A Publication for the

Radio Amateur Worldwide

Especially Covering VHF,

UHF and Microwaves

Volume No.36 . Summer . 2004-Q2 . £5.15

Synthesised signal generator for

10 to 1800MHz
Bernd Kaa DG4RBF
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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Contents
Bernd Kaa Synthesised signal generator 66 - 94
DG4RBF for 10 to 1800MHz

Henning-Christof Weddig A modern 50/28MHz converter 95 - 115

DK5LV

Gunthard Kraus Design and realisation of 116 - 124

DG8GB microwave circuits, part 10

Gunthard Kraus Internet Treasure Trove 125 - 127

DG8GB

There are two big articles in this issue. I decided to publish the complete articles
rather than split them over two issues so that anyone who wants to build the
equipment is not left waiting for the second part of the article.
I have also published an old article, from the German magazine UKW Berichte issue
2/1999. This contains more information on the design of inter-digital capacitors. It
was requested by several subscribers following the article on a 100MHz bandpass
filter published in issue 4/2003. There are some older articles that did not get
translated and published, when there is a demand for any of these articles I am
always happy to get them translated and published.
I am always looking for new authors or new articles. The article by Carl Lodström in
issue 1/2004 has already been noticed by an Italian magazine - RadioKit Elettronica
- and they will be translating it into Italian and publishing it later this year. So if you
have an article to publish in VHF Communications it might find it's way into other
foreign publications
I have published this issue a bit earlier than normal because I will be attending the
Ham Radio exhibition at Friedrichshafen when I would normally be posting the
magazines. Hopefully I will meet some of the subscribers at the exhibition
73s - Andy

K M Publications, 63 Ringwood Road Luton, Beds, LU2 7BG, UK

Telephone / Fax +44 (0)1582 581051, email : [email protected]
web : http://www.vhfcomm.co.uk
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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Bernd Kaa, DG4RBF

Synthesised signal generator for

10 to 1800MHz

The construction of a high quality keep the amount of assembly work as

signal generator presents a developer low as possible but would nevertheless
with one challenge after another. Sev- supply a good signal quality, with har-
eral concepts and the most varied monic signals as low as possible. This led
approaches to solutions are presented to the “Syn-1800” synthesizer, a solution
in this article To keep the amount of which has a few interesting details and
assembly and wiring as low as possible, the following performance:
and obtain the best possible signal
quality, the author developed his own • Frequency range: 10MHz -
concept which is described below. 1800MHz in one continuous band
• Smallest frequency division: 1Hz
1. • Precision of frequency dependent on
Introduction TCXO/OCXO used
• Output: 0dBm to +10dBm (+13dBm
to approximately 1500MHz)
A synthesised signal generator can be
used as the signal source for a multitude • Power adjustment: in 0.1dB steps
of measurement and calibration opera- Analogue and digital power
tions. The essential factors in its usability regulation (only approximately
are the range of performance and signal 0.2dB frequency dependence)
quality. • Fully automatic power calibration
(digital levelling)
If we set ourselves the task of construct-
ing a SUPER signal generator to labora- • Digital frequency fine trimming
tory standards of quality, it soon becomes
clear that developing such a piece of Technical data for prototype:
apparatus would require a considerable
amount of time, and furthermore the cost • Spectrum purity: (measured at
of realising it should not be underesti- +7dBm output)
mated. • Harmonic attenuation 15 -1800MHz
: >= 40dB
So a concept was sought for the develop-
ment of this signal generator that would

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 1: Block diagram of the 10 - 1800MHz synthesised signal generator.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 2: Graph of
power regulation
from 10 to
1800MHz.

• Harmonic attenuation at 10MHz : tor is tuned by a 12 bit digital to analogue

34dB converter.
• Spurious attenuation 10 -175 MHz: Both signals are fed into a ring mixer,
>= 40dB enhanced and filtered with a steep low
• Spurious attenuation at 1800 MHz: pass filter. A small part of the signal
37dB generated is fed to the PLL. Only the
VCO is re-adjusted with this control
• LO suppression (2170MHz): 50dB voltage. The necessary reference fre-
Image frequency suppression (2180 - quency of 10.7MHz is generated by a
3970MHz): 34dB - 53dB DDS and fed to the PLL. Using the DDS
to generate the reference frequency, it
• Precision of frequency (with 1ppm becomes possible to set the output signal
TCXO used) At 100MHz and 25°C in 1Hz steps.
Room temperature: after 10 min time
running warm -10Hz: after 20 2.1. Advantages of this concept
minutes -6Hz: after 30 minutes -
3Hz • Expanded frequency range without
band switching.

2. • Good harmonic attenuation without

filter on top.
Operating principle
• The frequency precision is
determined only by a reference
oscillator (TCXO/OCXO).
The block diagram (Fig 1) provides a
view of the individual functional units. • Low construction cost.
The actual frequency synthesiser consists
of a YIG oscillator (2 - 4GHz) and a • Few manual calibration points.
VCO, which runs at approximately • Small space requirement giving a
2170MHz and has a tuning range of only small housing.
approximately 30MHz. The YIG oscilla-

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 3 Circuit diagram of the new micro-controller for the 10 - 1800MHz

synthesised signal generator.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 4: View of the

LCD display
mounted on top of
the micro-
controller board.

2.2. Precise power regulation through 2.3. Cost of implementation

analogue and digital correction Using this concept and a modular con-
The signal generator has analogue power struction procedure, in conjunction with a
regulation, which keeps the level con- micro-controller (AT89-2 board), it was
stant, at approximately 1dB, over the possible to keep the cost of implementa-
entire range. When this is combined with tion comparatively low.
a digital power corrector (corrector val-
ues every 10MHz), a very precise power
setting is obtained. Thanks to a 50Ohm
load at the output, with an additional 3.
amplifier for de-coupling, the output The individual components
level is relatively independent of the
load. Fig 2 shows the level regulation in
the range from 10MHz to 1800MHz with
1dB/Div. These curves were recorded 3.1. AT89-2 microcontroller board
using an HP 8569A spectrum analyser in
MAX HOLD mode, which itself only has A new circuit (Fig 3) and a new micro-
a level precision of approximately +/- controller board (AT89-2 board) were
1dB (top curve in Fig 2). A wobble specially developed for this application,
generator type EIP 931 was used to give with a 4 line LC display. This equipment
a more precise measurement result by can be controlled using push buttons.
means of the SA’s normalising function.
The LC display, with 4 x 20 characters, is
assembled on one small printed circuit
Fig 5: View of the
micro-controller
board with the
LCD display
underneath.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 6: PCB layout

for the AT89-2
micro-controller
board.

board, and the push buttons are on program is saved directly in the micro-
another. These two boards can be posi- controller.
tioned directly on top of the micro-
controller board (Figs 4 and 5). This The board also has a socket for an
dispenses with the expensive wiring for EEPROM (24C64), together with the
an LCD and buttons and also gives the LTC 1286 12 bit AD converter and the
system more operational security. The LTC 1257 12 bit DA converter, with an
micro-controller board can be mounted internal voltage reference of 2.048V.
directly behind the front plate as a com-
plete unit. Additional components are also provided
for on the board for future applications,
The micro-controller board was devel- but the relevant components should not
oped as a single sided board made from be mounted here.
1.5mm thick FR4 material for the
AT89C52, AT89C55 and AT89S53 con- The single row connector strip attaches
trollers from ATMEL (Fig. 6). These the standard 4 x 20 charatcter LCD
single chip micro-controllers need no display (pins 1-14). Pin 15 and pin16 are
EPROM and no external RAM. The also accommodated. They can be used
Fig 7: Component
layout for the
AT89-2 micro-
controller board.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 8: Component
layout for the SMD
parts on the micro-
controller board
plus the LCD
display and
switches

for back lighting. The R1 potentiometer the main board. The components are
adjust the contrast. fitted onto the top and bottom faces in
accordance with the component drawings
The program for the signal generator is in Figs 7 and 8.
stored directly in the AT89C55 proces-
sor. Setup information and calibration The display board has a 14 pin (16 pin)
data are securely saved in a 24C64 connector strip and the processor board
EEPROM and are retained even when the has a 14 pin (16 pin) socket terminal
system is switched off. strip; thus the display can simply be
plugged on but remains detachable.
The narrow button board should be cut
off before the components are fitted onto IC sockets should be used for the micro-

Fig 9: Circuit diagram of the VCO for the 10 - 1800MHz synthesised signal
generator.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 10: The

completed VCO
board.

controller and the EEPROM. If desired, 3.2.1. VCO Operation

the DA and AD converted can be in- The VCO is followed by a doubler stage,
serted into IC sockets. using a BFP 420 from Siemens (Fig. 9).
3.2. VCO assembly This is followed by a three stage band
A narrow band type of VCO is used, pass filter using microstrip circuit tech-
which should have a range of approxi- nology. There is also a filter circuit for
mately 30MHz in the range between the fundamental frequency of the VCO
2100MHz and 2200MHz. The search for (1090MHz) that suppresses it by up to
a suitable VCO for this range turned out 70dB.
to be difficult, but it proved to be
considerably easier to obtain VCO’s with It does not make sense to mount this
an output frequency of around 1000MHz. filter circuit (C10 + C11) unless a spec-
For this reason, a VCO producing ap- trum analyser is available to calibrate it.
proximately 1090MHz was chosen with a Without a filter circuit, the fundamental
doubler stage. frequency can still be attenuated up to
A low pass filter, which would have been approximately 45dB, which is still ad-
needed in any case, was integrated di- equate.
rectly onto the 1.5mm thick epoxy At the output there is a 13 pole “printed”
printed circuit board (FR4). low pass filter, which is laid out for a cut-

Fig 11: PCB layout of the VCO and PA boards.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 12: Component layout of the VCO and PA boards.

off frequency of approximately If no spectrum analyser is present, then

2200MHz and needs no calibration (Fig. calibration is not possible, except using
10). an mW meter. For this purpose, the
trimmer of the band pass filter is turned
to the minimum and then set to an
3.2.2. VCO Assembly instructions overlap of approximately 1mm. The set-
The layout of the 107mm x 35mm VCO ting is then altered from this basic setting
board (FR4), is shown in Fig. 11. The to the maximum value by gently rotating
components are mounted on the compo- the trimmer with a (non-metallic) trim-
nent side in accordance with the compo- ming tool. When the maximum value has
nent drawing in Fig. 12. been found by rotating the trimmer in
each direction and the capacitor plates of
The completed board is fitted into a the trimmer overlap only slightly, the
tinplate housing and well soldered to the calibration is correct. You should expect
earthing side. The board is slightly a signal level of approximately +1.5dBm.
shorter than the standard housing, but You cannot calibrate at the wrong fre-
this is not important. In order to avoid a quency unless you rotate the trimmer too
waveguide effect when a lid is placed on far (approximately halfway); then you’d
top, and to ensure that the higher fre- be calibrating at 1080MHz!
quencies can overcome the low pass filter
without interruption, either a partition If a spectrum analyser is present, the
must be soldered on at the marked point filter circuit trimmer can be set for
following the band pass filter or a piece minimum output of the fundamental fre-
of conductive foam material must quency. This cannot be calibrated prop-
pressed into the upper part of the hous- erly unless the board has been soldered
ing. There are through connections on the into the tinplate housing. Since the filter
board for soldering the partition. circuit has a very narrow bandwidth, a
control voltage of approximately 3.8V
3.2.3. VCO Calibration should be applied to the VCO and the
lid’s capacity should also be taken into

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 13: Circuit diagram of the mixer for the 10 - 1800MHz synthesised signal generator.

