A High Performance HF Transceiver RF Subsystem.

 

In this blog post I bring some of the completed "Irwell HF Transceiver" modules together and consolidate them on to a single PCB.

Summertime 2023 Catchup And A Quick Project.

 

It is hard to believe my last blog post was in February 2023 and we are now in the month of August so almost six months have passed between blog posts, shame on me 😉.

During the summer months, I do not tend to spend a lot of time on hobbies but now the summer is nearing the end it is time to knuckle down and make a much-needed return to the blog and my Irwell HF Transceiver project.

Before I do, allow me to waffle a little about what I have been up to in the last few months.

Modifying An Analogue Meter.

In this blog post, I go all OLD SCHOOL and prepare an analogues s-meter for my  Irwell HF Transceiver project. 

Big thanks to my ham radio buddy Frank G6YAQ who kindly donated the meter for this project.

Irwell HF Transceiver Digital Modes Interface

 

My last blog post was made on the 10th July 2022, which is just a tad over four and a half months ago. Traditionaly, I do not spend a lot of time during the summer months working on homebrew projects but now that autumn & winter are here, it is time to melt some solder again and play catch up!

Irwell HF Transceiver VFO Oscillator Module Re-Visited Pt2

For part 1 of revisiting the Digital VFO Oscillator  module click here.

 

In the last blog post, I looked at replacing the three 25MHz xtals that are used for  reference clocks on the Si5351 ICs located in the the oscillator module of my digital VFO. 

The mod/upgrade to a single TCXO (temperature controlled xtal oscillator) module was carried out and tested in a lash-up fashion with great success. In this blog post, I report on the fabrication of a new PCB that is TCXO ready!

Irwell HF Transceiver VFO Oscillator Module Re-Visited Pt1

 

My last blog post was in February of this year (2022) and it is hard to believe we are now at the end of the month of May and close to the halfway point of 2022!

I expect followers of the blog may have been left wondering if my Irwell HF Transceiver project has been abandoned but alas that is definitely not the case!

Balanced Modulator For The Irwell HF Transceiver

Before I get into the first blog post for 2022, I would like to take the opportunity to wish everyone who follows the blog a belated happy new year.

HF Transceiver - Modulator

"High Performance AM, CW & SSB Modulator for the G6LBQ Irwell HF Transceiver"

In this blog post, I cover work on the first of the transmitter modules for my Irwell HF Transceiver, a multi-mode modulator that is capable of SSB, AM and CW modes.

The Cascode IF Amplifier Revisited

 For my original Cascode IF Amplifier article click here.

Cascode IF Amplifier Updates

"For The G6LBQ Irwell HF Transceiver"

Welcome to my blog post on the Cascode IF amplifier where, I address a problem that I discovered with the AM demodulator circuit and I also update the PCB to include the S-Meter electronics.

A note to self for future reference: 

"pay closer attention to manufacturers' product data sheets"

Part 5 Of A Digital VFO For The G6LBQ Irwell HF Transceiver

For part 1 of the Digital VFO click here.

For part 2 of the Digital VFO click here.

For part 3 of the Digital VFO click here.

For part 4 of the Digital VFO click here.

Digital VFO I/O Expander Module

"For The G6LBQ Irwell HF Transceiver"

Welcome to part 5 of my blog post series covering the Digital VFO developed for use with my “Irwell HF Transceiver project”.

In this concluding article, I present the I/O expander module, which interfaces to the STM32 microcontrollers I2C bus, its job is to extend the number of digital outputs available and provide switched logic outputs to drive my BPF and LPF transceiver modules.

Illustration of the I/O expander

 

 

 

Band Pass Filtering For The G6LBQ Irwell HF Transceiver Part 3

 For part 1 of the BPF module click here.

For part 2 of the BPF module click here.

HF Transceiver - Band Pass Filter Module

"High Performance RF Band Pass Filtering For The G6LBQ Irwell HF Transceiver"

In this blog post, I conclude the development of my high performance RF Band-Pass Filter suitable for the Irwell HF Transceiver as well as SDR receivers and other transceiver builds.

Band Pass Filtering For The G6LBQ Irwell HF Transceiver Part 2

For part 1 of the BandPass Filter click here.

HF Transceiver - Band Pass Filter Module

"High Performance RF Band Pass Filtering for the G6LBQ Irwell HF Transceiver"

Band Pass Filtering For The G6LBQ Irwell HF Transceiver Part 1

 

HF Transceiver - Band-Pass Filter Module

"High Performance RF Band Pass Filtering for the G6LBQ Irwell HF Transceiver"

In this blog post, I lay the foundations for a high-performance RF Band Pass Filter  suitable for the Irwell HF Transceiver as well as SDR receivers and other transceiver builds.

For my own transceiver project, the filter module needs to meet the following criteria:

• Have a sufficient number of filters to enable general coverage reception of 0.5MHz to 30MHz and provide uniform high performance for any given frequency within this range.
  
  
• Be usable on the transmit path with a rf power handling rated at 1 watt.
  
  
• Provide good suppression to frequencies that fall below or above the desired frequency pass band.
  
  
• Provide low insertion loss within the wanted pass band & good return loss.