I

THE CB EPROM DATA BOOK

This book is provided, by Lou Franklin and Martin Pickering, for FREE download in
Portable Document Format from the following web sites:
http://www.cbcity.com
http://www.netcentral.co.uk/satcure

It may not be sold, copied or distributed for commercial purposes without the consent of
the copyright holder, Martin T. Pickering.

Other free gifts may be made available in the future so keep visiting the web sites!

II
 CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .............................................................1

SIMPLE As A B C D E F .................................................2
• Mail Boxes - Messages in Code - Select a Channel - Bits in Line
• Horrible Hex - Conversion Tables

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS ...................................8

• Which Eprom? - Outputs - Transistor Inverter - Range of Codes
• Input Voltage - Switch Codes - Output Voltage

PRACTICAL EXAMPLES ................................................16

• The Cobra 148 on 10 Meters - Eprom Method - Eprom Codes
• Transistor Inverter Application - Channel Switch Codes
• Second Example - Third Example - Fourth Example - Fifth Example

A GENERAL PURPOSE EPROM BOARD.......................42

APPENDIX 1 .....................................................................44
• Erasing - Cleaning Time - Non-E-proms - Programming
• Unreadable Devices - Gang Bangers - Manual Programming - Eproms
• All Charged Up - Decimal To Binary

APPENDIX 2 .....................................................................51
• Pin Out Diagrams

APPENDIX 3
• Increasing frequency without Eproms by pulse subtraction.................... 53

Glossary of Terms ............................................................59

III
Written By: Martin T. Pickering - “The Specialist”

© Copyright Martin T. Pickering 1987. All rights reserved.

Third Edition 1997.

The information in this book is presented for educational purposes only and is not intended
as an endorsement of any particular practice. The emphasis is upon using Eproms to
convert existing CB transceivers to operate on the Amateur 10 meter band for the use of
licensed radio amateurs. The publisher seeks neither to encourage nor endorse the illegal
ownership or the operation of equipment for which the holder is not licensed.

IV
V
INTRODUCTION
My interest in CB conversions began some years after Lou Franklin first published his
"Screwdriver Expert's Guide" and "The CB PLL Data Book". Consequently I was able to
read these and progressed quickly from having a passing interest in CB to actually running
a repair business and publishing a quarterly newsletter for like-minded individuals. Lou's
books have been a guiding influence in my hobby-turned-business and I am in no way
putting them down when I suggest that they lack just one important chapter. I hope that this
book will fill that gap and help you as much as Lou's books helped me.
This book assumes that you have read "The CB PLL Data Book" and have a basic grasp of
the way in which a PLL frequency synthesiser works. The use of an Eprom will allow you
to utilize the standard channel switch but to program the codes which will make the rig
operate on whatever channels, in whatever order, that you wish (within the limitations of
the rig itself). Most modern AM or FM CB radios use a dedicated PLL whose codes can
not be altered. Sideband rigs, however, can almost always be converted for 10 meter
operation because they still use the type of PLL which has a wide choice of codes. Even
those with dedicated PLLs can often be altered if an Eprom is used in conjunction with a
different PLL.
The book will be of especial interest to those who are looking for a low cost entry to the
American "Novice" band.

© Copyright 1987 by Martin T. Pickering

This book is for all those CBers and Radio Amateurs out there who like to indulge in the
practical aspects of the hobby.

My grateful thanks are due to my wife, Gill, for her patience; to my kids, for keeping out
of the way; to Brian Spiller, who suggested the idea and checked the proofs; to my brother,
Rob, for the use of his computer; to Chas for the use of his laser printer and to Lou and
Sally Franklin for their continued support.

Dave Addy designed and drew all the PCB layouts and their circuits.

Cover design and “Gang Bang” drawing by:

Studio 3, Palace Vaults, Plymouth, PL1 2NA, England.
Other sketches by Martin – drawn large then reduced down to hide the defects!

1
Simple as A B C D E F

Mail Boxes

The Eprom is a basic, mechanical device which can be considered simply as a block of
"mail boxes", each holding a message. Each "box" is numbered consecutively. At one end
of the block of "boxes" is a slot and by posting the Address or LOCATION NUMBER of a
particular "box" into this slot you will make its message contents appear from the output
slot at the other end of the block.
You can read the contents of ANY "box" in this manner if you know its number.

2
PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Which Eprom?
The smallest Eprom currently available is the 2708. This is actually obsolete and has the
disadvantage of requiring three different supply voltages: hence, it is never used for new
designs. The next larger one is the 2516 or 2716 which, although small, nevertheless has
room for 32 banks of 40 channels! It has 11 input pins of which only six would usually be
connected to the channel switch. (Although some channel switches have more than six
connections it is normally possible to get 40 unique codes from just six of them. Since we
are going to use these switch codes merely to select the LOCATIONS in the Eprom which
will contain the ACTUAL codes for the PLL, it hardly matters what the switch codes are,
provided there are 40 which are all different.) The remaining 5 input pins, therefore, can be
connected to a band selection switch to select each bank of 40 channel codes. Up to 32
permutations are possible - far more than we would ever need! This discussion assumes a
40 position switch, by the way, but the concept is equally valid for rigs with 18, 22 or 50
positions.

The next size of Eprom is the 2532 or 2732 which has 12 input pins, giving a possible 64
banks of channels from a 40 position channel switch. The 2764 Eprom has 13 input pins
and the 27128 has 14. Finally, the 27256 has 15 inputs. Getting silly, isn't it. Who needs
room for 512 x 40 = 20480 channels when the maximum coverage of the rig is unlikely to
exceed 180 channels at 10 kHz spacing? Nevertheless, these big Eproms are becoming
cheaper than the small ones and you might wish to use them, despite the waste of "space"
inside them.

