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Tips and Tricks for the uBitx multiband SSB transceiver
The uBitx (aka Micro Bitx) is a low cost easily built HF transceiver designed by Ashar Farhan VU2ESE. It's an ingeniously designed multiband HF CW/SSB transceiver built on a circuit board approximately
15 x 15 cm. It's closely related to its predecessor, the 7 MHz only Bitx.
A key difference between the transceivers is that
while the Bitx is single conversion (IF 12 MHz, VFO 5 MHz), the uBitx is dual conversion. The first IF is 45 MHz while the second IF is 12 MHz. This extra conversion made adding bands easier. Other
differences include the use of two IRF510s in the final (instead of one) and the much larger number of relays and toroids due to the multiple bands covered.
Like the Bitx, you need to spend about 1 or 2 hours of soldering to get it on the air. The main work involves soldering the leads to the power, antenna, microphone, key and other sockets. You probably
also want to enclose it in a nice case (not supplied) and use a microphone different to the insert supplied (although this is perfectly good). Then there's the modifications. Again like its simpler relative, the uBitx
has spawned numerous modifications and software revisions. There are also now whole blogs and websites devoted to uBitx modifications. These can help you customise your uBitx or get extra features
and performance from it.
You can order a uBitx (or Bitx) from HF Signals page.
Before ordering visit Ubitx.net to learn what others have done with the uBitx. This page is full of information, ideas and modifications submitted by builders from around the world.
I also recommend the Bitx 20 email list/forum to read about others' experiences with all different versions of the Bitx (and uBitx).
You can also join and ask a question. Or you can just browse and read what others have written.
The main uBitx Facebook groups is at BITX40 and uBITX QRP Radio Kit.
The videos below document my experiences with the uBitx.
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Books by VK3YE
Ham Radio Get Started (USA)Australian Ham Radio Handbook (Aust) More Hand-carried QRP Antennas 99 things you can do with Amateur Radio Getting back into Amateur Radio Illustrated International Ham Radio Dictionary Make your Passion Pay (ebook writing)
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