SDR-Kits.net

USB-Controlled Synthesizer for Softrock RXTX and Local Oscillator Applications

Updated 19^th December 2008 – All new orders will be shipped within 48 hours. Softrock V9 Receiver kits are currently Out of Stock

·    Softrock V9 Receiver Kits by Tony Parks KB9YIG available for shipment from UK – (Currently Out of Stock)
I have some V9 Softrock Receiver kits including 4 plug-in BPF modules, programmed AVR and Si570 CMOS device available for shipment to UK and Europe. Price is £36.- for shipment to UK addresses, £37.50 for shipment to Europe. As a service to those amateurs who do not have Paypal, I accept a UK cheque payable to Jan Verduyn – my address is at the end of this page. Alternatively I also accept payment by Western Union money transfer. The V9 Softrock SDR Receiver kit covers 9 Amateur bands between 1.8 and 30 MHz and is suitable for Amateurs with some previous kitbuilding experience.
Thanks to Robby WB5RVZ, Heathkit style building instructions for Softrock V9 RX are available here:

·    USB-Controlled Synthesizer V2.03 PCB now supplied since 22 October 2007.   New features supported

·        Stand Alone Operation supported – Synthesizer remembers last frequency entered,  when not connected to PC

·        Three Power Supply options: USB – powered by PC, or standalone operation from +5V Battery or +7 to +13.8V External Power Supply

·        Support of 2 CW inputs - Iambic Keyer (supported by Rocky V3.6)

Updated Circuit diagram and Build instructions are published here:

      PCB V2.03  Build Instructions and Circuit Diagram

·         Note: Kit 1: Si570 CMOS is designed for easy interface with Softrock RXTX as output is CMOS compatible with 74HC74 chips. Kit 2: Si570 LVDS is designed for other Synthesizer projects but will interface with Softrock kits as shown in this bulletin
Si570 LVDS Interfacing to Softrock RXTX and Lite Kits

·         Typical Si570 RF output Levels measured into 50 Ohm Load          
RF Output Measurements over 50 Ohm of Si570 LVDS and Si570 CMOS Chips

·         Standalone USB_Synthesizer Operation -  Last Frequency Remember Feature – and Documentation corrections available here:          USB Synthesizer Kit Update 1 

Developed by QRP2000-Design team: Tom – DG8SAQ, John - G8BTR, Alan - M0PUB, Guido - PE1NNZ, Steve - G0XAR & Jan - G0BBL 

Fig 1: Top view of USB Synthesizer PCB

This project uses the Silicon Labs Chip SI570, an "ANY-RATE I2C PROGRAMMABLE XO", which is a 7x5mm² 8 pin integrated frequency synthesizer,
that can generate almost any frequency between 3.5MHz and up to 160 MHz minimum for CMOS and 215 MHz for LVDS version. Higher Frequencies (up to 260 MHz for CMOS and up to 1400 MHz for LVDS have been measured, but this is NOT guaranteed). The Si570 chips are programmable via an I2C Interface. The ready programmed ATMEL AVR uses  Objective Development's freeware USB solution for connecting the synthesizer to the PC USB-Interface via USB port.

Main Applications

·         Kit 1: CMOS Version Full Band or Multi Band coverage of Softrock RXTX V6.1 and V6.2 transceivers

·         Standalone Operation (without PC connection) with Last Frequency Remember supported (Modification required)

·         External Local Oscillator for other SDR hardware Projects – using PowerSDR application

·         Wide range test oscillator – output frequency programmable in steps < 1 Hz.

Basic Specification:

·         Frequency Range Kit 1: 3.5 MHz to 260 MHz for Kit 1 (10-160 Mhz specified by Silabs) and Kit 2: 3.5 MHz up to 1400 MHz (10-215 MHz specified by SiLab

·         Stability +/- 50 ppm CMOS or +/- 20 ppm LVDS version

·         Output: Square wave : CMOS version 2.6V pk-pk 15pF , LVDS version 0.7V pk-pk into 100 Ohm

·         Power Supply: USB Powered or +5V to +12V Power Supply – approx 100mA

·         PCB size 41 x 48 mm

·         Suitable for constructors with some previous experience of kit building experience like Softrock Projects

Fig 2 : Component Placing – U2 Si570 is mounted at the other side of the PCB

 Kits & Parts Orders - 

Complete Kits will contain a quality double sided PCB, a programmed Atmel ATTiny45 micro-controller and other parts including the SiLabs Si570CAC000141DG CMOS device or the Si570BBC000141DG will be supplied as ordered.

