FX 4CR User Manual V1.6
FX 4CR User Manual V1.6
6)
HF/50MHz TRANSCEIVER
FX-4CR
bg2fx.com
Operation manual
(Firmware Version 1.6 - 23.12.30)
Table of contents
1 - Specifications
2 - Panels description
3 - Display
4 - Keypad function
5 - Basic operation
5.1 - Switching power (PWR)
5.2 - Volume adjustment (AF)
5.3 - Squelch (AF)
5.4 - Frequency selection (TUNE)
5.5 - Band selection (F)
5.6 - Mode selection (SSB)
5.7 - Mode selection (CW)
5.8 - Mode selection (AM.FM)
5.9 - VFO or MEMORY mode (M.V)
5.10 - VFO A.B and SPLIT (A.B)
5.11 - VFO A.B (A.B)
5.12 - Offset frequency (RIT)
5.13 - Manual Gain Control (MGC)
5.14 - Attenuator (ATT)
5.15 - Bandwidth (FILTER)
5.16 - DSP noise reduction (NR)
5.17 - Microphone Gain (MG)
5.18 - Transmit power (PWR)
5.19 - Receive mode only (RX)
5.20 - Key lock (LOCK)
5.21 - Menu (MENU)
6 - Menu setting
7 - Connectors
8 - Data communication
8.1 - CAT via Bluetooth
8.2 - Connection with USB cable
8.3 - Setting up digital mode software e.g. WSJT-X
9 - Firmware update
10 - Development mode
10.1 - Enter in development mode
10.2 - Calibrate output power
10.3 - Calibrate the power limits of each band
10.4 - Receive IQ balance setting
10.5 - Example of frequency tunning
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1 - Specifications
Transmitter: 3.5 MHz - 54 MHz (amateur radio frequencies)
Receiver: 3.5 MHz - 54 MHz
Operating modes: USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM
Frequency steps: 10 Hz, 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 5 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz
Receiving sensitivity: -121 dBm (0,20 µv)
SSB: 1,5 kHz, 1,8 kHz, 2,1 kHz, 2,4 kHz, 2,7 kHz, 3,0 kHz
CW : 50 Hz, 100 Hz, 200 Hz, 300 Hz, 500 Hz, 800 Hz
Filter bandwidth:
AM : 6 kHz, 9 kHz
FM : 5 kHz, 10 kHz
Power range: 0,1 - 20 W continuously adjustable (54 MHz/5 W)
Frequency stability: +- 0.5 PPM
Spurious emission: -43 dB (Second and third harmonic)
Carrier Suppression: -50 dB
Antenna impedance: 50 Ohms
Microphone impedance: 2,2 kOhms
Audio output power: 1 W
10 V – 18 V DC
Voltage range:
(~ 14 V recommended, keep maximum voltage below 16V for long term operation)
Receive: ~ 210 mA (DC - 13.8 V)
Power consumption:
Transmit: ~ 3.3 - 4.0 A (20 W)
Operating temperature: -20 ℃, +40 ℃
107 mm L x 65 mm W x 43 mm H, 0.44 Kg
Overall height and weight:
4.2" L x 2.6" W x 1.7" H, 0.97 Lbs
Radio weight: 0,46kg
2.0″ TFT display screen
SDR receiver circuit design (24 kHz digital intermediate frequency)
Spectrum display and waterfall plot
Adjustable DSP noise reduction
Dual VFO operation VFO-A and VFO-B with split operation mode
Functional characteristics: Dial speed acceleration
Built-in microphone
99 Memories channels
Bluetooth and USB connection for sound card and serial port
Ultra wide input voltage: 10 V - 18 V
Quick switching among various frequency bands and convenient operation
Transceiver
Hand microphone
Power cable with spare fuses
Included Items:
USB data cable
Instruction manual
Box Carrying Case
Important
Monitor SWR and output power when using digital modes, especially when using higher supply voltages.
Using high powers with high SWR can damage the radio, especially when running high duty cycle digital modes.
SSB mode can use 20W.
CW mode must use less than 10W *.
FT8 power usage is limited to 5W *.
* (depending on the ambient temperature)
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2 - Panels description
FX-4CR SDR HF.Transceiver
IF.ATT PWR
21 24
MENU
28
FILTER F
50
CW AM.FM RIT
10 14 18
AF TUNE
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3 - Display
CW M -- E SIVOL 21
S 1 3 5 7 9 20 40 60dB T≠R T=R RX Split, Normal or RX only
VOL 29 SITON 700
ATT ATT1 ATT2 Receive attenuator
SQL 0 Po 2 10 20w KEYSP 20
Bluetooth connection
CW mode
Loudspeaker or headphones
T=R ATT1 M 13.6V SMF AGC speed (slow, middle, fast)
LSB
VFO A
7. 090. 00 2.4k
DIG
13.6V
Digital mode (no sound)
Supply voltage
30. 000. 00 RIT + 0
7.016.80 VFO A
NR NB MIC 80
S 1 3 5 7 9 20 40 60dB
VOL 29 DSP 15 30.000.00 VFO B
SQL 0 Po 2 10 20w LEN 60 -124dB Current RSSI
LSB mode CW L Current mode
VFO A Current VFO
T=R ATT DIG M 13.6V
200Hz Filter bandwidth
USB
VFO A
14. 074. 00 3.0k S Po S-meter or Pwr indicator
30. 000. 00 RIT + 0 2.7W Current power output
NR NB MIC 80 SWR 1.3 Current SWR
S 1 3 5 7 9 20 40 60dB
VOL 29 DSP 15 CW M --E Electronic or straight key
SQL 0 Po 2 10 20w LEN 60
VOL 29 Audio volume
2.7 W -124 dB SQL 0 Squelch
SWR 1.3 RIT+ 0 Offset frequency
VFO A
AM
9. 550. 00 9.0k
DSP 15 Depth digital noise reduction
LEN 60 Noise reduction network length
30. 000. 00 RIT + 0
NR NB MIC 80
S 1 3 5 7 9 20 40 60dB
VOL 29 DSP 15
AM (RX only)
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4 - Keypad function
Each button or knob has several functions
Press: just hit it
Press and hold: press and hold more than one second
Turn: turn right or left to change values
Press then turn: hold down the knob and turn right or left to change the values
Note
When a setting is selected it is highlighted with red contour.
