Another HF to VHF up converter

[Paulino Kenji Sato]

Hi,
I build a up converter using cheap FM front end, TA7358AP, and parts
from my junk box (50MHz oscillator).
It can tune from around 100kHz to near 50MHz.
Others FM front end can be used, like LA1186N.
PDF file containing the schematic and PCB can be downloaded from here:
http://bit.ly/OTuix5

Video listening 31m sw band.
http://youtu.be/KaFdsM24lps

73s
Paulino

[Masanobu Tsuji]

Hi, Paulino

Thank you for uploading a good schematic and YouTube video.

Interesting solution.

73

Masanobu, JA1DAO

2012年8月14日火曜日 3時45分17秒 UTC+9 pksato:

[Paulino Kenji Sato]

Hi.
This is a response for some questions about HF to VHF converter, come
from this two discussions:
AM Reception
https://groups.google.com/d/topic/ultra-cheap-sdr/WaGDae8xtPk/discussion

TV28T - antenna connector - MCX or MMCX?
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/ultra-cheap-sdr/QiIo7834sLI/R9Ngj3Prw4AJ

I can not find TA7358AP on the market (radioshack, digikey) on ebay
have some, but expensive ($3).
TA7358AP cost less that $1.
No SMD version.

Through to hole parts is more easy to handle that the SMD, and evolved
frequencies is not so high to justify SMT.
But, I understand needs for compact PCB. Is possible to make PCB more small.

If you are know-how on electronics, is not difficult to design a
up-converter using parts you already have.
This is my first attempt (or test bed) to make a HF to VHF up-converter.
https://dl.dropbox.com/sh/4mugo92a115rk2g/aHaxpwoavp/sdr-drm/rtl_hf_to_vhf_exp.jpg

To make one, need two main parts, a oscillator and a mixer.
Oscillator is a critical part, must by stable, crystal is recommended.
Choose one above 50MHz.
As mixer, any non linear device can be used, diode ring, transistor,
dual gate mosfet, or dedicated circuit.
Most vintage super-heterodine short-wave radio combine oscillator and
mixer on same transistor.

I waiting for some crystal to arrive. Once they arrive, I test some
ideas about up-converter.




73s
Paulino

[Paulino Kenji Sato]

Hi,
Eagle cad project of my HF to VHF upconverter, this include a compact
PCB version.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4mugo92a115rk2g/DOIyHPQDFW/sdr-drm/rtlsdr/hf2vhf_ta7358.zip

Eagle cad can be download from:
http://www.cadsoftusa.com/download-eagle/?

73s
Paulino

[Ballymunboy]

On Mon, Sep 3, 2012 at 10:31 PM, Paulino Kenji Sato <pks...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi.
This is a response for some questions about HF to VHF converter, come
from this two discussions:
AM Reception
https://groups.google.com/d/topic/ultra-cheap-sdr/WaGDae8xtPk/discussion

TV28T - antenna connector - MCX or MMCX?
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/ultra-cheap-sdr/QiIo7834sLI/R9Ngj3Prw4AJ

I can not find TA7358AP on the market (radioshack, digikey) on ebay
have some, but expensive ($3).
TA7358AP cost less that $1.
No SMD version.

$0.24 cents for TA7358AP on Taobao - China's equivalent of ebay:

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=15203704804


For that up-converter kit sold for USD65 and based on the ADE-1,  all the components including a 2 layer PCB from Gold Phoenix for the ADE-1  cost $3.74 delivered (on 100)

See costings below.
 

Through to hole parts is more easy to handle that the SMD, and evolved
frequencies is not so high to justify SMT.
But, I understand needs for compact PCB. Is possible to make PCB more small.

If you are know-how on electronics, is not difficult to design a
up-converter using parts you already have.
This is my first attempt (or test bed) to make a HF to VHF up-converter.
https://dl.dropbox.com/sh/4mugo92a115rk2g/aHaxpwoavp/sdr-drm/rtl_hf_to_vhf_exp.jpg

To make one, need two main parts, a oscillator and a mixer.
Oscillator is a critical part, must by stable, crystal is recommended.
Choose one above 50MHz.
As mixer, any non linear device can be used, diode ring, transistor,
dual gate mosfet, or dedicated circuit.
Most vintage super-heterodine short-wave radio combine oscillator and
mixer on same transistor.

I waiting for some crystal to arrive. Once they arrive, I test some
ideas about up-converter.

These are the "Revision 3" board components for the ADE-1 upconverter kit.  Filter pole values have been tweaked a little for the "Revision 4" board.


INDUCTORS - wirewound SMD 0805 except L4/L6 (1210?), 6 coils, 4 values
 
L1  180nH (e.g. Coilcraft 0805CS-181XKBC)  USD12/100. SHIPPED
L2  270nH (e.g. Coilcraft 0805CS-271XJBC)   USD12/100. SHIPPED
L3  180nH  (e.g. Coilcraft 0805CS-181XKBC) 
L4  56nH   (maybe MuRata LQN1A56NJ04M00-01) USD9/100. SHIPPED
L5  56nH     (not same on R.4 PCB)
L6  1uH    1210 case   (e.g. Panasonic ELJFA1R0KF)  USD9/100. SHIPPED
L9   1uH  (missing on assembled board)

RESISTORS  - 0805, 3 resistors, 3 values, USD1/100, SHIPPED

R1 150
R2  8.6
R3  27

CAPACITORS - 0805, 13 caps, 7 values, USD1/100, SHIPPED

C1  27pF
C2  100pF
C3  100pF
C4  27pF
C5   1nF
C6   47pF
C7   27pF
C8   47pF
C9  10nF
C10  100nF
C11 10nF
C12 missing on PCB
C13 missing in schematic, but 10nF in SM77H XTAL datasheet
C14  100pF

OTHERS

OC1 106.250 MHz ACTIVE XTAL OSCILLATOR 7050 PKG,  USD31.50/100
U1  ADE-1 -- VHF/UHF FREQ MIXER,   SOP6 PKG, USD45.30/100
D1  MBRA340T3 SCHOTTKY POWER RECTIFIER  USD6/100
D2  MBRA340T3 SCHOTTKY POWER RECTIFIER

CONNECTORS

SMA JACK PCB END MOUNT BULKHEAD CONNECTOR USD34.65/100
USB TYPE A PLUG SMD STRAIGHT PINS  USD1.60/100

Paulino

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