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Hi Bobbie:
It really is surprising how well the rig works, given its cost. I did manage to smoke a final transistor during a "key down" test, but I was running 13.8V from my large xcvr supply. I made a small heat sink from a piece of a Coke can and "wrapped" it around the transistor top and re-ran the test. Ugly, but no smoke. I would suggest to most not to exceed the 12V supply limit.
Have fun!
73, Jack, W8TEE
From: "bob4john@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 1:20 AM
Subject: Re: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] 49er problems
?
Thanks Jack
I replaced the nano and DDS boards from the working unit to the non-working unit, and still does not work..
I checked the transistors with an on-board transistor tester and it shows two diodes in series.. ?seems that may be the problem... ?I have checked the board with a magnifier and it looks good along with the solder.?
I checked each component with my tester before soldering on the board and each tested correctly.
I will replace the transistors and see if that's that problem. But I cannot imagine why they would be bad..
I have tested the buck regulator and it seems to be stable with a little noise on the output, but the other board does the same...
Thanks for the help and a great project... seems that I managed to get one that's a problem..
BTW: the working unit is great. I began with a 49er that worked fine but the audio was a little low.. ? the VFO kit and new 49er kit is super.. ?The receiver is very good for such a small unit and the transmit output is about 3 watts running on a 12 volt battery.
bobbie kd4lv
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Thanks Jack
I replaced the nano and DDS boards from the working unit to the non-working unit, and still does not work..
I checked the transistors with an on-board transistor tester and it shows two diodes in series.. ?seems that may be the problem... ?I have checked the board with a magnifier and it looks good along with the solder.?
I checked each component with my tester before soldering on the board and each tested correctly.
I will replace the transistors and see if that's that problem. But I cannot imagine why they would be bad..
I have tested the buck regulator and it seems to be stable with a little noise on the output, but the other board does the same...
Thanks for the help and a great project... seems that I managed to get one that's a problem..
BTW: the working unit is great. I began with a 49er that worked fine but the audio was a little low.. ? the VFO kit and new 49er kit is super.. ?The receiver is very good for such a small unit and the transmit output is about 3 watts running on a 12 volt battery.
bobbie kd4lv
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Re: Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
Hi Jim
I would like to hve the scope.. how to contact you directly?
bobbie kd4lv
bob4john@windstream dot net
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Re: Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
Karl, ?I put a very small series resistor in the D882 emitter leg to calm it down. Still getting 2.5wts out into the dummy load. I also put a good chunk of aluminium for a heat sink on the D882s exposed collector connection.? I ordered a batch of D882s as I'd gone through several as well. However, I don't believe the importance of a good heat sink on the D882s collector can be over-estimated.Let me know if you'd like me to send you a new D882... ?have fun & 73, Jim ?AB1BR
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Re: Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
Thanks Jim for the encouraging words!?
Until the 49-er/VFO article appeared in QST, I had never heard of a "sketch" either!? I had heard of the Arduino, but I just assumed that this was some kind of computer part/stuff.?
I love building small electronic kits; I even like them more when they work!? So when I completed my hardware build of this project, I was quite confident, that I had it all wired correctly.? But then when I got into the programing of the Arduino, downloading files, in folders, subfolders, and getting the required sketch to compile;?wow!? Without help from this forum, this project was headed to my back shelf to gather dust.? I did enquire on some of the 2 meter nets here in the Detroit area, about this project and the Arduino, I didn't get any help there.? You have to understand, most of the club members nowadays, are retired and as old as me or nearly so; this Arduino stuff, is not them either!? Fortunately for this forum, and this very post, a great ham from LA offered to help me and he did.? My radio is working just great until today, I tried to turn the R3 up while watching for an increase in power output beyond the 1.8 watts,?on my wattmeter, and I smoked the D882 transistor!??? Guess I can't do it that way!? Now, the 49-er/VFO will be off of the air until my batch of new ones comes from China.? I do not have a scope, and probably, would not take the necessary time to learn how to use it.? At 80 years of age and counting, I am beginning to slow down a bit on taking on new projects, but I still do like to learn, to some degree, about them.? I think that all of this new electronic technology is really a "kool" thing, though.?
