Malachite DSP - SDR Radio Receiver

[admin]

Originally posted: Fri Dec 04 2020 17:06:38 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time)


It's been a while since I've updated this thread, but I haven't lost interest in my Malachite SDR.  Here's a few Headlines:

• I Sold One of my Malachite DSP SDR's at the Melbourne Florida Hamfest.
• New Home-Made Case for my Remaining Receiver
• How to Add a separate Standby/Wake Switch to Chinese Malachite DSP SDR Boards
• New Firmware Released

I Sold One of my Malachite DSP SDR's at the Melbourne Florida Hamfest.

As will become obvious from the remainder of this post, the one I sold was the one that came built into a basic metal case.  I currently have only the one that I originally purchased as just a bare board.

New Home-Made Case for my Remaining Receiver

I have built a new case for my Chinese made bare-board Malachite DSP SDR.  The case I had was hastily made from a clear, brittle plastic.  It was poorly designed, not very nice looking, and it was developing cracks in several locations.  I have made a new one out of Lexan.  Pictures and basic plans for the new case are shown below:


Note:  The Link to the actual plans is below.  The picture above is only for reference.


Note: Back Panel is not shown in the picture above.


This design is much thinner than my previous case and contains a front-firing speaker.

http://linuxslate.com/Malachite_Case_Design_2.pdf

A few notes about the plans:
1.  All measurements should be considered approximate. Measure your own board, and make dimension changes as needed.
2.  The screen is extremely delicate.  Do not attempt to force it into a case. I added foam weather stripping around the screen cutout.
3.  Due to the layout of the Chinese boards, both the bottom (base) as well as the top (antenna) side need to be removable for board access.

The drawings above are being provided as Open Source.  If someone could convert them to files appropriate for a laser cutter or other automated production, it would be much appreciate.  Please provide the drawings in a standard non-proprietary format.  I will post them here also as Open Source, and I will credit the name or organization that converted them.  Please register by sending an email to "john" at this domain, or simply attach the files.

How to Add a Separate Standby/Wake Switch to Chinese Malachite DSP SDR Boards

The Power/Wake/Standby button on most Chinese boards is a tiny SMT push button.  Given the frequent use of this button, and the difficulty in making a homemade case that allows it to be operated in a convenient manner, it is in many cases desirable or necessary to wire up a parallel separate push button.

Note: It is strongly suggested that readers reference the schematic prior to attempting the modification detailed here.  The Schematic can be found at:  https://yadi.sk/d/4ZgsrswxYClG1Q   Select the file [Scheme, BOM.rar].

As seen in the lower left of Page 3 of the schematic, The button Is connected via a simple debounce/filter circuit from the +3.3V CPU power to the CPU Wakeup pin (Pin 7).  While removing the existing SMT switch, and simply soldering leads to the original switch pads is an obvious possibility, I chose not to do this for several reasons:

• Desoldering/Soldering access to the original switch is made difficult by it's proximity to (almost underneath) the screen.  I did not consider removing the screen due to the potential for damage.
• Destructively removing the switch could result in damage to the pads and lifted traces.
• I would like to leave the board with as little modification as possible.
• For my case design, it was desirable to have the leads exit from the component side of the board, not the screen side.

So the best solution was to find R39, R44, and R45, as well as any close connection to the 3.3V_CPU line.

In the picture below, I have circled the common point of R44 and R45. I soldered a lead to the end of R45. (Top end in picture).

The smaller circle shows the +3.3V side of what I believe is C83.  I soldered the other lead there. (Left end of component as shown in the picture.)

I simply attached short leads to a small JST connector.  The other side of the JST connector is soldered directly to the separate switch.  This allows the board to be easily removed.

Note:  While there is no signal on the leads, it is best practice, especially in an RF device to keep any leads as short as possible.




New Firmware Released

I save the most important for last.  Our friends over in Russia have released firmware FW_1_0f.  Note that as of this post, it is released only in .hex format.  He did not provide a DFU file.  The release notes mention significant fixes to some of the issues I have pointed out in previous posts.  Once I get my Radio installed in it's new case, I will attempt to load this version "f" firmware, and I will amend the previous posts as appropriate.