On popular demand USB-Synthesizer Kits (without Si570 devices) will also be available as well as Si570 devices.

·     Orders should be made by sending your payment via Paypal to: sdrkits at gmail.com     (replace at by @ without spaces)

UK Amateurs who do not have paypal may order by post with cheque made payable to Jan Verduyn

Please do not forget to state your name and full postal address with your order.

·    UNITED STATES AND CANADA Kit orders: - USB-Synthesizer kits should be ordered direct from Tom Hoflich KM5H      (thanks to Tom for bringing the Si570 to attention of Radio Amateurs)

USA Orders via  KM5H 

USB SYNTHESIZER DOCUMENTATION

PCB V2.03  SDR-Synthesizer Kit Build Instructions and Circuit Diagram (PDF File)

Contents:

1.      Introduction
2. Bill of Materials
3. Kit Assembly
4. Driver Installation for Microsoft Windows XP
5. Driver installation verification
6. Functional Tests
7. Interfacing with Softrock RXTX 6.1 and 6.2
8. PowerSDR Setup
9. Rocky SDR Application Setup

Older PCB V1.0 Build Documentation and Circuit diagram PCB can be downloaded here:

PCB V1.1 SDR-Synthesizer Kit Documentation (PDF File)

PCB V1.1 has a floating pad which should be connected to ground.

Field bulletin issued shows how to link the pad – Also updated component placement diagram!

Binaries and Firmware by DG8SAQ

Binaries and sources of the firmware and host software including a free LibUSB driver can be downloaded here:
USB-Synthesizer Driver and firmware

PowerSDR Software Release
Current version of PowerSDR application with Softrock extensions provided by Guido PE1NNZ through Sourceforge can be downloaded here
.
Current PowerSDR Software for SDR

Updated PowerSDR Documentation can be downloaded from here:

Latest PowerSDRSR40 Installation Documentation

New - USB - AVR Troubleshooting Guide – Use this guide to trace your problem.

AVR Si570 Troubleshooting Guide by DG8SAQ

DG8SAQ USB_SYNTHESIZER APPLICATION

USB_SYNTH - Stand alone application to set Si570 Frequency (Zip file)

·         Tom has written a cute application to set the frequency of the Si570 which may be downloaded from the link above.

·         The frequency may be set to the nearest Hz......

·         Or a Multiplication factor or Frequency offset (IF offset) may be specified ..

·         Applications include RX Local Oscillator and VXO for TX applications, Test Oscillator or QRSS Beacon etc.

·         Picture below shows the Setup screen and the configuration options.

·         “Last Frequency Remember” Option for Standalone applications.

Links -

USB AVR Project Home page of Tom Baier DG8SAQ.
Tom developed the AVR firmware for this project and also had a big input into the hardware design of the AVR-Synthesizer. The LATEST Released AVR firmware may be downloaded from Tom’s website:

PowerSDR SDR Software: This is the link to download the freeware version of PowerSDR which supports the USB-Synthesizer produced by Guido PE1NNZ and Alan M0PUB & others who provided this great software

Rocky V3.6 SDR Application Software:

Use this link to download Alex VE3NEA Rocky 3.6 Program with USB AVR support
Thanks to Alex for providing this Support!!

Publications -

This Project was published in:

·         “FunkAmateur” FA June 2008 Minimalistischer hochwertiger Synthesizer mit USB-Steurung – Thomas Baier DG8SAQ: Pages 622 – 624

·         SPRAT 135 - Summer 2008 – Journal of the G-QRP Club:
USB-Controlled Synthesizer for Softrock RXTX and Local Oscillator Applications by G0BBL

SDR-Kits - contact information -

email: sdrkits( at)gmail.com replace ( at) by @)

SDR-Kits.net
Jan Verduyn G0BBL
14 Ragleth Grove
Trowbridge Wilts
BA14-7LE
United Kingdom

Copyright notice:          The USB-Synthesizer project design on this page is Copyright 2008 by  QRP2000 Design team.All rights reserved.  

Kit of parts produced by SDR-Kits.net under licence from QRP2000 Design Team

Website Copyright 2008 by SDR-Kits.net