75
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

steep flank of the filter is very important,

since it has to suppress the LO signal at
approximately 2190MHz, together with
the image frequencies (Fig. 14).

The output is terminated with a 51Ohm

resistor, which helps to make precise
power regulation possible. For power
regulation (levelling), some power is
sampled before the 51Ohm resistor (R6),
rectified using diode D1 (BAT15) and
fed to an OP (IC3a), which re-adjusts the
attenuator at the mixer input so that the
output is kept constant.
Fig 14: Frequency response of the 21
pole filter at the output of the mixer. Theoretically, such regulation circuits are
extremely simple. In practice, however, it
account. is often difficult, with broad band cir-
cuits of this kind, to obtain an “orderly”
3.3. Mixer assembly operation frequency response. Power levels within
approximately 1 dB can be obtained in
The signal from the YIG oscillator is the frequency range between 10 and
connected to socket BU1 (Fig. 13). Fol- 1800MHz using the circuit presented
lowing an attenuator of approximately here. Fig 2 shows the level regulation in
3dB, the signal is fed to the ADE 42-MH the frequency range indicated at
mixer LO port. Approximately +13dBm 1dB/Div. This curve was again plotted
should be detectable at the LO port, an using an HP 8569A spectrum analyser,
acceptable signal is in the range between using the EIP 931. The lower curve in the
+10dBm and +15dBm. diagram shows the test results.
The mixer can process frequencies be- At first glance, the parallel resistors R9 -
tween 5 and 4200MHz at the LO and RF R11, before the detector diode D1, seem
ports, so that the intermediate range to have no purpose, but these resistors
extends from 5 to 3500MHz. The signal can be used to influence the frequency
from the VCO is connected to socket response of the regulation circuit. If the
BU3. The level is set by means of the resistance value is increased, then the
adjustable PIN diode attenuator (PIN power at the band end is increased, and
diodes), using the BAR61 diode. This is vice versa. Thus varying these resistors
fed to the RF input of the ring mixer via can optimise the frequency response.
a 3dB attenuator.
Digital power setting is achieved using
A 3dB attenuator is also provided at the the LTC 1257 12 bit DA converter (IC4).
(intermediate frequency) mixer output to A defined voltage is applied to pin 3 of
ensure that good phasing is obtained, and the regulation OP. The LTC1257 has an
reflections are kept to a minimum. This is internal voltage reference of precisely
followed by two ERA3 MMIC amplifiers 2.048V. At the output of the DA con-
and a very steep 21 pole low pass filter verter there is an NTC, together with a
with a cut-off frequency of approxi- voltage divider. The resistance ratio of
mately 1900MHz. This filter, which the voltage divider scales the output
DG4RFB developed himself, takes the voltage for power regulation. The NTC
form of a microstrip and has already compensates for the temperature coeffi-
proved itself in various circuits. The

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 15: PCB layout for the mixer and filter.

cient of the detector diode (BAT15). It is 3.3.1. Mixer assembly instructions

possible to obtain quite good temperature The 109mm x 54mm printed circuit
compensation using the NTC. R33 is not board layout for the mixer board is
normally required, and is provided only shown in Fig 15. All components are
to give more options if another divider mounted on the foil side of the board (Fig
ratio is needed on the voltage divider. 16). An IC socket is used for the
The second OP (IC3b) detects situations LTC1257 DA converter. Make sure C12
when the required power is not main- is precisely positioned. When the compo-
tained and lights the UNLEVELED di- nents have been mounted, the board can
ode. be soldered into the tinplate housing. The

Fig 16: Component layout of the mixer.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 17: Picture of

the completed
mixer assembly.

power lead uses of a feedthrough capaci- completed mixer assembly.

tor. It is best to use SMA sockets for the
RF inputs. The output is a flexible RF 3.4. Output amplifier with GAL 6
cable feeding the GAL6 PA.
The mixer board is followed by a sepa-
The circuit diagram shows R31, which rate output amplifier, which consists of a
feeds some power to the PLL. This GAL 6 type MMIC from Mini Circuits.
resistor is not positioned on the board, This component has similar performance
but is soldered on separately and leads to to the ERA 6 and a very smooth fre-
a nearby SMC socket. Fig 17 shows the quency response, together with a high
IP3 of 35.5dBm. It is thus extremely
suitable for maintaining a signal with low
harmonics.

By using this amplifier after the level

regulation, an additional de-coupling
from the output is obtained, so that the
output regulation acts independently to
the load at the output. This means that
even if the connected load is mismatched
the correct power is generated.

The circuit can be seen in Fig 18. The

few components in the “PA” are assem-
bled on a small board (see Fig 11, right)
and then soldered into a small housing, or
protected using a screening box.

The PA’s output should be fitted close to

Fig 18: Circuit diagram of the GAL-6 the output socket of the apparatus. To
output amplifier. simplify the board manufacture, the small

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 19: Circuit

diagram of TCXO
section of the
PLL/DDS
assembly.

board was added the VCO board, and log Devices is used as the DDS.
should be cut off before assembly.
At the output of the DDS is a low pass
3.5. PLL/DDS assembly filter with a cut-off frequency of approxi-
mately 12MHz. This signal is then ampli-
In order to ensure that it can be copied fied by an MSA886 and filtered by a
easily, this assembly is divided into three matched 10.7MHz ceramic filter (Fig
construction sections and the assembly is 20).
described here step by step.
The PLL is contained in construction
3.5.1. PLL/DDS operation section (3). The ADF4112 is used, a
modern component from Analog De-
vices. This PLL operates at up to 3GHz,
Construction section (1) includes the has very good noise values and is used
TCXO, with tuning and frequency tri- here with a pre-divider factor of only 8/9.
pling. A 13MHz (1ppm) temperature The PLL component is programmed
compensated quartz oscillator (TCXO) is through a 3 wire bus by the micro-
used as a frequency reference. An adjust- controller. Anyone interested in finding
able voltage reference (TL431) of ap- out more about this PLL component
proximately 2.5 V is used for the power should consult the 24 page data sheet
supply and tuning voltage. The fine set- from Analog Devices. One important
ting can be adjusted to precisely 13MHz element in the PLL is the loop filter,
using the spindle trimmer. The TCXO is which can be found at pin 2. Low loss
followed by a BF324 frequency multi- foil capacitors should be used for the
plier and a 39MHz band pass filter (Fig loop filter capacitors if possible. Since
19). the PLL has to operate over a very wide
range, the loop filter is naturally never
Construction section (2) concerns the optimally designed. Fortunately, the cur-
DDS, with filter and amplifier stage. The rent for the charge pump can be pro-
DDS generates the reference frequency grammed in 8 stages (0.63mA - 5.0mA),
of the PLL and generates a 10.7MHz so that a certain matching can thus be
signal, which can be tuned in very small achieved to the wide frequency range. An
steps, from the clock frequency of additional problem that has to be over-
39MHz. The familiar AD9850 from Ana- come is that the PLL does not normally
79
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 20: Circuit diagram of the DDS section of the PLL/DDS assembly.

Fig 21: Circuit

diagram of the
PLL section of the
PLL/DDS
assembly.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 22: Track side PCB layout for the PLL/DDS board.

function below 100MHz. Below 3.5.2. PLL/DDS assembly

100MHz a square wave signal can be
used for the drive. Here we simply used Figs 22 and 23 show the PCB layout of
an additional amplifier (MSA886), which the PLL/DDS board and Figs 24 and 25
is connected via the two transistors T2 show the component layout.
and T3. If the power supply for this Construction section (1)
MMIC is switched off, then it works as
attenuation. If it is connected up, then the
subsequent amplifier IC9 is saturated and 1 Through hole plate printed circuit
the PLL operates down to under 10MHz. board and fit into tinplate housing,
The “MUX” output of the PLL is pro- but do not solder it in yet.
grammed as “Lock Detector” switching 2 The pin holes, that are not used as
the LED on if the PLL is locked (Fig earths. must be cleared on the
21). “earthing side”. (Sections 1 and 2

Fig 23: Component side PCB layout for the PLL/DDS board.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 24: Component layout for the PLL/DDS board.

are not needed unless you are 7 In turn, tune each trimmer slowly
making the board yourself) backwards, set them for the
maximum level. Then set the
3 Fit the 3 regulators (78L05) with the trimmer to approximately half.
associated filter electrolytic
capacitors. Then connect up the 12V 8 Use a frequency counter to check for
power supply and check that the 39MHz at (MP1).
voltage is 5V.
Construction section (2)
4 Fit all components for this section
(1). 1 Mount all the components for this
section. Before the DDS IC is
5 Turn trimmers C27 and C28 to soldered in, the soldering pads are
maximum capacity. tin-plated on the board. The IC can
6 Connect an mW meter to (MP1). then be soldered on, using a small

Fig 25: SMD component layout for the PLL/DDS board.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 26: Completed

PLL/DDS unit.

SMD soldering iron, without adding Once it has been switched on, the
any more solder. The solder on the DDS IC is provided with the
board should suffice. It is helpful to required data and a 10.7MHz signal
use a magnifying glass when should be available on (MP3) at
soldering on this IC. But at any rate approximately. +3dBm.
the soldering must be inspected
using a magnifying glass. Don’t 3 If a spectrum analyser is available,
forget solder bridges at K6. then this signal should be set with
C27+C28 at the lowest noise level.
2 To check the functioning of this (But this is not absolutely
construction section, the micro- necessary.)
controller must be connected to K6.
Construction section (3)

1 Mount all the components for this

section. The PLL IC can be soldered
in using the same technique as in
construction section 2. When
connecting up the LED D1 at K2,
don’t forget the resistor.
2 The PLL cannot be tested until all
assemblies have been wired together.

Figs 26 show the PLL/DDS assembly

3.6. YIG oscillator

A YIG oscillator with a frequency of 2 -
4GHz is used as the main oscillator.
These oscillators have recently become
available on the surplus market at reason-
able prices. Fig 27 shows the YIG used
Fig 27: YIG oscillator used in the from Avantek.
prototype.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 28: Circuit diagram of the YIG driver.