As always, get the official firmware files from:
https://yadi.sk/d/4ZgsrswxYClG1Q
Reminder:  Registration is required for all firmwares other than the test firmware.  Instructions for registering can be found here:
http://www.cqham.ru/forum/showthread.php?41449   (NOTE: Russian Language. Use Chrome's translate function, or other online translator.)



That's all the News Headlines for now.  Happy listening!

[admin]

Originally posted: Sat Dec 05 2020 12:08:11 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time)

Firmware 1_0f  Update and Quick Look report.

My Malachite DSP SDR Radio is in it's new case.  I like the style and layout of my new case very much.  Unfortunately, I had a lot of stupid mistakes while making it, and the paint didn't come out as nicely as I would like, but it is functional.  Even when compared to the factory built (Chinese) unit I had, mine is more functional, and very nice to hold and use.

In addition to the new case, a firmware update has also helped make mine far more functional.  I have to say it directly:
The Malachite SDR has never been better.

Loading FW_1_0f

As of this writing, FW_1_0f is only available as a .hex file.  I used the official STM DfuSe v3.0.6 Demo DfuFileMgr.exe under WINE
to convert the .hex file to .dfu.  Yes, there are Linux utilities that will do this, but using DfuFileManager was a quick, easy, GUI way to do it.

After that, I installed the DFU file as described in Reply #4 of this thread.


Quick Look Review of FW_1_0f

Here's a few quick observations after playing with FW_1_0f for just a few minutes:

• They have removed the press 3 times to turn on function of the STBY/Wake switch. Even a quick press of the button will turn on the radio.  I think a long press is the correct answer (like almost everything else) but for now, we are back to a quick press.  It still must be long pressed to turn off the radio.
• I like the new "Retro Look" tuning dial for the FM broadcast band (Shown Below).  This display replaces one of the WB FM Mux spectrum displays.  It makes the radio much more user friendly for just casual FM tuning/listening.
• Some of the "Ghost" signals/interference is gone.  While in just the few minutes I played with it, I cannot say that all of the phantom interference and reflections are gone, it seems to be a significant improvement. The Radio is now far more useful for general listening.  Note that this was my first and most significant complaint, and I will amend my bug list in Reply #8.
• My first complaint on my 2nd page of bugs was about scratchy sounding squelch.  It may be a by product of fixing the above, but it seems that there is some improvement.
• Various other fixes as mentioned in the Change Log.

New Retro Look FM Tuning scale||||
Re: Malachite DSP - SDR  Radio Receiver|Administrator|webmaster@linuxslate.com|1610577990|admin|xx|0|99.95.50.81|There is a new firmware out, and George and the other developers are listening!

FW 1.10a is available at the usual location.  Be sure to check the Change Log (Contains both Russian and English).

I won't have time to load this firmware for several days, but it seems like they continue to improve the Malachite SDR, and have fixed more of the issues that I mentioned in my "Bugs and Criticisms" List (Post #8 and Post #9 of this thread.)

I won't post the change log here, but among the updates are fixes/improvements to some of the things I have mentioned:
-- Spelling of the word "Standard" in the HARDware menu.
-- Settings for the sensitivity of the encoders.

There is also a new Splash screen, and updates in the "Retro" Broadcast FM display for auto search, and easier moving between stations.

If you have tried FW_1_10a, and would like to comment, please register by emailing "john" at this domain, and I will create an account for you.

[admin]

Originally posted: Sun Jan 17 2021 15:22:27 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time)


Firmware 1_10a  Quick Look report.

Refer to the Change Log.

