WSJT/FT8 with Xiegu G1M

Let's get the Xiegu G1M on FT8

I think I have made some progress in getting WSJT-X to issue CAT commands my new Xiegu G1M transceiver. I am using a MacBook Air M1 computer. The G1M is connected by the supplied blue USB/3.5mm Jack cable. It presented a serial port and an audio device on the Mac. Here's what I have done so far:

1. Loaded the Mac version of Flrig

2. Configured it like this

Configure/Rcvr to Xiegu G90

Chose serial port

set 19200 baud

INIT to connect (green)

Note: Serial port number may be different as dynamically issued. Just chose the one that pops up. Then connect.

Configure/PTT Generic

'x' only in PTT via CAT box

Back to main screen

Vol does nothing, AUT (squelch) does nothing, Pwr does nothing, ATT does nothing

PRE switches in/out the RX preamplifier

PTT tests the PTT

Mode can be selected in the box (USB etc)

Freq can be set for VFO A(left) or B(right)

3. WSJT-X set up. Chose Rig as Flrig and PTT as CAT. Press Test to check it is working, you can also check PTT...

WSJT-X Preferences. 

Rig FLrig FLrig, PTT CAT, USB None

TEST CAT should turn green

I have yet to make up a couple of audio cables to connect the radio to a small USB audio dongle I have here. I need a mono cable tip to tip for dongle HP out to radio MIC input (the MIC ring is used for manual PTT by the hand held microphone), the audio output from the LS can use a standard 3.5mm stereo cable.

4. Switched to DigiRig Mobile 1.5. I have changed from the "Blue" USB cable that is supplied with the G1M to use a DigiRig interface. 

The Digirig

USB C - Serial TX/RX - Audio IN/OUT

The Digirig 1.5 has a single USB C connection to your computer (neat solution for my new MacBook Air M1, leaving the second USB C for charging...), and provides both serial data TX/RX and audio in/out for your rig in the small box. The connection are:

* Serial, simply use a normal stereo audio 3.5mm cable to connect the Digirig SERIAL to Xiegu COMM

* Audio, needs a specially made cable. I used a 3.5mm-3.5mm with one end a right angle plug. This is then cut in half and spliced to a cable for the 3.5mm Digirig plug.

Note Digirig 1.5 is used here, this has different connections to the version 1.6 which uses four way jack plugs to include RTS/DTR (PTT) and 3V3 outputs. So chose the right one!

Digirig TIP (AF_OUT) <- G1M LS TIP - output from rig

Digirig RING (AF_IN) -> G1M MIC TIP - input to rig

Digirig schematic for Audio in/out

Digirig cable splitter for audio connections (red)

RING (RIG_AFIN) to MIC TIP and 

TIP (AF_OUT) to LS TIP

Flrig must be configured to talk to the Digirig Serial USB device, then INIT to connect

Flrig configuration

The WSJT preferences must chose the Digirig audio device "USB PnP Audio Device" for input and output. The audio level output can be set by either WSJT "power" slider, and for input by the Audio MIDI app on the Mac. The audio level input can be set by the G1M volume control, and in the Audio MIDI app on the Mac.

The Xiegu G1M then looks like this, with the right angle 3.5mm plug at the front to make it neater

Xiegu G1M, audio MIC input 3.5mm right angle plug

This gives FT8 and other digital modes, on 80, 40, 20 and 15m bands.

Too much audio

I have found that there is simply too much audio, the output of the LS jack is way higher than the USB MIC input of the A/D dongle can handle so it is distorting, and the output of the HP output of the dongle is way too high for the MIC input of the G1M. So I need an attenuator in both audio channels. So far I have tested one simple plug-in 40dB attenuator in the LS connection (which is stereo) but Ihave yet to build an attenuator for the MIC connection, tip-to-tip connection only not stereo as rin gis used for PTT.

Alternative WSJT-Z

 I guess it had to happen! 

WSJT-X has been seriously forked. The fork is called WSJT-Z. It has a number of complicated additions but the one thing they have done, which the original specifically didn't do, is to have "Auto CQ". That is it calls CQ continuously and restarts automatically after any QSO. Kind of unattended operation. This is a bit dangerous as people will be tempted to just leave it running, against licence conditions...

WSJT-Z in Auto CQ mode

Here is it running, and you can see the auto QSO's I made in the log file.

I have tried it, I don't like it, I will go back to WSJT-X.

Here we are back to WSJT-X

QRP Labs does it again - a revolutionary digital SDR transceiver - the QDX

 QRP Labs have done it again. And designed a revolutionary SDR Transceiver for digital QSOs.

The QDX

It uses SDR techniques for reception generating audio IQ signals and DSP techniques for RX, and an amazing new digital signal generation technique for TX.

Design highlights

1. Si5351 VFO with a very stable TXCO, generating directly RF IQ signals for the detectors.

2. Normal Tayloe IQ detectors, feeding an on board DSP processor for USB reception

3. Digitally switched bandpass filters for four bands, 80, 40, 30 and 20m on RX, and electrically switched LPFs for TX -  no relays!

