The Ensemble Build Continues

My "Softrock RX Ensemble Kit" Build Progress (see previous post):

• DC Power and 5 Volt Reg components Installed
• USB circuit and Si570 components Installed
• Initial Voltage Tests - 5 Volt and 3.3 Volt - OK
• XP USB Driver Installed - OK
• Downloaded and Installed "CFGSR" and "SRDLL" - OK
• Initial Test Local Oscillator Si570 Tests - OK
• I can hear the Si570 when it is set to an aviation frequency on my Aviation Radio. - OK
• The 160m Band Pass Filter is installed and continuity tested - OK

UPDATE

• The other three filters are wound, installed and continuity tested - OK

IT WORKS !

• I have listened to 40 metres and WWV
• Now for some calibration and performance testing

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Ensemble Kit Build Re-Started

As part of a group project, a lot of the members of the Puget Sound QRP Group (pQRP) are building the "Softrock RX Ensemble Kit" for our group exploration of Software Defined Radios (SDR).

As reported in a previous post, I had a false start of my build while at Salmoncon. My goal was to get it started, finished and tested before leaving the event, but that did not happen. With more time now, I plan to continue the project.

Wednesday night, while at our last pQRP P&C (Pie and Coffee) Meeting, Alen asked a few questions about my build process and progress, he asked;

Could Reflow Techniques be used to build the Kit?

• That Depends, If you want to follow the build instruction the answer is probable - NO. 
• The instuctions include intermediate voltage and current tests before successive parts are installed. Also parts are installed on both sides of the PCB with through hole and SMT parts added for each test. 

What size of Soldering Iron should be used?

• My glib answer was; If you can see the tip, use the next size smaller! 
• But it depends, on the technique used for soldering. To use flood solder with solder wick clean up larger tip (maybe 1/16 inch) could be used. Flood Solder is where you drag a puddle of solder and lots of flux across a group of pins, then remove excess with solder wick. 
• I use single pin soldering with very little solder wick clean up. I use a small 1/64 inch tip for most of my SMT work. 

As per the instruction, I have the 12 Volt Power Supply, USB, Local Oscillator (Si570) and Control Circuits installed. The next steps include; down loading Firmware to the PIC, loading Software onto the PC and doing some initial tests for proper oscillator operations. I just need some time to do the tasks.

At the P&C meeting, Charlie - took the following incredible photo of my partially completed board. Note, this photo was taken with a hand held camera while setting at the table, with the board propped up on a coffee mug, a setting sun beam provided the light.

Si570 Local Oscillator and USB Circuit

Charlie with his Cannon S90 camera takes great photos in very adverse conditions.

If I had known that a photo was going to be taken, I would have cleaned the board with alcohol, to at least remove rosin splatters. I am looking forward to a completed board photo.

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Salmoncon 2010

This is a late posting of our Puget Sound QRP SalmonCon weekend of July 9th, 10th and 11th.

I went to Salmoncon with the idea of working some QRSS and WSPR on my IC-730 in the fresh air and camping environment. Most attendees were there to work SSB and CW with a little PSK, and attend the technical lectures. There were two or three K3's, an SDR, many other commercial rigs and some HomeBrew equipment all available for use.

I also, took the parts and projects of my QRSS and Marker Beacons along with my intended project to put together - a "Softrock RX Ensemble Kit". My goal was to get it started, finished and tested before leaving the event - Boy, was I wrong! - I should have known better.

The technical talks where very interesting, entertaining and occupied most of the day. Afterwards, chatting with friends about HAM Radio occupied the evening. There were too many great conversation to enjoy and with so many people with ideas and experiences to attend.

I finally settle down to do some real "Kit" building. The "Softrock RX Ensemble Kit" represents the project that I have had on my minds drawing board for several month as a HomeBrew project. When this Kit was found and revieled it's block diagram and schematic, I just had to have one! The HomeBrew Project I was planning was the same, only I did not have all of the parts and values worked out - this Kit is Great!

Well, . . the first part went in, the second, third and forth. Then I noticed the first part was in backwards - a 1N4007 Diode! - What was I thinking! - It had to come out!

I worked for the next hour taking that one part out, I did not want to damage the board - so I worked very carefully. Unfortanatlly, I did not take my PCB vice with me on this trip. Removal of the "one" part was difficult - holes are small and I wanted to salvage the part. The part was removed and the board was not damaged or marred.

Afterwards, I decided to plan on a new replacement as the top of the diode hairpin loop is a test point that will be used later. The old cut part would not work and provide the test point in the right part of the circuit. Note: the photo shows the correct installation from the manual page.

This set back, dampened my spirits and killed all hope of getting this Kit on the air during Salmoncon. I decided to abandon the effort, and wait until I return home with more time to work the problem.

This is now July 20th - I have not returned to the Kit yet, but maybe soon.

