Spectrum Reborn user manual update 21 09 24
Firmware by Mikhail Yudin @Fagci for
Quansheng UV-K5 UV-K8 UV-5R plus
ATTENTION!
Before using this firmware, you need to backup the EEPROM via K5prog, save the
original configuration and calibration. This is necessary in case you want to return
without problems to other firmwares on an original basis. Without these 2 files going
back will be very complicated although it is not impossible, but it is better if you save
these 2 files, you will do it much faster. I can tell you that I myself DarkMatter
writing this manual, I tested the firmware on my radio and then flashed several again
other firmwares and then again returned to the Reborn, without ever having any
problems, later I will also write how to do the procedure correctly rollback.
So anyone who wants to try it will give it a look, but I'm sure you will like it and
probably many will stay on Reborn
********************************************************************
Fagci Disclaimer:
ALL settings will be overwritten!
Your channel list and settings will be deleted and you will have to rewrite
everything again (but it can be done in a moment, don't be scared)
By installing the firmware, you confirm that you agree that I, as the author of
the firmware, am not responsible for any damage or inconvenience caused.
************************************************** *************************
INDEX OF TOPICS:
1 Preparing to use the firmware after the first installation
2 Using the keys in the Spectrum Reborn
3 Spectrum Reborn menu
4 Global settings
5 Write a frequency correctly
6 Enable transmission on a frequency
7 Save a frequency in memory
8 Erase a memory
9 Frequency scanning and memories
10 Procedure for correct roll-back
11 Conclusions
1 Preparation to use the firmware after first installation:
When first installing the firmware while turning on the radio, press and hold the Exit
key to initialize the eeprom. The reset will take a few seconds, then the radio will
reboot and be ready for use
2 Using keys in SPECTRUM REBORN
M SP (short press) = general menu - OK confirmation function
M LP (long press) = settings menu global
Up/Down = In memory mode (MR) you move between channels.
In VFO mode you move between frequencies - navigate menus
1 LP = presets menu
2 LP = VFO A/VFO B switching
3 LP = VFO/MR switching
4 LP = FC Frequency Copy transfers the found proximity signals in the LOOT*
5 LP = Beacon , send a signal every 15 seconds (test)
6 LP = switching power TX Low Medium High
7 LP = reconstruction step
8 LP = not assigned
9 LP = DTMF tones with alphanumeric Keyboard (test)
0 - 9 = inserts the desired frequency or channel number, confirming with M
* LP = start the scan
* SP = open the loot
EXIT= change VFO selection – exit from any menu and app
FN1 SP = monitor key, in scan and spectrum mode puts in blacklists
FN1 LP = spectrum analyzer
FN2 SP = flashlight, in scan mode and spectrum puts in loot +
F SP = save channel - change settings
F LP = lock/unlock keys
3 SPECTRUM REBORN Menu
Control functions, from any screen, short press of the M key which opens the main
menu with the list of all apps. For convenience you can recall the various menus by
pressing M + the number which they have on the side (M6 opens the spectrum Band,
M4 opens CH scan):
(1) VFO is the simple single VFO with few indications (Fagci calls it retired mode)
but it is very elegant and pleasant to look at and still functional
(2) VFO PRO is the single VFO complete with many indications and settings
here it is possible to change:
STEP by pressing 1-7 (from 0.01k to 100k)
SQUELCH with keys 3-9 (from 0 to 9) BW with the 6 key (25k 12.5k 6.25k )
MODULATION with the 0 key (FM AM SSB WFM BYP RAW)
use KEY 8 LP and up/down keys for modify others settings:
ATTENUATION select and and up/down keys, -4db by default , 0 = auto
COMPANDER select and and up/down keys, 1 active 0 not active
MICROFONE select and and up/down keys, amplification level from 0 to +15
Registers IF and DEV and others can be modified with same methods
EXIT to confirm these settings.
(3) 2VFO is dual VFO. Displays 2 different frequencies or memories.
With dual Watch function (to be activated in the menu).
Switches from VFO A to VFO B quickly with the exit key or with the 2 key
pressed for a long time. With key 3 long press you change from VFO mode to
MR mode and from the memory you go directly to its frequency in the VFO.
From MR mode you can recall a memory by typing its number followed by M
for the first 32 channels, for the subsequent ones just write the digit number
(4) CH Scan this app scans the channels of the active list, to select the list long press
a number from 1 to 8. To scan all, long press 0 key
(5) Channels App that manages channels and scan lists.
