/Easy-Transceiver

Easy Digital 'FT8' Transceiver. Easy-Transceiver v0.01.

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Easy-Transceiver

The whole design is modular, parametric (cost and others), field repairable, and super extensible. It is almost trivial to add support for more FSK digital modes.

The Easy-Transceiver hardware works with the native Hybrid FT8 Radio Android app, and also with WSJT-X (running on RPi).

The Easy-Transceiver system can be built for around 3000 INR (~40 USD) or less. We are working on reducing the cost to 2300 INR ;)

Author 1: LU2HES - https://github.com/agustinmartino

Author 2: Dhiru Kholia (VU3CER) - https://www.qrz.com/db/VU3CER/

TX chain:

PCB-Rendering

RX chain (Easy-uSDX - optionally headless):

PCB-Rendering

PCB-Rendering

Big Picture

QSO(s):

Android QSO WSJT-X on RPi QSO

QSOs over 15000 kms were made using this HW with PA150 (with around 37W ERP).

Argentina QSO

Notes

This will need a HF RF PA in most cases to be usable on the air.

UPDATE (January 2022): Check out our cost-effective, and robust HF PA system.

Setup

  • Use Python 3.10.x for maximum compatibility.

  • Setup dependencies.

    pip install -r requirements.txt

T/R Switch

Check out our cost-effective, and simple T/R switch design.

BCI Filter

Are you hearing broadcast AM signals in the background of the uSDX receiver? If yes, a simple BCI filter can solve this problem easily enough.

Checkout the RX BCI Filter included in this repository.

BOM

  • High Quality Female to Female Jumper Wire - 2500mA (Project Point)

  • Female and male berg strip

  • Arduino Nano v3 board - 450 INR - We will eliminate this requirement soon

  • SN74CB3T3253DR (SOIC-16, Semikart) - ~200 INR

  • Bunch of 100nF MLCC - 25 INR ('Emerging Technologies' Store -> ET)

  • Bunch of 10nF MLCC - 10 INR

  • Bunch of 1nF MLCC - 20 INR

  • 4 x 470nF MLCC - 10 INR

  • 1 x 1N5819 - 2 INR

  • 1 x 1N4007 - 2 INR

  • 1 x 7805 Linear Regulator - 15 INR

  • 2 x 100uH inductor - 12 INR

  • Si5351 Module - 470 INR (no delicate soldering required!)

    • Cheaper to get MS5351M from LCSC (in bulk for more experiments) - <= 100 INR

  • Bunch of 10k resistors (MFR, ET / Project Point) - 25 INR

  • Bunch of 1k resistors - 10 INR

  • 1 x 1k 0.5W resistor - 5 INR

  • 1 x 470 0.25W resistor - 5 INR

  • 2 x 82k 0.25 resistor (MFR) - 5 INR

  • 4 x 100 Ohm resistor (MFR) - 5 INR

  • 1 x 3.5mm Stereo Socket ('PJ-307', https://www.electroncomponents.com/Stereo-Socket-3.5mm-connector-pcb) - 12 INR

  • BCI Filter BOM - 2 x 2.2nF ceramic capacitor, 2 x 820pF (can be resistor shaped!), 3 * 2.2uH inductor axial

  • 2 x SMA connectors (https://www.ktron.in/, SMA Straight - Female - Vertical Mount) - 50 INR

  • ATmega328P (DIP-28) - 225 INR

  • 20 MHz crystal - 10 INR

  • LM4562NA - 220 INR (Semikart) OR NE5532AP (130 INR from Semikart, 30 INR locally from https://rarecomponents.com)

    The NE5532 is widely faked - even https://www.electronicscomp.com/ sells a cheap knockoff!

    TIP: Get TI make NE5532 from https://rarecomponents.com/.

  • Misc: Copper clad board (glass epoxy one), Relimate male connectors + female cable, Male berg strip, Female-to-female dupont cables

    Get from https://www.electronicscomp.com/ and https://projectpoint.in/ shops.

  • Total: Around 1500 to 1600 INR

BOM Sources

Tips

Useful commands:

pacmd load-module module-null-sink sink_name=Virtual0
pacmd update-sink-proplist Virtual0 device.description=Virtual0
pacmd update-source-proplist Virtual0.monitor device.description=Virtual0

Use Gqrx and WSJT-X with a SDR device for initial frequency adjustment / calibration. This is essential for WSPR functionality. FT8 is more robust/tolerant of frequency deviations due to a much larger RX window.

References + Credits