ND6T AGC implementation for uBIT-X

Kees T

#47340

It appears that the ND6T implementation of an AGC fix for the uBIT-X is a winner.

He describes a simple X-Acto knife cut PC board for layout. Is anyone thinking of providing a small 2 sided PC board w/wo all the parts ?

73 Kees K5BCQ

Jonathan

#47344

I was wondering the same thing. I'd like a bare PCB for this mod too.

-Jonathan

Kees T

#47349

I figure a bare PC board could be sent in the USA for $1. postpaid....... and a complete kit of parts for $3. postpaid as long as it can be mailed in a letter envelope and we avoid PayPal fees.

73 Kees K5BCQ

Joel Caulkins/N6ALT

#47350

Ditto, size 1206 SMD would be nice.

Joel
N6ALT

Jerry Gaffke

#47358

That sounds great!
I for one would be happy enough at $10 if it saves me a day of messing around
with Mouser orders and Xacto knife emergency room visits.

Maybe send it out in an envelope with all parts mounted to a piece of card stock,
holes punched in the card to accommodate any thicker parts.

Machine jams are likely their primary concern when determining what's a letter.
Well, that and the obvious height, width, depth and weight measurements.
A 31 mil thick board might be less likely to jam their letter sorting (and shredding) machines
than a standard 62 mil board. With that and 0201 surface mount parts, we should be just fine. ;-)

Here's a FAQ from the USPS, note the 12 hits when searching for the word "machinable".
https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2007/html/pb22218/kit1_021.html

Jerry, KE7ER

Show quoted text

On Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 10:30 am, Kees T wrote:

I figure a bare PC board could be sent in the USA for $1. postpaid....... and a complete kit of parts for $3. postpaid as long as it can be mailed in a letter envelope and we avoid PayPal fees.

Don, ND6T

#47359

Ion, VA3NOI, did a very nice layout and I believe that he is awaiting his first boards. He mentioned that he might also be doing some SMD boards, too. I'm sure that I will be hearing from him soon.
73, Don

Kees T

#47361

OK, I was wondering when Don, ND6T, would "check in". I don't want to step on anyone's toes, so I'm also awaiting response from Ion and Don.

I've been producing small kits since I retired in 1998.....and the object is to have fun and keep the costs as low as possible, after all this is a hobby. Don's AGC circuit seems like a good candidate.

Jerry, I believe I can get all those parts in a standard envelope and mail it for $0.50. I've done it before.

73 Kees K5BCQ

I would be focussed on using 0805 SMT parts,

1			PC board
1	Q1	MMBT2222	NPN	SOT-23
2	Q2,Q3	2N7002	FET	SOT-23
2	D1,D2	1N4148	Diode	805 size
4	R1,R3,R4,R5		100K resistor	805 size
1	R2		1K resistor	805 size
1	R6		1M resistor	805 size
2	C3,C5	Ceramic	10nF capacitor	805 size
2	C1,C2	Ceramic	100nF capacitor	805 size
1	C4	Tantalum	1uF capacitor	805 size

Ken

#47362

Hi Kees

If you become the candidate for the kits, will you be shipping to Canada eh!

73

Ken VA3ABN

Show quoted text

On Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 3:35 PM, Kees T <windy10605@...> wrote:

OK, I was wondering when Don, ND6T, would "check in". I don't want to step on anyone's toes, so I'm also awaiting response from Ion and Don.

I've been producing small kits since I retired in 1998.....and the object is to have fun and keep the costs as low as possible, after all this is a hobby. Don's AGC circuit seems like a good candidate.

Jerry, I believe I can get all those parts in a standard envelope and mail it for $0.50. I've done it before.

73 Kees K5BCQ

I would be focussed on using 0805 SMT parts,

1

PC board

1

Q1

MMBT2222

NPN

SOT-23

2

Q2,Q3

2N7002

FET

SOT-23

2

D1,D2

1N4148

Diode

805 size

4

R1,R3,R4,R5

100K resistor

805 size

1

R2

1K resistor

805 size

1

R6

1M resistor

805 size

2

C3,C5

Ceramic

10nF capacitor

805 size

2

C1,C2

Ceramic

100nF capacitor

805 size

1

C4

Tantalum

1uF capacitor

805 size

walt hodges

#47363

I will order 2 boards when available. Please sign me up.

Show quoted text

On Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 2:35 PM, Kees T <windy10605@...> wrote:

OK, I was wondering when Don, ND6T, would "check in". I don't want to step on anyone's toes, so I'm also awaiting response from Ion and Don.

I've been producing small kits since I retired in 1998.....and the object is to have fun and keep the costs as low as possible, after all this is a hobby. Don's AGC circuit seems like a good candidate.

Jerry, I believe I can get all those parts in a standard envelope and mail it for $0.50. I've done it before.