In Reborn there are 8 available lists. To manage, long press the 0 key all the
loaded memories will be displayed, scroll with the up and down arrows assign
a number from 1 to 8 to the memory concerned, you can also connect multiple
lists to each memory. Example: I put the number 3 next to all the PMR and
LPD memories when I scan with CH scan and the active list is 3, it will only
scan those channels. The memories can also be in multiple lists at the same
time or even put all the memories in a single list. To remove a memory from
list 1 you must press key 1 and so on. To make a list active, press the button
with the list number for 2 seconds. Now that list will be active in Ch scanlist.
It is also possible from this menu to make changes to the channel by pressing
the M key, you can modify the name or even delete the channel by leaving the
name field empty and then confirming with M. It is possible to simply delete a
channel using the 0 key
(6) Spectrum Band – the spectrum divided into bands regulated by the presets is
useful for seeing what happens in a specific portion of the band and finding
new active frequencies. You move from one band to the next using the
up/down keys. While the app scans the spectrum relating to the preset (the
name of the preset is at the top left) in the top center is the last active
frequency. There are 3 scanning modes: SOFT HARD OLD choose with 4 key.
With keys 1-7 you adjust the scanning speed (5ms by default) With keys 3-9
raise and lower the squelch (SQ14 by default). For blacklist a frequency and
skip it, briefly press the FN1 key if the frequency is good but you want to
continue, press FN2 and it will be saved separately in the Loot with a + sign
next to it. For view the entire LOOT, press * and you will see the captured
frequencies. In this screen, use the up and down to scroll and you can delete
with the 0 key, or blacklist (– sign) with FN1 save the frequency in memory
with key 5 by choosing the first free position available, or press the PTT and
the frequency will be shown in the VFO PRO where it will be possible to save
with the F key in the classic way. With the F key it is possible from spectrum
make changes to the preset. The changes are saved automatically. By pressing
the 0 key you select and move to other presets
(7) Spectrum Analyzer – A bit similar to the spectrum Band analyzer currently
active frequency displaying the status of the signals. With keys 1-7 you change
the scanning speed, with 2-8 you change the step, with 3-9 you change the
squelch, with FN1 the monitor opens, with FN2 you change the frequency peak
(8) Loot is the list of frequencies captured in the various scan It is temporary and
resets every time the radio is turned off. Loot management with deletions and
saves is similar to that seen in the Spectrum Band
(9) Presets adjusts the settings of each divided frequency portion in groups called
PRESETS. There are 30 presets for 30 frequency groups. Each group of
presets shares the same Step, modulation, BW, transmit power, gain and
squelch settings. The presets are editable by the user. It is very important that
the presets are well adjusted and with the right settings and that they are not
overlapped with each other. The frequency portions not included in the presets
acquire the default settings. Quick key to call up this menu: 1 Long Press
(10) EEPROM view displays the contents of the eeprom
(11) Generator generates a signal with adjustable tone and power.
You choose the desired tone with the FN1 and FN2 (ex. 1750 khz is 1*750).
With 2-8 keys set the tx power. 145 is about 5 watt . You can select higher
power but is not very safe (attention)
(12) About information on Reborn telegram link
4 GLOBAL SETTINGS
from any screen long press of the M key
(1) Upconverter setting for using an external upconverter, corrects the displayed
frequency in relation to the type of upconverter and his work frequence.
(2) Main App – Set the starting app at startup (default VFO2)
(3) SQL open time – noise suppression level open time
(4) SQL close time – noise suppression level closing time
(5) Scan single Freq time - scan time of a single frequency
(6) Scan list time – squelch opening time, at the end of whichthe scan starts again.
By default set to none, it stops the scan when there is an active useful signal, if
set to a specific time, restarts the scan at the end of the scan
(7) Scan after close time the scan restart after this time
(8) Dual Watch – in vfo2 activate dual watch.