3.7. YIG driver value (Fmin), Fig 28. The oscillator can
thus be best matched to the tuning condi-
A YIG oscillator has at least two tuning tions. A reverse coupling through R7
coils, the main coil which is designated serves to make sure that the frequency
as “TUNE” and is used for tuning over remains stable when the oscillator warms
the entire range and the FM coil for fine up. An important factor here is the
tuning or FM modulation. The frequency resistor R10, which consists of 20cm of
of the YIG oscillator is proportional to constantan wire (10 Ohm/m) and which
the current that flows through the tuning is made into a small air-core coil. This
coil. Thus a YIG driver is also needed to circuit has proved itself extremely well in
drive the oscillator. The circuit variant practice. The BDX 54B power transistor
used has a setting for the tuning gradient must be mounted on a heat sink. Fig 31
(Fmax), plus the addition of an offset shows this board. The micro-controller

Fig 29: PCB layout for the YIG driver.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 30: Component layout fro the

YIG driver
must be connected to the YIG driver
using a screened cable. The option 01
which is specified on the wiring diagram Fig 31: The completed YIG driver
and the components drawing is not fitted. assembly.
Figs 29 and 30 show the PCB layout for
the YIG driver and Fig 31 shows the
completed assembly. For this purpose, a diode detector with a
frequency response as good as possible
3.8. RF ON/OFF must be connected to the AD converter
(LTC1286). This 12 bit AD converter is
The 12V supply voltage of the VCO and completely matched at an input voltage
the YIG oscillator is connected so that of +2.048V. But since a diode detector
the RF output of the signal generator can gives only approximately 1.2V at an
be switched on and off. Two FET’s are input of +13dBm, we still need some
used for this purpose, see Fig 32 which further amplification for this DC voltage.
shows the small circuit. Most detectors output a negative voltage.
A simple OP connected as a DC voltage
3.9. DC amplifier for automatic amplifier can solve both problems. The
calibration OP can be switched to accommodate a
detector with negative or positive volt-
The signal generator has an automatic age. The amplification is matched to the
calibration function, which makes it pos- detector by means of a potentiometer. Fig
sible for it to keep the output very 33 shows the circuit. Since this amplifier
constant over the entire frequency range. consists of only a pair of components, the
Fig 32: Circuit
diagram for the
RF On/Off
control.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 33: Circuit diagram for the calibration amplifier showing the two
alternatives for positive or negative inputs plus a PCB layout.

simplest way to assemble it is on a small 4.

breadboard or using the “open air” tech-
nology. The input of this amplifier is best General assembly instructions
fitted on the rear face of the signal
generator (BNC socket).
For a DIY board, the through platings are
manufactured using 1.4mm compression

Fig 34: Example of

through hole
plating.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 35: Power

supply compo-
nents mounted on
the rear panel of
the unit.

rivets (cable sheaths). This also applies to hammer. The cable sheaths prepared in
the MMIC’s. A large through plating is this manner are then pressed into the
positioned at each connection to earth of board and soldered above and below. The
the ERA3. The through platings are ends left over on the bottom side are then
already present on industrially manufac- ground off or filed off. Fig 34 shows the
tured boards. through platings.

4.1. Instructions on through plating 4.2 Incorporation into a housing

For high-frequency circuits it is very If a small housing is used, as for the
important to make sure the connections prototype, then a small fan (CPU fan, as
to earth are good. On a double sided used in computers) should be built into
board, the underside (earthing surface) is the rear panel. The fan can be set to run
the only correct earth for high frequency slowly and thus gently by means of a
use. If the earth needs to be on the suitable series resistor. This ensures uni-
topside of the board, make sure there is a form temperature conditions and thus
good, low inductance through plating. It stable values for the frequency and the
is important in this context that the output.
shortest route earths as many “surfaces”
as possible. This can be achieved by 4.3. Power supply
manufacturing several small through
platings or one big through plating. The It is very advantageous if the transformer
use of relatively large compression rivets used is not placed in the signal generator
has proved efficacious for DIY etched housing, since even well screened trans-
boards. I use cable sheaths made from formers transfer a 50Hz hum to the
copper for this purpose, which are avail- circuit. The author uses a transformer
able at reasonable prices for 0.5 / 0.75 with connecting cables which deliver 2 x
square cable. The external diameter is 12V AC voltage at 1A. The rectification
then 1.4 / 1.8mm. The head of the cable and stabilisation then takes place in the
sheaths is knocked flat before being apparatus itself. Fig 35 shows the bridge
soldered into the board. This can be done rectifiers, voltage regulator and filter
simply, by generating an appropriate hole electrolytic capacitor, which are mounted
in a piece of metal, inserting the cable directly on the rear panel of the housing.
sheaths into this hole and knocking the For this version of the power supply, a
head flat with a light blow from a two pole switch must be used.

87
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Table 1: Interconnections between assemblies.

Micro-controller Mixer Board Port Plug Pin Function

K17 2 P0.1 K3 1 DAC cl k

K17 3 P0.6 K3 2 DAC data
K17 4 P0.7 K3 3 DAC load

Micro-controller PLL/DDS board Port Plug Pin Function

K4 8 P3.7 K4 3 PLL LE
K4 7 P3.6 K4 2 PLL data
K4 6 P3.5 K4 1 PLL clk
K7 1 P2.0 K6 3 DDS soldering pad
K7 2 P2.1 K6 2 DDS data
K4 6 P3.5 K6 1 DDS clk
K4 4 P3.3 K2 MUX/PLL error
K4 5 P3.4 K7 Hi/Lo for PLL
K4 1 P3.0 RF On/Off switch
K5 8 P1.7 RF On/Off button

4.4. Inter-connecting assemblies 2 Turn “Fmin” potentiometer all the

way to the right.
Table 1 and Fig 36 show the interconnec-
tions and will be of assistance for wiring 3 Turn “Fmin” potentiometer all the
up the assemblies. way to the left, until a reading of
approximately 25MHz appears at the
output.
4 Set the Syn 1800 signal generator to
5. 10MHz and connect the tune voltage
from the DA converter to the YIG
Putting into operation and driver. The frequency must now
calibration increase to approximately 35MHz.
5 Use “Fmin” to select 35MHz.

The YIG driver must be set first. At this 6 Set Syn 1800 signal generator to
point, the tune voltage, which comes 1010MHz and use “Fmax” to
from the DA converter, has not yet been calibrate at approximately1035MHz.
connected to the YIG driver. Nor has the 7 Now connect the regulator voltage
VCO regulator voltage, which comes from the PLL to the VCO. The PLL
from the PLL. should now engage and the output
frequency is then 1010MHz.
The calibration on the YIG driver then
proceeds step by step. 8 If everything has gone right so far,
measure the regulator voltage on the
1 Connect spectrum analyser or VCO again and use “Fmin” to select
frequency counter to the output. approximately 3.8 to 4.0V.

88
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 36: Diagram

showing the
interconnections
between the
various assemblies.

Finally, the calibration function (PWR) regulator voltage. Re-balance if

must be carried out for the power, and necessary, using “Fmax”. (3.8 –
immediately afterwards the fully auto- 4.0V)
mated calibration function (FRQ) can be
carried out for the digital frequency • Should the PLL not engage at
response correction. Both functions are 10MHz, check the regulator voltage
described in greater detail below. on the VCO. Increase it to 4.0 to
4.2V if necessary.
Help Frequency calibration

• Should the PLL not engage in the After a warm up period of approximately
range between 10 and approximately 15 minutes, the output frequency can be
100MHz, check whether the Hi/Lo set, using the R5 trimmer, at the TXCO,
switching for the PLL reference with the help of a precise frequency
frequency is functioning correctly. counter. A fine adjustment can also be
carried out later using software.
• Should the PLL not engage at the
top end of the band, check the
89
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 37: Display showing the five

operating buttons. Fig 38: Display showing setup menu.

6.
Setup functions
Operation and functions of
software • PWR = power calibration (and
balancing of R34)
• FRQ = fully automatic frequency
The display used has 4 lines, so that the calibration
lowest line can be used for annotating • TRIM = fine trim for precision of
buttons positioned beneath it. frequency
Fig 37 shows the display with the 5 • S1 = switchover parameters for S1
operating buttons below the display and /High/Low switching of PLL
the two separate buttons near the display.
• END = end of setup menu
The first two buttons below the display 6.1 Power calibration
can be used to move the cursor (in the
diagram is under the 2) right or left. The Before the calibration routines are carried
frequency buttons (near the display) can out, the equipment should be allowed to
then be used to change the corresponding warm up for about 15 minutes.
position of the frequency. Since the fre-
quency setting is programmed with an Set the frequency to 100MHz and acti-
overrun, the frequency can be adjusted vate the button [PWR] in the setup menu.
simply and quickly. The message: CAL Min (R34) appears.
Now you must connect an mW meter to
The next two buttons below the display the output of the signal generator, using
are used to adjust the output in 0.1dB R34 on the mixer board set the minimum
steps. Here a progressive adjustment level (approximately -10dBm to -5dBm).
speed has been used, which again makes Then activate the button [SET].
it easier to operate. The fifth button (S1)
has two functions: a short press means Now the power is calibrated in 1dB steps
the high/low switching for the PLL is between +13dBm and 0dBm, with the
manually altered. If this button is pressed mW meter remaining connected for this
for approximately 3 seconds the display purpose.
will change to the setup menu, which can
be seen in Fig 38. Now the message: CAL +13dBm
XXXX appears

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 39: Display for automatic

frequency calibration. Fig 40: Display showing High/Low
switching parameters.
Using the cursor button [< >], set the
power to +13dBm. The 4 digit number, approximately 25 minutes. Some more
which is displayed behind +13dBm, detailed information on the significance
should lie somewhere between 3000 and of the values displayed during the cali-
3500. Should the value lie outside this bration procedure:
range, the voltage divider after the DA
converter (LTC1257) should be adjusted. • 1st line: shows the theoretical value
If +13dBm is selected, this is confirmed for the ADC at the corresponding
with the button [SET]. Next,: CAL power level
+12dBm XXXX appears. Set the power
level to the pre-set power of +12dBm, • 2nd line: shows the instantaneous
once again using the cursor button [< >], frequency
and confirm using [SET]. Repeat this
procedure down to 0dBm. • 3rd line: shows the actual value for
the ADC
6.2 Fully automatic frequency • 4th line: shows the difference
calibration detected, which is saved in the
EEPROM as a correction value.
Immediately after carrying out the power
calibration for +13dBm to 0dBm, you The process is terminated automatically
should carry out the fully automatic and the system returns to normal mode.
frequency calibration. Connect up a good Every time this routine is carried out, the
diode detector to the output of the signal pre-setting for the high/low PLL switch-
generator and connect the DC voltage ing is subsequently set to +8dBm.
output of the detector to the input of the
DC amplifier (OPV) on the rear panel of 6.3 Trim - fine trim for precision of
the equipment. When the button [FRQ] is frequency
activated in the setup menu, the display
shown in Fig 39 appears. The four-digit
number that is displayed in the second This function can be used to fine trim the
line is the value for the AD converter. Set output frequency. The value is set using
the OPV amplification so that a value the cursor button and confirmed with
between 3900 and 4000 is displayed. If [SET].
the [START] button is pressed, the fully
automatic frequency response calibration 6.4 Switching parameter for high/low
is started. You can follow the process on switching of PLL
the display. The complete procedure lasts

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 41: Output signal

plot of the 10 -
1800MHz synthesised
signal generator.

EEPROM are not deleted.

The parameters for the high/low switch-
ing of the PLL can be selected here if 6.8 Signal plots
necessary The switching frequency can
be selected first, using the cursor button, Figs 41 an 42 show harmonics and signal
and confirmed using [SET]. Next the quality at various frequencies from
second line shows the power reading at 100MHz to 1800MHz.. The plots were
which switching should take place. This carried out using an HP8569A spectrum
can be selected in the same way. See Fig analyser.
40.
6.9 Boards
6.5 End of setup menu If there is sufficient demand, the author
Pressing the button [END] will end the will have some boards manufactured pro-
setup menu. fessionally. Individual YIG oscillators
and VCO’s are also still available. En-
6.6 Digital Level ON/OFF quiries by E-Mail please to:
[email protected]
If the fifth button (S1) is pressed and held
down, the digital power correction can be Any modifications or improvements can
switched on and off alternately. be found on the author’s homepage.
6.7 Reset function www.DG4RBF.de

If the first cursor button is pressed and The author has been using the signal
held down, the default parameters will generator for approximately 1 year and it
return. But the calibration data in the works perfectly.

