WA3TFS SDR Upverter Design

Features

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

• SBL-1 mixer
• 100 MHz can oscillator
• Low pass filter
• 1 kHz to 1.7 GHz SDR Receiver - WA3TFS Design
  • QST Article
  • SDR wiring diagram
  • Parts List
  • Layout

Schematic

Software

• RTL-SDR
• HDSDR - Easier to use
• SDR Sharp - Crashier

Build

• Nice silver mica caps
  • My kit was missing the center cap of the band filter (150 pF)
• Real SBL-1 mixer
• Build was 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
• Pin 1 orientations on the mixer and oscillator "backwards" from other board legends

Enclosure

• Board fits perfectly in
  • Extruded Aluminum Enclosure Box - 94mm x 83mm x 30mm
  • Card just perfectly matches