Q5 board?
Rod Johnson
Mike Lewis
The DigiLo board has a DIP hole pattern (2x8) so you can install a DIP switch onto the PCB directly if you want. Grounds are on one side. No board required.
In my multiband LO units I use CPU I/O connected via a 16 conductor ribbon cable. Band decoder logic and/or UI emulate a DIP switch.
It could be mechanical switches on that ribbon cable if you do not like DIP switches.
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KR
http://q5signal.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=107
"The digiLO is a wideband Fractional-N / Integer-N PLL Synthesizer capable of generating signals from 23.5MHz to 6GHz. Measuring only 2” x 3”, it's primarily designed for use as a transverter's local oscillator. But it can also be used as a low-level signal source. It comes pre-programmed with over a hundred popular frequencies. Custom frequencies may also be available by special request. Connection to an external 10MHz reference is recommended. But the digiLO automatically switches to its on-board High Stability 0.28ppm TCXO reference when its 10MHz external reference is not detected. A “LOCK” indicator for direct connection to a LED is also provided." They have a table of switch settings and frequencies of the PDF starting on page 2. There's a parts list on page 7 and a schematic on page 8.
Does the digiLO have features that this board from Amazon doesn't have? https://a.co/d/78WtTg5
Yes, it has an SPI interface, but doesn't have the PIC18LF13K22-I/SS PIC that programs the LO frequencies. Perhaps we need a simple C++ program for an ESP32 that can read a switch settings and program the synthesizer through the SPI interface? https://a.co/d/b19EgSM
If it's for a bench-top synth, then why not let a PC to the heavy lifting and use a USB to SPI converter board to drive the MAX2870 board. I can write a python program that has a nice Tkinter GUI interface.
Both the digiLO and the MAX2870 boards still need a 10 MHz reference clock
https://a.co/d/6DzqCJc
Your thoughts?
--Konrad WA4OSH
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Mike Lewis
What Rod did not say is what his goal was. The DigiLo does not need a PCB to be useful.
The DigiLo has 256 preprogrammed frequencies, including most the of calling frequencies (some on harmonics. With a simple dip switch and copy of the switch table, it requires nothing more to be useful for LO and weak signal source usage. It does not require the 10Mhz ext ref, it comes with either a decent TCXO, or a high stability TCXO. When you connect an ext ref, it will automatically switch to it.
Since it is preprogrammed, it is not the same as a generic PLL where you can program it for any frequency. These PLL boards are cheap and some come with a touchscreen LCD. One unit I have is 35Mhz to 4.4GHz and can do sweep mode. It can use a variety of external ref frequencies, I had to move some SMT jumpers.
So each has their place in the world. If you need a PCB with CPU and a program to control the DigiLo via a UI and band decoder input, it already exists. See my article in Jan 2020 QEX. It is not Arduino but is in C. It is easy to write a similar program or port it to an Arduino. The UI, if you have one at all, is always the most effort in these things.
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