73 Kees K5BCQ

I would be focussed on using 0805 SMT parts,

1

PC board

1

Q1

MMBT2222

NPN

SOT-23

2

Q2,Q3

2N7002

FET

SOT-23

2

D1,D2

1N4148

Diode

805 size

4

R1,R3,R4,R5

100K resistor

805 size

1

R2

1K resistor

805 size

1

R6

1M resistor

805 size

2

C3,C5

Ceramic

10nF capacitor

805 size

2

C1,C2

Ceramic

100nF capacitor

805 size

1

C4

Tantalum

1uF capacitor

805 size

Kees T

#47364

Ken,

Canada eh ....sure, as long as postage is covered. Will require a customs short form. Since starting this low buck kit activity, after retirement in 1998, I've shipped 3987 kits as of today, all over the world.

Waiting to see what Ion, VA3NOI is wanting to do and what Don, ND6T says since it's his design and all questions, accolades, gripes, blame, etc. go back to him (and it's his call that would be silkscreened on the board).

I like Jerry's comment; "That sounds great! I for one would be happy enough at $10 if it saves me a day of messing around
with Mouser orders and Xacto knife emergency room visits."

73 Kees K5BCQ

Ken

#47365

Heck I'll pay the extra postage ($10,000,000.00 CAD) to get it here.

73

Ken VA3ABN

Show quoted text

On Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 3:57 PM, Kees T <windy10605@...> wrote:

Ken,

Canada eh ....sure, as long as postage is covered. Will require a customs short form. Since starting this low buck kit activity, after retirement in 1998, I've shipped 3987 kits as of today, all over the world.

Waiting to see what Ion, VA3NOI is wanting to do and what Don, ND6T says since it's his design and all questions, accolades, gripes, blame, etc. go back to him (and it's his call that would be silkscreened on the board).

I like Jerry's comment; "That sounds great! I for one would be happy enough at $10 if it saves me a day of messing around
with Mouser orders and Xacto knife emergency room visits."

73 Kees K5BCQ

Jerry Gaffke

#47366

Yes, you have plenty of experience with this.
There've been discussions in this forum before about what can and can't get posted in a letter,
so figured I'd say what little I knew for the benefit of the other kit creators.

Lots of very nice kits up at http://www.qsl.net/k5bcq/Kits/Kits.html
including linear amps, bandpass filters, and of course the Vector Impedance Analyzer.
I need to place an order for a couple of your step attenuators, since I'm slowly getting serious
about figuring out EMRFD.

Jerry, KE7ER

Show quoted text

On Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 12:35 pm, Kees T wrote:

Jerry, I believe I can get all those parts in a standard envelope and mail it for $0.50. I've done it before.

Tim Gorman

#47367

I made a board using a hobby knive. It is far larger than it needs to
be. But it works *well*!.

So put me down for 2 boards. Either 0805 or 1206 will work for me.

tim ab0wr

On Thu, 26 Apr 2018 08:44:39 -0700
"Kees T" <windy10605@...> wrote:

It appears that the ND6T implementation of an AGC fix for the uBIT-X
is a winner. 

He describes a simple X-Acto knife cut PC board for layout. Is anyone
thinking of providing a small 2 sided PC board w/wo all the parts ?

73 Kees K5BCQ

Ronald Payne <wb5klj@...>

#47372

I would be interested in either a board for either Size components , or a "kit" .

Ron P

Jonathan

#47379

I would order 2 kits, with parts. Prefer larger 1206 parts but 0805s are okay.

-Jonathan

Dana Marcy

#47380

Hello All
I would be interested in getting 4 kits. 2 for myself and 2 for others in Calgary, Canada (since I know they are around)
Thank You in Advance
73

alans77@...

#47381

Sign me up for 2 kits.
73,
Alan N4AYE

Ion Petroianu, VA3NOI

#47382

Hi Guys!
I have both versions of the board designed.
Through hole with a size of 17X38 mm, single side.
SMT with a size of 18X31 mm. SMT components are 0805. 1 uF cap is tantalum or niobium polarized.
In terms of performance I am expecting better results with the SMT board.
I have ordered through hole version for experimenting with some values (AGC release time minimum resistor and coupling capacitors on RF line) at PCBway and they are in route to Canada.
The PCBs have provision for adding a pot to adjust AGC release time and a switch to disable the AGC.
If interested let me know and I will post the files (schematic, board layout and Gerbers).
Feel free to use the files as you can see fit. If anyone wants to put kits together just do it.

73
Ion

VA3NOI

William R Maxwell

#47383

Yes Ion, please post the files.

Bill, VK7MX

Show quoted text

On 27/04/2018 9:16 AM, Ion Petroianu, VA3NOI wrote:

Hi Guys!
I have both versions of the board designed.
Through hole with a size of 17X38 mm, single side.
SMT with a size of 18X31 mm. SMT components are 0805. 1 uF cap is tantalum or niobium polarized.
In terms of performance I am expecting better results with the SMT board.
I have ordered through hole version for experimenting with some values (AGC release time minimum resistor and coupling capacitors on RF line) at PCBway and they are in route to Canada.
The PCBs have provision for adding a pot to adjust AGC release time and a switch to disable the AGC.
If interested let me know and I will post the files (schematic, board layout and Gerbers).
Feel free to use the files as you can see fit. If anyone wants to put kits together just do it.

73
Ion
VA3NOI

John

#47384

Yup post them.. :)