Re: Successor to FA-VA5 (long!)
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Hi Michael,
I'm a fan of the FA-VA5! I'd love to have an excuse to order a FA-VA6! I don't love the user interface but have come to understand it well enough to be effective. It almost seems that the drill down structure puts weight on things we seldom use and makes it a struggle to find areas we need always. I don't have a clue how to remedy that (if that is the case) other than perhaps find someone expert on GUI design to offer suggestions? Lithium battery yes- great idea. The form factor and enclosure are fantastic- please don't change that! The signal generator feature I haven't used as I have a nifty device designed by Andrew ZL2PD??
It's a brilliant device but peters out below 2 meters so if your offering had modulation modes and went up to 600 mhz that would be amazing. I understand that's almost a completely new device but we can dream can't we? Thanks so much for the wonderful devices you have created- I use my LC meter constantly and it accurately discerns very low value capacitors to an amazing degree.
Best Regards and 73's,
John Greusel KC9OJV
On Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 06:40:31 AM CDT, Michael DG5MK FA-VA5 creator <mkh01@...> wrote:
Hello Geert Jan,
thanks for your valuable reply and all the information. May I comment some of the topics:
PROCESSOR
The dsPIC was choosen due to historic experience. Today, STM32 are valid alternatives but also still suffer from significant supply issues and high price. A change on the processor is possible but is relevant work as the code highly utilizes the DSP features.
BATTERIES
If there is a change towards LiPo, it probably would go exactly the way you describe: 18650 cell with charge controller over USB-C.
USER INTERFACE
Some like it, some hate it! Let's get more thoughts on this from other users. Band selection makes sense. I see it more as a software feature.
FEATURE REQUEST:
As a generator function is already included, is it more about defined signal levels? It would be possible to add a software attenuator to arrive at defined signal levels. But, remember that the signal is square wave. High pass / low pass filters are needed to filter out harmonics for a sine wave.
Doing this for all frequencies would require a large filter bank. Too expensive. Maybe having external filters for thoose who need such a feature?
Thanks again for your input. Let's see what other users think about the discussed topics.
Please feel free to share your thoughts. There is no right or wrong.
73 Michael, DG5MK
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