Fig 42: Output signal

plot of the 10 - 1800MHz
synthesised signal
generator.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Table 2: Parts list for micro- R3 1.5KΩ

controller. R4 22Ω
IC1 24C64 C1 100pF
IC2 LTC1286 C2 2.2pF
IC3 AT89C55 C3,5 5pF Sky
IC4 7805 C6,8 10µF
IC5 LTC1257 C7 1µF
R1 5KΩ C9,12 1nF
R2,7,8 10Ω C10 5pF
R3 10KΩ C11 2.7pF
R4 1KΩ L1 0.1µH
R5 8 x 10KΩ K1,2 K1 x 1
R6 100Ω BU1 SMA with cable or semi
R12,13 10Ω ridgid
C1 3.3µF Table 4: PA parts list.
C2,9,13 100nF
C3,4 27pF IC1 GAL-6
C5,7,8 10µF R1 47Ω
C6 2.2nF R2 39Ω
C10,11 10µF C1,2,3 1nF
C12 0.1µF C4 1µF
C14 10µF BU1,2 SMA
K1 K1 x 16 K1 K1 x 1
K2,3,7,9 K1 x 2
K4,5 K1 x 8 Table 5: PLL/DDS parts list.
K6,22 K1 x 3
K8 K1 x 5 IC1 ADF4112
K12,18,23 K1 x 2 IC2,5,6 78L05
K16,20 K2 x 5 IC3 TL431 (2.5v)
K17,21 K1 x 4 IC4 AD9850
LCD1 LCD20 x 4 IC7,8,9 MSA886
Q1 18.432MHz T1 BF324
SW-11 Conrad #705115 T2 IRF9520
4 x black caps Conrad ~705115 T3 2N7000
1 x Yellow cap Conrad # 705078 R1,19 4.7K
R2,14,25,26 51
Table 3: Parts list for VCO.
R3 3.3K
R4,9,10,29 1K
IC1 78L09 R5 680
T1 BFP420 R6 220K trimer
VC01 VCO R7,12,13 22K
R1 390Ω R8 470K
R2 22KΩ R11 24

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

R15 150 T2 2N7000

R16,17,18 100K D1 IN4148
R20 1.5K R1,9,12 1K
R21 6.8K R2,11 10K
R22 470 R3,4 22K
R23,24 150 R5 4.7K
R27 47K R6 47K
R28 100K R7 3.9K
R30 22 R8 15
C1 100pF R10 2 (see text)
C2,30,31 1nF C1 10nF
C3 6.8nF C2,3 1.5F
C4 0.047F C4 0.22F
C5 56pF C5 100F
C6 100pF C6 470F 6.3v
C7,24,34,35 4.7nF C7 100nF
C8,9,36,37 10F C8 0.1F
C10,11,12 2.2nF C9,10 1F
C13,14,15 10F C11 10F
C16 22nF K1-6 K1 x 1
C17,20 270pF OSC1 YIG 2-4GHz
C18,19 560pF
C21,22,23,32,33 10nF 7.0
C25 4.7pF
C26 2.2pF Parts lists
C27,28 45pF trimer
C29 10pF
C38 1F Tables 2 - 6 show the parts lists for the
C39 100nF main assemblies
L1,2,3 1H
L4 10H
L5,6 0.47H
TCX01 TCXO 13.00MHz 8.0
D1 LED Literature references
F1 SFE10.7MA
K1,2,3 K1 x 1
K4,5,7 K1 x 4 [1] Author’s homepage:
K6 K1 x 3 www.DG4RBF.de

Table 6: YIG parts list. [2] Author’s E-mail address:

[email protected]
IC1 TL431 (2.5v) [3] Analog Devices data sheet
IC2 OP27J www.analog.com
Y1 BDX54B
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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Henning-Christof Weddig, DK5LV

A modern 50/28MHz converter

The author presented some of his re- barrier layer FET in a gate circuit [4] at
flections on the design of very linear the front end.
front ends for the VHF and UHF
bands in two papers read at the Wein- When the converter is used in fixed
heim VHF Congresses, [1], [2]. The operation, the front end (LNA) should be
author came third in the radio equip- mounted directly at the base of the
ment section of the DIY competition at antenna, and only the actual converter
the Weinheim VHF Congress in 2003 should be in the shack, i.e. near the
with a preliminary version of the cir- receiver. For this reason, the converter
cuit described here. presented here is made up of two assem-
blies:

1. • The external unit, a pre-amplifier

The Concept • The internal unit, the converter.
Not having a special licence for 50MHz,
I shall describe only the receive converter
The good inter-modulation test results for here. I am planning to expand the system
the HMJ-5 mixer by Watkin Johnson for to include a transmit converter.
another project played a decisive role
when it came to a mixer for this project.
The satisfactory use of the low noise RF
2360 broad band amplifier from RF 2.
Microdevices as an LNA [9] was like- Specimen equipment data
wise a crucial factor in the decision to try
out this component in a 50MHz con-
verter.
2.1. Pre-amplifier data
Many texts have already been published
on the subject of 50MHz converters (e.g. • Noise factor F: < 2dB (not
VHF Communications [3], and Funka- measured due to lack of measuring
mateur [4]). But these units are only equipment)
constructed with the standard Schottky
diode mixers (class 7dBm or 17dBm) and • Amplification G: 18.3dB, -0.2dB
with a Dual gate MOSFET [3] or a (transmission)

95
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

• Input intercept point: +18dBm (Pin = complete receiver, is divided up into

2 * -12dBm, d3 = 58.7dB) assemblies, such as pre-amplifier, mixer,
filter, etc.
• Output intercept point: +36dBm
(calculated from input intercept The following data concerning the indi-
point) vidual assemblies are from the data sheet
• 1dB compression point: +25dBm specifications or from test data:

• Power supply: 12-15V; 150mA • Noise factor

2.2. Converter data • 1dB compression point
• Noise factor F: approximately 8dB • Intercept point
(simulation)
The values for the entire system can be
• Amplification G: -7.5dB determined from this data. By varying
(simulation), -8.4dB (measured) the parameters of individual assemblies,
the user can easily study the influence of
• Input intercept point: +41dBm specific parameters on the entire system
(simulation), +30.5dBm (measured) without having to assemble the circuit
(Pin = 2 * 0dBm, d3 = 61 dB) and make all the measurements.
• Power supply.: 12 -15V;
approximately 140mA 3.1. LNA system simulation
2.3. Data for combination of LNA and The IC RF 2360 (from RF Microde-
converter vices), which has proved its worth in
another project, is used for the amplifier
• Noise factor F: 4dB (noise factor of in the LNA [9]. Its upper limiting fre-
amplifier 10dB corresponding to – quency is 1.5GHz, so strong out of band
110dBm for 20dB SINAD of signals must be kept away from the
amplifier for SSB bandwidth) amplifier IC by filters.
• Sensitivity -116dBm (noise factor The filter in front of the amplifier should
of amplifier 10dB) (SSB bandwidth) display the lowest possible insertion loss,
• Amplification G: 10.2dB, measured since this has a direct influence on the
without attenuation of coax cable in noise factor of the entire system. An
between) attenuation of 0.5dB appears achievable.

• Input intercept point: +14.4dBm The LNA is connected to the signal path
(Pin = 2 * -21dBm, d3 = 70dB) by two coax relays, and a value of 0.2dB
has been assumed for the transmission
• Output intercept point: +25dBm loss of each relay for the simulation.
(calculated from input intercept
point) A low pass filter at the output of the
LNA increases the attenuation as the
frequencies become higher. For the RF
3. 2360, the data sheet specifications [15] (
System simulation F = 1.2dB, G = 20dB, OPIP3 = +36dBm,
P1dB = 24dBm) were used.

The intercept point for each of the pas-

In system simulation a system, e.g. a sive assemblies (coax relay, filter) was

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 1: System simulation for the LNA of the 28/50MHz converter.

given a value of +100dBm. This value is 3.2. System simulation of converter

for real filters, which are assembled The converter consists of the following
using ferrite materials. This is unrealistic, assemblies:
but can be used as an approximation for a
starting point at low input levels.
• Input filter (insertion loss = noise
The system simulation of the LNA can factor = 3dB)
be seen in Fig. 1. The data obtained for • HMJ-5 mixer (data sheet specifica-
SSB operation (bandwidth 2.4kHz) can tions: mixer loss 6dB, noise factor
be found in column 1 of Table1. 7dB, IPIP3 = +38dBm; OPIP3 =
IPIP3 + G =+38dBm – 6dB =
Table 1: Simulation data for the LNA, Converter and both.

Simulation data LNA Converter Both

Noise figure F 1.91dB 12.98dB 3.41dB

Input for 20dB SINAD -118.27dBm -107.2dBm -116.76dBm
Amplification G 18.6dB -12.5dB 3.1dB
Input intercept (IPIP3) 17.9dbM 41.0dBm 16.44dBm
Output intercept (OPIP3) 36.5dBm 28.5dBm 19.45dBm
Intermod. (SFRD3) 104.11dB 112.13dB 102.14dB

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 2: System simulation for the converter of the 28/50MHz converter.

+32dBm), P1dB = 16 dBm (assumed No 1dB compression point is specified

value, not specified in data sheet) for the HMJ-5 from Watkin Johnson, so
• diplexer insertion attenuation = noise it was assumed to be 10dB below the
number = 0.5dB) intercept point.

• output band filter (insertion The system simulation for the converter
attenuation = noise number = 3dB) can be seen in Fig. 2. The data obtained
(sensitivity and inter-modulation free dy-
There are not many details in the litera- namic range [SFRD3] in SSB mode;
ture concerning the noise factors of pas- bandwidth 2.4kHz) can be seen in col-
sive mixers. For Schottky diode mixers, umn 2 of Table 1.
the noise factor should be approximately
0.5dB higher than the mixed attenuation.
The results for the two intercept points
are amazing: the output intercept point is
The HMJ- 5 is a passive FET mixer; on lower than the input intercept point! But
the basis of the data sheet specifications, since the amplification of the converter is
a value was assumed for the noise factor negative, and the output intercept point is
which was 1dB higher than the mixed formed by adding the input intercept
attenuation. point (in dB) to the amplification of the
converter, this apparent contradiction can
According to the manufacturer’s specifi- be explained.
cations, the intercept point for Schottky
diode ring mixers from Mini Circuits can If we compare the OPIP3 of the LNA
be calculated as being 10 to 15dB higher with the IPIP3 of the converter, we see
than the 1dB compression point. that the converter has a lower value. The

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

converter thus determines the total IP.

3.3. System simulation for the

combination of the LNA and the
converter
The system simulation of the inter-con-
nected assemblies, the LNA and the
converter, can be seen in Fig. 3. An
attenuation of 3dB was assumed for the
coax cable between the two assemblies.
The entire system thus obtains the values
in column 3 of Table 1.