Outputs
No matter how many input pins an Eprom has, the number of output pins is always eight.
This is because every "box" or location can hold only eight binary bits (or one "byte" as it
is known). This fact puts one big limitation on the use of an Eprom. What do we do, for
instance, if we want to connect the EIGHT Eprom outputs to a PLL with NINE input pins?

8
Operating Voltage
One point which is MOST important is the operating voltage of the Eprom. All those
currently available require a supply voltage of 4.75 to 5.25 volts. A zener stabilized supply
is essential and I would further recommend the use of a transistor series regulator. The
transistor should be rated at 1 Watt minimum, especially for older Eproms whose operating
current could exceed 100 milliamps.

Alternatively, you could use a regulator device, such as a 7805. This is more expensive
than a transistor alone but requires no zener diode or resistor. Regulators are available in
various sizes and ratings from 78L05 (100mA) to 7805 (1A).

12
Input Voltage
The voltage applied to each input should not exceed the supply voltage or damage will
eventually result. If the voltage from the channel switch is more than 5 volts then a couple
of resistors are needed on each input to reduce the voltage seen by the Eprom. Some
channel switches do not supply a positive voltage but ground the inputs, instead. Where
this is true you must connect a resistor between each switch connection and the 5 volt
supply to the Eprom. You could even introduce this method yourself where the channel
switch voltage is high. Simply remove the supply wire from the switch common
terminal(s) and ground the switch common. Now you need only half the number of
resistors. The switch codes will all be inverted, of course but, since they are simply
SELECTING Eprom locations this hardly matters, provided YOU know what the codes
are!

13
Switch Codes
Before you begin a conversion you should ALWAYS use a voltmeter to determine the
switch codes for every channel. Don't rely upon a book to tell you because you'll be
awfully confused if the book is wrong or refers to a different model. Always check. If you
start to design a lot of conversions it will help if you make up a row of LEDs with
transistors on stripboard, which you can connect to the PLL input pins. Flicking the
channel switch round causes different LEDs to light as the code changes and it is an easy
matter to write them down. Keep records of everything you do because it's surprising how
much is forgotten after a couple of months. The switch codes feeding the Eprom inputs
specify the locations of the output codes. DO remember, however, that the complete
location or "address" comprises the codes from the switch AND any voltage on the
remaining Eprom inputs. These inputs can be used to switch from one bank of codes to
another in order to change band. Unused inputs should be connected to 0 volts because, if
left floating, they will pick up any stray RF which could be interpreted as a "1". I learnt this
the hard way when a radio under test actually changed band on transmit. Great for duplex
operation! You can create this effect deliberately if you need TX downshift for Repeater
operation. Use the rig's own TX line to switch one of the Eprom inputs thereby swapping
the code bank to one whose codes are programmed for 10 channels lower.

14
Output Voltage
The output voltage from an Eprom can be a problem and will often be less than 3.5 volts
when the Eprom outputs are connected to a PLL. With PLLs such as PLL02A there is
seldom a problem since it usually runs on a supply of no more than 5.5 volts. Since 3.5
volts is more than half the supply voltage the PLL02A sees a "1". The situation with the
MC145106P is different since this PLL usually runs with a supply of 9 volts and requires a
6 volt input to guarantee a "1". Although the Eprom manufacturers do not recommend it,
the answer has been found, by experience, to be the addition of pull-up resistors from the
Eprom output pins to the 9 volt supply. Resistors of about 10k in value should be used.
Lower values can cause excess current to flow through the silicon substrate which will
gradually kill the Eprom. This method has been in use in hundreds of units for several
years with no problem. If you really want to play safe you could use a couple of 4050 non-
inverting hex buffer ICs or 40109 level shifter ICs.

15
Channel Switch Codes
The codes from the channel switch don't matter, as mentioned previously, since they serve
only to SELECT the LOCATION in Eprom for the actual "N" code we need.
Consequently, we can often make the hardware connections simpler, although the encoding
of the Eprom might become more complex.

The Export Cobra is a good example because the channel switch wires, as they come off
the switch PCB, are in the order P5 P2 P4 P1 P3 P0 starting at the side near to the chassis.
If we connect wires directly from the switch to the Eprom, therefore, they will cross over
each other because the Eprom inputs are in the order P5 P4 P3 P2 P1 P0. The result is that
we can't easily use ribbon cable to make the connection, or can we? The problem, of
course, could be solved by using crossover links on the board upon which we mount the
Eprom but why add to the hardware?

A better solution is to use the switch connections in precisely the order in which they
emerge from the switch PCB. The only effect is to alter the LOCATIONs where we need to
put the "N" codes in the Eprom. The Cobra codes start at 3B for channel 40. Taking the
switch codes in the existing order changes the locations, as shown in the next table.

The effect, of mixing up the binary codes like this, is to change the LOCATIONS from the
HEX number in the left hand column (which the switch normally supplies to the PLL
inputs) to the HEX number in the right hand column. It is a little tedious to work out all 40
but, once done, does allow you to use ribbon cable instead of individual wires and no links
are needed on the Eprom board.

Once again I must emphasise that we have simply rearranged the LOCATIONS for the "N"
codes in the Eprom. With six connections there can only be 64 different locations and the
channel switch selects 40 of these. Which 40, and in what order is unimportant to the actual
operation of the unit. By mixing up the wires we only alter the selection of which 40
locations out of 64 the switch will select. Regardless of the order of the connections the
result will always be 40 unique location codes out of a possible 64.
The arrangement of the 8 BITs of the "N" code in each location can also be swapped if it
simplifies the wiring of the Eprom board. The method is, exactly as above, to write each
"N" code in Binary; swap the BITs then convert into HEX to give the code which must be
programmed into Eprom.

