SDR-Kits.net

page updated August 28th, 2008

USB-Controlled Synthesizer for Softrock RXTX and Local Oscillator Applications

 

August 28th Updates:

·         Updated Kit and Device availability:

I have now shipped most of the backlog of kits ordered. Pricing has been changed and includes (Airmail) Postage to make ordering easier. Orders over £50) will be shipped via “Signed for International Delivery” included in the price.

Kit 1: CMOS Kit – Out of Stock - Expected shipment during week commencing September 8th when I receive further supplies of Si570CAC000141DG chip.

Kit 2 LVDS Kit - Very limited availability in stock. Awaiting delivery of Si570 LVDS chips

Kit 3 USB-Synthesizer Kit without Si570 Chip: (If you already have a Si570 device) In Stock, ship next day

Si570CAC000141DG CMOS Chip – Out of Stock – New Stock expected after September 8th

Si570BBC000141DG LVDS Chip – Out of Stock – New Stock expected after September 25th


·         Standalone USB_Synthesizer Operation -  Last Frequency Remember Feature – and Documentation corrections available here:          USB Synthesizer Kit Update 1 

·         Please Note: Kit 1: Si570 CMOS is designed for easy interface with Softrock RXTX as output is CMOS compatible with 74HC74 chips.
Kit 2: Si570 LVDS is designed for other Synthesizer projects. Output is 0.7V pkpk

Developed by QRP2000-Design team: Tom – DG8SAQ, John - G8BTR, Alan - M0PUB, Guido - PE1NNZ, Steve - G0XAR & Jan - G0BBL 

Fig 1: Top view of USB Synthesizer PCB

This project uses the Silicon Labs Chip SI570, an "ANY-RATE I2C PROGRAMMABLE XO", which is a 7x5mm² 8 pin integrated frequency synthesizer,
that can generate almost any frequency between 3.5MHz and up to 160 MHz minimum up to 1400MHz max. The chip is programmable via an I2C Interface.
The ATMEL AVR uses  Objective Development's freeware USB solution for connecting the synthesizer to the PC USB-Interface via USB port.

Main Applications

·         Kit 1: CMOS Version Full Band or Multi Band coverage of Softrock RXTX V6.1 and V6.2 transceivers

·         Standalone Operation (without PC connection) with Last Frequency Remember supported (Modification required)

·         External Local Oscillator for other SDR hardware Projects – using PowerSDR application

·         Wide range test oscillator – output frequency programmable in steps < 1 Hz.

Basic Specification:

·         Frequency Range 3.5 MHz to 1400 MHz (10MHz to 160 Mhz guaranteed by SiLab

·         Stability +/- 50 ppm CMOS or +/- 20 ppm LVDS version

·         Output: Square wave : CMOS version 2.6V pk-pk 15pF , LVDS version 0.7V pk-pk into 100 Ohm

·         Power Supply: USB Powered or +5V to +12V Power Supply – approx 100mA

·         PCB size 41 x 48 mm

·         Suitable for constructors with some previous experience of kit building experience like Softrock Projects

 

Fig 2 : Component Placing – U2 Si570 is mounted at the other side of the PCB

 Kits & Parts Orders - 

Complete Kits will contain a quality double sided PCB, a programmed Atmel ATTiny45 micro-controller and other parts including the SiLabs Si570CAC000141DG CMOS device or the Si570BBC000141DG will be supplied as ordered.

On popular demand USB-Synthesizer Kits (without Si570 devices) will also be available as well as Si570 devices.

Due to very high demand for the kits there will be delays in shipping kits during September 2008. Apologies for this.

UK Orders

Includes 1st Class Postage to United Kingdom Addressess

Orders in £ (GPB) to European Countries

Includes Standard Airmail Postage to Europe

(Kits also available from FunkAmateur Online shop see below)

Orders in £ (GPB)
to Countries outside Europe

Includes Standard Airmail Postage to other Countries

USA and Canada Orders must be sent to Tom Hoflich KM5M see below

Kit 1: USB-Controlled Synthesizer kit of parts with Si570CAC CMOS Device, PCB and programmed Atmel ATTiny45 for Softrock RXTX V6.1 and V6.2.
 (Out of Stock – Expected available September 8th)

£21.50

£22.50

£23.00

Kit 2: USB-Controlled Synthesizer kit of parts with Si570BBC LVDS Device, PCB and programmed Atmel ATTiny45
 (Very small Stock – New Stock expected available from September 25th)

£23.50

£24.50

£25.00

Kit 3: USB-Controlled Synthesizer kit of parts with programmed ATTiny45 but Without Si570 Device or T1(Availability:In Stock now)