What I need Jim, is a guy like you in my area; until I find that person to learn this new stuff from, I'll just sit back and enjoy making QSO's with this project and telling all about it on the air!
vy 73, de Karl, KO8S
On Wednesday, August 10, 2016 11:33 AM, "ab1br@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]" wrote:
?
Hi Karl, ? I too, had never dealt with Arduino programs, (what's this 'sketch' stuff anyway?! ;)? Jack helped me with that and I was able to upload and even change the the program to zero the DDS VFO frequency to within 100Hz. ?Also rewrote the splash screen line to? identify the 49er?as,?"DDS 40Mtr QRP XCVR",?
My 49er puts out ~2.5 wts into a perfect load and monitoring the CW signal?with my? IC-745, I find no?chips?or?chirps.?However, VFO bleed-thru can be seen and heard if the signal from the DDS VFO is not carefully adjusted. There needs to be a better BP filter at the output as well.?
When reviewing the NE612 data sheet it states?a range?of 200mVp-p min. to 300mVp-p max.? for the LO input, ie, pin 6 on the NE612. So there is a very tight range (100mVp-p) for the? LO input. ?It has been said here that 2.0 to 4.0Vp-p is correct. Not sure why.
This project inspired me to buy a 200MHz sampling (DSO) oscilloscope. My old B&K has a 25MHz BW and is adequate but has some jitter. However it is a functioning oscilloscope? and?I would like to offer it to someone in the group who doesn't own?a scope.? If someone is interested?please contact me and I will let it go for shipping and handling.
Cheers, ? Jim ?AB1BR
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Re: Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
Hi Jack,?
No, 200-300mV p-p is the data sheet specified input signal amlitude pin 6 of the NE612 wants? to see from the external VFO, in this case, the Nano DDS VFO output. Afterall, the output of the DDS VFO will be the same as the NE612 input at pin 6.
I've attached the NE612 data sheet for the group's reference The NE612 LO input (pin 6) spec. is highlighted in yellow.
Jim ?AB1BR
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Re: Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: "ab1br@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 11:33 AM
Subject: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Re: Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
?
Hi Karl, ? I too, had never dealt with Arduino programs, (what's this 'sketch' stuff anyway?! ;)? Jack helped me with that and I was able to upload and even change the the program to zero the DDS VFO frequency to within 100Hz. ?Also rewrote the splash screen line to? identify the 49er?as,?"DDS 40Mtr QRP XCVR",?
My 49er puts out ~2.5 wts into a perfect load and monitoring the CW signal?with my? IC-745, I find no?chips?or?chirps.?However, VFO bleed-thru can be seen and heard if the signal from the DDS VFO is not carefully adjusted. There needs to be a better BP filter at the output as well.?
When reviewing the NE612 data sheet it states?a range?of 200mVp-p min. to 300mVp-p max.? for the LO input, ie, pin 6 on the NE612. So there is a very tight range (100mVp-p) for the? LO input. ?It has been said here that 2.0 to 4.0Vp-p is correct. Not sure why.
I think this refers to the output from the DDS board at J2/J3, not the NE612.
This project inspired me to buy a 200MHz sampling (DSO) oscilloscope. My old B&K has a 25MHz BW and is adequate but has some jitter. However it is a functioning oscilloscope? and?I would like to offer it to someone in the group who doesn't own?a scope.? If someone is interested?please contact me and I will let it go for shipping and handling.
Cheers, ? Jim ?AB1BR
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Re: Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
Hi Karl, ? I too, had never dealt with Arduino programs, (what's this 'sketch' stuff anyway?! ;)? Jack helped me with that and I was able to upload and even change the the program to zero the DDS VFO frequency to within 100Hz. ?Also rewrote the splash screen line to? identify the 49er?as,?"DDS 40Mtr QRP XCVR",?
My 49er puts out ~2.5 wts into a perfect load and monitoring the CW signal?with my? IC-745, I find no?chips?or?chirps.?However, VFO bleed-thru can be seen and heard if the signal from the DDS VFO is not carefully adjusted. There needs to be a better BP filter at the output as well.?