20
If, however, a conversion board can be fitted which uses the MC145106P IC then the
range of "N" codes is greatly extended and permits the standard crystal of either 11.1125 or
11.3258 MHz to be retained without the need to buy a specially made crystal. The
conversion board uses an Eprom to translate the switch codes into "N" codes for the new
PLL IC and the full range of frequencies from 28.105 to 29.695 MHz can be achieved,
together with 100 kHz repeater downshift on transmit. A complete conversion board is
available but the following information is given to allow you to design your own, should
you so wish.

For the 11.1125 MHz crystal the codes required for the "Novice" band start at HEX 101
for 28.105 MHz (ch. 1) and go up in steps of 1 to HEX 128 for 28.495 MHz (ch. 40). The
"N" codes for the rest of the 10 meter band rise from HEX 129 to HEX lA0 for 29.695
MHz. Notice that a transistor inverter is needed for the MSB.

For the 11.3258 MHz crystal the codes required for the "Novice" band start at HEX C1 for
28.105 MHz (ch. 1) and go up in steps of 1 to HEX E8 for 28.495 MHz (ch. 40). The "N"
codes for the rest of the 10 meter band rise from HEX E9 to HEX 160 for 29.695 MHz.

The six outputs from the channel switch produce HEX OF (ch. 1) to HEX 3B (ch. 40) and
provide the location codes for the Eprom inputs, together with connections "T", "X" and
"Y" on the PCB.

The circuit diagram shows the interconnections and, since they have been optimized for
simplicity of the PCB layout, the outputs from the Eprom are not connected to the inputs of
the MC145106P in straight order of numbers. The actual Eprom contents must, therefore,
have the individual BITs rearranged as explained on a previous page so that the PLL sees
the correct codes.

Note that link LK1 must NOT be fitted if an 11.3258 MHz crystal is used. Also, because
of basic differences between the MC145106P and the MB8719, which this conversion
replaces, it is necessary to remove the 1.5k resistor which is soldered near to the MB8719
position in the CB radio.

The MB8719 is removed and the 16 pin ribbon connector soldered in its place but NOT in
the two holes used by MB8719 pins 9 and 10.

All the necessary information is given here, together with the complete Eprom codes, but
this is a most ADVANCED conversion so if you do not fully understand the way in which
the conversion works you should not attempt the conversion.

25
28
Another Eprom Board

The previous design was specifically for certain rigs but this Eprom board for the Cobra
may be used with most versions. Six pull-up resistors are connected to the channel switch
inputs O to 5, which are arranged exactly in the right order for the ribbon cable from the
channel switch itself. Eprom inputs A6 to A10 are available to select several more bands, if
required. However, no more than 5 volts must be applied to these inputs unless series
resistors (e.g. 10k for +9v) are connected. The eight pull-up resistors on the Eprom
outputs are required for the MC145106P but not for the MB8719 which has internal pull-
ups. If you fit them, connect the 9 volt input to pin 18 of the MC145106P. Note that this
board uses the STANDARD Eprom locations OF to 3B.

29
Example
The TC9109 and MB8733 PLL ICs are both similar in that they use eight of the
connections between the channel switch and the LED channel number display as inputs to
determine the "N" code. In effect, there is a built-in "Prom" which translates the LED code
into the "N" code and the PLL can not, therefore, be fooled. They produce the 40 FCC
approved channels, but no others. Unlike most PLLs, these produce the transmit frequency
by doubling the VCO output, instead of by mixing. There is, however, a British PLL
which, although now obsolescent, serves to illustrate another method of using an Eprom if
the PLL is changed. This British PLL, the LC7137, also doubles the VCO output to
produce the transmit frequency, but its input codes are Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) with
the exception of channel 40 which is 000000 instead of 1000000.

Since these PLLs operate in basically the same manner we can substitute, for one of the
FCC ICs, a board containing an LC7137 plus an Eprom to convert the eight LED display
code inputs to six BCD inputs, instead. The LED codes then become the LOCATION
numbers which tell the Eprom where to find the BCD codes for the LC7137. This example
is of interest, firstly because the LED codes seem to be in no logical order but,
nevertheless, select 40 unique locations for the BCD codes. Secondly, because the British
channels produced are in ascending order, without any "hops", therefore giving a better
basis to convert to the 10 meter band, perhaps by mixing methods or by digital subtraction
(which has nothing to do with getting your finger out!).

Note that the input for pin 17 is high for every channel except channel 40. It seems a
singular waste of a wire to use 8 connections instead of 7, just for the sake of one zero.
Close inspection of the codes reveals that we can eliminate this first connection if we use
the zero on channel 40 to make the pin 15 voltage go high. This is fairly simple to achieve
with a single transistor switch and the result for channel 40 is still a unique code of 1 1 0 0
1 0 0 or 64 instead of 44 HEX. This code does not occur for any other channel, so can be
used to identify the Eprom location of channel 40. The first input can be eliminated and all
the other location codes will have to be modified accordingly. The hardware advantage of
this change is questionable but the example shows, again, that the actual switch codes are
not important, provided that each can be used to generate a unique location code. (When
BCD is translated into HEX, the numbers A to F do not appear since only the binary codes
for 1 to 9 are used.)

30
34
35
µPD2824 – Example

The uPD2824 is a popular PLL in America but is internally programmed for only forty
channels. The internal "N" codes are 91 to 135 with the usual "hops". Notice that these are
exactly the same "N" codes which were used in the uPD858 rigs but they are accessed,
here, by a channel switch which provides a BCD output of 00 to 39. This is one of the
"impossible" chips and must be replaced if we are to use the rig on the 10 meter band. The
obvious choice is the MC145106P because, not only does it give us the required "N"
codes, but also the essential 5.12 MHz output pin, without which the rig will not work.
Unfortunately it does not have the internal amplifier for PD filtering, consequently we must
add a VMOS Field Effect Transistor to complete the conversion.