Observations:

• There is not a setting for the sensitivity of the encoder wheels as previously reported.  That was based on a miss-reading of the translated Russian in the change log.  Other than putting the encoder wheel direction options on a single button, there is no noticeable change in encoder operation.  I have no idea what the Note referring to "wheelbarrow" is supposed to mean.
• The Auto Scan feature for FM tuning would be a great idea, except it doesn't work.  We have many strong stations in the area, but in trying with both a whip antenna and my outside wire antenna, numerous scans found exactly zero stations.   There is now a function to change the color of the FM "Retro" scale.  It's nicely implemented with little "preview" icons.  I'm not sure if that was in 1_0f or not.
• The bandwidth shadow now reflects the currently set audio bandwidth.  I don't remember this working before, but I may have just not noticed it in previous firmwares.
• Yes the spelling of "Standard" is correct, but with the nomenclature as-is, it is still not going to be intuitive as to what that setting does without reading it in the manual.
• They have improved the nomenclature for some of the RF Gain Settings in the "HARD" menu.  There is a PREAMP Enabled/Disabled setting, and a PRE Gain setting.  Does the PRE Grain setting adjust the gain of the Preamp?  if so (as one would think), then why are those 2 settings not near one another?
• One of the Gain settings (the one closest to the Preamp button) has been changed to "ATT", but I am still confused.  Does the Preamp attenuate the signal?!  Maybe I need to read (translate) an updated manual, but it is still far from user-friendly.  The HARD menu should be updated so that the order of the functions having to do with RF gains/attenuation follow the flow of the signal left to right.  The other buttons should be moved to accommodate this.

A picture is worth 1000 words, so here is a picture that shows the concept of what I am thinking of.  Note that this is a 5 minute drawing for illustration only, not the exact implementation.  I tried to be consistent in capitalization (Ahem), and to suggest alternative nomenclature in some places.  I did not refer to the schematic or MSI001 datasheet while making this drawing.  Blocks may not be in the right order.



The signal path line could be animated to show the Preamp being in the circuit or not,   Alternatively, a red "X" could simply be drawn to show the path that is not active.  What is important is the button order.  The signal path line would be completely optional.

[admin]

Originally posted by Rod: Mon Jan 18 2021 06:56:47 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time)

Thanks for the great information you have shared.

Using the above information, I was able to upgrade from (the supplied) 1.0c to 1.10a.

It's a great little device, and getting better with firmware upgrades.

[admin]

Originally posted: Fri Mar 12 2021 22:35:04 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time)

Firmware version 1_10b has been posted to the Yandex Disk site.  As usual, it can be found in the Firmwares folder:
https://yadi.sk/d/4ZgsrswxYClG1Q/[ch1055][ch1088][ch1086][ch1096][ch1080][ch1074][ch1082][ch1080](FIRMWARE)

The strange thing is that all of the older firmwares have been removed.

Apparently, the authors have gone to some sort of time-limited code to unlock the firmware.  I'm not sure how this works because the Malachite SDR does not retain the time if the battery is disconnected.

I am also interpreting this to mean that there are codes or code generators out there someplace for the older versions of the firmware.  As I predicted in post #9, it is not going to be possible to stop people from unlocking/copying/modifying the firmware.  I really wish George and company would put their efforts into making this a great platform instead of playing a game with the hackers.

George (rx9cim) does say that the new firmware should not pose any problem for people who have already registered a previous firmware.

Please don't ask me how to hack the codes or where to find them.  I don't know how to hack the codes, and I am not going to look for them on the internet.

To be honest, It is not worth the effort for this radio.  It is easier to buy a Raspberry Pi and a USB SDR stick and install Gqx for Raspberry OS.  You then have a more flexible and expandable portable platform that is fully (or at least mostly) open source.

In fact, I was considering building a table radio around another Malachite SDR, but even before this latest firmware shenanigans (I hope shenanigans translates to Russian -- I do know a stronger Russian term, if needed), I had already decided on going with a Raspberry Pi 3 and a USB SDR stick. It would give me Shortwave, aircraft, and everything else I can do on a Malachite SDR, but it would also be a media player and Internet Radio player. Adding things like ADS-B (aircraft location) should also be possible.

