Puxing PX-2R

From Rev0 Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The Puxing PX-2R is a 70cm band (400-470MHz) handheld transceiver with a 2W maximum output power, 128 memory channels, a built in FM radio tuner, and various other standard features. The radio measures 84mm x 48mm x 25mm (3.3" x 1.9" x 1"), not including the antenna. It is powered by a 3.7V single-cell 1100mAH (Nokia BL-5C) battery, and can be charged via a USB port, with the included cable. It can be purchased from online retailers (direct from China) for approximately $50 USD, incl. shipping.

Comments

The radio is well built, with an internal metal chassis and heavy plastic construction, with metal threaded inserts for all screws. The radio has a couple significant bugs, the first being a noticeable click whenever the channel is changed or the speaker is activated. This is due to a ~2V DC offset being applied to the speaker every time it's switched on. The S-meter on this radio appears to only really work in the FM radio function, having no bearing on the actual signal strength of received UHF signals, and jumping around even when receiving strong/unchanging signals, and as noted by others, it continues to display after transmissions end. The DC plug on the radio has intermittent contact and only charges when it is angled or held a certain way. I recommend buying an external battery charger, which can be commonly found for the BL-5C Nokia battery. I have used a genuine Nokia BL-5C battery in the radio with success; the two appear perfectly interchangeable. The radio has the ability to receive and transmit on frequencies outside the US 70cm Amateur band (420-450 MHz), including many commercial and public service bands. To prevent unintended transmission outside the 70cm band when using the device to listen to these frequencies, it is highly recommended to use an offset to ensure any accidental transmissions remain in the allowed frequencies (e.g. -20 MHz to force a transmit on a 460 MHz station to 440 MHz).

Testing

All tests done at 445.925MHz

Power:

  • High = 1.65W
  • Low = 1.16W

Carrier Frequency Deviation:

  • 150Hz (Narrow, Approx.)

Deviation:

  • 2.2kHz (Narrow, Approx.)
  • 5.4kHz (Wide, Approx.)
  • 800Hz (PL Deviation, Wide, Approx.)

Receiver Sensitivity:

  • 0.5uV (Approx.)

Current (At 3.7-4.0V):

  • FM Radio = 110mA (Vol. approx 10%)
  • RX Power Save/Idle = 25mA
  • RX Idle = 81mA
  • RX Active = 90mA
  • TX Low Power = 723mA
  • TX High Power = 1.14A
  • Backlight = 34mA

Voltage:

  • 3 bars: 4.0-4.2V
  • 2 bars: 3.7-4.0V
  • 1 bar: 3.4-3.7V
  • Cut-out: 3.0V

Weight:

  • PX-2R with battery, clip, antenna = 145.7g
  • PX-2R with battery, clip, no antenna = 136.2g
  • PX-2R with battery, no clip, no antenna = 131.0g
  • PX-2R with no battery, no clip, no antenna = 108.9g
  • PX-2R with no battery cover, no battery, no clip, no antenna = 98.3g

Teardown/Disassembly Procedure

  • Step 1:
    • Remove the volume and selection knobs

Puxing PX-2R TD1.jpg


  • Step 2:
    • Remove the battery cover, battery, antenna, and screws at the bottom of the battery compartment

Puxing PX-2R TD2.jpg


  • Step 3:
    • Remove the mic/speaker jack cover, lift out the unit from the bottom first, and remove the DC jack cover

Puxing PX-2R TD3.jpg


  • Step 4:
    • Remove two screws holding the PCB to the chassis
    • Pop out the tab holding the LCD to the PCB

Puxing PX-2R TD4.jpg


  • Step 5:
    • Remove the LCD by tilting the up the LCD from the top first and lifting it out

Puxing PX-2R TD5.jpg


  • Step 6:
    • Desolder and remove the backlight assembly (two pads on the right hand side of the PCB)

Puxing PX-2R TD6.jpg


  • Step 7:
    • Unscrew the collar holding the knob assembly the the chassis
    • Remove the two remaining screws on the PCB (under where the backlight assembly was)
    • Remove the screw visible through a hole in the PCB (under where the backlight assembly was)
    • Desolder the SMA connector on the right hand side of the PCB (under where the backlight assembly was)
    • Lift out the PCB
    • (You may find it easiest to apply heat to the SMA connector while lifting up the PCB once the solder is molten)