The MC145106P can be used to provide the standard FCC channels and the table shows
the codes in their entirety so that you can compare them with the new codes required for the
"Novice" band. The rig MUST NOT be made capable of working on both bands,
otherwise you are likely to be in breach of the law in most countries.

A provisional PCB layout is given but it must be pointed out that this has not been tested.

You can see from the column marked "Eprom Location" that the Address code is taken
directly from the channel switch which, as mentioned, gives Binary Coded Decimal from
00 to 39. Only six Eprom inputs are required and, for the "Novice" band, only six outputs
are required, although we have used all eight in the actual layout. The three Most
Significant Bits remain the same for all forty channels and will change only if you need to
add more channels in the 10 meter band. If that is the case, you will probably need to alter
our layout to accommodate a transistor inverter and allow access to at least one other Eprom
input pin in order to switch between bands.

Notice how much simpler and cheaper the Eprom method is when compared with the
alternative of changing THREE crystals for every band which you want to add! Even then,
without an Eprom board, you would still be left with the FCC "hops".

36
38
39
PLL02A Example
The PLL02A chip is used extensively for export models and in 40 channel rigs in the USA.
It is a versatile PLL with nine programming pins, however the export rigs do not take
advantage of this and normally switch in different crystals to change the frequency band.

The crystal fitted for the FCC band is normally 10.0525 MHz followed by a doubler
circuit, although a few export models use a crystal of twice this frequency at 20.105 MHz
without the doubler. The coding for the Eprom is unaffected by which of these crystals is
fitted and the PLL02A has just enough range of coding to allow conversion to the "Novice"
band without the need to change the crystal. A very cheap board can be made with only an
Eprom, voltage regulator and a few resistors.

The normal "N" codes are 255 to 211, giving 26.965 to 27.405 MHz and the Novice band
would therefore require codes of 71 to 32. You can see from the table that the two MSBs
are "1" for the FCC band but "0" for the "Novice" band. Pins 7 and 8 on the PLL02A
must, therefore, be grounded. Pin 7 is already grounded but, since the 5.5 volt track runs
through 8 and 9, you will have to do a bit of cutting to achieve the alteration! The Eprom
output pins must be connected to pins 15 - 10 on the PLL02A. The tracks between these
pins and the channel switch will have to be cut and six Eprom inputs connected to this
switch.

In all of the conversions mentioned so far you will have to retune quite a lot of coils in the
rig. This procedure is not for the "novice" and should be left to a qualified technician.
Suitable 10 meter conversion boards with fitting instructions are available from CB City, in
the USA, or S.J. Tonks in Britain. There should be plenty of information in this book to
allow you to make your own, however, should you so wish!

The general purpose Eprom board, described later, is suitable for this, and other,
conversions.

The location codes in the table are worked out from the channel switch codes in the
American rig. There are six inputs: see if you can understand how they were derived. As a
clue, channel 40 "N" code is normally 211 in decimal. That's 011010011 in binary, but the
three MSBs are not needed, leaving 01 0011 or 13 in HEX.

40
A General Purpose Eprom Board
We have designed a simple printed circuit board which you could use for experimentation,
or even build and sell to your friends. It allows you to fit a 2516, 2716, 2532, 2764,
27128 or 27256 Eprom and the layout makes provision for all the resistors you are likely to
need. The design includes a lot of options which you may not require and it is left to you to
decide which components you want to fit for your particular conversion, based on the
information given in this book.
Note that, in order to accommodate such a wide range of Eproms, some input pins are
connected permanently to +5v. The input locations must, therefore, take this into account.
Alternatively, to suit the particular Eprom fitted, you could cut the offending tracks and
connect the inputs to ground, instead.

42
43
APPENDIX 1

Erasing
Eproms, by definition, are erasable under Ultra Violet light. Since many second hand
Eproms are available, cheaply, it is worth considering the use of such devices to save
money. Before you can utilize them you must erase the existing contents, effectively
resetting all bytes to FF.

The "window" in each device is not glass but quartz which allows UV light to pass through
much more readily than glass does. The UV light must be within a specific frequency band
to be effective. Ordinary sunlight will erase an Eprom but it would probably take weeks to
effect complete erasure. A "black light" tube, as used for display purposes and in discos is
no use since the UV which it produces is much too low in frequency. The type of light
which does work is produced by a white tube which is called an "actinic" tube because of
its ability to kill germs by radiation. You can be sure, therefore, that your Eproms are
clinically clean, after erasure!

Cleaning Time
The time required to erase an Eprom depends upon its distance from the light source, the
intensity of the light, the contents of the Eprom and the physical characteristics of the
Eprom itself. As a very rough guide, an "average" Eprom will require at least 15 minutes
but not more than an hour to erase when placed one inch from, and facing, an 8 Watt tube.
It is possible to make an eraser, yourself, but due regard must be paid to all aspects of
Electrical safety, the high temperature of the tube and the danger to living tissue caused by
UV light.

WARNING. UV LIGHT CAN DAMAGE SKIN AND CAUSE BLINDNESS. The unit
must be ventilated but should not allow UV light to escape. Some excellent commercial
units are available, moderately priced, with safety interlocks and with or without a timer.
One unit even "interrogates" the Eprom to ensure it is erased, exposes it for a further
calculated period to make sure, then turns off. This type of unit is supposed to avoid over-
exposure, thereby increasing the long term reliability of the Eprom and increasing the
number of erasures which are possible. There is a limit to the number of times that an
Eprom may be erased before damage occurs. This limit varies widely from one Eprom to
the next. Some do not survive even the first erasure, whilst others can be wiped and re-
used numerous times.