[admin]

Originally posted: Wed Apr 07 2021 14:32:14 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

Here are the change log notes for 1.10b and 1.10c.  Note that 1.10c is "Under Development", and not yet available on the Yandex Disk site.
The 1.10c change log is translated by Yandex Translate.


1.10b:

- fixed error in the S-meter readings for frequencies above 30MHz;

- the panorama scale injection has been changed - now instead of x1, x2, x4, 160kHz, 80kHz, 40kHz are shown;

- in SSB the 100kHz step is excluded and the 25Hz step is added;

- the touchscreen sensitivity is lowered again ;

- added synchronous AM detector;

- the frequency at which the low-pass filter 500000 is turned on is increased to 540,000, for better suppression of signals above the frequency of 500 kHz;

- added Auto Notch filter to the Audio menu;

- stretched grunginess adjustment;

- added DSB mode - as a kind of SSB;

- added CW mode - as a kind of SSB;


[hr]



1.10c: ([s]under development[/s])  UPDATE:  As of 08 June 2021 it appears that 1.10C is now available.  FW 1.10B has been moved to the "NOT USE SPECIAL" folder.

- improved graphical display of the spectrum

- improved algorithm optimization, improved display speed

- added the ability to determine the type of activation - by one or three clicks. If PD15 (pin 7 of the RESERVED field) is open, the activation is performed by one click.; if this pin is closed to a common wire, then switching on by three clicks

- improved the HARD menu

- changed the battery indication - the voltage is indicated on top of the picture

- added the ability to control user equipment using a discrete signal-PD14 (pin 8 of the RESERVED field)

- a button for switching the audio output has been added to the HARD menu. It duplicates the switching of the audio output. Made at the request of users.

- added SAM-U and SAM-L modes

[admin]

Originally posted on: Thu Aug 18 2022 22:08:03 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

You may have noticed that I am not updating this thread much anymore.

Firmware development seems to have slowed or stopped, and I've moved on to another (albeit still closed-source) SDR.

In fact I have not even loaded the latest FW on my Malachite.

There has been some new developments on the Malachite Hardware side.  The Chinese seem to be getting more adventurous with modifications to the original design.  Several units are mounting some of the controls off-board, as I did with the with the power switches in my re-built.

A new version that I just found out about seems to mount the Malachite Board as a daughter card on top of a new Back Board that hosts the encoders, switches and connectors.  This model includes round stereo speakers on either side of the display, two knobs on top of the unit, and usually seems to come in a blue anodized case. It is sold as a "Malachite DSP SDR V4".

A similar but different design has narrow speakers on either side of the display and is usually black.  This version (also referred to as "V4 Version") has two small thumb-wheel knobs on the right side.

Both of the above models also include a actual power (battery disconnect) switch like I implemented on mine.

Another unit that has been around for a while, essentially uses a printed circuit board for the front and rear, and has a single speaker on the left like mine.  It also moves some of the controls to a separate side mounted board.

The versions above all include shielding around the RF portions of the board.  I strongly recommend against buying any version that does not clearly show that it includes these shields.

So what did I move on to?  Please see my thread on the Ailunce HS2/Radioddity QR20/Q900 SDR Transceiver.

[admin]

Originally posted on: Thu Apr 06 2023 11:00:06 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)


New Firmware and other updates to my Malachite DSP - SDR  Radio Receiver

Contents:

1.  Firmware FW_1_10d.d
2.  Battery Issues

FW_1_10d.d

As mentioned previously, It seems Firmware Development for this radio has slowed or stopped.  If one follows the links provided in previous posts, and clicks on the "[ch1055][ch1088][ch1086][ch1096][ch1080][ch1074][ch1082][ch1080](FIRMWARE)", one will end up getting only a text file.  This text file contains a link to a Google Drive location, and in that location, one will find a file "Malahit_FW_1_10d.rar" (Not FW_1_10c) and an update Change Log.  Inside the RAR file is only the file Malahit_FW_1_10d.hex.