Puxing PX-2R TD7.jpg

Component List

Component Additional Text Manufacturer Function
RDA1845 UC439026 RDA - RDA1845 Single chip transceiver, integrating synthesizer, IF selectivity and base-band signal processing. 10mW Output power.
RDA5802E ES824029 RDA - RDA5802E Single chip broadcast FM stereo tuner, integrating synthesizer, IF selectivity and MPX decoder.
CHE 9CK DHTV Unknown Li-Ion battery/power management IC
LM4871 97RD 4871 National Semiconductor - LM4871 3W Audio Power Amplifier
24C32WP K013P ST Microelectronics - M24C32-W 32Kbit I2C Serial EEPROM
R25 Unknown Transistor/RF Amp/Preamp (?)
U W 020 Unknown Transistor/RF Amp/Preamp (?)
03U3 Unknown RF Power Amp (?)
<No Markings> ASIC Main controller IC, controls RF IC, FM Tuner, LCD, Battery, User Interface
<No Markings> ASIC LCD controller IC
12.80 TEW7G Unknown XTAL for RDA1845
4.00 Unknown XTAL for main controller ASIC

I have acquired the datasheet for the main radio IC, RD1845, and interestingly, the comment posted on the forum with the datasheet download was the following: "Radio chip, the transceiver has a lot of indicators can not meet the national standard! Careful use!" The datasheet can be found here: http://rev0proto.com/files/RDA1845_datasheet_v1.1e.pdf Additionally, the registers and programming info can be found here (for more adventurous hackers): http://rev0proto.com/files/RDA1845_registers_v2.3.pdf

Audio 'Pop' Issue

As noted above, one of the major outstanding problems with the Puxing PX-2R is the loud click or pop that occurs when changing channels, and whenever audio is switched on or off. This is due to a rather large DC offset that can be seen on the headphone and speaker lines, measuring at ~2V. This issue is discussed in the LM4871 datasheet:

In addition to system cost and size, click and pop performance is effected by the size of the input coupling capacitor, Ci. A larger input coupling capacitor requires more charge to reach its quiescent DC voltage (nominally 1/2 VDD). This charge comes from the output via the feedback and is apt to create pops upon device enable. Thus, by minimizing the capacitor size based on necessary low frequency response, turn-on pops can be minimized. Besides minimizing the input capacitor size, careful consideration should be paid to the bypass capacitor value. Bypass capacitor, CB, is the most critical component to minimize turn-on pops since it determines how fast the LM4871 turns on. The slower the LM4871’s outputs ramp to their quiescent DC voltage (nominally 1/2 VDD), the smaller the turn-on pop. Choosing CB equal to 1.0µF along with a small value of Ci (in the range of 0.1µF to 0.39µF), should produce a virtually clickless and popless shutdown function. While the device will function properly, (no oscillations or motorboating), with CB equal to 0.1µF, the device will be much more susceptible to turn-on clicks and pops. Thus, a value of CB equal to 1.0µF is recommended in all but the most cost sensitive designs.

I have temporarily added a band-pass filter at the headphone speaker, using the existing R = 10O, CL = 1.0µF, CH = 4.7µF, which has helped the issue significantly, although a higher cutoff frequency on the high-pass filter helps to further remove the effect, the components were selected as a compromise for audio bandwidth and the components on hand. The schematic for the PX-2R's audio amplifier circuit is shown below:

Puxing PX-2R Audio Amp Circuit.png

Additional Photos

  • Main PCB

    Main PCB

  • Main PCB

    Main PCB

  • Battery PCB

    Battery PCB

  • Lower section of main PCB

    Lower section of main PCB

  • RDA1845--Transceiver IC

    RDA1845--Transceiver IC

  • PX-2R audio jack pinout

    PX-2R audio jack pinout

Retrieved from "https://wiki.rev0.net/index.php?title=Puxing_PX-2R&oldid=20"