BATC Forum

Hello
At Telford and DISTRICT ARS workshop night last week, my 8 band RF switch received attention from Heather M0HMO and Paul G8AQA. Heather soldered pin 1 of the multiplex IC which looked a poor joint. The correct voltages were measured around the board but still it was acting as a 3 dB attenuator. The observation was made that the MMIC chip had been working with an open circuit pin so had probably died.

Does anyone have a spare MMIC - description in the title - or the alternative ADL5602ARKZ-R7 that I could cadge or buy please?

I started a Digi-key order so I could get a genuine part but the other project I was as using - 71 MHz up converter - uses Mini-Circuits modules (request email sent to their UK office) that Digi-key don't stock so I'm not going to make the £33 postage free limit any time soon. The IC was listed at £2.30 ex VAT. None in the UK on Ebay.

Thanks
David M0YDH

Hi,

The Mini Circuits bits you require (I assume the ADE-11X and PGA 103+) are available from Mini Kits in Australia in 1 off quantities.


Regards,

Nick - G4NKV

Thanks Nick. I put 1 each in my Aussie shopping basket. That's a point worth making on the 71MHz Wiki page too.

Back to the main item. Prompted by Nick's suggestion I found that on their final page of the RF MMIC components, Mini-kits offer the SKY65017-70LF at $7.53 Australian but with minimum order quantity of 4. So if this appeal for a spare IC doesn't work I'll ask Wayne at Mini-kits.

David

You can buy direct from Mini Circuits UK. You can get caught with customs charges on orders from Australia and the PO handling charge.
73 Shaun.

Thanks Shaun. I hope Mini-Circuits uk reply to my email. We've both been good customers to Wayne and therefore the greedy Royal Mail.

So does anyone have a spare Sky65017-70lf that I could buy in order to repair my 8 band rf switch?

David

Hi David

RS in the UK have the ADL5602ARKZ-R7 in stock for £4.11 (minimum quantity 2) with free shipping.

73
Ray M0DHP

Well spotted Ray! That's a better fall back option than a special order to Mini-kits.

I fitted the new ADL5602 MMIC and now have an even better attenuator than with the SKY 65017 Down to 0.3mW output for 4 mW input
I am now cheesed off with this board. As the last difficult part of Portsdown, why isn't it sold assembled in the shop like the filter modulators were? It's £50 to buy the bits from Digi key then ages in uncertain fault finding. It's beyond me.

Regards
David