The intercept point of the amplifier in the

LNA accounts for the biggest fraction
(IP3+ = 5.46dBm) of the total intercept
point.

If this converter is inter-connected with

an amplifier (the receiver of a trans-
ceiver) to make a total system, the re-
ceiver must have a higher input intercept
point than the OPIP3 of the converter, so
that the total system is not degraded any
further.

If the following data are assumed for the

transceiver:

• noise factor F: 10dB

• IPIP3: +30dBm
• amplification G: 0dB
we obtain values for the entire system
corresponding to Fig. 4 and column 1 of
Table 4.

Note: The amplification for a real re-

ceiver is normally greater than 0dB, but
this value was specified as being this low
so that the OPIP3 of the total system
could be seen more easily.

Although the total intercept point has

Fig 3: System simulation for the only degraded by 3dB, the sensitivity and
complete 28/50MHz converter. the inter-modulation free dynamic range
drop by 5dB.

If the input intercept point of the trans-

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Table 2: Data of input intercept values Table 3: Data of noise figure values
for the transceiver amplifier for the transceiver amplifier
IPIP3 of transciver Total system Noise figure of Total system
amplifier dBm IPIP3 dBm Transceiver amp. dB Noise figure dB
18 12.94 1 3.81
19 13.48 2 4.12
20 13.96 3 4.48
21 13.39 4 4.90
22 14.76 5 5.38
23 15.07 6 5.91
24 15.34 7 6.50
25 15.57 8 7.14
26 15.76 9 7.84
27 15.92 10 8.58
28 16.05 11 9.36
29 16.15 12 10.18
30 16.24 13 11.03
ceiver is further reduced, the total IP glance, for it is generally assumed (see
deteriorates in accordance with Table 2. article by DJ7VY in [15]) that, due to the
high amplification of the LNA (100 x
We see that no dramatic deterioration in power amplification), the following
the total IP occurs until the IPIP3 of the stages have only a slight effect (1/100)
transceiver is in the order of magnitude on the noise factor of the total system!
of the input IPIP3 of the LNA and the
converter combined. This statement is correct for the inter-
connection of the LNA and the converter.
The considerable increase in the total Why does what is still a high noise factor
noise factor is also unsatisfactory. Table for the transceiver have such an effect on
3 shows the interconnection, with the the total noise factor?
total noise factor as a function of the
noise factor of the transceiver. If we look at the input level associated
with each individual noise factor (e.g. for
Here too, we can see a dramatic deterio- 20dB SINAD, SSB-bandwidth =
ration in the total noise factor if the noise 2.4kHz), a noise factor of 3dB means an
factor of the amplifier exceeds that of the input signal of -117dBm, a noise factor
system combining the LNA and the of 13dB then corresponds to a signal of -
converter. This result is amazing at first 107dBm = 1µV / 50Ω.

Table 4: Simulation data for the LNA and transceiver amplifier, "new"
converter and both.
Simulation data LNA, converter "New" converter Both
& transceiver amp.
Noise figure F 10.59dB 8.31dB 4.34dB
Input for 20dB SINAD -109.58dBm -111.86dBm -115.83dBm
Amplification G 3.1dB -7.50dB 12.8dB
Input intercept (IPIP3) 16.75dBm 35.0dBm 11.7dBm
Output intercept (OPIP3) 19.85dBm 27.50dBm 24.50dBm
Intermod (SFRD3) 97.55dB 111.24dB 98.35dB

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

So if the system consisting of the LNA,

the converter and the transceiver should
generate a total noise factor of 3dB, the
amplification of the LNA and the con-
verter should be at least 10dB!

The amplification of the system consist-

ing of the LNA and converter, however,
is only 3.1dB, since all the stages after
the LNA weaken the signal.

So it seems natural to assume that an

additional amplifier could be inserted
between the converter and the transceiver
to increase the amplification again. Even
if this amplifier were completely free
from inter-modulation, it would increase
the requirements on the intercept point of
the transceiver!

As an experiment, an amplifier (F = 3dB,

G = 4dB, OPIP3 = 29dBm) is connected
into the converter combination between
the diplexer and the output band filter.
The noise factor of the total system,
including the booster, is reduced from
8.58dB by approximately 2dB to 6.37dB,
but the total IPIP3 is reduced from
16.24dBm to 14.2dBm (IPIP3 of ampli-
fier +30dBm).

With an IPIP 3 for the amplifier of

+20dBm, we have a deterioration of the
total IPIP3 to 11dBm.

We thus recognise that the improvement

in sensitivity due to the loss of the
intercept point has to be paid for.

If you wish to avoid this disadvantage

and, if at all possible, to manage without
an additional amplifier at the output of
the mixer in the converter, the attenua-
tion values of the band filter must be
reduced. This cannot be paid for with
these band filters, in view of the basic Q
Fig 4: System simulation for the of the coils (80 - 100), except through a
complete 28/50MHz converter. correspondingly high bandwidth.

The attenuation of the feed cable, at 3dB,

appears to be set decidedly high. If this is

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 5: System simulation for the "new" 28/50MHz converter.

replaced by a cable attenuation of 2dB tions reduce the sensitivity.

(e.g. approximately 30m RG 213) and an
insertion attenuation of 0.5dB for each
band filter and for the diplexer, we then
obtain the following results for the sys- 4.
tem calculation for the new converter;
see Fig. 5 and Table 4, column 2. Description of circuit
If the new converter is connected to the
LNA and the transceiver, the system
simulation (Fig. 6) gives us the data in 4.1. LNA
Table 4, column 3. The band filter and Fig. 7 shows the circuit diagram for the
connection cable attenuation values are amplifier assemblies (LNA).
set lower, and the input level is selected
in such a way that, for SSB bandwidths To avoid any degradation of the high
(2.4kHz), 20dB SINAD is obtained. level signal strength performance of the
converter, a low noise broadband ampli-
In spite of the amplification for the LNA fier - type RF 2360 – is used, as in [9].
and the converter of 12.8dB, we only
obtain a level of sensitivity which is Provision must be made for selection at
lower than what we would expect to the input and output, so that the system
obtain from the receiver (-107dBm) and as a whole (LNA, converter and ampli-
the increase in amplification (12.8dB). fier) is not unnecessarily burdened with
However, the reason lies in the fact that out of band signals that are too strong
the LNA and converter assemblies are (shortwave, VHF range, etc.).
not noise-free, and their noise contribu-
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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

The input filter was calculated and simu-

lated with the help of the “RFSim99”
program as a 20MHz wide Butterworth
filter.

Compared with Chebyshev filters, But-

terworth filters are easier to calibrate,
since they only have to be calibrated to
the maximum of the transmission curve
and not, in addition, to the specified
return loss and/or ripple in the transmis-
sion range.

The filter circuit with the original compo-

nent values can be seen in Fig. 8; the
simulation result can be seen in Fig. 9.
The insertion loss at the mean frequency
is consequently only 0.2dB.

The calculated component values can

very easily be achieved; individual heli-
cal filter coils (Neosid 511830) can be
used for the inductances of the parallel
resonant circuits.

If the bandwidth is reduced to 10MHz,

the inductances of the parallel circuits are
reduced by half, the capacitances are
doubled; the inductance of the series
circuit is doubled, and the capacitance of
the series capacitor is halved. However,
the realisation of this filter appears to be
too difficult.

A test assembly of the 20MHz wide filter

on tinplate produced a low insertion loss
of 0.5dB; a printed circuit board assem-
bly gave an insertion loss of 0.65dB
(Figs. 10 and 11).

In order to obtain better attenuation on

the lower filter flank, the mean frequency
of the filter was pushed up compared to
the simulation, and the return loss in the
transmission range was expanded.

Fig 6: System simulation for the A Neosid 5036 coil was used as the
complete 28/50MHz converter. series coil of the filter in the specimen
equipment. But the coil’s core had to be
screwed right in. It is better to use type
5048 (rated value < 1µH), as shown in

103
104
Fig 7: Circuit diagram of masthead amplifier for the 28/50MHz converter.
VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 8: Circuit
diagram of the
50MHz bandpass
filter.

the circuit diagram (Fig. 7). A test on a characteristics. An SMD coil (Q approxi-
specimen Neosid 5048 coil using an mately 30) can be used for the induct-
inductance meter (R&S LARU) revealed ance, without affecting the insertion loss
that the desired value of 795nH can be too badly. The simulation of the low-pass
obtained easily. filter can be seen in Figs. 12 and 13.

The low pass filter at the output of the For transverter mode to be used, or in
LNA was calculated for a reference order not to overload the subsequent
frequency of 60MHz and for Chebyshev amplifier when the input signals are
strong, the LNA can be switched into the
signal route using coax relays. This is
why connections S16 and S18 are pro-
vided on the printed circuit board.

If there is a remote power supply, the

power supply and/or the supply voltage
for the coax relays of the LNA come
from the internal conductor of the con-
verter coax relay via St2, the de-coupling
choke, L2, and the blocking capacitor,
C1, to St7.

If the power supply for the LNA has to

come from an externally fed voltage and
Fig 9: Simulated performance of the the relays Rel1 and Rel2 have to be
50MHz bandpass filter.

Fig 10: Measured performance of the Fig 11: Measured wide band
50MHz bandpass filter. performance of the 50MHz filter.
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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 12: Circuit diagram of the 60MHz

low pass filter.
Fig 13: Simulated performance of the
switched through, St7 has to be con- 60MHz low pass filter.
nected to St8 and St6 to St3.
For 50Ω system impedances, according
The power supply voltage and switching to the test circuit (broadband matching 5
voltage can be fed in separately through to 1500MHz), a series inductance of
their own cable. 4.7nH is provided for in the input. The
power supply voltage is fed to the output
The RF 2360 amplifier is designed for via a 1µH choke and the coupling capaci-
cable television applications (CATV) and tor reading is 10nF.
can be operated in accordance with the
data sheet, or else in a system where The circuit diagram also shows two
there is a 50Ω or 75Ω system impedance striplines at the input and output. But
[6]. The component is supplied in an SO- their impedances and lengths are not
16 housing. specified.

The data sheet contains several test cir- In addition to the broad (50Ω) connec-
cuits for a 50Ω or 75Ω system imped- tions for the SMA sockets at the input
ance, together with various frequency and output, the test circuit layout also
ranges. Some test circuits of the data shows a narrower microstrip line section
sheet contain an input coupling capacitor at each of these locations. Broadband
and others do not. matching can possibly be achieved with
the help of the inductance in the input.
According to the data sheet [6], the
internal circuit of the IC consists of two All pins not in use are earthed. In another
FETs wired in cascade. Both active com- test circuit (5 - 50MHz, 75Ω system
ponents are biased using internal voltage impedance), the unused pins remain free.
dividers. This would require a coupling
capacitor in the input. On the other hand, For the specimen printed circuit board,
in the description of the pin connections the S11 parameter in the frequency range
there is a reference to the fact that the from 5 to 50MHz was determined by
input pin is de-coupled with regard to DC means of a network analyser. The meas-
voltage, and thus no external DC voltage ured values are listed in Table 5.
coupling is needed. Moreover, the speci-
fication of a lower limiting frequency The matching elements required were
points to an internal capacitor. determined with the help of the MIMP
program (Motorola Impedance Matching

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Table 5: Measured values of S11 for the printed circuit board.

