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Re: Si5351A Part Number #repair #internals


 

No version of the Si5351 is specified to operate about 200 MHz. The
original Si5351A, B, and C were specified to 160 MHz. The later revision,
the Si5351A-B (or B-B or C-B) are specified to work up to 200 MHz, and that
is the one you will find in just about any product you buy today. (The B
suffix parts also reduce the minimum output frequency from 8 KHz to 2.5
KHz.) Popular breakout boards like the one from Adafruit still specify an
upper limit of 160 MHz, but current production contains the Si5351A-B with
its 200 MHz spec and the boards will work up to and beyond that frequency.

Nearly all ham experimentation with the Si5351 uses the A variant. That is
the least expensive version: it comes in a 10 pin MSOP package and offers
three outputs. When the upgraded B-suffix version was released, an
Si5351A-B-GM in a 20 lead QFN package was added that offers 8 outputs but
no additional features. The Si5351B and Si5351C come in a 20 pin QFN
package; they offer eight outputs and additional clocking features. (The
first generation was also offered in a 24 pin QSOP but that was
discontinued.) Versions with pre-programmed output frequencies are also
available; they will have part numbers with additional numbers following
the B suffix.

For ham projects, the specific chip you want is the Si5351A-B-GT or
Si5351A-B-GTR. The only difference is the packaging; the GT comes in a
tube, the GTR comes in tape and reel. If you're buying for prototyping, you
will get either chips poured in an antistatic bag or a cut tape. Buy
whichever your favorite distributor has in stock or the one in the
packaging you prefer; they are usually the same price.

Hams have found that the chips can be pushed up to frequencies well above
their specifications. Other specs, like power consumption, harmonic
distortion, and phase noise are not guaranteed if the chip is operated
above 200 MHz. The NanoVNA counts on being able to run it at higher
frequencies to achieve fundamental mode operation up to 300 MHz. In the
other direction, the QCX transceiver relies on operating one of the primary
PLLs well below its specified lower limit of 600 MHz to make it possible to
generate quadrature outputs on the 80 meter band.

Unlike the Si570, a popular oscillator in other ham designs that is sold in
multiple frequency grades (with the lower grades having limits that are
programmed into the chip), the Si5351A is not locked in any way by the
manufacturer. Users are free to push the chip all the way to its inherent
limits.

On Wed, Jan 8, 2020 at 7:54 AM KE8CPD <Josh.Mucinski@...> wrote:

All,
In a effort to repair my NanoVNA to work above 300 mhz, please see
/g/nanovna-users/topic/34518859#4791. So i order a new
si5351a chip, and replaced it last night. The new chip did not help solve
the issue, i though i had matched the chip to original spec but upon
further inspection of the spec sheet show to max freq to be only 200 mhz.
The link to what i ordered is below. Can anyone point to the correct chip?
or any other tips to make my nanovna work about 300 mhz.






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