BTW: I now recommend that you read ahead in a kits construction instruction manual - I wonder if I can follow my own advice!


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December 2009 - pQRP P&C

Last night I went to our monthly Puget Sound QRP (pQRP) P&C (pie and coffee) meeting.

For the event the group decided to do a White Elephant Gift Exchange, supposedly giving something from our junk box. I checked my junk boxes for an appropriate gift to take - it was something that I would have liked to have received, and wraped it for the exchange.

At the meeting and after dinner, I was one of the last to pick a gift from the gift pile, I selected a small package and was surprised. It was a Soft Rock 40 Kit (a receiver) - Very nice gift from someone that has an very impressive junk box. But, sad to say, in keeping with the rules of the White Elephant Gift Exchange, my Soft Rock Kit was taken by Alan K6ZY (the next in line to pick a gift), Dang!  ;-(

OK, as per the rules, I had to pick another gift, again I picked a small gift and to my surprise, it was a TAK-40 Kit  (a Transceiver, parts and boards). Again, some of the guys at the meeting must have very impressive junk boxes.  Yet, not knowing exactly what a "TAK-40" was, after the meeting and at home, I spent several hours on the web reading and learning all that I could about it.  Sometime early the next morning I got to sleep.

Well, I am thankful to who ever provided the Gift, I will put it to very good use, I may even spend some time increasing my code speed  - Thanks.


UPDATE 1:

• After reading much more on the web, The TAK-40 looks like it is going to be a bit of a project, to find; construction details, modification details, and all sorts of information to ingest and digest.

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pQRP P&C Meeting

The following was reported by Wayne, after our Puget Sound QRP (pQRP) Pie and Coffee (P&C) Meeting, republished here as an archive.

Note: I did not invent the Toner Transfer Process to produce PCB's, I used a lot of information form the WEB, thanks to the many people that have gone before me.



Hello All,

We had a great turnout at P&C last evening, with fourteen of us around the table. Here's the list:

Roger, K7RXV
Jeff, KO7M
Rod, WE7X
Eldon, WA0UWH
Charlie, K7KN
Bob, W8MCJ
Rick, K7MW
Lyle, KK7P
Doug, W7RDP
Rich, AC7MA
Brendan, N0BML
Bill, WA7NCL
John, KC7NVE

Although most of us have been busy with summertime activities, there have been a few projects going on.

Eldon, WA0UWH, has worked out a method for producing PC boards, using an ink transfer method involving a laminating machine. He'll have to explain it in detail for us, but it looks very interesting.

He brought his 40 dB Tap project along for show and tell, also, having cut the PCB material to Roger's specifications and now getting ready to build it.

Eldon is making his shop available to any of us on the 3rd Saturday of each month, for radio or other types of building projects. He has everything from wood working equipment through metal working gear, including a lathe and milling machine.

Lyle has built his RF Test Set, and his lack of output from the DDS board was caused by the fact that his DDS60 is an older one with a different DDS chip and clock frequency. Rich is going to try to adjust the firmware so that Lyle will be able to use the older daughterboard.

I have been so busy with being the Commodore of my local yacht club, hosting company, and the usual summertime activities, that I have not been doing any building projects and have not been on the air, either. My time will free up a lot in late October, and the onset of the rainy and dark season will turn my interests back to the workbench and paddles.

Jeff, KO7M, brought his recently built HF Packer Amp, that he built from a kit, and it is very nicely packaged and will be a nice addition which will give his QRP RF output a good boost to help make contacts in this time of low sunspot activity.

Bob, W8MCJ, came with a box of free stuff like coax cables, some ham related books, and gave a copper ground strip with braided connecting wires to tie rigs together and to ground as a door prize. Lyle gratefully received this unit.

As usual, the discussion around the table was varied and lively, ranging from a little teasing towards Doug, W7RDP, about the recent docking mishap with the Wenatchee, the Washington State Ferry he works on, to various computer programs for MAC and Windows Vista, as well as QRP Radios and operating events.

Bill, WA7NCL, talked a bit about operating in a recent "Bumblebee" event, and made a suggestion for next Salmoncon, saying that since we tend to focus on building projects, we should have an operating event at Bowman Bay, where we each put together a portable QRP station, hike over to the point, throw an antenna over a tree, and operate for a while. Could be a lot of fun.

Rod, WE7X, brought in an award that he and Doug, W7RDP, had won in a recent VHF Contest. Roger, K7RXV, had been along on that trip as well, but didn't operate.

Brendan, N0BML, talked about his building project at Eldon's last shop gathering, which was a homebrew charger unit for his cell phone. Brendan is also practicing CW and getting ready for an upgrade to his license.

If I missed anything, it was simply because there was so much being discussed.

In short, it was another very enjoyable evening.

73,

Wayne NB6M