Frequency MHz Real S11 Ω S11 Phase ° Equivalent series

capacitor pF
5 98 -109 167
10 102 -96 164
15 103 -67 156
20 102 -53 147
22 102 -50 142
25 101 -46 135
28 100 -44 127
30 99 -42 124
35 97 -37 119
40 96 -34 116
45 95 -31 112
50 94 -28 109

Programme; description in [14]) for an Due to the wide frequency range of the
inductance of 200nH parallel to the input amplifier, the cold end of the choke, L5,
of the RF 2360 and a series capacitance was blocked with capacitors to provide
of 47pF. As an experiment, an SMD coil the power supply for the IC.
giving 220nH was inserted for the induct-
ance, which gave optimal matching at 4.1.1. Power supply
45MHz and was still adequate at 50MHz. The external power supply (11 to 15V)
In the circuit created, the inductance is can be fed either through your own
provided by means of a series circuit of a power supply cable or via the internal
180nH and a 22nH SMD coil. conductor of the coax cable from the
converter through a choke (L2). The
For the frequency response and the input voltage for the LNA is stabilised using a
matching of the LNA IC with the L type LM 317 T adjustable voltage regula-
transformation element (47pF, 220nH) tor (in a TO 220 housing). The terminal
without the output low pass filter, see pins on the printed circuit board are
Fig. 14. wired up in accordance with their appli-
cations.

The series diode in front of the voltage

regulator prevents any damage arising
from accidental battery reversal.

According to the data sheet, the LNA’s

power supply can be anywhere between 6
and 9V. The selected value was 8V. It
can be adjusted using the potentiometer,
R2, on the voltage regulator.

Figs 15 and 16 show the frequency

response and the matching of the com-
Fig 14: Frequency response at the plete LNA printed circuit board. The
input of the LNA. input reflection (S11) in the operating

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 15: Frequency response of the Fig 16: Frequency response of the
completed LNA completed LNA

range is adequate, at -18dB, and the total 4.2.1. Band filter

amplification amounts to 18dB, but the
output reflection (S22) amounting to - The band filters were drafted and simu-
11dB could do with some improvement. lated on the LNA with the help of the
“RFSim99” (Tools/Design/Filter) pro-
gram as three pole Butterworth filters.
It can be seen from the curve for S22 in
the data sheet that the output reflection is
not realistic either. A value of 50Ω - The 50MHz band filter was designed, as
j17Ω was determined on the specimen for the LNA, with a bandwidth of
printed circuit board using the network 20MHz, and the 28MHz filter for a
analyser. This imaginary component, - bandwidth of B = 10MHz.
j17Ω, corresponds to a capacitor of
172pF at 50MHz, and was compensated The 28MHz filter with the original com-
for by a 56nH choke in series. ponent values can be seen in Fig. 18. The
simulation result is shown in Fig. 19. The
Alternatively, the output low pass filter insertion loss at the mean frequency is
can be modified by omitting the input only 0.2dB.
capacitor and the output capacitor re-
duced to 18pF. Figs. 20 and 21 show the measured
frequency response and the matching of
The transmission loss in the de-activated the calibrated band filter in the prototype.
condition is 0.2dB. The spurious resonance at approximately
280MHz can be traced back to a winding
capacitance of the series coil.
4.2. Converter
Fig. 17 shows the converter’s circuit 4.2.2. Mixer
diagram. The circuit is relatively simple:
The HMJ-5 mixer is a passive mixer with
FETs, which are biased using a DC
A three stage band filter (mean frequency voltage of 3V, applied from outside (bias
50MHz) is followed by the mixer, the current). According to the data sheet, it
intermediate frequency connection goes can be used for frequencies from 40MHz
to a diplexer and, once again, a three upwards at the RF Port and from 30MHz
stage band filter with a mean frequency at the LO Port. In this application, the
of 28MHz. frequency limit at the LO Port is slightly

108
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 17: Circuit diagram of the 28/50MHz converter.

109
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 18: Circuit

diagram of the
28MHz bandpass
filter.

undershot, but operation should be possi- the formulae in [12, 13]). According to
ble. [9], a broadband connection is required
for all ports with Schottky diode ring
In accordance with the data sheet, the mixers.
following values should be obtained
when the mixer is operated in the 6m This view is not shared in [8], where it is
band: considered that only a load with the
correct impedance at the intermediate
• IPIP3 = 38dBm frequency port is necessary up to the fifth
mixed product (LO and RF).
• Mixer loss: 6dB
Since the matching of the LO port to the
• LO to RF isolation: >50dB system impedance (here 50Ω) is fre-
• LO to IF isolation: > 50dB quently poor, a suitable matching must
be provided, according to [8].
• RF port return loss > 20dB
If the mixer is used in the 50MHz
• intermediate frequency return loss > converter, then according to the data
20dB sheet the return loss at the LO port is so
• LO port return loss > 20dB good that no additional measures are
needed for impedance matching.
The HMJ-5 mixer is terminated at the
intermediate frequency port only, with a At the intermediate frequency output
diplexer (bridged T filter calculated using (after the diplexer), 0dBm of the follow-
ing mixed products (Table 5) is generated
in the frequency range between 0 and
100MHz for an input signal at the RF
port F = 50MHz.

Note that the mixed products in the filter

attenuation band of the diplexer are re-
duced by the filter activity

4.2.3. Diplexer
Two circuit variants can be used for the
diplexer:
1 Band pass filter (series circuit,
Fig 19: Simulated response of the parallel circuit), bridged T-filter [11]
28MHz bandpass filter.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 20: Measured response of the Fig 21: Measured wide band
28MHz bandpass filter. performance of the 28MHz filter.

2 Low pass/high pass combination cuit has a high L/C and the parallel
[16] resonant circuit has a low L/C ratio.
The formulae for calculating the compo-
nents are difficult to reproduce from [11], For an operating quality of Q = 2.8,
but the formulae in [10] will help you. corresponding to a bandwidth of B =
[13] gives a detailed description of the 10MHz with a mean frequency of
drafting of diplexers 28MHz, easily obtainable values are
achieved - see Fig. 23 and Fig. 24 shows
the result of the simulation.
In order to obtain insertion loss as low as
possible, with reasonable component val-
ues for the band pass diplexer, the operat- It can be seen in Table 6 that mix
ing bandwidth should not be selected too products below 16MHz arise from the
low. A low operating bandwidth has the desired intermediate frequency. Since the
consequence that the series resonant cir- diplexer is followed by a band filter,

Table 6: Mix products produced at the diplexer.

Frequency MHz Level dBm Mix product

6 -50 RF - 2 x LO
16 -35 3 x LO - RF
22 -44 LO
28 -6.4 ZF = RF - LO
38 -55 RF - LO
44 -42 2 x LO
50 -40 RF (estimate > 55dB)
56 -68 2 x RF - 2 x LO
60 -50 5 x LO - RF
66 -59 3 x LO
72 -25 RF + LO
84 -57 3 x RF - 3 x LO
88 -60 4 x LO
94 -54 RF + 2 x LO

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 22: Circuit

diagram of the
diplexer.

these mix products are not attenuated by

the second type of diplexer. So this type If we make our selection in accordance
has been rejected, although it can be with the bandwidth (operating quality) of
assembled using SMD chokes through- the diplexers and the inductances of the
out, and would not need calibrating. band filter, in this case B = 10MHz, a
good broadband matching is guaranteed
Figs. 24 and 25 show the measured in the filter attenuation band of the
frequency response and the matching of 28MHz band filter – see simulation in
the calibrated diplexer in the prototype. Fig 27. This is how the intermediate
We can see from Fig. 23 that the match- frequency port of the mixer “sees” all
ing (S11 < -20dB) is maintained up to undesirable mixed products. However,
frequencies of 500MHz. The spurious the rounding off of the transmission
resonance at approximately 380MHz can curve is striking.
probably be traced back to a winding
capacitance of the series coil. Figs. 28 and 29 indicate the measured
frequency response and the matching of
In order to guarantee low insertion loss the calibrated diplexer with the subse-
and broadband matching, the inductances quent band filter in the prototype. Both in
of the series and parallel circuits have to the mean frequency range (28MHz) of
be calibrated. The calculated capaci- the combination and in the filter attenua-
tances also have to be maintained. tion band, the intermediate frequency
port “sees” a real load. This characteris-

Fig 23: Simulated performance of the Fig 24: Measure performance of the
diplexer. diplexer.
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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

buffering of the oscillator signal. The

oscillator circuit attenuates harmonics by
the resistance in the collector circuit of
the second stage. An output of 1mW =
0dBm can be detected at the capacitive
tap of the circuit.

Since the mixer requires a power of

+17dBm for the local oscillator signal
(1.58Veff = 4.44Vss), the signal is ampli-
fied, using a low noise and easily drive-
able MMIC (RF 2360 from RF Microde-
vices).
Fig 25: Measure performance of the Measurements using the network ana-
diplexer. lyser indicated poor input matching. The
input impedance at 22MHz was deter-
tic, which is required for the low inter- mined as 100Ω -j100Ω. The necessary
modulations operation of the mixer, is matching elements were determined with
also achieved without an FET amplifier the help of the MIMP program (Motorola
stage in the gate circuit. Impedance Matching Programme; de-
scription in [14]) as an inductance of
4.2.4. Oscillator frequency generation 560nH parallel to the input of the RF
2360 and a series capacitor of 120pF.
The 22MHz quartz oscillator is set out as
a Colpitts circuit. One small peculiarity The 3dB attenuator in the amplifier input
may be the configuration of the two provides for level matching. This attenu-
transistors. Here we have a cascade cir- ator was not required in a prototype,
cuit, in which the first transistor in the since its use, measured with a 100MHz
emitter circuit represents the active stage oscilloscope, reduced the oscillator level
of the oscillator and the second transistor too much.
in the base circuit represents the neces-
sary de-coupling and carries out the
Measurements at the intermediate fre-
Fig 26: Circuit
diagram of the
diplexer for
10MHz bandwidth.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 27: Simulated performance of the Fig 28: Measured performance of the
diplexer. diplexer.

quency output of the entire equipment 5.

using the spectrum analyser, however,
revealed a tendency to oscillate in the Literature
1GHz range. It could be suppressed by
the additional de-coupling on the base of
T2 with a 10pF capacitor. Only then [1] Reflections on the design of large-
could the level be adjusted using the signal resistant receiver front ends for the
attenuator. 6m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm band with
modern components; Dipl.-Ing. Henning
4.2.5. Power supply Christof Weddig; Proceedings of the 46th.
VHF Congress, Weinheim 2001
The oscillator and amplifier are supplied
using an LM 317 T adjustable voltage
regulator (in a TO 220 housing) from the [2] Reflections on the design of large-
external power supply. The 3.3V bias signal resistant receiver front ends for the
voltage for the mixer is obtained by 2-m and 70-cm band with modern com-
means of the ADM 666 fixed voltage ponents; Dipl.-Ing. Henning Christof
regulator (in the SO 8 housing). Weddig; Proceedings of the 47th. VHF
Congress, Weinheim 2002