£11.50

£12.50

£13.00

Silicon Labs Si570 CAC000141DG CMOS Device
Out of Stock – new stock expected from September 8th

£11.00

£12.00

£12.50

Silicon Labs Si570 BBC000141DG LVDS Device
Out of Stock – new stock expected from September 25th

£12.50

£13.50

£14.00

Optional Additional cost
“Signed for Registered Delivery” Signed for Delivery is now included for all orders of £50 or more

Add £1.00
for orders
of £50,- or less

Add £4.00
per order of £50 or less

Add £4.00
per order of £50 or less

 

·     Orders should be made by sending your payment via Paypal to:
sdrkits at gmail.com     (replace at by @ without spaces)

·    Please do not forget to state your name and full postal address with your order and add Postage charges.

– Kit availability from Distributors

·     Complete USB-Synthesizer Kits including Documentation in German are available from FunkAmateur
Online Shop          FUNKAMATEUR Homepage

·    UNITED STATES AND CANADA Kit orders: - USB-Synthesizer kits should be ordered direct from
Tom Hoflich KM5H      (thanks to Tom for bringing the Si570 to attention of Radio Amateurs)


USA Orders via  KM5H 

 

Documentation for constructing the kit can be downloaded here: - (Updated 28 August)

SDR-Synthesizer Kit Documentation (PDF File)

Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Bill of Materials
3. Kit Assembly
4. Driver Installation for Microsoft Windows XP
5. Driver installation verification
6. Functional Tests
7. Interfacing with Softrock RXTX 6.1 and 6.2
8. PowerSDR Setup
9. Rocky SDR Application Setup

 

PowerSDR.exe V1.9.2-SR40 Beta with USB Support can be download here: 

PowerSDR.exe V1.9.2-SR40 Beta (Zip file)

If you have already installed the Sourceforge version PowerSDR v1.9.0 from Sourceforge upgrading to the

Beta version of PowerSDR with USB support for USB-Synthesizer Kit can be done as follows:

 

·         Open Windows Explorer and Select directory “FlexRadio Systems” (Normally this is in C:\Program Files\FlexRadio Systems)

·         Select the directory of the PowerSDR which you want to upgrade:

·         Rename PowerSDR.exe to PowerSDR_old.exe (This preserves your current version of PowerSDR executable)

·         Rename PowerSDR.dbf to PowerSDR_old.dbf (This preserves your current PowerSDR Setup Database)

·         Download the Beta version of PowerSDR.exe and save into the PowerSDR directory (Place the new executable in the directory)

·         run the new version of PowerSDR.exe

 

This will create a new version of PowderSDR.dbf including any new setup database parameters which may be required.

 

DG8SAQ USB_SYNTHESIZER APPLICATION

USB_SYNTH - Stand alone application to set Si570 Frequency (Zip file)

·         Tom has written a cute application to set the frequency of the Si570 which may be downloaded from the link above.

 

 

 

 



·         The frequency may be set to the nearest Hz......

·         Or a Multiplication factor or Frequency offset (IF offset) may be specified ..

·         Applications include RX Local Oscillator and VXO for TX applications, Test Oscillator or QRSS Beacon etc.

·         Picture below shows the Setup screen and the configuration options.

·         “Last Frequency Remember” Option for Standalone applications.


Links -

USB AVR Project Home page of Tom Baier DG8SAQ.
Tom developed the AVR firmware for this project and also had a big input into the hardware design of the AVR-Synthesizer. The LATEST Released AVR firmware may be downloaded from Tom’s website:

PowerSDR SDR Software: This is the link to download the freeware version of PowerSDR which supports the USB-Synthesizer produced by Guido PE1NNZ and Alan M0PUB & others who provided this great software

Rocky V3.5 SDR Application Software:

Use this link to download Alex VE3NEA Rocky 3.5 Program with USB AVR support
Thanks to Alex for providing this Support!!

 

Publications -

This Project was published in:

·         “FunkAmateur” FA June 2008 Minimalistischer hochwertiger Synthesizer mit USB-Steurung – Thomas Baier DG8SAQ: Pages 622 – 624

·         SPRAT 135 - Summer 2008 – Journal of the G-QRP Club:
USB-Controlled Synthesizer for Softrock RXTX and Local Oscillator Applications by G0BBL

SDR-Kits - contact information -

email: sdrkits( at)gmail.com replace ( at) by @)


SDR-Kits.net
Jan Verduyn G0BBL
14 Ragleth Grove
Trowbridge Wilts
BA14-7LE
United Kingdom

Copyright notice:          The USB-Synthesizer project design on this page is Copyright 2008 by  QRP2000 Design team.All rights reserved.  

Kit of parts produced by SDR-Kits.net under licence from QRP2000 Design Team

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