Transcript Document
Circuit & Control System Design & Fabrication – Proposed Technical Club Room C, Saturday August 16, 2:00 – 4:00 Goals for today • Spend ~20 minutes exploring the kinds of activities such organization could support • Group Discussion: Is this a good idea? • Gather names of individuals interested in participating on a technical level • Form a small committee to kick start the group Albuquerque Transmitter Hunters Why are we here? Why are we here? Because we have the Knack! Why are we here? Because we have the Knack! Click image to start video Why are we really here? We are proposing the formation of an organization to preserve and celebrate the knack! An organization that would support learning about and the creation of custom electronics, radio circuits, and control systems What would this organization do? Help people learn about and make • RF communication devices • uProcessor / FPGA based control circuits • PC Board design and manufacture • Mastering surface mount technology • Microprocessor programming • and more For Example A Reflow Oven Project Scott - KC5VVB •Simplifies SMD soldering •Improves soldering consistency •Represents a group resource Precise Temperature Control •Three distinct phases Block Diagram •Oven •AC Relay •Thermocouple •PIC Progress •Output relay working •AC assembly to be provided •Thermocouple on hand To Do •Complete prototype assembly •Test temperature control •Write final code •Fab PCB •Complete assembly Or … SDR TX Project for ARDF Hardware / Software Update August 2008 Jerry Boyd, WB8WFK (Hardware and FPGA VHDL ) Mike Pendley, K5ATM (PIC Software) The Problem Our Current FOX Boxes are – – – – LARGE and heavy Tend to fall out of sync Limited to 2m FM MCW and 80m CW Programming switches and radios need to be adjusted to change frequencies and configuration. Root Cause of Problem •All problems can be traced to systems that are wired together using mutable connectors, cables and equipment interconnected to function as an ARDF transmitter •RF gets into and upsets controller •Radios are not designed for high duty cycle •Equipment not designed for this application •Wires can get caught in equipment during transport to location and interrupt operation •Lots of opportunity for something to go wrong The Solution A Software Defined Radio That can – Dynamically change frequency and modulation modes – Conserve power during “down” time – Use “real time clock” to stay in sync and “auto recover” if power is interrupted after sync – Phone home with state of health information – A user interface that is easy to configure – Shielded enclosure that protects all electronics – Radio designed for continuous duty cycle (homing beacon mode) – Simple alignment that only requires a volt meter, power meter, and receiver Software (cont) For Tracking People on ARDF courses -Sport ID data packet sent while TX is off cycle -Panic button located at each control station to request medical assistance 1st Generation Prototype A PIC directly controlling a pair of DDS chips 2nd Generation Prototype Class C RF amp Voltage regulator OP amp for D/A, AM Modulator & RF power control Signal Processor FPGA ($10 Xilinx chip). FPGA, regulators , clock and boot ROM are only features being used on eval board Pre driver Mixer 2nd generation Block Diagram of today's demo hardware Software 2m (VHF) Transmission modes to be supported – – – – – – – FM MCW Cont carrier FM MCW keyed carrier AM MCW Cont carrier CW AM MCW keyed carrier FM packet (1200 baud) APRS tracker? HF Modes 145.565 VHF AM Modulation – 80M CW – PSK31? HF CW 3.58 MHz What next • BASIC concept is verified ! I am happy with signal processor operation – – – – Develop CPU board and User interface Develop SPI based interface to signal processor FPGA Develop SportIdent and panic button interface Field test prototype with all of the above functions • Design PC boards design to include everything Demo • Demonstrate Generation 2 prototype system Some Other Projects For More Information …. Come to the club meeting Or … Kit Building Support K5MJE helps KD5JAB build an Elecraft T1 QRP automatic antenna tuner Inventory After Page 11 After Page 14 After Page 14 (bottom) T1 and T2 Installed Control Board Toroids Installed Control Board Installed Installed in Case Or … Construction of Dale Hunt’s 80m ARDF Receiver Kit Kevin Nichols, KA7OFR Why 80m ARDF? • No (well, much much less) reflections or multipath • Small antenna & receiver • Simple to build as a kit • Transmitters are small • Fits well with Orienteering Dale Hunt’s (WB6BYU) 80m ARDF • Fairly small, hand-held 80m (3.5MHz) ARDF receiver • Single stage direct conversion type receiver • Easy alignment • Described in QST, September 2005 • PCB available from FAR Circuits 80m ARDF Kit Parts PCB, Silk Screened Some Helpful Items Schematic - +5v Reg Schematic – Audio Amp +5v Regulator and Audio Amp Schematic - VFO VFO Right on Frequency Winding Torroid Transformer PCB Almost Finished! A Metal Case Wooden Loop Antenna Holder Schematic – Loop Antenna Threading the Loop Schematic – Sense Antenna Sense Antenna Sense Antenna Wiring the Front Panel Ready to Close ‘er Up The Finished Product! What would this organization do? • Hold a minimum (perhaps no) business meetings • Periodic formal meetings that would feature one or several technical talks given by members on current or proposed projects • Support group buys of components and kits • Be a source of shared resources • Coordinate classes on various technologies – e.g. microprocessor programming, schematic capture, PCB layout, antenna design, etc. Goals for today √ • Spend ~20 minutes exploring the kinds of activities the organization could support • Group discussion: Is this a good idea? • Gather names of individuals interested in participating on a technical level • Form a small committee to kick start the group – Group structure – independent or a SIG associated with an existing club – Name of the group – Frequency and location of meetings – Other unavoidable administrative stuff