[3] 28/ 50 MHz transverter; Wolfgang

Schneider, DJ8ES; VHF Communica-
tions 2/1994, Pages 107 - 111

[4] 50MHz transverter for short-wave

transceiver; Martin Steyer, DK7ZB;
Funkamateur 8, 9, 10 /1995

[5] HMJ-5 data sheet; Watkin Johnson;

www.wj.com

[6] RFMD 2360 data sheet; RF Microde-

vices; www.rfmd.com
Fig 29: Measured performance of the
diplexer. [7] Reducing IMD in high-level mixers;

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

John B. Stephenson KD8 OZH; QEX [13] www.qrp-props.net

May/June 2001
[14] MIMP, Motorolas Impedance
[8] Personal communication with Roy Matching Program; Dipl. Ing. Henning
Allan, Watkin Johnson electronica 2002 Christof Weddig; VHF Communications
3/2001, Pages 130 - 138
[9] Large-signal resistant LNA for the 2-
m band; Henning Weddig; DUBUS [15] RF 2360 data sheet; RF Microde-
4/2002 vices; www.rfmd.com

[10] Diplexer for ring mixers; Eugen [16] The Diplexer Filter; ARRL Hand-
Berberich DL8ZX; VHF Communica- book 2002; Pages 16-39 to 16-40, see
tions 1/1998 pages 11 - 17 also: W.E. Sabin, W0IYH; Diplexer Fil-
ters for the HF MOSFET Power Ampli-
[11] Matching circuits for diode ring fier; QEX July/August 1999
mixers; Joachim Kestler DK1OF; VHF
Communications 2/1980 pages 94 - 95

[12] Modern input section for 2-m re- .To be continued

ceiver with wide dynamic range and
slight inter-modulation distortions;
Michael Martin DJ 7VY; VHF Commu-
nications 4/1978 pages 218 - 229

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Gunthard Kraus, DG8GB

Design and realisation of

microwave circuits, part 10
Development of a 2GHz oscillator

This article was originally published in 1.2 Consideration of footprint

UKW Berichte issue 2/1999 but it was capacitances
not translated and published in VHF
Communications. It has been included In spite of the space-saving SMD hous-
here because it contains details of ing form, each component has two small
designing inter-digital capacitors and capacitances from both “connections” to
was referenced in the article by earth. These capacitances have more ef-
Gunthard Kraus about a 100MHz fect on an oscillator than on an amplifier
bandpass filter published in issue circuit. It is therefore initially necessary
4/2003 of VHF Communications. Sev- to get a general idea of the order of
eral subscribers requested that it was magnitude of these additional capaci-
published - Andy. tances. This can be calculated with a
pocket calculator using the familiar for-
mulae for a plate capacitor.
1.0
1.3 Important circuit details
Design description The zero signal current of the transistor
should be 10mA. It is usually set or
stabilised with a basic voltage divider
1.1 The BFR92 transistor and an emitter resistance. Here we must
The modern transistor BFR92 is still take into account that the voltage divider
being produced by Siemens They provide is selected to be as high impedance as
a large number of S parameter files for possible, since it represents an additional
their semiconductors on the Internet. It attenuation.
was no problem to download the appro-
priate “S2P” file for the operating point For a selected zero signal current of
“4 V / 10mA”, since they were arranged 10mA, the two divider resistances have
by collector current (rising in steps of 1 the values 3.3kΩ and 3.9kΩ. They are
mA) and collector voltage (rising in steps entered in the AC circuit diagram as a
of 1 V). The file used for the article parallel circuit from the base to earth.
below are shown in Table 1. (Note: the
values for “zero Hertz” were estimated The C2 capacitor from the emitter to
and added by hand, since PUFF would earth should have as little effect on the
otherwise report an error if the simulation emitter resistance as possible, otherwise
began with zero.) the desired effect of S11 exceeding 1 and

116
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Table 1: S parameters for BFR92. For the ceramic resonator, the newest
Internet documents from Siemens are
consulted. For the selected type of reso-
nator, with a cross section of 6 x 6 mm.2
and ε = 38, the quality is Q = 600, and is
predominantly limited by the ohmic
losses of the silver coating and the skin
effect. We thus consider the resonator as
a lossy transmission line. The following
data in PUFF component list F3:
ql 12.3Ω 90° 600Qc
The resonator is coupled to the transistor
circuit through an inter-digital capacitor,
which impairs the operating quality and
thus the noise characteristics of the oscil-
lator if it is selected to be too big. It’s
value lies somewhere in the vicinity of
0.2pF.

With this solution, we must not overlook

the fact that, due to the inter-digital
structure, additional inherent capaci-
tances to earth arise. They are very
dependent on the board thickness and the
actual dielectric constants of the board
material. For this design, we simply start
from a capacitance value in the order of
the coupling capacitance required (0.2pF)
thus negative input resistance is im- on each side.
paired. So a small SMD RF choke of
22nH is wired in series with the 82Ω As regards the two capacitors, C1 and
resistor. A series loss resistance of 10Ω is C2, of the capacitive voltage divider, the
added, in accordance with the manufac- value provided of 1pF each is used for
turer’s specification (Q=50) Its self reso- the first draft. But in the next section we
nance is taken into account by a capaci- shall investigate its influence and opti-
tance of 0.25pF. mise the circuit.

The output from the oscillator is taken Thus, taking all the details mentioned
through a 3dB attenuator on the collector into account, we arrive at a lavishly
for broadband matching. The DC voltage detailed configuration for the PUFF
drop caused by the collector resistance of simulation, Fig 1. The dotted line shown
56Ω is compensated for by a parallel here between points A and B is an
circuit with a 22nH choke. imaginary separation between the resona-
tor section with the coupling capacity and
the active part of the circuit, which
1.4 AC circuit diagram for simulation produces the negative input resistance
with PUFF required for the permanent oscillation.
Now let’s gather together the elements We can thus now vary different compo-
still missing for the simulation. nent values in the transistor circuit with
PUFF’s “component sweep” and deter-

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 1: AC circuit
diagram of
oscillator for
simulation with
PUFF.

mine their influence on the S11 factor of with a text editor and check the entries!
the circuit (i.e. at point “B”).
Step 3:
1.5 Definition of C1 and C2
After pressing on F2, we first alter the
With the help of PUFF and its “compo- axial division for the “swept capacitor
nent sweep”, the optimal values of the C2” from 0 to 2pF on the horizontal axis
two capacitors are determined, one after of the lower diagram (“rectangular plot”).
another. “Optimal” means that we are
trying to obtain the highest (positive)
value for the input reflection, S11, at f = Step 4:
2GHz. To do this, we proceed as follows:
If we start the plotting process (Fig 2),
Step 1: then we very soon notice that we obtain a
maximum value for C2 = 0.8pF at S11.
We enter this value in list F3 against
First, the components required for the component “e”, once we have removed
amplification circuit from point B alone the question mark again.
are entered in list F3 (to the right of the
separation line in Fig. 1) and the corre-
sponding simulation circuit is created in Now the question mark is put against the
field F1. value for capacitor C1 in F3 (component
“m”) instead. Fig. 3 gives the result of
the plotting process. One very satisfac-
Step 2: tory observation is that the value of C1 =
0.8pF (as in C2) precisely matches, and
Likewise, a question mark is entered produces the maximum value of S11.
under capacitor C2 in F3 (component
“e”) in front of the actual component
value, with 1pF. The other settings such 1.6 Determination of coupling
as “design frequency 2GHz, board thick- capacitor required
ness = 1.5mm, ε = 4.3, copper thickness First, we supplement the circuit in field
= metal thickness mt = 0.035 mm, tan- F1 by adding the resonant section, in-
gent of loss angle = loss tangent = 0.02” cluding the inter-digital structure with the
have hopefully already been entered in pad capacitances. But we still do not
the file. If necessary, call up the file used have the constant current source “cs.dev”

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 2: Determining
the optimal value
of C1.

already referred to. It is triggered by port negative resistance”, and S21 has thus
1, and feeds its output signal directly in decreased. The only remedy against this
at the resonator connection. is to make the coupling capacitor smaller.

If we now set the radius of the Smith A curve to the right means that the
chart on 30 and plot the forward amplifi- negative input resistance of the transistor
cation S21 in the area between 1.8 and circuit is not yet sufficient to cover the
2GHz (Fig. 4), we now need only look at losses. The oscillator is therefore still
the direction in which the S21 circuit on oscillating, and the coupling capacitor
the Smith chart is curved. must be enlarged.

A curve to the left means that the point of At the precise application point of the
the oscillation application has already oscillation, we obtain an infinite amplifi-
been reached, and even passed. The cation, S21 – this point must be searched
resonator has consequently already been for with the aid of PUFF.
attenuated again through the “excess
Fig 3: Determining
the optimal value
of C2.

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 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 4: First
simulation run for
the project.

As can be seen from Fig. 4 and from the is precisely zero and the phase changes
Smith chart curve to the left, the oscilla- from “-180 degrees” to “+180 degrees”.
tor is oscillating for a long time and the If this “check simulation” is carried out
coupling must be reduced. Fig. 5 shows very precisely, I’m pleased to say that we
the necessary changes to the coupling obtain precisely the same frequency
capacitor (component “n”) to find pre- value as with the new method.
cisely the application point we are
searching for, with S21 > 100 dB.
As already stated, it does not make very
much sense to select this operating condi-
Release the earth connection on the reso- tion. The smallest scatter or change leads
nator, connect the resonator end which to the breakdown of the oscillation or
this makes accessible to port 1, and plot prevents oscillation from starting. So the
the input reflection S11 for the area positive feedback is set to be stronger
around the resonance frequency, with a than is necessary, and then initially,
high resolution. The application point for through a suitable amplitude stabilisa-
the oscillation lies at the point where S11 tion, we increase the oscillator voltage,

Fig 5:Determining
the point of
oscillation by
changing the
coupling
capacitor at the
resonator.

120
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 6: Definition
of the coupling
capacitor for a
Q≥≥500.

and then reduce the amplification as the Fig. 6, finally, represents this operating
amplitude increases, until a stable, maxi- case. From it, we can detect that the
mal output level is obtained under all coupling capacitance needs to be max.
possible operating conditions. 0.18pF, and should take the form of an
inter-digital capacitor. As was mentioned
earlier, the oscillation frequency, due to
This can be obtained by making the various additional capacitances in the
coupling tighter until, through the “ex- circuit, has to be below the natural
cess negative resistance”, a circuit quality resonance of the resonator.
of app. Q = 500 to 1000 is set. It can then
easily be recognised from the rectangular
plot that the S21 curve displays a 3dB The simulation already leads us to sus-
bandwidth from approximately 2 to pect that we will probably essentially not
4MHz, in accordance with the well- exceed 1910MHz.
known quality / bandwidth formula.

Fig 7:Geometry of
the inter-digital
capacitor.