4. > 5W output from 9 or 12V supply

5. A new transmit chain, that does not just take the audio output of the PC and send it to an SSB transmitter, as most designs today. But detects the input audio frequency and programs the Si5351 synthesiser to generate the RF tuned frequency PLUS this audio frequency for direct transmission. With an output stage which is pure digital switching. Simplicity though superb software proprietary coding. 

6. CAT emulation for TS480 

7. Integrated sound card and single Audio + CAT interface to your PC. (All in the single microcomputer chip)

This is how it is done

Block diagram

And all this in a box for $80. Remarkable, of course with the current shortage of semiconductors it is not available. But I guess I could show willing by placing my order... no I can't ordering is not open!

Can you build a 100W Auto ATU for £40? Yes

 Amazing, yet again, these Chinese suppliers can deliver an ATU kit here for £25. Just connect the display OLED (or as shown here a larger one) and apply 12V and here it is

Have not tried it out yet but if it is built onto a £9 case with a 12V socket and a pushbutton that's it Here's the display of Power, SWR and L/C values used

My Shack

 Here is a photo of my shack.

Left to right. 

1. A home built GPS clock with TFT display (code on M0IFA.me here)

2. QRP-Labs WSPR 200mW TX for 10MHz (30m).

3. Xiegu G1M SSB/CW four band TCVR

4. ELAD FDM-DUO all mode, all band TCVR

5. Antenna switching unit (four way)

6. Auto ATU, MAT-125E

7. MacBook Air M1 used for Digital with the FDM-DUO, mainly FT8 across the bands

8 An older Macbook (x86) using Apple Bootcamp to run Windows 10 Pro for the SDR software for the ELAD FDM-DUO.

9. On the table a NanoVNA used mainly for tuning my AL-705 loop antenna and checking the SWR

So far so good, all working.

WSPR 30m / 200mW IO92 / M0IFA and antenna update

 My Al-705 loop antenna has the capability of one, two or three loops. I will make a series of tests of WSPR reception on 10MHz (30m) with these options, with a transmit power of 200mW. 

Comparison

Now I am making a careful comparison, it will take 3 weeks! I want to see if the number of loops on my antenna makes a difference. First here is five days with 3 coils.

10MHz 5 days, 3 coils

I each case I have decided not to connect the loop directly to the QRP-Labs 200mW transmitter, but to connect via an ATU. My MAT-125E  auto ATU needs a minimum of 1W TX to tune, and so I have switched to my ELAD FDM-DUO at the same frequency 10,140,200Hz, and output a tuning signal of around 1.3W. Then switch back to the QRP-Labs 200mW output. The FDM-DUO showed an SWR of  1.5:1 on tune (down from 2.6:1 without the ATU. I checked the tuning also with my NanoVNA to see the SWR minimum at the correct frequency.

10MHz 5days , 2 coils

There is practically no difference between 3 and 2 coils on the loop antenna. May be just a little lower S/N ratio and fewer spots. 

Seems there is little difference between ,3 2 or 1 coil. Here's the one coil data

10MHz 5days , 1 coil

But more interesting might be any correlation, as you might expect, between sun spot numbers and the results. For example, the last day of one coil above shows a very poor day for 10MHz propagation. And sure enough the SN was a low 31. 

A fast way to check the propagation is a new app from N0NBH called "Solar". This runs on the iPhone but also on the new MacBook Air M1. Here is todays info:

SUN

And if you want the latest picture of the sun click here

Club QO-100 transmitter

An uplink converter (here) for transmitting to the QC-100 satellite has been built by numerous amateurs

This is the layout with individual "ebay`' items fixed to a mounting board, interconnected by SMA cables.

The Banbury Amateur Radio Society is building one of these along with the TX/RX antenna and LNB. So far we have connected up the units free across the table, and are feeding it a 432MHz input at up to 10W through a 20dB attenuator. Awaiting PSU module for +8 and +5V. No results yet, but will document as the project goes ahead.

So here's the project going ahead - it is NOT a shambles, promise

Some of the modules scattered around

And proposed box which will go outside near the dish

Just a couple of new photos as we have a club presentation about the Ofcom EMF checking we all have to do: spreadsheets and all that. I think I am exempt with max 5W TX and indoor loop antenna! Or also with my 200mW WSPR TX.

The task goes on... the antenna is proving difficult to bild as the plates keep warping when heated to solder them, tried twice so far but still a problem. This is the state of play, I'm sure something will rise out of the jungle...

We have a receiver going with a commercial LNB and dish, but it drifts quite a lot and we must xtal stabilise it. We are using an SDRplay with SDRUno software to tune to the LNB output on 739MHz.

Update: the main components are mounted on the board and we have an output at 2.4GHz from a transceiver and 20dB attenuator at 430MHz. Now to add the filters and power amplifier.

So this is what it now looks like, but building has stopped as one of the power supplies blew up and we are waiting for a replacement.

RX

There is talk of moving to an RTL dongle and I would like us to try GQRX software... as it runs on the Mac!!!

QO-100 frequencies

The tuning and TXRX frequencies are