Off = double listening not active
TX stay = active double listening and fixed tx on the selected vfo
TX Switch = dual listen active and tx on active vfo
(9) Brightness – screen brightness level
(10) Contrast screen contrast adjustment
(11) BL time – backlight time
(12) BL SQL mode - backlight with squelch
(13) Filter bound – applies the change between VHF and UHF at 240 or 280 MHz
(14) Scrambler – 16 scrambler levels, 0 = no scrambler
(15) Beep on or off the beep at pression keys
(16) Battery calibration function
(17) Bat Type – select the battery type between 1600mAh 2200mAh 3500mAh
(18) Bat Style – plain - percent – voltage
(19) Nickname name to assign in chat (function no longer present)
(20) Skip garbage freqs - skip garbage frequencies
(21) SI4732 power off - activates or deactivates the SI4732 module
(22) Roger - beep at end of transmission. Choices: None, Moto, Tiny, Call,
(23) Tone local – Yes or No
(24) STE - Squelch Tail Elininator On/Off
(25) LockPTT – On/Off
(26) DTMF decode – On/off (test)
(27) Eeprom reset – Yes or No. (This reset can also be done by turning on the
radio with the exit button pressed) deletes everything, memories and settings
5 WRITE A FREQUENCY CORRECTLY
from the VFO mode screen, enter the frequency in numbers and confirm with M
in case of comma use the * key, for example to write 145.000 mhz type 145M
to write 145.500 type 145*5M, to write 1296.300 type 1296*3M
6 ENABLE TRANSMISSION IN A FREQUENCY
In the 9 Preset menu, choose the band you are interested in and select it with the F
key, go down to ENABLE TX and choose YES. Transmission is enabled in that
preset's frequency group. Same for each preset that you want to enable or disable
7 SAVE A FREQUENCY IN MEMORY
or change VFO settings
In VFO write the frequency, press F and the menu will open and you can set:
STEP enter the step: from 0.01 khz to 200 khz (for ham band choose 12.5 khz)
MODULATION enter the modulation type by choosing between:
FM AM LSB USB BYP RAW WFM or Preset (as in preset)
BW bandwidth, choose between: 25k 12.5k or 6.25k
SQ type preferably leave RNG or try the other types
SQ level squelch noise attenuation
RX freq (leave it like this, it already indicates the reception frequency)
TX freq Transmission frequency. Leave it at 0 if you want to transmit
on the same RX frequency or set TX OFFSET
RX code type type of tone applied during reception: CT, DCS, -DCS, none
RX code frequency of the tone applied during reception
TX code type type of tone applied in transmission: CT, DCS, -DCS, none
TX code frequency of the tone applied in transmission
TX offset put the offset or shift value (example: 1.600)
TX offset dir shift direction ( + or - or unset for no offset )
TX Power transmission power Low - Mid - High
Radio choose the module to demodulate the signal:
BK4819 (BK) chip that handles signals between 30 to 1300 MHz
BK1080 (BC) chip dedicated only to FM broadcast from 64 -108 MHz
SI4732 (SI) extra module chip (added with modification) which covers the HF
band from 0.001 to 30 MHz (for SSB you need to download the patch)
PRESETS uses the module that is indicated in that band's preset
Attention ! Using the wrong module can cause malfunctions and failures of the
radio. The advice is to preferably choose the BK4819 module, the Bk1080 to
use only for broadcast FM radio stations. The SI4732 should be selected only
if actually installed on the radio and only for HF frequencies and for
commercial FM radio which can be received with the RDS System
SAVE By pressing save you choose the channel where to save the frequency (press
the 0 key for a long time to view all the memories), you can assign a name using the
keyboard and following the simple instructions on the screen or
confirm with M leaving the same frequency displayed as the channel name
Even in MR mode, you can save or modify a memory in the same way
8 ERASE A MEMORY
The quickest way is in the menu 5 CHANNELS to type the 0 key above the channel.
Others methods : Press the F key, select SAVE, position yourself on the memory you
want delete, press M, hold EXIT for 2 seconds, the memory name will be deleted,
confirm with M. The memory is now deleted. The same operation can be done from
the menu 5 CHANNELS with the same methods
9 FREQUENCY SCAN
This firmware has excellent management of rapid frequency scanning
linked to the registered presets. To start scanning from VFO mode you must press the
* key for 2 seconds, rapid scanning will start starting from the frequencies of the
active VFO. The radio searches for signals in the preset field (the name at the top left)
and will stop when a signal exceeds the SQL level. With the FN1 key you blacklist an
unwanted signal and the scan continues continuously only between the
frequency limits of the specific preset. By briefly pressing the * button you see the
list of captured frequencies, the same way we saw for the Band Spectrum
you can see and save or delete the frequencies. Scanning can also be done from MR
mode by moving through the stored channels continuously and rapidly until an active
signal is encountered which opens the squelch. Also in this case you can skip
(temporary blacklist) a frequency by pressing the FN1 key.
We can quickly scan a preset by recalling it with the long 1 key and pressing *
10 PROCEDURE FOR A CORRECT ROLL-BACK
If you want to go back to a previous firmware based on the original version and
therefore different from the Spectrum Reborn, follow this procedure:
From Reborn, turn off the radio, hold down the 7 button and turn it on again.
The deep reset procedure of the eeprom begins at 0xFF.
When finished, turn the radio off again and turn it on again, putting DFU
programming mode (power on +PTT) and sending the chosen firmware. Still using
K5prog (v1.26), you must now send the calibration and then the configuration saved
at the beginning. Ok finished, turn on the radio, that’s too bad because the Reborn is
really good!
11 Conclusion
I hope I have been of help by writing this guide, which is concise but still long and
probably incomplete, but the best way to understand things is to try it yourself, then
everything is easier than it seems. I thank Mikhail Yudin @Fagci very much for its
incredible work. 73 Greetings to all from Dark Matter
