Category: Hacks

Converting the BITX40 to 20M

A very hacked BITX40

20m BITX40 conversion IMPORTANT- READ THIS FIRST [UPDATE 11/14/2017]: After even more experimentation, I have concluded that this method works great for the Band Pass Filter, but that the BITX40v3’s PA is not optimized for operation above 40m. It will work on 20m, but at reduced output of only 1 watt. The following information is left …

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Converting the BITX40: Dual Band HF Radio

BITX40 Dual Band Conversion

One of the beautiful things about the BITX40 is that it is very hackable. If you want to add a feature to it, it’s almost certainly possible. In a previous post, I showed a quick and dirty way to add 80m to the BITX40 by bypassing the Band Pass Filter. That method works, although it’s anything …

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BITX40: Vox for digital modes

Last week I talked about Going Digital with JT65 on the BITX40. In that article I mentioned that to key the radio automatically either a computer interface  or a Vox circuit would be needed. It was my intention to use a vox circuit. I posted to my usual haunt, the BITX40v3 group on Facebook and asked …

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Modifying the BITX40 for Upper Sideband

These are the capacitors to remove, c91 and c92

Because some digital modes require Upper SideBand (USB) to work properly, many people have been wondering how to get the BITX40 on Upper Sideband. Well, I’m here to show you- it’s pretty easy! First, we need to understand that to get the BITX40 on Upper Sideband, we just want to change from a negative offset …

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BITX40: A simple microphone made from scraps

A common question with new BITX40 owner is “Which microphone should I use?” People have used modified CB microphones, Baofeng microphones designed for HT’s, and various homemade microphones. The BITX40 comes with an electret mic element and a small switch to make a microphone with, but the switch is not very good. I purchased 10 small …

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Adding 80m to the BITX40

BPF-Bypass

Update: Because of the lack of filtration, this is a really dirty way of doing it. Instead, a new Band Pass Filter and Low Pass filter should be used. It’s inexpensive and a fairly simple modification. read about it here: Converting the BITX40 to 20M A common question for people have about the BITX40 is “Can I …

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BITX40 Builds: M6YPA’s 3D Printed Case and Microphone

Today we bring you a beautiful 3D printed case from Adrian Cattell, M6YPA. Here are the pictures. See below for Adrian’s description of the case, and how it came to be. Thanks for sharing, Adrian! Update: This case is now available for purchase from Dave, KE0KHA. Click Here to go to his site and get one of …

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BITX40 Builds: AB1OP and the PC Power Supply Case

Ralph [AB1OP] shared his BITX40 build on the BITX40 Facebook group this week. For his build he’s re-purposed an older PC Power Supply case, and given it a custom printed front panel. Ralph explains what it took: “This is my BITX40 pcb in an old PC PSU enclosure – just enough room. In fact I …

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BITX40 VFO Alternatives (and more!)

The BITX40 is a great radio but before they started shipping with a digital VFO, the BITX40 VFO was a big hurdle to getting on the air. The VFO is what tunes the radio, and the BITX40 VFO isn’t very stable. This can make it hard to stay on a frequency once you tune to it. …

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The Mad Scientist Hacker Lamp

Cheesy puns aside, I needed to be able to see in my little work area where I plan to play with electronics while I try not to burn myself with my soldering irons. Over the summer I bought a couple of workbench tables at a garage sale. One condition was that I had to take everything on …

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