18 April 2023

Developer's Edition (DE) SBITX V1 - Bake oven?

The new SBITX V2 is the successor to the previous prototype version SBITX V1, which was only available in limited quantities as a development prototype marked "DE" (Developer's Edition). 

It featured a larger, compact case, a flat-mounted transceiver board, and a heatsink on the outside back.
 
And why do some like to call the SBITX V1_DE as a microwave oven or ham radio version of the bake oven? Judge for yourself... :)


Many owners quite liked the cabinet, and the nickname could have been adopted if the new SBITX V2 version had not brought design changes in addition of the changes on transceiver board. The depth of the cabinet is now one-third, transceiver board is located on the back and the new look of the housing is more reminiscent of a door opener...



73 - Petr, OK1RP
.../-.-

13 April 2023

SBITX V2 - Hybrid SDR transceiver Part I. - Intro

The low budget 40W High Performance Hybrid SDR transceiver for the geeks, tinkers but also for DXers and field operators ...it is the new SBITX V2.

The SBITX V2 is an open source, low budget, high performance Hybrid SDR for the 21st century radio amateurs by HF Signals Co. Powered by an internal Raspberry Pi 4, it has CW/RTTY/PSK31/SSB and other digi modes with logging software, macros, spotting in-built.

- Big & compact: Although compact, it has the largest display shipped with a transceiver, a capacitive, touch screen of 7 inches.

- All software to run modes like RTTY, PSK31 is integrated into the radio, without any messy configurations, setup, etc. to deal with.


- It switches soundlessly from transmit to receive and between bands due to its electronic of filters and T/R switching.

- Band-stacking VFOs with 4 memories on each of the 8 bands, 9 convolution digital filters for the best audio experience.


- High performance electronics with a passive-FET front end, 8 crystals’ filter and a low phase noise, temperature compensated crystal oscillator.

- The built-in, editable macros that make it a breeze to work DX or compete in contests.


- Add an HDMI monitor or use the browser from your PC/tablet to have a large screen experience of all the features of this amazing radio.

- The SBITX V2 will neatly slip into your backpack with its compact, slim size of 10 inches x 6 inches x 2 inches and weight of under 4 pounds (less than 2 KGs) with room to spare. With its 40W transmit output, it is the most powerful radio you can put into your backpack.


- It is armed with an XT60 power connector that you can use with lightweight 3S LiPo batteries to provide hours of field operation (The receive current is 600mA, the transmit current can go up to 8A depending upon the drive settings).


- The built-in mic and the on-screen keyboard, macros make it easy to operate all modes, voice/digital or CW without a key, mic or an extra computer in the field.

- It has an accurate real-time clock to time digi transmissions and log the contacts made.

- The built-in logger eliminates the need to carry the logbook too.


Low budget & High performance radio


- Bulletproof hybrid superheterodyne with passive-FET KISS mixer

- Brick wall crystal filter with 8 crystals

- 80dB close-in dynamic range, 90dB wide dynamic range

- Low phase-noise, temperature compensated reference oscillator

- 30-40W output on all bands from 80m to 10m

- Transmit IMDR of 30dB (from PEP levels)

- Silent, fan-less operation

- Noise-less electronic T/R and band switching

- In-built 2-tone transmitter to tune the antenna and measure IMD


CW/RTTY/PSK31 with logging and Macros


- Totally noise-less, fast electronic T/R without noisy relays

- In-built N1MM style Macros support Running and S&P

- Uses Fldigi with its high-performance decoder in the background

- Raised cosine CW keying with perfect shaping

- 9 Ring-free Convolution filters from 100Hz to 3kHz

- Use the on-screen touch keyboard or add a USB / Wireless keyboard for effortless CW sending if needed


Logger and Logbook

The SBITX V2 has a logger and logbook with RDMS support. N1MM style logger with macros and automatic logging of contacts with the frequency, mode, time automatically filled in. Use macros on CW / RTTY / PSK to send out standard messages with the press of a button / key if needed.


Telnet


See the spots, DX clusters on the radio with in-built telnet to DX Clusters, Reverse Beacon, PSK Reporter, etc.


Hackable code, skinnable GUI


Full source code, circuit and explanations on github.com/afarhan/sbitx

Write custom apps in JavaScript without learning SDR coding.
Open source, hackable SDR written in C.
Develop your own skins and UI in HTML/CSS/JavaScript.
More modes and functions planned.


Access and operate your SBITX V2 over the home Wifi


With your SBITX V2 connected to the home Wifi, just open http://sbitx.local on the browser of your phone/tab/pc and start operating your radio! With the bigger screen of your PC or tablet, you can have an expanded user interface of the SBITX V2.


Accessibility & Command line support


The SBITX V2 project is committed to providing eye-free usage for the SBITX V2. As a first step, this release features a command line interface that provides all the features of the GUI.


Brief Specifications



Well, it is a different approach to the GUI user interface, and the radio as same as the software itself is still under development and improvement. S
o, we expect some bumps on the road for early adopters. However, having a large 7 inches screen and RPi on board will make this a fine radio to use in the shack.

Anyway, it is an interesting project. Time will tell, how the radio works and if it proves itself in practical operation on the bands.


...ONE MORE THING 

HF Signals was founded by Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE. HF Signals Co. is based out of Illinois, located at 44W, Doral Drive Apt 202, Glendale Heights, IL 60139, USA.