121
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 8: Determining
the sizes A1 and A2
for X=0.254mm
and for a board
thickness of
T=1.5mm, i.e.
T/X=5.9

Step 1:
1.7 Calculation of an inter-digital
capacitor As a preliminary, select, for example, a
The most important principles can be structure with 6 fingers and a finger
found in the article by Gary D. Alley [1]. width and/or interval between fingers, X
He uses the finger structure represented = 0.01 inch = 0.25 mm This gives a
in Fig. 7, in which both the finger width width W for the formation of:
and the interval between fingers are
described by “X” and are identical. The W=11 x 0.01 inch = 0.11 inch = 2.79mm
following relationship with the finger
length then applies for the coupling ca- The relative permittivity of the FR4
pacitance (in pF): material for f = 2GHz is still, according
to experience, only ε = 4.3.
L2
Ccoupling = x(ε r + 1)x[(N − 3)xA1 + A2 ] Step 2:
W
Where: For a board thickness T = 1.5mm and an
L = finger length in inches interval X = 0.254mm, there is a relation-
W = width of formation in inches ship of:
N = number of fingers
εr = relative permittivity of board T 1.5mm
= = 5. 9
X 0.254 mm
A1 and A2 are two values which depend
on the relationship of the board thickness In addition, from Fig. 8 we obtain the
(T) to the interval between the fingers values: A1 approximately 0.095 and A2
referred to (X). Their values for the T/X approximately 0.22.
relationship used can be taken from Fig.
8. Step 3:

The inter-digital capacitor can thus be Thus the above formula can be used to
drafted for 0.18pF in the following man- calculate the values for a table for finger
ner. l e n g t h s o f b e t we e n 0 . 0 4 i n c h
(approximately 1mm) and 0.12 inch

122
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 9: Circuit
diagram of
designed oscillator.

(approximately 3mm), with a step width operating voltage. The inter-digital ca-
of 0.002 inch (approximately 0.5mm) : pacitor, the ceramic resonator, the filter
with the tantalum electrolytic capacitors
Finger 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 and the attenuator at the output are easily
length in recognisable.
inches
1.9 Test results
Finger 1.016 1.524 2.032 2.54 3.04
length in 8 The output frequency was specified at f =
mm.
1.896540GHz using a frequency counter
(hp 5245). A 24 hour measurement
Coupling 0.0426 0.096 0.17 0.27 0.38 yielded a frequency change of max.
capacitance 200kHz. The frequency change is great-
in pF est in the first 5 to 10 minutes; a remedy
can be provided by a temperature con-
The rest is not a problem, for with a trolled oven.
finger length of 0.08 inch (approximately
2mm) we have almost arrived at C = The formation is mechanically very sta-
0.18pF. ble, due to the milled aluminium housing
and the 3mm thick cover with “conduc-
1.8 Circuit diagram and board layout tive silver sealing”, and so the sensitivity
to feadback is very low. Mechanical
As stated in the previous section of the shocks, e.g. from a screwdriver, can
article, the power supply passes through displace the frequency by a maximum of
a fixed voltage regulator and some ex- some kHz, and then it finally returns to
pensive filters. The complete circuit is the old value.
shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 10 shows the fully
equipped board in the milled aluminium The use of a fixed voltage regulator for
housing and the broadband filter for the the stabilisation of the power supply

123
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Fig 10: Completed

prototype of the
oscillator in a
milled aluminium
housing.

voltage also pays dividends If we in- 2.0

crease the applied power supply voltage
by 1V, the frequency changes only by References
approximately 5 kHz.

[1] Gary D. Alley: “Interdigital Capaci-

tors and Their Application to Lumped-
Element Microwave Circuits”. IEEE
Transactions on Microwave Theory and
Techniques, Vol. MTT, NO. 12, Decem-
ber, 1970, Page 1028.

The UK Six Metre Group

www.uksmg.org
With over 1000 members world-wide, the UK Six Metre Group is the world's
largest organisation devoted to 50MHz. The ambition of the group, through the
medium of its 60-page quarterly newsletter 'Six News' and through it's web site
www.uksmg.org, is to provide the best information available on all aspects of the
band: including DX news and reports,beacon news, propagation & technical
articles, six-metre equipment reviews, DXpedition news and technical articles.

Why not join the UKSMG and give us a try? For more information, contact the
secretary Iain Philipps G0RDI, 24 Acres End, Amersham, Buckinghamshire HP7
9DZ, UK or visit the web site.

124
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Gunthard Kraus, DG8GB

Internet Treasure Trove

ANSOFT item on the screen.

Address: http://www.hamuniverse.com/
Once there was a feature film called “The
Empire Strikes Back”. That’s what I was
reminded of when I downloaded the all
new free of charge student version of the RF Avenue Resources Directory
RF CAD “Designer” software from An-
soft (N.B.: almost 80 megabytes!). Never
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for simulation and for development in Anyone opening up this page has a few
general. Naturally, it takes a while to problems, as you’re initially confronted
familiarise yourself with the package, but with an endless list of documents con-
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covered, virtually all the calculators for Of course, it’s all nicely and neatly sorted
RF and microwave engineering are pro- out. You could spend hours here...
vided. However, there is unfortunately
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documentation – in some cases, none at esources/rf_microwave_resourcesdigital_
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it’s first class! LC
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This doesn’t refer to a resonant circuit
but to the firm of LaCray – who are well
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Lab people use such expensive equipment
mainly for complicated EM simulations
of expensive antennas. But it’s not ex-
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That’s exactly what this site has to offer: allowing people to download the “LC”
any amount of software and information EM simulator used for this purpose at no
relating to antennas and antenna calcula- charge. Certainly the computer you use
tion. And a search through the list of should be a Cray computer, but a Linux
links unearths some interesting things. version is kindly provided for those
There’s something hidden behind every possessing Intelx86. Do feel free to nose

125
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

around on your own. It’s really very Semiconductor Datasheets on

interesting.
the WEB
Address: http://lc.cray.com/

This is a page full of pleasant surprises

for original developers and anyone who
Marska WLAN Pages likes messing around, as everything here
is nicely and neatly alphabetically sorted
and frequently provided with links.
Even up in Finland there are some active Addresses: http://www.bgs.nu/sdws.html
people, which is why it’s worth rummag-
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interesting subject is what you can find
here under the heading “2.4 GHz WLAN
antenna – Do it yourself”. You can Radio Netherland
choose between English or Finnish texts.
But anyone who doesn’t speak any Finn-
ish will have given up already during the Just for a change, not pure technology,
search, and will not be looking for it any but tips and technology concerning the
longer. subject of “Long-distance reception on
the medium wave and short wave”. Plus
Address: a collection of facts relating to the rel-
http://www.saunalahti.fi/%7Eelapal/ante evant antennas.
nnit.html
Address:
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x.html
USMICROWAVES

This manufacturer describes itself as a Microwave Active Antenna

“manufacturer of MIC thin film technol- Group
ogy” That means it’s a source of unend-
ing interest for those who want to be
comprehensively informed concerning
the state of the art in relation to all types This site (which is run by the University
of these active and passive microwave of Colorado) is also guaranteed not to be
components. In addition to the data, boring, for the students are very active
layout design rules and/or application and post their well documented research
notes, etc. are also available in all sec- results on the homepage.
tions.
Address:
Address:
http://nemes.colorado.edu/microwave/the
http://www.usmicrowaves.com/ ses.html

126
 VHF COMMUNICATIONS 2/2004

Free Radio and Computer QRZ.COM

Programs
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that you can just call up one program lessly among programs and technical
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All about crystals - that’s the motto here. equipment know-how for DX reception.
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Address:
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ndex.htm

This is an animation program (Waves on

Transmission Lines) from the Flensburg
Estland Amateur Group Technical College. It can help to clarify
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time domain. Various transmission sig-
How about a trip to see the real Northern nals can be selected from a catalogue,
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127
 VHF
COMMUNICATIONS
A Publication for the Radio Amateur Worldwide

Especially Covering VHF, UHF and Microwaves

Volume No.36 Summer Edition 2004-Q2

Publishers KM PUBLICATIONS, AUSTRALIA - Mark Spooner c/o, W.I.A SA/NT Division, GPO
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SOUTH AFRICA - KM PUBLICATIONS , 63 Ringwood Road,
NOTICE: No guarantee is given LUTON, LU2 7BG, UK. Tel: +44 1582 581051.
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 The International Microwave Handbook
The microwave bands are an excellent area for radio
amateurs who want to experiment and construct their own
equipment. The RSGB in partnership with the ARRL has
produced this invaluable source of reference information for
those interested in this area, along with excellent designs
from around the world to fire the imagination. Material has
been drawn from many sources including the RSGB journal
RadCom and the ARRL publications QST & QEX. Along-
side this material a truly international range of sources have
been used including items from Germany, Denmark, New
Zealand, Slovenian and many more.
The earlier chapters of the book provide invaluable refer-
ence material required by all interested in this exciting area
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microwave experimenter. This book contains a wide selec-
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require a high degree of skill to make.
With the explosion in consumer electronics using microwave frequencies the opportunity to
experiment has never been greater and this book is simply the best guide to the area of microwave
radio.

Available in the UK for £24.99 from www.rsgb.org/shop and in the

USA for $39.95 from www.arrl.org ISBN 1-872309-83-6

Microwave Projects
Microwave Projects is aimed at those who are interested in
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Packed full of ideas from around the world this book covers
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• Signal Sources • Transverters • Power Amplifiers
• Test Equipment • Design
Microwave projects is a must have book for all those who
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looking for interesting projects to embark on.

Available for £14.99 from www.rsgb.org/shop ISBN 1-872309-90-9

 COMPLETE KITS, PCB's & ICs ARE AVAILABLE
FOR RECENT PROJECTS
If the kit or PCB is not in this list please contact K. M. Publications

READY MADE DESCRIPTION ISSUE No. PRICE

DG6RBP Pre Divider (:10) up to 5GHz 1/02 £ 140.00
DG6RBP 12GHz Divide by 1000 prescaler 4/03 £ 160.00
DG6RBP 12GHz Divide by 10 prescaler 1/04 £ 160.00
DG6RBP ATV Squelch 4/02 06006 £ 55.00

KIT DESCRIPTION ISSUE No. PRICE

DJ8ES-019 Transverter 144/28MHz 4/93 06385 £ 120.00
DJ8ES-019/50 Transverter 50/28MHz 2/95 06392 £ 120.00
DJ8ES-047 Log Amplifier up to 500MHz with AD8307 2/00 06571 £ 42.00
DG6RBP-002 Pre Divider (:10) up to 5GHz 1/02 £ 115.00
DB6NT-Rotor Simple Speed Control for Rotators 2/02 06533 £ 35.00

PCB DESCRIPTION ISSUE No. PRICE

DJ8ES-019 Transverter 144/28MHz or 50/28MHz 4/93 06384 £ 10.00
S53MV Set of PCBs for Matjaz Vidmar Spectrum Analyser 4/98-4/99 S53MV £ 65.00
DJ8ES-047 Log Amplifier up to 500MHz using AD8307 2/00 06569 £ 6.50
DG6RBP-002 Pre Divider (:10) up to 5GHz 1/02 £ 18.00
DJ8ES-053 Frequency Generator to 4GHz - mixer 1/02 £ 10.50
DJ8ES-054 Frequency Generator to 4GHz - oscillator 1/02 £ £9.50
DJ8ES-054 Frequency Generator to 4GHz - microcontroller 1/02 £ 15.50
DB6NT-Rotor Simple Speed Control for Rotators 2/02 06532 £ 5.50
DG6RBP ATV Squelch 4/02 06542 £ 3.50

MISC. DESCRIPTION ISSUE No. PRICE

DG6RBP Milled aluminium housing for 5GHz prescaler 1/02 £ 26.00
SP8910 SMD SP8910 divider for 5GHz prescaler 1/02 £ 40.00

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