QRP 2000 USB Controlled Synthesiser Kit (Discontinued)

Developed by QRP2000-Design team:

Tom DG8SAQ, John (SK) G8BTR, Alan M0PUB, Guido PE1NNZ, Steve G0XAR & Jan G5BBL

After 14 successful years, we have taken the decision to discontinue this Kit. A factor in this decision has been the worldwide component shortage, which has seen the Si570 chips significantly rise in price and become difficult to source. This page will remain to provide information and documentation for existing kit owners.

Main Applications

    Full Band or Multi Band coverage of Softrock RXTX V6.1 and V6.2 transceivers (use Kit 1 CMOS version)

    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 210 MHz for Kit 1 (10-160 Mhz specified by Silabs) and Kit 2: 3.5 MHz up to 280 MHz (10-280 MHz) specified by SiLab for C-grade LVDS device supplied) Si570BBB Device up to 945 MHz (810 MHz specified by Silabs) available
  

• Stability +/- 50 ppm CMOS or +/- 20 ppm LVDS versions

• 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
  

This Kit uses the Silicon Labs Chip SI570, an "ANY-RATE I2C PROGRAMMABLE XO", which is a 7x5mm 8 pin integrated frequency synthesizer, that can generate almost any frequency between 3.5MHz and up to 945 MHz depending on the Si570 chip used.  The ready programmed ATMEL connects to the PC via the USB port

• Kit 1 supplied with Si570CAC -max frequency 160 MHz
  
• Kit 2 supplied with Si570BBC - max frequency 280 MHz
• Kit 3 supplied without chip
• Kit 4 supplied with Si570BBB - max frequency 810 MHz (Discontinued)
  
• Kit 5 supplied with Si57DBA - max frequency 1.417 GHz