Transmitter Progress

[NZ0I]

After being out of town for two months, I'm back at work on Open ARDF projects. After some discussion, I've decided that it would be best to continue gradual progress on the Dual-band Receiver project while we work to get the rules changed to allow the use of a smartphone for the user interface. Meanwhile, my focus will be on getting the dual-band transmitter complete. Since the transmitter will share the Digital Interface board with the receiver, and will utilize a smartphone or computer interface, transmitter progress will also advance the receiver project at the same time.

The transmitter will consist of three (or at most four) relatively small circuit boards that stack one atop another, and fit into a 2.25" x 3" x 5" Hammond waterproof box. The box will also hold the Li-Ion battery that powers the transmitter, making for a compact but full-featured transmitter that can perform all ARDF transmitter duties.

The main transmitter board has been laid out. Now work is starting on the Digital Interface board, and the Antenna Matching and Power Supply board. (It is not yet clear whether the antenna matching and power supply will both fit on one board or not.) I will post BOM and board designs when they near completion.