26-04-2019, 08:43 PM
Hello
There is already a MCU, similar to the one used on the Arduino Zero hence the name RFzero, on the RFzero. A GPS is also on the board and used for frequency calibration and timing purposes.
There is a dozen of example programs already made three of which are WSPR centric:
- install the Arduino IDE (Windows, Linux, Mac OS) [must be similar to RPi somehow]
- add the RFzero link to the Arduino IDE
- go the the menu and find the relevant RFzero WSPR program [no idea how this is done on Linux and RPi]
- upload it to the RFzero [must be similar to RPi]
- do the configuration via the USB port [hardcoded in RPi?]
- done
But great inspiration. I will do my first ever how-to-video which undoubtedly will take me longer time than performing the above steps.
There are no needs to learn any C at all. Not a single line of code has to be written. Connect the USB to a computer, a GPS antenna and an antenna/PA - done.
There is no need for a bandpass filter for the RFzero. A low pass filter may be added/mounted if at all relevant. I recommend investigating if the harmonics of, any, source are the culprit of the post PA harmonics. For non broadband PAs the harmonics are often generated in the PA itself instead of being an amplification of the input signal. I have tested a 6 m PA driven by 13 dBm from a R&S signal generator with really low second harmonic and compared this to a situation where a 100 MHz 13 dBm, seldom none of the harmonic are at the same level as the fundamental is, signal was also fed to the same input as the 50 MHz signal. The second harmonics from the PA was the same.
Performance costs.
Bo
There is already a MCU, similar to the one used on the Arduino Zero hence the name RFzero, on the RFzero. A GPS is also on the board and used for frequency calibration and timing purposes.
There is a dozen of example programs already made three of which are WSPR centric:
- install the Arduino IDE (Windows, Linux, Mac OS) [must be similar to RPi somehow]
- add the RFzero link to the Arduino IDE
- go the the menu and find the relevant RFzero WSPR program [no idea how this is done on Linux and RPi]
- upload it to the RFzero [must be similar to RPi]
- do the configuration via the USB port [hardcoded in RPi?]
- done
But great inspiration. I will do my first ever how-to-video which undoubtedly will take me longer time than performing the above steps.
There are no needs to learn any C at all. Not a single line of code has to be written. Connect the USB to a computer, a GPS antenna and an antenna/PA - done.
There is no need for a bandpass filter for the RFzero. A low pass filter may be added/mounted if at all relevant. I recommend investigating if the harmonics of, any, source are the culprit of the post PA harmonics. For non broadband PAs the harmonics are often generated in the PA itself instead of being an amplification of the input signal. I have tested a 6 m PA driven by 13 dBm from a R&S signal generator with really low second harmonic and compared this to a situation where a 100 MHz 13 dBm, seldom none of the harmonic are at the same level as the fundamental is, signal was also fed to the same input as the 50 MHz signal. The second harmonics from the PA was the same.
Performance costs.
Bo