44
Non-E-proms
There are also some plastic encapsulated "Eproms" which can't be erased. These are
known as One Time Programmable (OTP) Eproms and can be somewhat cheaper than the
standard type, since you don't pay for a ceramic housing with a quartz window.
Obviously, it's no use buying these second hand! The programming time for these can be
seconds, rather than minutes. They are ideal for high volume production, but of little use to
the experimenter.

Unreadable Devices
There is another type of Eprom which results from incorrect programming voltage or,
especially, from being plugged into its socket the wrong way round. This device is known
as the Totally UnReadable Device, or TURD, and should be placed pins uppermost upon
your chair to remind you to be more careful next time.

45
Programming
Many designs for Eprom programming units have been published. Some are very good,
some mediocre. All work well, within their limitations. All the units, commercial or home
built, which connect to a PC are very versatile because you have the full programming
power of the PC to assist. Usually you can type the HEX codes directly into the computer
memory, then "dump" them into the Eprom. It is also possible to save the relevant section
of memory to disc or tape. In addition you may be able to write simple routines for
converting decimal to binary or to swap the bits in each binary code, as described
previously, to simplify the hardware design of the Eprom board. Most computers can
convert readily between decimal and HEX, thus eliminating even this simple task.
If you intend to buy one then get the best programming unit you can afford. Most of the
units sold for connection to a Personal Computer (PC) are quite intelligent and use a
friendly Menu system to guide you through the necessary choices. They all comprise a
printed circuit assembly, usually in a box, which you must connect to the computer, and a
software package on disc or Eprom. The box will contain a socket - usually only one -
which permits easy insertion of an Eprom by releasing a locking tab or lever. It may also
contain a number of option switches, although the better models use internal switching
which is controlled by the software. Usually, the box will need a supply of mains
electricity.

Options
You will be required to choose the options, which normally include setting a switch or
pressing a computer key, to choose the part number of the Eprom (2716 etc.) and the
programming voltage. Three programming voltages are used: 26 volts 21 volts and 12.5
volts, the latter sometimes (but not always) being designated by an "A" suffix to the Eprom
part number, for instance the 27128A. An immediate exception to this "rule" is the 2716A
which programs at 21 volts. Failure to choose the correct voltage can destroy the Eprom or
even damage the programming unit, consequently you MUST consult the manufacturer's
literature. In the very cheap units you may not have the option of 12.5 volts and the choice
of Eproms will be restricted to those of certain sizes from specific manufacturers, whilst in
the more expensive units you are likely to be asked, by the software program, which
manufacturer's device you have so that the programming pulses can be set accordingly.
They might also perform the programming in a much shorter time.

46
Gang Bangers
If you are going into Eprom copying in a big way there are commercial units (known as
"gang bangers" in the trade) which will program several Eproms at a time. The simpler type
for connection to a PC will seldom program more than one device at a time, but is far more
versatile for development purposes.

Manual Programming
It is actually possible to enter data into an Eprom without using an automatic programming
unit at all. The method is tedious and varies according to the type of Eprom you are using.
Basically, you must connect a row of switches to the input address pins to select either 0v
or +5v. Similarly, the output Data pins must be connected to switches. Some Eproms
require a Vcc supply of +5v and others require +6v during programming. In addition, a
supply of +26v, +21v or +12.5v is required on the Vpp pin. Set the address switches to
select the location; set the Data switches to choose the contents; apply a programming pulse
to the Pgm pin for the appropriate duration (approximately 50 milliseconds for a 2716, less
for other devices). The polarity and duration of the pulse are very important and must be
chosen from the manufacturer's data. A simple pulse timing circuit would be required, in
addition to the stabilised voltage supplies. Of course, since you are using switches, the
locations and codes must be in Binary notation. It is easy to damage Eproms when
programming in this way and the manufacturer's literature should be consulted. The supply
voltage Vcc must be switched simultaneously with the voltage on pin Vpp, or else Vcc
must already be switched on at the time when Vpp is switched either on or off. If this point
is ignored you will certainly destroy the Eprom.

47
In the VERY crude circuit shown here you must first set the binary location code on
switches A0 to A10. Then set the binary data on switches D0 to D7. Close S1; poke the
“PROG” button for an instant (can you guess 50mS ?); open S1. It might work!

For a typical 2716, the following conditions must exist during programming mode: Vcc
must be at +5v; Vpp must be at +26v; Program (PGM) at 0v; the required contents present
on the output pins and the location code on the input pins. Pulsing PGM to +5v for 50
milliseconds burns the data present on D0 to D7 into the location addressed by A0 to A10.

Because there is such a wide variation of programming parameters between even Eproms
bearing identical numbers but from different manufacturers, this book will not attempt to
delve further into methods of programming. It already forms the subject of several books
from each manufacturer, which should be consulted according to the specific type that you
wish to program. If you buy a comprehensive programming unit and follow its instructions
carefully, you should have little difficulty in programming most Eproms without problem.
WARNING Incorrect programming methods can cause an Eprom to become
EXTREMELY HOT. The publishers accept no responsibility for damage or injury caused
by careless or uneducated use of information printed in this book. If in doubt seek expert
advice!

48
Eproms
The 2716 and 2516 have 24 pins and are generally interchangeable, although slight
differences in programming parameters exist between the various manufacturers' devices.
The 2732 and 2532 also have 24 pins and have the same capacity as each other but
BEWARE: they are NOT pin for pin compatible, as the sketches at the back of this book
show!
The 2764 and 27128 have 28 pins and can be interchanged, but bear in mind that the 27128
has twice the capacity of the 2764.
The 27256, with twice the capacity of the 27128, is also compatible, having only one pin
function different. It is generally very fast to program, compared with the smaller capacity
devices!
Double again, the 27512 is probably the largest capacity device you will want to deal with,
although there are even bigger Eproms available and their prices are falling all the time.

