Why not pulley-and+thread the existing encoder to a smaller shaft? If the drum Diameter on the encoder is 10 times the diameter of your tuning shaft, you will be 240 pulses instead of 24.
Optical encoders that drive a small computer like an Arduino should
be easy to handle in software.? It the number of states per revolution
is too high, just use a software divider to lower the number of states.
If the number of mechanical states is too low, it should be easy to
make a state multiplier for 2X, 3X, etc.?
Arv
_._
Joe:
There are a lot of optical encoders that can approach 200 ppr, but they're not cheap. I think I saw one on eBay for less that $30, but that was several weeks ago. Some go as high as several hundred dollars...probably way overkill for your needs. What is a "better encoder" to you? I'm working on an SDT and I have a $1.50 encoder in it and it's fine for me. However, I like detents as they prevent me from "coasting" past a desired frequency.
As to buying a subscription, truth be told, almost anything you see in print today can be slightly modified and then posted on the Net. My publisher once told me that for every book I sell, 5 are downloaded for free. The real cost is not what I lose, but the books that don't get written because it's just not worth it anymore. However, we really do need to support the magazines that interest us. Ham Radio, Electronics Illustrated, 73 Magazine, Radio News and others...gone. Give up a dinner out and buy a subscription to one that still exists: CQ, QST, QRPQ, Sprat, RadCom and others...any one of them is worth it.
Jack, W8TEE
Jack,
That would be very cool.? But darn, I¡¯d have to subscribe to CQ.? If they go for it let me know and I¡¯ll subscribe.
I¡¯ve been wondering about a better encoder.? Something like 200 PPR so a dial rotation would come out at 2KHz at 10 Hz.? I bought one on eBay but it is for industrial counting of things and not smooth enough for a VFO.? So most def, I am interested in such a column.
And I like your topic immensely,
Joe N9JR
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Jack, W8TEE
