VK Logger Ham Radio Forum Archive

Glenn N6GN has asked me to put up a thread for the device they are working on for External PLL GPS frequency reference of Transceivers and Transverters. (As was requested in another thread). Glenn and John K6PZB would also like to get a bit more of a feel for how much interest there would be in the device from other amateurs.
I believe Glenn has now registered for the forums and I will send him the link to this thread by email.

Glenn writes -

You are certainly correct that there are uses besides WSPR and frequency measuring contests. I do hope others find it interesting but I'm also worried a bit by this since we aren't able to manually build them and as yet there's no path to mass production. Maybe someone will be interested in taking it on, who knows?

Go ahead and post links to the proto -
http://www.sonic.net/~n6gn/extpllproto.html
and pilot -
http://www.sonic.net/~n6gn/extpllpilot.html

And the Google pages-
https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en& ... meter-wspr

This will help explain the original context, as well as the progression.
Put my email in as point for questions and John or I can answer as appropriate but do mention that this is not a "production" effort and we still don't know how that problem is going to be solved. I don't want to set up the expectation of a for-sale product or anything like that at this point. Our goal in making it in the first place has been only to further technical investigations.

Glenn's email address is "n6gn at sonic.net"

GPS locking is all the rage at the moment!
I'm also developing a small board that can go inside an FT-8x7 or IC-910.

I dunno how you blokes get the time for this stuff! But hats off to you, sounds good Adam.

You might be interested that Graham VK3XDK and I have developed a board that is a drop-in replacement for the reference board in the FT-8x7. It can either take an external 10 MHz reference signal or, in its absence, use its own onboard TCXO. Also under development is a board to suit the IC-910H, TS-2000 and other popular rigs.

Testing is compete and we're just finalising the words for his web site after which I'll then start a separate thread - probably tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's a fairly crap sneak picture (the board still needs some filter components).

VK3HZ wrote:In the meantime, here's a fairly crap sneak picture (the board still needs some filter components).

Hi Dave (and Sorry Leigh for the high jack), can't quite make things out from the image, but could be similar to the idea I had.
An 8-pin SMD PICAXE to control a Si4133D + MC12080 divider.
In the case of the FT-8x7, the VCO was going to run at 905 MHz, and divide down by 40 to provide 22.625 with an LPF.
With this scheme, a good low pass filter is mandatory to remove harmonics begining at 45 MHz.

For the IC-910, a solder jumper to a PICAXE input makes the VCO run at 1208 MHz, and divides by 40 down to 30.2 MHz.
Same board can do both.

Hi Dave (and Sorry Leigh for the high jack)

Thats OK, I dont think Glenn or John would mind, as Glenn said, its more about furthering technical investigations and advancing radio than anything, and all these great ideas are helping to do just that. Its good to see the information and discussion.

Very interested in the IC910 GPS solution... especially if there will be more than one solution to choose from!

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

VK3HZ wrote:You might be interested that Graham VK3XDK and I have developed a board that is a drop-in replacement for the reference board in the FT-8x7. It can either take an external 10 MHz reference signal or, in its absence, use its own onboard TCXO. Also under development is a board to suit the IC-910H, TS-2000 and other popular rigs.

Testing is compete and we're just finalising the words for his web site after which I'll then start a separate thread - probably tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's a fairly crap sneak picture (the board still needs some filter components).

Also interested in this mod, as I'm sure several other TS-2000(X) owners will be!

VK4GHZ wrote:An 8-pin SMD PICAXE to control a Si4133D + MC12080 divider.

Hi Adam,

That's pretty much it, except that I'm over the PICAXE. It uses an attiny.

Regards,
Dave.

VK3HZ wrote:You might be interested that Graham VK3XDK and I have developed a board that is a drop-in replacement for the reference board in the FT-8x7. It can either take an external 10 MHz reference signal or, in its absence, use its own onboard TCXO. Also under development is a board to suit the IC-910H, TS-2000 and other popular rigs.

Testing is compete and we're just finalising the words for his web site after which I'll then start a separate thread - probably tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's a fairly crap sneak picture (the board still needs some filter components).

Great Project Guys - congratulations

I would love to lock my TS2000 and IC910 and probably one FT817 for portable use. Cant wait till boards available
Kevin VK4UH Brisbane