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New version of control PCB #1KW

 

Hello!
My name is Bill, LZ1SWE.
I have reworked the control board using PIC16F1938 and MIC2981/82 as drivers, dispensing of the myriad of transistors to drive the relays. This simplified the PCB and reduced the size, and I went for trough hole, because
I will start working on a new RF deck/PCB layout soon, with different relays and especially coil positions to reduce mutual coupling and losses, especially for the 1kW.
I have taken RA6 to a driver and I hope that David would help here - can you please take a BYPASS to that pin, so I can build a proper low loss and low SWR bypass section?
RA7 already has the RTS signal for transmitter control, and inverted is not really necessary
I have Gerber's for all of you, that might like to build this for themselves, they are attached.


?

Best regards!
Aether Lab
Bilyan Marinov
73 de LZ1SWE

aether atu.rar
aether atu.rar

 

Can we make sure the UART is pinned out so there can be the option of having a remote control using RS485?


On 03/01/2023 2:54 AM Billian Marinov via groups.io <ahedproductions@...> wrote:


Hello guys!
My name is Bill, LZ1SWE.
I did a new version of the control PCB. I have done away with the transistor-based drive section and used MIC2981/82. I have also taken out RA6 out to a driver and
would like to ask David for help - can you please take out BYPASS bit to this pin? RA7 is already RTS, no need for inverse.
The PCB is trough-hole for ease of experimentation, but later I will do an SMT type one.
I will start designing a whole new low loss, low SWR RF section, having a better layout for less mutual coupling in inductors, proper bypass and new bridge - more accurate and based on AD8310.
The Gerbers for all of you who would like to build this PCB are attached.


Best regards!
73 de LZ1SWE

 

Hello Paul,
No, RC7 and RC6 are already used in capacitor switching. This would require David to redo lots of code, but if he does, I can do another version with RS485 on a PCB.
?In general my idea is to build a good plug-and-play box at the antenna, fully automatic and standalone.
 

well it never hurts to ask. IMO, not having full RC control is a big shortcoming.

Here's why.??
- it allows you to setup preset memories with pretuned settings so you can switch from frequency to frequency without transmitting, for example for ALE. This is good when running high power, you don't have to have low power exciter before amp to return.?

- it allows you to manually set LC values. Sometimes this is desired when you can't get a good match, you can get a 5:1 at the antenna, then use the internal radio ATU to finish off, not ideal, but operationally viable.

- it allows you to see the swr at the tuner (assuming there is a uart command to get forward and reflected)

I've built the software in the IDE, adding uart looks viable from the software side and is on my ///<Todo list.? <- yes, that's a doxygen comment?

But again, thanks for the reply, easy enough to change later.?

Paul.? ?


On 03/01/2023 11:23 PM Billian Marinov via groups.io <ahedproductions@...> wrote:


Hello Paul,
No, RC7 and RC6 are already used in capacitor switching. This would require David to redo lots of code, but if he does, I can do another version with RS485 on a PCB.
?In general my idea is to build a good plug-and-play box at the antenna, fully automatic and standalone.

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi

I have been watching this thread with interest as I just bought a ATU-1000 kit and have been think the same way about upgrading the functionality. The major problem is the lack of IO on the processor with all the pin being utilised. As the control board has been reduced in size by the use of the driver ICs, would it be possible to go to the 16F1939 in the 40 pin package. This would provide more IO and allow the UART IO to be freed for comms.

In my build, I'm going to add a relay to daisy chain the PTT from the radio to the amp. This allows the tuner to drop the amp out of circuit while tuning and only use the drive from the radio, so preventing expensive mistakes.

Cheers

Reid
Gi8TME/Mi0BOT

On 02/03/2023 12:31, Paul Decker wrote:

well it never hurts to ask. IMO, not having full RC control is a big shortcoming.

Here's why.??
- it allows you to setup preset memories with pretuned settings so you can switch from frequency to frequency without transmitting, for example for ALE. This is good when running high power, you don't have to have low power exciter before amp to return.?

- it allows you to manually set LC values. Sometimes this is desired when you can't get a good match, you can get a 5:1 at the antenna, then use the internal radio ATU to finish off, not ideal, but operationally viable.

- it allows you to see the swr at the tuner (assuming there is a uart command to get forward and reflected)

I've built the software in the IDE, adding uart looks viable from the software side and is on my ///<Todo list.? <- yes, that's a doxygen comment?

But again, thanks for the reply, easy enough to change later.?

Paul.? ?


On 03/01/2023 11:23 PM Billian Marinov via groups.io <ahedproductions@...> wrote:


Hello Paul,
No, RC7 and RC6 are already used in capacitor switching. This would require David to redo lots of code, but if he does, I can do another version with RS485 on a PCB.
?In general my idea is to build a good plug-and-play box at the antenna, fully automatic and standalone.

 

Anyone interested with remote control, etc., can check this one out -?
They went all the way, although RS485 is not the right bus for many reasons, and I agree with them CAN is a lot better with RF.
They started off with David's design and did a T/L 8x8x8 stack. As they did most of the work around a AD8310 based Tandem match, I will go with their design for my V.2 ATU.
Cheers!
Bill
LZ1SWE
 

Hi!
I got the PCB's from JLCPCB yesterday, well done. Programmed right away, tested the drivers passively, with 5V source - they work fine and drive relays much beefier, than the ones I will use in the RF deck.


Of course, as it always happens when one forgets to switch off all PCB layers and check for unconnected points, one "string" was forgotten on the PCB. I put a wire on and fixed the PCB files, the GERBER's are attached.



I ill next start working on the RF deck. Much thought has to be put in it to minimize stray anything and get the losses to minimum and I'm not sure about ETA for the new design.
All the best, guys!
Bill
LZ1SWE

aether atu.rar
aether atu.rar

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