CMOS devices are also available. These are usually denoted by a letter C in the number, for
example 27C128. The current consumption is lower than that of standard devices but they
are somewhat more susceptible to damage from static electricity and also more expensive.

Eproms usually have number suffixes such as 2764-25. The -25 refers to the speed at
which the Eprom can be read. For CB applications we are not the slightest bit interested in
the speed, since it takes a relatively long time to change channel, compared with the speed
at which a microprocessor works! Consequently, you can buy the cheapest, slowest
Eproms you can find, which will often have the suffix -30 or -45 or nothing. Remember,
too, that we mentioned earlier that a letter suffix might refer to the programming voltage.
Check this and ensure that the Eprom is compatible with your programming unit.

All Charged Up
Whenever you are handling ICs you should take precautions to avoid the generation of
static electricity. Always touch the surface on which an IC rests before picking it up and do
the same before putting it down. This will ensure that your body is at the same electrical
potential as the surface and thereby ensure that you do not discharge current through the
IC. You can generate a large voltage simply by moving around in clothing made of
synthetic material. Removing a nylon shirt or pullover is a good method of creating static
electricity and if you touch a grounded surface after doing so you can expect to receive a
nasty shock. Imagine, therefore, what this does to an IC which contains tiny conductors
only a few atoms wide!

49
APPENDIX 2

Pin Out Sketches

51
...more pinouts...

52
APPENDIX 3 (not included in the original publication)

Convert to 10 metres the Chip Way

You may wonder why an ordinary mortal who is not a licensed Amateur should have
wished to design a ten metre conversion which he can't legally use. The simple answer
was, of course, money and the design was a natural development from much work on
other successful conversions for C.B. Radios. Unfortunately, the same apathy which
prevents my learning morse also prevented the successful marketing of the unit, so I
decided to offer the design to the world in return for a pittance.

The circuit to be described was developed for use with the most common type of C.B.
radio which uses the ubiquitous LC7137 or LC7132 frequency synthesiser. When the C.B.
radio is receiving, the V.C.O. runs at the input frequency minus 10.695 MHz. On transmit,
the V.C.O. runs at half the output frequency. For example, channel 40 normally produces a
frequency of 27.99125 MHz and to raise this to, say, 29.70 we need to add 1.70875 MHz
to the V.C.O. during receive and, during transmit, 0.853 MHz which is half that amount.
One beauty of the method to be described stems from the realisation that the 10.24 MHz
crystal oscillator output can be divided to produce almost exactly these frequencies. Mixing
the frequency with the V.C.O. output then filtering out the required sum frequency,
however, is guaranteed to create unwanted spurii at the antenna.

Brainwave
An idea came from a circuit published by Hugh Allison in "The Short Wave Magazine"
(Ref. 2) where the 10.24 MHz division frequency is subtracted from the V.C.O. output to
the P.L.L. synthesiser only. The actual V.C.O. frequency still goes directly to the transmit
and receive circuitry. No mixing of analogue signals is necessary and transmitted
interference is thus minimised. The P.L.L. is fooled into thinking that the V.C.O.
frequency is too low and increases it accordingly!

How It Works
Initial tests were performed on the circuit shown in Fig. 2. IC1 is a divider chip which is
configured to produce a divide-by-12 output on pin 12 and a divide-by-6 output on the
connection of pins 8 and 14. The 10.24 MHz reference frequency enters IC1 at pin 1.
Dividing 10.24 MHz by 12 and by 6 gives 0.853 and 1.706 MHz respectively. These
values are fractionally too low for our needs but we can adjust the 10.24 MHz reference
crystal frequency quite easily to compensate.

IC2 acts as a simple switch controlled by the TX/RX line which goes low on transmit.
During transmit, the 0.853 MHz square wave is passed to IC3a and during receive the
1.706 MHz square wave is gated through, instead.

53
Now, the original idea was to use a simple transistor mixer to combine the V.C.O. output
with the output from IC2. The difference frequency would then be filtered out by an L-C
'tank' circuit to be passed to the LC7137. This idea failed to work in practice and was
abandoned in favour of the digital approach (Ref. 1) pioneered by Bill Sparks G8FBX and
Colin Horrabin G3SBI.
Instead of mixing and filtering, we simply blank out a certain number of Hz from the
V.C.O. output during each second. The LC7137 does not really care about the waveform
shape since it incorporates digital circuitry itself.
The occasional missing pulse, therefore, causes no problems. Since the count is less than
that produced by the V.C.O. the LC7137 increases the V.C.O. frequency until it receives
the correct average rate of pulses. The object, then, is to remove one V.C.O. pulse for
every square wave which is produced by the 10.24 MHz divider circuit.
You might be tempted to think that simply to differentiate the square wave to form a spike
which drives a monostable would be a satisfactory method of generating a blanking pulse
for each leading edge of the square wave. Well, it would be, were it not for the fact that the
V.C.O. and the 10.24 MHz crystal oscillator are not synchronised.
Also, the length of the blanking pulse needs to be varied between transmit and receive
because the V.C.O. frequency changes. Finally, the length of the blanking pulse would
also have to be adjusted according to the channel frequency which also alters the V.C.O.
frequency. The problem is solved by the use of two "JK Flip-Flops" in IC3. IC3a is
programmed with J high and K low so that each time the clock input CP1 sees the falling
edge of a square wave, output Q1 goes high. This action sets J2 high. (The output of IC3b
has been reset low by the combination of R4/C3 at switch-on and is unaffected at this time
by the state of J2).
Now, thanks to the efforts of Messrs Sparks and Horrabin who developed a way to use a
74COO as an amplifier, we have a nice, sharp V.C.O. pulse waveform appearing from
IC4b and feeding the clock input CP2. (This explanation is not difficult, just 'wordy';
follow the circuit in Fig. 1.)
When CP2 sees the falling edge of a pulse, the contents of input K2 are transferred to /Q2
so this output goes low. IC4d is now disabled so the next V.C.O. pulse from IC4b can not
pass. IC3a input RE1 goes low and resets Q1 low so input K2 goes high. When the next
clock pulse falling edge appears from IC4b it transfers the contents of K2 to the output
which goes high, thus enabling IC4d which can then pass more clock pulses until the next
square wave falling edge hits Cp1.