When reviewing the NE612 data sheet it states?a range?of 200mVp-p min. to 300mVp-p max.? for the LO input, ie, pin 6 on the NE612. So there is a very tight range (100mVp-p) for the? LO input. ?It has been said here that 2.0 to 4.0Vp-p is correct. Not sure why.
This project inspired me to buy a 200MHz sampling (DSO) oscilloscope. My old B&K has a 25MHz BW and is adequate but has some jitter. However it is a functioning oscilloscope? and?I would like to offer it to someone in the group who doesn't own?a scope.? If someone is interested?please contact me and I will let it go for shipping and handling.
Cheers, ? Jim ?AB1BR
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Bob:
As you know, I'm a software guy, but given what you've detailed, it sure sounds like a bad DDS board. If you socketed the DDS board on the two rigs, swap out the boards and see if the "good" rig still works. Also check the buffer transistors to make sure they're good. Beyond that, I don't know enough to be of help.
Jack, W8TEE
From: "bob4john@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 1:30 AM
Subject: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] 49er problems
?
Hi all..
I built two of the QST version of the 49er by Jack et al .. ?the first one wroks great, the second one will ?not transmit and there is no sidetone. ?The display looks correct and the rotor changes freq on the display just fine. I have changed the nano and the AD9850 board, still same problem. I have tested all components in circuit and cannot find anything wrong.. ?All voltages look good and there is no smoke.... ?I have disconnected the transceiver board and testing the VFO. The output freq is very erratic and usually settles at about 312 MHz. but with no measurable output power, just enough signal to make my freq counter crazy... ? I would very much like to use the VFO as a freq generator, but after several days, no joy...
Please help
bob
kd4lv
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Hi all..
I built two of the QST version of the 49er by Jack et al .. ?the first one wroks great, the second one will ?not transmit and there is no sidetone. ?The display looks correct and the rotor changes freq on the display just fine. I have changed the nano and the AD9850 board, still same problem. I have tested all components in circuit and cannot find anything wrong.. ?All voltages look good and there is no smoke.... ?I have disconnected the transceiver board and testing the VFO. The output freq is very erratic and usually settles at about 312 MHz. but with no measurable output power, just enough signal to make my freq counter crazy... ? I would very much like to use the VFO as a freq generator, but after several days, no joy...
Please help
bob
kd4lv
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Re: Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
Hi Karl:
Glad that someone jumped in to help you. Unfortunately, the Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) has to follow a fairly strict disk layout for the compiler to find what it needs to generate an executable program. Bad as that may be, it used to be worse, as you had to write the code with a text editor, the load and run the compiler on the text editor code. Then you had to load an assembler and run the compiler code through that to generate an assembler object file. Then you had to load the linker to work on the object file to draw in the required link files to get the executable. Most of these steps are transparent now in that they work in the background, but the IDE is pretty fussy about where things are. If there are others who are having problems, post a comment and details the issues. Maybe we can help.
The antenna analyzer I've been working on is finished and in the final stages of Beta testing. We're using the smaller Mega2560 Pro Mini board and Farrukh is just about done with the new PCB design. I'll be posting the User's Manual soon, and will let you know when that happens. The cost should be around $50, including the 3.5" full color TFT display with a robust feature set including monitoring the SWR while adjusting the antenna (e.g., tuning a mag loop). There are some interim photos on the User Group site. I will submit an article to QST, but there's no guarantees that it will be accepted. If not, I'll probably submit it to CQ. Once again, we will make the PCB available at reasonable cost.
I'll keep you posted.
73, Jack, W8TEE
From: "ktschwab@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]"
To: SoftwareControlledHamRadio@...
Sent: Tuesday, August 9, 2016 2:37 PM
Subject: [SoftwareControlledHamRadio] Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
?
Some posts back to this forum, I posted a topic indicating I needed help programing my Arduino Nano with the required files for this 49-er VFO project.? This requirement, had me baffled!? Setting up folders, subfolders, downloading various files, drivers, etc, on my Windows 10 PC, is something that my 80+ year old brain is not able to do at this time.? I asked around on the 2 meter nets in the Detroit area, and I did not get a volunteers.?
Then shortly after that post, I received an email from a reader of this forum, that he would send me a programed Arduino Nano if I would send it to him.? Before I got it to him, I a programmed one from him today!?