HF Signals manufactures all radios in Hyderabad, India and they works with a collective of workers. Each of the toroids is hand wound in India. This provides these working women with a livelihood. The assembled boards are then DC checked.  A final RF check and tune-up is performed to check the receiver’s sensitivity as well as transmitter’s output before being shipped. Each board is individually numbered and signed by a radio ham who tests them for performance before they are shipped.

There is an active and very informative forum for learning and getting help that is entirely driven by the builder community. Join the group on https://groups.io/g/bitx20

IT IS NOT CHINESE JUNK WITH NO SUPPORT!


73 - Petr, OK1RP
.../-.-

07 March 2023

RGO ONE 5th production lot info by Boris, LZ2JR

Since all radios from 4th production lot are completely sold, Boris, LZ2JR posted PREORDER form for 5th production lot radios.


Possible sale start period is June 2023.

Please fill in your RGO ONE order here.


73 - Petr, OK1RP

10 January 2023

RGO ONE Audio Filter functionality - firmware 2.50b available

New firmware version ver.2.50b is available now in download section which reveals use of a new AF optional board – digital DSP audio filter board. Ver.2.50b is first step to the new DSP features of the radio. With new Ver.2.50b radio detects AF board and set it in bypass mode.

Next FW updates will add some basic functions like digital filters in CW/SSB, audio peak filter, CW tune and other…

Download 2.50b here.

10 October 2022

Plastic injection mould for RGO ONE knobs ready

News from Boris, LZ2JR and his Mission RGO One crew dated 10Oct 2022...

"Hello,

I am very excited to share with all friends that we just finished tests of our new plastic mould for RGO ONE knob sets. Making this was very very long time and cost consuming process but finally we are ready and first knobs were shot by the machine finished and ready to go…

Have a look at pictures:




Main dial knob still needs some parts to be finished but little knobs are all ready to go. Every stroke of the machine produces 7 parts - main dial knob cap, finger dimple, encoder knobs - 3pcs., concentric pot knobs 2pcs.
3-D printed knobs you use on your RGO ONE will be no more available.

73 es GL
Boris LZ2JR/AC9IJ"


15 June 2022

RGO ONE - New firmware 2.41A released

New firmware ver.2.41A for famous RGO ONE transceiver is available. CW waveform clipping and LPF hot switching problem when lower delay time (menu 41 trd) is selected is now resolved by Boris and his crew.

Files for software update are located in download section

FW2.40A

CW wave form is now clean and not clipped by delayed switching of output LPF.


73 - Petr, OK1RP

24 May 2022

RGO ONE - Noise blanker (NB) option by Boris, LZ2JR

RGO ONE is classic super heterodyne analog conversion SSB/CW amateur transceiver with 9MHz single intermediate frequency. Optional noise receiver/ noise blanker (NB) unit is placed right after post RX mixer amplifier U12 on RF MIXER board. NB module detects short incoming pulses and produces blanking pulse which neutralize disturbing interference signal early in the receive path just before first 9MHz (roofing) filter. Unlike all modern transceiver's technology where digital DSP technology is in use – in RGO ONE all the signals are analog processed avoiding signal distortion and improving signal dynamic range.

It is known that performance will be most effective when noise pulses are short in duration and comparatively long in period. Characteristic types are those produced by automotive ignitions, home appliances, small DC motors, pulse noises from power lines and other man made devices. Noise with short periods and longer duration such as QRN, are less discernible by the circuits and consequently more difficult to eliminate. Optional NB board works on RX and its location is on RF MIXER board in your RGO ONE.


Specifications:
 
- Pulse bandwidth 7 ÷ 70 µSec 
- Threshold/sensitivity 10µV ÷ 220µV 
- NB insertion loss/gain +1.5db (±1db) 
- Input frequency IF 9MHz 
- IF bandwidth 130kHz 
- Noise gate type PHEMPT Ga-As SPDT switch 
- Noise gate isolation >85db


If you are going to install your new optional NB module then I am highly recommending to follow step by step the NB Operating and Installation manual linked bellow by Boris, LZ2JR.

Just few more pictures from installation procedures follows.

JP1 jumper removed in the center of picture

RF Mixer board after removing the shielding on the left

NB optional module properly inserted to pins header

Securing the board with supplied M3mm screw and lock washer


After installation of the optional NB board the 2.40A revision or higher firmware must be installed to the RGO ONE transceiver.
 

This software version implements new optional NB module features.
NB noise blanker/noise receiver optional board gives ability to remove pulse noises from man-made home/industrial appliances, electrical power lines etc.

QRN and other atmospheric noises with long pulse duration might not be suppressed effectively.

New menu entries added:

  1. Menu 35 nbP – Blanking pulse width 1 – 8 (7 – 70usec)
  2. Menu 36 thr – Gate threshold/sensitivity level 1 – 16
  3. LCD icon animation – NB icon can be lit on or off or fast blinking depending on NB module status
  4. Module auto-detect – enables new NB features only if NB option is installed in the radio.
New firmware version 2.40A – NB functions added for download here.

NB Operation & Installation manual is available for download here.

Contact Boris, LZ2JR for availability or pre-orders here.


73 - Petr, OK1RP
.../-.-