54
55
By this method we blank out one V.C.O. pulse after the input square wave goes low, reset
the square wave at the end of the blanked V.C.O. pulse, then do nothing until the square
wave input goes low again. Since the circuit entirely eliminates the need for any timing
elements, but relies totally on pulse falling edges, its operation is independent of the
frequencies involved and noods no adjustment.

Practical Considerations
The frequencies can be as high as 19 MHz and the rise times are very short, consequently
pay careful attention to the need to decouple every I.C. with a lnF ceramic capacitor.
Connections must be as short as possible and the risk of interference to the receiver section
of the transceiver can not be stressed too highly. However, this circuit will work on pre-
drilled copper stripboard — I've done it — but better results can be obtained from a printed
circuit board with an earth plane on the component side.
The use of a low-power Schottky device for IC3 is important and IC4 must be a 74HCOO.
A 7400 is definitely not fast enough. The slightly more expensive 74ACOO works well
but, since the pulse rise times are actually shorter, more interference is generated than with
the 74HCOO and this noise affects performance during receive.
Point 'X' goes high on transmit and may be used to control a simple transistor or diode
circuit to add capacitance to the crystal oscillator whose frequency must be lowered slightly
during transmit. If this is not done, the transmit frequency will be some 2 kHz higher than
the receive frequency. A stabilised 5 volt supply is required. I used a 78L05 regulator fed
by a 1OO Ohm resistor from the 13 volt supply, to dissipate most of the power.

Complete Circuit
The final circuit is shown in Fig. 2 and includes a few more components to improve the
repeatability and stability of the basic design. TR3 creates a buffer between IC2 and the
10.24 MHz crystal to eliminate the effects of loading. TR1 is used to load the crystal with
an extra 8.2pF to reduce the frequency during transmit. Since 8.2pF capacitors proved hard
to obtain, I used two pairs of 15pF capacitors with each pair connected in series.
TR2 lights an L.E.D. when pin 14 of IC1 goes high to indicate that the V.C.O. is in lock:
an unnecessary frill, you might think, but it makes the re-tuning of the V.C.O. coil so
much easier. To reduce the chip count, TR5 was introduced and the gating circuit was
modified accordingly. TR4 was introduced to buffer the V.C.O. which otherwise is loaded
by IC5. Some radios tolerated the loading and some did not so this addition ensures correct
operation in any radio.
To simplify fitting the unit to a C.B. radio, a 16 wire ribbon cable with 16 pin header at
each end was used. C15 and C16 were added to remove interference which the ribbon
capacitance caused. Although the interference might have been eliminated by reverting to
individual wires it was considered that the simplified fitting was important and, in any case,
each constructor would connect individual wires in different ways using different lengths
which might cause interference that would be difficult to eradicate.
The unit may also be fitted to a FCC specification radio which employs an LC7132
frequency synthesiser. This I.C. will produce frequencies which are 0.64 MHz lower, on
average, than the LC7137 since it is designed to create the old American 'FCC' band or, as
we now know it, the 'FCC' band. The channel spacings with the LC7132 are irregular
and, for historical reasons, have 'gaps', rather than going in straightforward 10 kHz steps.

56
Normally IC2 would be linked directly to IC4 but, if IC3 is added, there is an option to
lower the frequency band by the use of an extra divider stage. I leave it to you to calculate
the actual frequencies which would be achieved. Note that it might be necessary to adjust
the values of C6 and C7 if this option is used.

Construction
The entire unit can be built on pre-drilled copper strip board but you will never eliminate,
entirely, the interference on receive which is caused by the fast risetime pulses in the logic
circuit. The track layout shown can be made on single- or double-sided copper laminate and
good performance with this layout is guaranteed. The parts are readily available and should
be soldered to the board in the usual way. If a board with a copper ground plane is used,
you will have to use a drill bit to remove the copper from around all holes except those for
leads which are connected to 0 volts. As far as is practicable, these leads should be
soldered on both sides of the board.
For best decoupling performance the board should use 10nF surface mount capacitors on
the underside. These should be fitted last.
Alternatively, you might like to modify the design to suit a different radio such as the
UnidenTM or TandyTM rigs which employ a TC9119 synthesiser chip. In this case the
10.24 MHz divider is simplified since the V.C.O. frequency is not doubled for
transmission but an additive mixing method is employed for both receive and transmit.
Consequently, only the 1.706 MHz division is required. Pinout of the TC9119 and
information about other synthesiser I.C.s is available in The PLL Data Book (Ref. 3).

Fitting and setting up

Fitting the P.C.B. to a C.B. radio is quite straightforward. Use solder wick to de-solder
the LC7137 from the main board and fit this I.C. into the conversion board. Remove the
10.24 MHz crystal from the radio and solder this to the conversion board. Connect the
crystal output from C5 back into the main board at the hole vacated by pin 11 of the
LC7137. The connection to pin 10 is usually not needed since its function is to ground
whatever is connected to it if a 'miscode' is presented to inputs on pins 1 to 8. If a 'Delta
Tune' facility is present, the associated capacitors may need to be removed or they will load
the crystal unacceptably.
The 16 pin header plug should be soldered to the pads vacated by the LC7137. Make sure
that pin 1 goes to pin 1. By the way, the reason for using a 16 way ribbon is that nobody
manufactures a 20 pin header with 0.3" pitch.
Connect the 13 volt supply from the on/off switch to the board. Now, all that remains to be
done is to remove the wax from the V.C.O. coil with the aid of a tooth pick (not a soldering
iron!) and unscrew the ferrite core until the L.E.D. on the conversion board lights for both
transmit and receive. In some receivers you will need to screw the core nearly all the way
out. Tune the output coils for best performance. Do make sure that interference is within
the accepted limits. Peak the receiver coils for best reception then wax all adjusters to
prevent movement.

