Ham radio didn't start with Appliance Boxes! The Digital LO 12-20-2022 Update
Volkswagens were Cheap and easy to "Soup Up". But they were still a 57VW!
Update 12-20-2022 ~ Get Over It!
If you are a licensed ham, you should be able to understand electronic circuits! If one can't do that, then in a sense you will not know when your radio (rig) is operating properly. All hams inherently have the responsibility to transmit clean signals.
In many countries (US Excluded) hams must go through a mandatory process starting with essentially a learner's permit and thereafter a prescribed period can apply for a set of "Big Boy" pants.
More than one US Extra has confessed to knowing nothing about the hobby but simply memorized a bunch of questions, took the test and instant extra! Shame on the ARRL for instigating that process.
There is no follow-on filling in the huge knowledge gaps but simply fire up a rig in the Extra portions of the bands and never to try to contribute technically to the hobby.
A first step to right this ship is to boycott the ARRL! The 2nd step is to learn what makes our rigs tick. This blog will try to contribute to the learning part.
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Today you must look carefully at your time investment. All of us know about those who have replicated the famous Mark VII Waddington Transceiver (AKA Paraset). These replications often are exact copies of the original famous radio set. But in the final analysis it is still a two-tube Regenerative Receiver (6SK7s) and a one-tube (6V6) Crystal-Controlled Transmitter. Likely this set is not very good for FT-8.
The LC VFO and the now popular Glue Stick PTO are just like the 57 VW and the Paraset. They are fun to work with and frequently "on" to keep them working; but they are old technology and unfortunately out of step with today's paradigm and just over the horizon new designs.
Based on hundreds of emails I have received a common thread is evident, many homebrewer's (our 1%) have either started this hobby in the age before digital electronics or have not really dabbled much in the digital world.
The digital world involves software and while many may have vast experience in electronics, they have avoided the digital side. The best parallel example --try to find through hole parts when most of the good stuff is SMD. Thus, if you want to build with the "good stuff" you must transit to a different style of construction involving SMD.
Arduino Nano & Si5351
This may be another factor from those who complain. Suddenly that 80-watt Radio Shack soldering iron in a cold garage shop is out of step with parts you can hardly see. The answer is CNC Mills and 3D Printers. Now that really makes things complex. So instead of facing the challenge head on, it is a fast retreat back to LC VFO' and Glue Stick PTO's. It really is a Lack of the Knack!
You will find a complete lack of sympathy from me as the cost of acquiring a CNC machine to build the modern circuit boards is in the $300 range. Here is a machine that will work for making circuit boards.
Back to the Digital LO thread. When you build your "security blankie" Analog VFO or GS PTO it typically spits out one frequency from the output. The Arduino linked up with the Si5351 can spit out the LO (VFO) as well as the BFO and have a spare port for another output such as an HFO.
For you BTE's the LO is the Local Oscillator, the BFO is the Beat Frequency Oscillator and he HFO is the High Frequency Oscillator such as you might have in a Dual Conversion Rig. With some shopping you can find an Arduino and a Si5351 for about $15 total. Add in a few other parts and a $20 Bill gets you a Digital LO
Since this is a DCR we only need one output at the operating frequency. If we were to use this as the LO and BFO (like in a transceiver), then with code changes the Outputs would be CLK0 and CLK 2.
So instead of complaining try internet searches for code that will make your Digital LO work for you. There are many YouTube tutorials on how to do it that tell you by the numbers. You can do it!
