Peter, I gotta say: I love your approach to solving problems. Elegant and efficient, with use of inexpensive, readily-found materials. And your book on Minimum QRP really changed my QRP life. Thank you! 73, Rex KE6MT
Cutting traces can be a little fiddly using a hobby knife or box cutter. Next time, try an appropriately sized drill bit (spun by hand, not using a drill). Makes it a snap and looks nicer too imo. Very nice job on the filter, Peter, thanks for another great tip! :)
BEdmonson85 I have used my drimmel before w a sanding wheel and once w a special bit...they did ok I will have to try the bit by hand!! Thanks for the idea!!!
5:30 The Line Should Be Cut With A Dremmel, I Used Dremmel To Cut Pcb Lines Like That, More Easy And More Controlled Because Knife Can Slip And Do Other Unwanted Damages On The Pcb, But Great Video, Thank you For Showing It !
I'll do this this evening, thanks. I'll use SMD parts, though, more compact and easier to work with when you're just scratching traces into PCB Edit: I used single sided breadboard and throughhole because I didn't have SMDs with the right values, works like a charm
Cool man, thanks for sharing If you like, dirtypcb can cheaply make you pcbs, since this filter is small, maybe you wanna make a bunch on a single pcb then cut them. And maybe combine both SMD/and thruhole design on the same PCB. So it works either ways. hackaday.com/tag/dirtypcb Good luck
I wonder if you could use the antenna trace itself as the solder pads by cutting and scraping in multiple places to make small points to solder to then for the ground connections just drill holes through to the ground plane on the bottom of the board. If done with care you could probably make it look almost like it was there from the factory. Just an idea, not having a ubitx myself, I'm not sure what's under that particular spot on the board.
what makes the tones when you tune? carriers? does the trace capacity of the board effect the circuit at all? Is there a reason to enclose the circuit in a can would that help insolate the unwanted frequencies? very cool. those AM broadcast stations are running many Kw! 73 kc9dfk
The presence of strong signals near non-linear components (eg diodes) can produce strange harmonics and mixing products that can appear across the amateur bands at unwanted frequencies. Trace capacity shouldn't be an issue at these low frequencies though it would be at VHF/UHF. Enclosing may or may not work - eg if the signals get in through the antenna line it wouldn't make a difference.
My cut off is somewhere near 2.5 MHz. Sensitivity is reduced but still adequate at 160m. Lowering the cut off (eg by x1.5 values) increases 160m sensitivity and makes the filter less effective in suppressing BC band signals. So better to stick with my values or if you don't want 160m use VK3IL's values.
Peter, I gotta say: I love your approach to solving problems. Elegant and efficient, with use of inexpensive, readily-found materials. And your book on Minimum QRP really changed my QRP life. Thank you! 73, Rex KE6MT
Thanks Rex - your comments much appreciated and are the sort that keeps me videoing and writing.
Cutting traces can be a little fiddly using a hobby knife or box cutter. Next time, try an appropriately sized drill bit (spun by hand, not using a drill). Makes it a snap and looks nicer too imo. Very nice job on the filter, Peter, thanks for another great tip! :)
BEdmonson85 I have used my drimmel before w a sanding wheel and once w a special bit...they did ok I will have to try the bit by hand!! Thanks for the idea!!!
Great video, love the approach. I have a v5 board which is pulling in alot of broadcast in my area.
5:30 The Line Should Be Cut With A Dremmel, I Used Dremmel To Cut Pcb Lines Like That, More Easy And More Controlled Because Knife Can Slip And Do Other Unwanted Damages On The Pcb, But Great Video, Thank you For Showing It !
*Very Good Peter*
Holy crap, I've been looking for this for months! Sweet!
I was wondering if, a ceramic trim pot may help in the setup. Similarl within some dB reduction setups, just thinking out loud.
Nice one! Has made a great difference to my ubitx, no more bci on 80-meters at around 3.775. thank you.
I'll do this this evening, thanks. I'll use SMD parts, though, more compact and easier to work with when you're just scratching traces into PCB
Edit: I used single sided breadboard and throughhole because I didn't have SMDs with the right values, works like a charm
Cool man, thanks for sharing
If you like, dirtypcb can cheaply make you pcbs, since this filter is small, maybe you wanna make a bunch on a single pcb then cut them. And maybe combine both SMD/and thruhole design on the same PCB. So it works either ways.
hackaday.com/tag/dirtypcb Good luck
Hi ! I recently got my new uBitx V4. Do you know what this connector might be? Thanks!!
imgur.com/a/zj5HqGy
I wonder if you could use the antenna trace itself as the solder pads by cutting and scraping in multiple places to make small points to solder to then for the ground connections just drill holes through to the ground plane on the bottom of the board. If done with care you could probably make it look almost like it was there from the factory. Just an idea, not having a ubitx myself, I'm not sure what's under that particular spot on the board.
Thank you Peter, an excellent video. Great addition to a nice radio. WA1KLI
what makes the tones when you tune? carriers? does the trace capacity of the board effect the circuit at all? Is there a reason to enclose the circuit in a can would that help insolate the unwanted frequencies? very cool. those AM broadcast stations are running many Kw! 73 kc9dfk
The presence of strong signals near non-linear components (eg diodes) can produce strange harmonics and mixing products that can appear across the amateur bands at unwanted frequencies. Trace capacity shouldn't be an issue at these low frequencies though it would be at VHF/UHF. Enclosing may or may not work - eg if the signals get in through the antenna line it wouldn't make a difference.
Works excellent, well done!
Thanks Peter. Terry KB8AMZ
can you give the values for 160m cut off?
My cut off is somewhere near 2.5 MHz. Sensitivity is reduced but still adequate at 160m. Lowering the cut off (eg by x1.5 values) increases 160m sensitivity and makes the filter less effective in suppressing BC band signals. So better to stick with my values or if you don't want 160m use VK3IL's values.
GREAT JOB PETER kg6mn