References:
1) "27 - 29 MHz Conversions". Bill Sparks G8FBH and Colin Horrabin G3SBI. "Radio
and Electronics World" November 1984 and March 1985.

57
2) "How to Convert 'Unconvertible' CB rigs to Work on the Ten-Metre Band". Hugh
Allison. "The Short Wave Magazine" March 1984. 3) "The CB PLL Data Book". Lou
Franklin. ISBN 0-943132-05-3. 4) "The CB Eprom Data Book". Martin Pickering. ISBN
0-943132-16-9 5) "The Midnight Express" CB Radio repair manual. Martin Pickering.

Shopping List

Resistors
5% 0.4W carbon film
100Ω .............R13
560Ω .............R12
1kΩ...............R2, R4, R8, R9, R16, R17
4k7Ω .............R11
10kΩ .............R3, R5, R6, R7, R10, R14, R15
150kΩ.............R1, R18

Capacitors
Ceramic miniature plate
8p2F .............C6, C7
(or use 15pF in series)
multilayer ceramic 1206 size Surface Mount
10nF .............C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,C8,C9,C10,C11,C13,C14,C15,C16
(C12 was originally used to decouple IC3 but was deleted as unnecessary).

Semiconductors
BC238.............TR1, TR2, TR3, TR4 NPN general purpose silicon
BCY77.............TR5 PNP general purpose silicon
5 volt regulator..78L05
1 N4148...........D1
74LS92............IC2
74HC76 ...........IC3 (optional)
74HC76 ...........IC4
74HC00 ...........IC5
LED 3mm dia.

Miscellaneous

P.C. Board l.C. Socket 20 pin/0.3" for IC1 16 way ribbon cable with header each end.
Overall length 60mm.

58
Glossary of Terms • Erasing
Changing every single Bit inside an
• “A” channel Eprom to "1". That is the same as
A frequency between legally allocated CB changing every Byte to 11111111 or FF
channels which may not be used for CB
HEX.
transmissions.
• FET “Field Effect Transistor”
• Actinic
A transistor which changes its internal
Radiating light which can cause a
chemical change. resistance with the voltage applied to its
“gate” connection.
• Address
The number which will select a specific • Gang Banger
A programming unit which can copy the
location in Eprom.
contents of one Eprom into several others
at a time.
• BCD “Binary Coded Decimal”
A binary code in which the usual • Ground
notations for the HEX numbers "A" to
In this context, refers to a zero voltage
"F" are not used.
connection.
• Bit “Binary digit”
• HEX
Represents low voltage or "off' with a
zero and high voltage or "on" with a one. Hexadecimal counting method which
allows counting in sixteens, instead of
tens, before a carry.
• Byte
A group of eight "Bits" which may be
• Hop ... see “A” channel.
written as a combination of eight ones or
zeros or by two Hex digits.
• Inverter
A device which produces an output
• CE “Chip Enable”
voltage which is the opposite to the input
The Eprom is on standby until this pin is
voltage, high or low.
activated.
• LSB “Least Significant Bit”
• Cleaning ... see Erasing. The Binary Digit which represents the
lowest value: by convention, the right-
• Decimal
Normal counting up to ten before a most Bit.
"carry". • MSB “Most Significant Bit”
The Binary Digit which represents the
• Digital Subtraction highest value: by convention, the left-
A method of artificially reducing a most Bit.
frequency count by selectively removing
some of the pulses. • “N” code
• Downmix The binary code, on the input pins of a
The creation of a new (lower) frequency PLL, which determines the internal divide
by mixing one frequency with another ratio (and VCO frequency).
and filtering.
• OE “Output Enable”
All Eprom outputs will be floating until
• Eprom “Erasable, Program- this pin is activated.
mable, Read-Only Memory”
An IC which can store information in the • NC “No Connection”
form of electrical charges.

1
• OTP “One Time Programmable” • VCO "Voltage Controlled Oscillator"
A type of (E)prom which can not be
erased. • Vpp
The IC pin which must be connected to a
• P.C. “Personal Computer” specified voltage in order to allow
programrning of the device.
• PD “Phase Detector”
This PLL pin provides a pulsed output • Zener
whose average voltage, after filtering and A type of diode which produces a specific
smoothing, controls the frequency of the voltage when current flows through it in
VCO. the reverse direction, that is, with the
anode more negative than the cathode.
• PGM “ProGraM”
A suitable voltage pulse on this Eprom
pin will enter into an Eprom the code on
its output data pins, according to the
location code on its input or address pins.
• PLL “Phase Locked Loop”
In this context, refers to an Integrated
Circuit which controls the frequency of
an oscillator according to the "Nt' code
on its inputs.
• Quartz
A mineral which is transparent to light
and, more importantly, to ultra-violet
light.
• Regulator
A device or circuit which produces a
constant voltage output even if the input
voltage varies.
• Skip ... see “A” channel.

• Software
Refers to a microprocessor or computer
program, rather than the circuit
components themselves.

• Switch codes
The binary outputs of a channel switch.

•UV
Ultra Violet light which is invisible to the
human eye and can be harmful.

• Vcc
The IC pin which requires a positive
supply voltage.

• Vdd
The IC pin which is connected to ground.