To exit a setting, it is necessary to press button or knob again. If no action is taken, the transceiver will automatically exit
the setting after a few seconds.
5 - Basic operation
5.1 - Switching power (PWR)
Press PWR to power on.
Press and hold PWR to power off.
Note:
By default, transmission on the 60m band and 6m band is disabled.
To activate transmission on 60m, press and hold M/V and then PWR hold M/V until "60m TX" appears.
To activate transmission on 6m, press and hold FILTER and then PWR hold FILTER until "6m TX" appears.
Repeat the operation to disable transmit on these bands.
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6 - Menu setting
(Note values here before any changes) → Notes
0 MENU Changes the automatic menu exit delay.
The intermediate frequency of the device is 24.000 kHz.
1 IF 1 The IF setting ranges from 20.000 kHz to 28.000 kHz.
(Can effectively avoid some interference in the intermediate frequency part)
Adjusts the delay between CW transmit and receive after input.
2 CW_DELAY
(0 - 99 by 5mS, Ex: 20 = 100mS)
Selects the time constant for the Automatic Gain Control circuit:
0. Slow
3 AGC_SPEED
1. Medium
2. Fast
Wireless Bluetooth: (name: FX-4CR)
4 BLUETOOTH 0. OFF
1. ON
The RIT can be used as PTT when you want to use internal microphone:
5 RIT_PTT 0. OFF (RIT as RIT)
1. ON (RIT as PTT)
The tuning step automatically changes, depending on the TUNE rotating speed:
0. current step * 1
1. current step * 2
6 ENCODE_FREQ 2. current step * 3
3. current step * 4
4. current step * 5
5. current step * 6
TX Filter Bandwidth:
0. 1.5kHz
1. 1.8kHz
7 TX_FILTER 2. 2.1kHz
3. 2.4kHz
4. 2.7kHz
5. 3.0kHz
8 TX_AF_COMP Audio compression level. (1 to 99)
Backlight control:
9 LCD_BL 0. Delayed off
1. Always on
7 - Connectors
Usb Key Ptt.out
GND 5V D- D+ GND KEY KEY GND LOW HI
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8 - Data communication
8.1 - CAT via Bluetooth
For Bluetooth connection with the Android based FT8CN (an Android based FT8 software), set Bluetooth to 'on' in the
Menu, and pair transceiver with Android device.
In the FT8CN app the transceiver should appear as 'FX-4CR'.
In FT8CN settings set Rig to FX-4CR or TS-590S.
(For detailed settings refer to the FT8CN app / documentation).
9 - Firmware update
Important
Plug the USB cable on the transceiver side first, and then insert in computer.
Unplug the USB cable from computer, then from transceiver.
On transceiver
1. Start by connecting transceiver and computer in respect of procedure.
2. Press and hold F press PWR and then release F KEEP HOLDING PWR
(REMEMBER, not to let go during the entire download process)
If you let go of the button, you will lose the connection to the STM32Cube Programmer.
On computer
1. Download the latest BG2FX firmware file from:
https://bg2fx.com/downloads
2. Unzip firmware file to a location on your computer.
3. Download and install the STM32Cube Programmer from:
https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stm32cubeprog.html
4. Install and run STM32Cube Programmer.
5. Select USB from the top right menu of the STM32Cube Programmer.
6. If you do not see your USB port listed, you might need to hit the Refresh button next to the port dropdown.
7. Click on the green Connect button.
8. Click the Open tab and select the unziped firmware file. (Example: FX-4CR_2023.xx.xx.hex)
9. Click the Download button in the STM32Cube Programmer.
10. After the download is completed, let PWR
This will disconnect the transceiver from the STM32Cube Programmer.
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10 - Development mode
Important
Any incorrect values cause malfunctions
This section describes how to calibrate your radio. Before any modification note the values present in this mode.
The receiver must be set to CW and be tuned to the generator frequency + 48Khz.
The image signal is suppressed by adjusting the [AMP] and [PHASE] values.
The two sets of values are adjusted in conjunction with each other.
Usually [PHASE] only needs to be adjusted once.
In normal use, you can adjust [AMP] without entering the hidden menu.
To do this press and hold FILTER and a line of setting values appears at the bottom of the screen.
https://bg2fx.com/about-us
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