John,

 

I’ll tackle that tomorrow.  For this prototype we can actually do exactly what you suggest and just move the PCB back one set of standoffs and leave the Can-Do module where it is.  Of course the SMA connectors will be inaccessible with the cover on but I don’t run it that way when testing anyway, so it won’t matter.

 

Getting the Can-do module desoldered won’t be much fun but it should be possible.  That’s a job for next week.  I think I’ll find tomorrow that U17 is also a contributor to the noise.  Perhaps I should cut into the VCO control loop and control the VCO with an external supply if it starts to look like a culprit.  Right now I’m out of variable supplies since all three are tied up.   I don’t have an oscilloscope that I trust but I may be able to use the SDR-IQ with a scope probe to look at the VCO control loop since it goes down to 500 Hz.  That will be an interesting test.  This little radio is very useful.

 

73,

 

Juan

 

 

 


From: John B. Stephensen [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 8:08 PM
To: [email protected]; 'Robert McGwier'
Cc: [email protected]; 'David Smith'; 'Dave Black (Work)'; 'Dave Black (Home)'; 'Samsonoff@Mac. Com'; 'Juan.Rivera (Work)'
Subject: Re: [eagle] Re: New 70 cm Receiver Test Results

 

Reconnect the switcher on the receiver PCB and see what shows up.

 

To eliminate the noise, we may have to connect the PCB to the CAN-Do widget with a ribbon cable and place it at the other end of the module case. If the internal switcher also pollutes the VCO control voltage, it could be moved to a separate PCB.

 

73,

 

John

KD6OZH

----- Original Message -----

From: Juan Rivera

To: [email protected] ; 'John B. Stephensen' ; 'Robert McGwier'

Cc: [email protected] ; 'David Smith' ; 'Dave Black (Work)' ; 'Dave Black (Home)' ; 'Samsonoff@Mac. Com' ; 'Juan.Rivera (Work)'

Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2007 02:47 UTC

Subject: RE: [eagle] Re: New 70 cm Receiver Test Results

 

 

Folks,

 

I am quitting for the evening.  I just posted more data on my web (at 1945 Pacific time).  You can jump there by clicking here, or go to the AMSAT 70 cm receiver page and click on Spur Troubleshooting under Project Status.

 

I was able to remove power from the Can-do module and power the receiver from external power supplies.  All of the spurs disappeared when the 13 volts was removed from the module.  Tomorrow I’ll start reconnecting the receiver internal power supply sections and see how far I can get before spurs reappear.  I do not believe all the noise is coming from the Can-do module.  Tomorrow I’ll find out for sure…

 

73,

 

Juan

WA6HTP