I put that Arduino Nano into my 49-er,?attached my 40 meter dipole antenna, plugged in an audio amplifier, and my keyer.? I crossed my fingers, applied 12vdc, and flipped the switch!? I was delighted to see a splash on the display, that displayed 40 m parts and pieces transceiver, General!? And no smoke!? I tapped my keyer and I had output on my wattmeter!?
Now, I am looking forward to my first QSO, and a signal report on how it sounds!? Right now, it is setting on 7.040khz.? I still would like to see it on a scope, etc, but for now, it is workable.?
Without this forum, this project could have ended up collecting dust here in my shack!? I wonder how many builders there are like me, that have built this project, have had a similar problem?? Could the required downloads be made available on a flash drive?? In the meantime, I am going to continue to read about the Arduino and hope to see more projects like this in QST!
73, de Karl, KO8S
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Getting help with programing the 49-er VFO project
Some posts back to this forum, I posted a topic indicating I needed help programing my Arduino Nano with the required files for this 49-er VFO project.? This requirement, had me baffled!? Setting up folders, subfolders, downloading various files, drivers, etc, on my Windows 10 PC, is something that my 80+ year old brain is not able to do at this time.? I asked around on the 2 meter nets in the Detroit area, and I did not get a volunteers.?
Then shortly after that post, I received an email from a reader of this forum, that he would send me a programed Arduino Nano if I would send it to him.? Before I got it to him, I a programmed one from him today!?
I put that Arduino Nano into my 49-er,?attached my 40 meter dipole antenna, plugged in an audio amplifier, and my keyer.? I crossed my fingers, applied 12vdc, and flipped the switch!? I was delighted to see a splash on the display, that displayed 40 m parts and pieces transceiver, General!? And no smoke!? I tapped my keyer and I had output on my wattmeter!?
Now, I am looking forward to my first QSO, and a signal report on how it sounds!? Right now, it is setting on 7.040khz.? I still would like to see it on a scope, etc, but for now, it is workable.?
Without this forum, this project could have ended up collecting dust here in my shack!? I wonder how many builders there are like me, that have built this project, have had a similar problem?? Could the required downloads be made available on a flash drive?? In the meantime, I am going to continue to read about the Arduino and hope to see more projects like this in QST!
73, de Karl, KO8S
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How can one convert the 49er+VFO kit for 20 or 17 meters? Is it just a matter of using a different value combination of Lx and Cx Fig A2 (page 6) of Jack's Assembly Instruction Manual? If so, what are the values should one use? Thanks for any advice.
Hiroki AH6CY
On Friday, August 5, 2016 2:37 PM, "w6dq@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]" wrote:
?
Bob,
Do you ever get to Maker Faire in San Mateo?? For about six years we have been presenting "Not Your Grandpa's Ham Radio" there.? Maybe you've been by our booth??? If you HAVEN'T been to the Faire you really need to go -- and that goes for ALL hams who are interested in homebrewing.? Of course, Arduino and "Arduino Projects for Amateur Radio" have been a big part of what we present.? The idea is to get non-hams interested in the more modern aspects of ham radio.? We aren't just a bunch of old guys in our rocking chairs talking about our ailments on 75 M phone!
If you are going to Pacificon, I will be doing a pitch there on Maker Faire -- trying to get more hams involved, showing off the non-traditional aspects of our hobby.?
On a side note, I met Jack through presenting a project at a Maker Faire forum at San Mateo a few years back.? I was approached by one of his publishers to co-author the Arduino Projects book, and the rest, as they say, is history!?
BTW -- I agree wholeheartedly with your comment on Jack!!!? I am? forever grateful that we hooked? up on our projects.
73,
-dennis W6DQ Inyokern CA
On Friday, August 5, 2016 1:55 PM, "Bob Mix bob.mix@... [SoftwareControlledHamRadio]" wrote:
?
Nice work.? Thanks for all your efforts of evangelizing Arduinos
for hams.? Next month I will give a talk on the Forty-9er here in
Silicon Valley.
Bob
On 8/5/2016 1:42 PM, jjpurdum@...
[SoftwareControlledHamRadio] wrote:
?
I just posted a photo of the Beta AA.
Jck, W8TEE
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jjpurdum