Being the brave soul that I am -- and willing to risk my radio for all users everywhere, I downloaded and installed this Malahit_FW_1_10d.

What did I do specifically?  (Detailed instructions) -- Assumes Linux, but should be similar on other platforms:

• Follow the maze of links and Yandex and Google Drive directories until you have a local copy of Malahit_FW_1_10d.rar
  Here is a link to the relevant Google Drive as of the date of this post: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/fold ... RtheimGgPV. Note that I am not responsible for the link or it's contents.
• Right click on Malahit_FW_1_10d.rar, and select Extract Here.  This will result in a single file Malahit_FW_1_10d.hex
• Since I have been successful in the past flashing DFU formatted firmwares, I converted Malahit_FW_1_10d.hex to DFU format.  This is optional if you have a reliable way to flash .hex files.
• To convert the file to DFU format, I used the Windows version of the official STM DfuFileManager (part of DfuSe v3.0.6).
• Put the radio in DFU mode by 1.) Turning the Radio off.  2.) Press and hold the Volume (top) encoder wheel.  3.)Press the On (Standy/Wake) button.
• The Radio screen will be off (No display).
• Connect the Radio to the PC with an USB A-to-C cable.
• Verify the radio is in DFU mode with the command
      dfu-util -l
  You should see one or 2 lines with something like:
  Found DFU: [0483:df11] ver=0200, devnum=8, cfg=1, intf=0, path="1-1.6", alt=1, name="@Option Bytes   /0x5200201C/01*128 e", serial="xxxxxxxxxxxx"
  Note that the path, and serial number will be specific to what USB port you use, and your specific radio.
• Flash the firmware with
  dfu-util -a 0 -i 0 -D Downloads/Malahit_FW_1_10d.dfu'
  Note that the path must be correct for the location of your firmware file.
• dfu-util will show the progress of the load.  There should be 3 separate sections sent, with only the middle one taking any significant time.
• Don't worry about a 4th segment, and a message about "Not Writable".  This message is normal.
• Disconnect power from the Radio (This is much easier if you have a battery disconnect switch -- See previous posts about getting the radio out of DFU mode.)
• Power up the radio. You should see the newer, more colorful start up screen, and it should display 1.10d in the lower right.

I'll post comments on this latest (last?) firmware after I have had more time with it.

Battery Issues

I had another problem with my Malachite DSP - SDR  Radio Receiver.

These radios drain the battery over time unless the radio has a hardware battery disconnect switch.  The drain is much worse on the "Test" or Unregistered firmwares, but it is present on all FW versions.  Over time, this will drain the battery, and there is no low voltage cut-off.  Draining a Lithium Ion/Lithium Polymer battery below ~3.3VDC is very bad for the battery, and possibly dangerous.

I noticed that my Malachite DSP - SDR  Radio was not holding a charge very well at all.  I opened the case, and was amazed to find a VERY puffed battery.

There is also the possibility that these radios (at least the Chinese clones) are over charging the batteries or charging them at too high a rate.

I replaced the battery (4000mah) with a 8000mah battery.  Note that at a given charge rate specification (e.g. "1C"), an 8000mah battery can be charged at twice the current of a 4000mah.  So in general, a lager capacity battery is going to be more tolerant of "hard" charging than a smaller battery.

Suggestions:

• As with everything - Never charge a LiPo battery unattended.
• Encased, Round cells (e.g. 18650) are safer than bare rectangular cells, but check all LiPo batteries for leakage/dimensional changes or heating periodically.
• Install a battery cut-off switch if your Malachite DSP does not have one.
• Remember to use the cut-off switch (turn it OFF) if the radio is not used for any period of time (even a few days).
• If building your own (or modifying) one of these radios, use high capacity, good quality cells.

I would also like to note that a very similar battery arrangement in My "Poor Man's Go DJ" has not puffed at all despite being subject to a much higher load, and much more frequent use.  This is what leads me to believe that the Malachite DSP - SDR  Radio is charging the battery in a way that is not good for it.