uBITX JackAl

This is a preview of the up-coming uBITX add-on board. Centered around a high-resolution touch screen TFT display, the uBITX addition adds numerous user-centric features such as: hardware IF AGC, extensive DSP audio functions for receive and send. Lots of CW features like very narrow-band filters, preset messages, and a CPO. Easy initial setup of clocks, user presets for almost everything, stored in EEPROM, 2 VFOs, RIT, on-screen band selection, rotary encoder tuning with separate fine-tuning and frequency increment selection are included. All of this with nice large on-screen push buttons with graphical feedback. The video is a preview only, showing a portion of the available features. Watch for more detail later. Availability is  estimated at the end of Nov. 2018.  It is expected to cost about $50. and is offered as a semi-kit including a 100x100mm double-sided PCB with all SMDs already  mounted.  Links to the software, which is Arduino IDE compatible, and complete instructions with BOM are part of the package.  The user has to supply the remainder of the parts, including micro-processor (Teensy 3.6), 5″ or 7″ TFT touch display, cables, connectors and a few discrete thru-mount parts. This kit is for experienced builders with at least intermediate experience (no SMDs need to be soldered).

Features:

  • TFT Touch Screen 800×480 TFT Color Display 
    • 5″ or 7″ diagonal (supported)
    • 8″ and 9″ screens available (not tested)
    • User supplied display of their choice. Display choice will impact case selection and vice versa.
  •  Offered as semi-kit
    • Custom PCB with pre-mounted SMD components
    • Open-source software with Arduino IDE compatibility
  • Based on PJRC.com’s Teensy 3.6 Microcontroller with Audio Shield (both user supplied)
    • 180MHz clock
    • Jack+-Al software uses <25% of memory resources
  • Hardware AGC using IF take-off
    • Simple 2 point connection to uBITX
    • One SMD resistor removed from uBITX
    • uBITX sensitivity unchanged
    • Optional AGC on-off using front-panel switch
  • Audio DSP functions
    • Connection by means of existing uBITX Audio connector – no modification of uBITX required
    • Standard uBITX audio unchanged
    • FFT on-screen audio spectrum display
      • View Audio spectrum in real time while tuning
    • Onboard 6 watt monolithic audio power amplifier
    • uBITX volume control adjusts JackAl and uBITX audio
  • Touch Screen Buttons for function selection and control
  • Dual Encoders 
    • Frequency Tuning, ALS Tuning, Program Input
    • Standard or high resolution optical encoders supported
  • Frequency Tuning: Standard and ALS Tuning
    • ALS Tuning: Special tuning using the second encoder. If the frequency increment is set to 1KHz, ALS Tuning sets the second encoder to one-tenth the increment of the primary tuning rate. This allows for rapid tuning to an approximate frequency using the main encoder and then using ALS Tuning with the second encoder to fine tune the signal.
    • One-button Tuning increment change, variable from 1Hz to 10MHz
  • EEprom storage of user preferences and CW code presets
    • User save feature
    • Default reset to initial factory condition
  • Receive-specific features
    • Dual VFO – on-screen selectable
    • 5 Band Touch Screen Selection
    • RIT
    • S Meter
    • Audio AGC with adjustable threshold and on-screen on-off
    • Auto and manual LSB/USB selection
    • 8-band graphic equalizer
  • Transmit-specific features
    • Mic Compressor with adjustable threshold
    • Mic 8-band graphic equalizer
    • Support for condenser mics – bias voltage supplied
    • Automatic straight-key/paddle selection
  • Audio Filters
    • DSP Filters with 48 dB/octave  skirts (8 pole equivalent)
    • SSB presets (-3dB BW): 1500 Hz, 1800 Hz , 2200 Hz, 3000 Hz
    • CW presets (-3dB BW: 150 Hz, 300 Hz, 400 Hz, 600 Hz
    • Variable Notch filter, encoder adjustable, use specified Q
    • 2 Variable bandwidth filters – user-defined knee frequencies with graphical on-screen setup using rotary encoder
  • CW-Specific Features
    •  Keyer with selectable WPM
    • 50 CW Preset Messages, selectable at runtime
    • 3 external hardware buttons for CW code message selection (e.g., contest exchanges)
    • CW code to Text converter
    • Code Practice Oscillator Mode – on-screen text readout
    • CW user setup of side tone volume and frequency
  • Other features
    • Easy calibration
      • On-screen calibration of Touch Screen
      • Easy calibration of uBITX clocks and BFO
    • Real Time Clock (add optional battery)
    • About a dozen I/O pins to play with plus 800K of free flash memory, 200K of free SRAM, all clocked at 180MHz