Difference between revisions of "WA3TFS SDR Upverter Design"

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==== RTL-SDR V3 - HF Direct Sampling Mode ====
 
==== RTL-SDR V3 - HF Direct Sampling Mode ====
  
 +
* There is a built in 25 MHz low pass filter, but additional HF filters may be required for optimal performance (e.g. to attenuate strong MW AM)
 
* RTL-SDR V3 can listen to 500 kHz-28.8 MHz with direct sampling
 
* RTL-SDR V3 can listen to 500 kHz-28.8 MHz with direct sampling
 
** [https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-blog-v-3-dongles-user-guide/  Direct Sampling HF Mode]
 
** [https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-blog-v-3-dongles-user-guide/  Direct Sampling HF Mode]
 
* Simply connect an HF antenna to the SMA port, and choose the Q-branch mode
 
* Simply connect an HF antenna to the SMA port, and choose the Q-branch mode
* There is a built in 25 MHz low pass filter, but additional HF filters may be required for optimal performance (e.g. to attenuate strong MW AM)
+
** Press gear icon at top of SDRShArp to set mode to Direct sampling (Q Branch)
 +
*** Radio must be "stopped"
  
 
[[file:RTL-SDR_Q-branch.png]]
 
[[file:RTL-SDR_Q-branch.png]]
Line 96: Line 98:
  
 
<video type="youtube">I6Kh9A1Nd_s</video>
 
<video type="youtube">I6Kh9A1Nd_s</video>
 +
 +
* Error "1 compatible devices have been found but are all busy"
 +
** Happens after Windows updates driver
 +
** Rerun Zadig.exe and load device
  
 
=== Wiring ===
 
=== Wiring ===
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== Alternate Designs ==
 
== Alternate Designs ==
  
 +
* Cheaper/Better options
 
* [https://www.amazon.com/NooElec-Ham-Up-v1-3-Upconverter/dp/B009LQT3G6/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=rtl-sdr&qid=1634230894&sr=8-13 Ham It Up]
 
* [https://www.amazon.com/NooElec-Ham-Up-v1-3-Upconverter/dp/B009LQT3G6/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=rtl-sdr&qid=1634230894&sr=8-13 Ham It Up]
 
** $39.95
 
** $39.95
 
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076CYH6NL/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B076CYH6NL&pd_rd_w=bGmJ9&pf_rd_p=887084a2-5c34-4113-a4f8-b7947847c308&pd_rd_wg=ziW2h&pf_rd_r=72Y8ND4NJT5B0AXPGBQS&pd_rd_r=7754890a-00c0-4d4e-9a64-e3e2b79d566f&smid=A2JO7YP9I9Y3D6&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyU0dMNjZPODdVNlhFJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDI5OTcyMTI4TUxaMDFYWU1WSCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzUxMTU2MU1GMlUwQTZWS0hGRyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU= Ham It Up Plus]
 
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076CYH6NL/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B076CYH6NL&pd_rd_w=bGmJ9&pf_rd_p=887084a2-5c34-4113-a4f8-b7947847c308&pd_rd_wg=ziW2h&pf_rd_r=72Y8ND4NJT5B0AXPGBQS&pd_rd_r=7754890a-00c0-4d4e-9a64-e3e2b79d566f&smid=A2JO7YP9I9Y3D6&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyU0dMNjZPODdVNlhFJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDI5OTcyMTI4TUxaMDFYWU1WSCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzUxMTU2MU1GMlUwQTZWS0hGRyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU= Ham It Up Plus]
 
** $49.95
 
** $49.95
 +
 +
[[file:HamItUp_Better_720px.jpg]]
  
 
== Videos by others ==
 
== Videos by others ==

Latest revision as of 16:50, 21 November 2021

WA3TFS Upverter P1874-720px.jpg

Features

SDR up-converter/receiver shifts HF (0-30 MHz) frequencies up by 100 MHz. Used to listen to HF frequencies on an inexpensive RTL-SDR module.

Schematic

WA3TFS Upverter Schematic.PNG

Pass Filter

  • 9 turns on FT37-2 = 0.3 uH

WA3TFS Upverter Inductor.PNG

  • LTSpice Simulation
    • 1-100 MHz

WA3TFS Upverter Pass Filter.PNG

  • LTSpice Simulation
    • 1MHz-1GHz

WA3TFS Upverter Pass Filter 1MHz-to-1GHz.PNG

Software

Build

  • Nice silver mica caps for the band pass filter
    • My kit was missing the center cap of the band pass filter (150 pF)
    • I used a junk box ceramic disc cap
  • 30pF cap installed in J_A to J_B marked 300
  • Build was too tough due to very small pads on the PCB
    • Particularly tough to solder ground pads
    • Pad shapes were not round so less area to set soldering iron
  • Is LO drive more than 7 dBm?
  • Pin 1 orientations on the mixer and oscillator "backwards" from other board legends
    • Pin 1 shown in red circle

WA3TFS Upverter pcb r11.jpg

RTL-SDR

  • RTL-SDR DONGLES (RTL2832U) - rtl-sdr.com site
  • <1 PPM temperature compensated oscillator (TCXO)
    • Accurate tuning and almost zero temperature drift (2 PPM max. initial offset, 0.5-1 PPM temperature drift)
    • SMA female antenna port
    • Generic dongles use the less common MCX or PAL antenna ports
    • SMA is more common, so more adapters and antennas are available for it
    • It is also more durable and has lower RF insertion losses
  • 4.5V USB powered bias tee
    • This allows the RTL-SDR to power low noise amplifiers (like the LNA4ALL, HABAMP, RTL-SDR Blog ADS-B LNA) and active antennas through the coax cable
    • Can be enabled in software (see V3 users guide).
  • Aluminium case and passive cooling
    • These units come stock with an aluminum case and passive cooling via a silicon thermal pad
    • This stops reception failing due to heat when used above ~1.2 GHz
  • Improved Antennas
    • We provide an excellent dipole antenna starter kit for newbies
    • Use the included mounts and extension cable to mount the dipole in good position for optimal reception
    • Receives terrestrial and VHF satellite signals
  • Various additional improvements compared to other RTL-SDRs
    • R820T2 tuner, higher quality passive components, a choke on the USB line to reduce USB noise, a much improved PCB design for significantly less internal spurs and noise, various break-out pads, improved ESD protection, additional bypass capacitors and ferrite power line chokes, improved front end matching circuit, a modified power design for improved long term reliability, and a better LDO.

RTL-SDR improvements v3new800x800.jpg

RTL-SDR V3 - HF Direct Sampling Mode

  • There is a built in 25 MHz low pass filter, but additional HF filters may be required for optimal performance (e.g. to attenuate strong MW AM)
  • RTL-SDR V3 can listen to 500 kHz-28.8 MHz with direct sampling
  • Simply connect an HF antenna to the SMA port, and choose the Q-branch mode
    • Press gear icon at top of SDRShArp to set mode to Direct sampling (Q Branch)
      • Radio must be "stopped"

RTL-SDR Q-branch.png

  • Short video showing this

  • Error "1 compatible devices have been found but are all busy"
    • Happens after Windows updates driver
    • Rerun Zadig.exe and load device

Wiring

  • SPDT switch
    • One switch pole powers the card (turns off 12V)
    • Other switch pole switched in/out the Upverter
    • Could just move the cable

WA3TFS Upverter Wiring.PNG

Enclosure

WA3TFS Upverter P1878-720px.jpg

WA3TFS Upverter P1880-720px.jpg

Alternate Designs

HamItUp Better 720px.jpg

Videos by others