Local Oscillator filter needed

Discussion about this major DATV Project. See https://wiki.batc.org.uk/The_Portsdown_Transmitter
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g8gtz
Posts: 1776
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:26 pm

Local Oscillator filter needed

Post by g8gtz » Thu Jan 26, 2017 1:55 pm

Testing on the 3 prototype modulator filter boards has shown that, due to the square wave output of the ADF4351, it will need filtering between the output of the ADF4351 module and the modulator board LO input when used on 146 and 437 MHz. This filter only needs to be a simple low pass filter to remove the third harmonic and no filtering is required on 23cms.

The effect of running without a high pass filter on 146 and 437 is an imbalance in the modulator resulting in reduced MER and RF performance - it does not affect the spectrum transmitted and is OK to put on air.

The project team have designed 2 simple single band filters which can be hand built very easily and is working on a design for a multi band PCB, automatically switched to the correct band by the Portsdown software.

Full details are on this wiki page although the designs are not yet available but they are near the top of the to do list :-)

https://wiki.batc.tv/LO_filters

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G3GJA
Posts: 391
Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:44 pm

Re: Local Oscillator filter needed

Post by G3GJA » Thu Jan 26, 2017 2:36 pm

For temporary use on 70cm only I've utilized the DTX-F70 bandpass filter offered as an accessory for the DTX-1 on the dtx1.info website

Also available here: http://www.dg0ve.de/en/filter.htm

Works well.

Clive G3GJA

PE1BR
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2016 5:37 am

Re: Local Oscillator filter needed

Post by PE1BR » Thu Jan 26, 2017 6:01 pm

You can also take a look at the simple China filters.
https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/NEW-433M ... 0.0.JKUWZ0

G8GKQ
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Re: Local Oscillator filter needed

Post by G8GKQ » Fri Jan 27, 2017 9:59 pm

The filter requirements are very basic. You should be able to make them from your junk box. Here are 2 that I have just constructed:
Filters.jpg
Filters.jpg (165.56 KiB) Viewed 5284 times
The left hand filter is for 146 MHz. It is series L, shunt C, series L in a T configuration. The inductors are each 4 turns of 24 swg tinned copper wire wound on a 4.5mm drill. The capacitor is 27 pf ceramic. The filter has 1.5 dB insertion loss at 146 MHz and >25 dB loss at 440 MHz. My ADF4351 gives -0.5 dBm when set to output level 3 at 146 MHz, so the input level to the modulator is -2 dBm, which is the recommended level.

The right hand filter is for 437 MHz. Same configuration, the inductors are 2 turns of 24 swg wound on a 3mm drill, and the capacitor is a 4.7 pf ceramic. The insertion loss at 437 MHz was 2 dB and the attenuation at 1300 MHz over 17 dB. The resulting input level to the modulator was about -2.5 dBm. Note that the inductors are at right angles to reduce cross-coupling.

Both filters raised the output MER to 26 dB (measured in MiniTioune 5a). I used a right angled SMA chassis socket on one end of each, so that I could connect them directly to the modulator without another cable. No filter is required for 1255 MHz.

The software-switched filter board has been designed and we are just waiting for the Chinese to finish celebrating New Year before getting the prototypes made. In the interim, these manually installed filters will do the job.

Dave, G8GKQ

g0mjw
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Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:15 am

Re: Local Oscillator filter needed

Post by g0mjw » Fri Jul 28, 2017 1:06 pm

Just checking the ebay 400-470MHz low pass filters like this
low_pass_filter.jpg
low_pass_filter.jpg (117.94 KiB) Viewed 4803 times
They are not quite as they seem as what looks like a good amount of vias between bottom and top are not drilled. However, this is only 70cm so not really an issue - apart from making it look like something its not.

The response is good
70 cm LPF.png
70 cm LPF.png (31.49 KiB) Viewed 4803 times
so this will be useful for an LO filter or an output filter. I doubt it would take much more than a few watts of RF power but probably just about OK for the 2-5W you can get out of a RA30H4047M1 brick module for DATV with acceptable spectral regrowth.

Mike

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