News, Updates and Other Minutiae
August 2019
Website outage - I made some hosting changes and there was a minor hiccup. Hopefully everything is now back to normal but please let me know if anything is missing.
The start of a new project added in the Homebrew category. Specifically, a Frequency Dependant Switch. Measures the incoming frequency and switches 1 of 8 outputs on. Software for this project uploaded.
June 2019
Added another project for the AD9850 DDS modules. A Simple DDS sweeper in the Homebrew section. This is an absolutely basic, no frills project using a 12F1840 to sweep a DDS module between a range of frequencies. Plenty of scope for you to improve on the software and add extra features.
Privacy Policy uploaded. It may be viewed at the Privacy Policy link in the footer.
Custom code/webhost costs
I have, for quite a while, provided modified versions of the code for my projects free of charge. However, the cost of webhosting for this site has tripled in the last few of years and shows no signs of getting any cheaper.
As of October 2017, I will be asking for a donation in exchange for providing custom modified code for my projects to help keep this site available.
GPDR and all that stuff
In accordance with various bits of legislation around the world, either currently in force, about to come into force or proposed, you will now find that annoying "We use cookies" notice at the top of this website. Please note that the ONLY cookies currently used on this site are for that pop-up (see https://cookieconsent.insites.com/) and Google Analytics. The full Privacy Policy is available at the Privacy Policy link in the footer at the bottom of the page. (If you don't know what GPDR is, Google it. Real scary shit for ANYBODY with a web presence.)
January 30 2015 update on the PSK kit project
Started on the test equipment to characterise the xtals for the filters. To make sure that I have an accurate frequency counter, I finally cased and made operational a 10MHz OCXO that has been sitting on the shelf for months. Not GPS locked (yet).
Not sure how I'm going to label this one, it gets rather hot and sticky labels..... well, they don't, er, stick! Haven't measured the temperature of the case, lets just say, you don't hold it for very long.
For the frequency counter, as I need 1Hz resolution, I used this design from the Burnham Beeches Radio Club. It is based on a design by EI9GQ. Rather than make a new pcb for it, I repurposed an old one that I built ages ago from a design in the last remaining Australian electronics magazine. Was never happy with it, so now it has a new life.
Still need to put it in a case, but here it is reading it's own 10MHz oscillator source. The OCXO is bang on 10MHz according to the zero beat method of comparing it to WWV (after a 30 minute warm up).
This is it's baby brother, same design, built a little while ago without the option of the OCXO frequency source. And yes, it also is waiting to be labelled.
4 February 2015. Just a quick pic of the OCXO frequency counter now boxed up. Labelling can wait until later.
January 28 2015 update on the PSK kit project
So much for the middle of January for the last of the parts, they arrived two days ago, nearly the end of January. No matter. I was in the workshop today, so here is a sequence of photo's showing the assembly of the receive section of the PSK kit. The reason there are no xtals in the filter yet, is that i still have to build the equipment necessary to characterise the 200 odd xtals I ordered for this. How it is shown here is very similar (minus any tweaks), to how the instructions will be for building the final kit. The receive section and oscillators will be first. Then this part will be setup and made operational before building the transmitter section.
The transformers used to isolate the input and output audio paths have a "P" on one side to signify the primary. This is the side that will be interfaced to your computer/laptop that you are using.
January 2015 update on the PSK kit project
90% of the parts for prototyping the re-vamped PSK20 kits have arrived and the rest should be here by the middle of January. Originally, I was hoping that the kits would be available early this year, but some parts, notably the PA transistors are on a 12 week lead time, which I can do nothing about, so the release will be somewhat delayed. As things progress, I will post the news here and on several Yahoo groups that I will list closer to release time.
A quick update on happenings - Dec 2014
As a few know, I am working on re-engineering Dave Benson's PSK series of kits, getting them ready for re-release. The first batch of prototype pcb's arrived yesterday and I've already found two mistakes. Just as well I know where to get them made real cheap! First mistake is not removing a via after re-routing a track (luckily, that one is not going to cause a major problem) and the second was not putting the right size holes for the cans of the transformers in the output bandpass filter. I dare say I will find something else. Another problem related to this time of year (Dec 2014), is the slow down of the delivery services due to large demand and components being on back order and taking a while to turn up. Here is a pic of the first prototype pcb.
And before you ask "Where is the PA stage?", that is the next stage once this part has been sorted. Also, to get the pcb's within the 100mm x 100mm prototype pcb limit of my manufacturer, I have made all off board connections via flying leads instead of having them pcb mounted. Still waiting for parts to build and debug the first prototype, so it looks like my initial timeline of having these ready early in the New Year will be pushed back somewhat. There are some other changes I have in mind, one of which is the use of the Si5351 oscillator chip to replace the two oscillator crystals. The aim being to make these more frequency agile.
