How to Build and Code an Arduino VFO Si5351 PART-1

Рет қаралды 4,446

5 ай бұрын

In this series of videos I go though how to build a VFO based on the Arduino platform using the SI5351. The VFO includes IF offsets, frequency displays and a high speed rotary encoder. The VFO can be used for making home brew radio projects, tuning many types of radio equipment including SDR receivers. This VFO has good performance and is relatively cheap to build. No programming skills are required and I will supply the code for the project and go through how to configure and upload it. In the video I go through how the circuits work and cover troubleshooting to get the VFO working.
Feel free to buy me a coffee, all donations go towards the channel. thank you for your support.
Downloads
VFO Schematic Download
drive.google.com/file/d/17vSC...
VFO Breadboard Layout Download
drive.google.com/file/d/1yMqR...
Arduino Sketch Download
drive.google.com/file/d/1LlNt...
Arduino NANO Clone Link
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dm8...
SI5153 Breakout Board
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DeH...
OLED Display I2C
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dn3...
Rotary Encoder 100PPR
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBH...
AD831 Mixer
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBN...
8 Digit Seven Segment Display MAX7219
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBS...
SMA RG316 cables
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dl0...
10dB SMA Attenuator
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DlH...

Пікірлер: 24

@johnwest7993 5 ай бұрын

Thank you, especially for the parts selection. This video is wonderfully detailed with all of the critical info, and good advice and background info as well, with no garbage or misinformation so common to KZfaq videos. An A+ KZfaq video presentation. Again, thank you.

@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE 3 ай бұрын

I've just discovered this series and it's exactly what I'm looking for. I'm a returning to the hobby ham with little technical knowledge and a lot of enthusiasm... and a lot of age! Your video is so well done that I followed it with ease and will work my way through the rest of the series. If I'm still following well, I'll have a go at building one. My ultimate goal is to build a QRP transceiver. Best 73 Ace G0ACE

@mikegeo408 4 ай бұрын

Thank you. Great video. Works better than my more expensive Upconverter. The sketch is flawless. I had a bit of trouble calibrating the Si5351. What I did was correct the PPM on the Sdr.

@M0XFXUK 4 ай бұрын

Hi Mike, I am chuffed that you like the project. As you say it makes a great up converter when you couple it with good mixer for SDR. I am not sure if you know but I have had some PCB's made see (part 4) it may make things a little easier. Re calibration. If you use the unit at a fixed frequency for up conversion then adjusting the SDR is fine.

@williamglew2851 2 ай бұрын

thanks John will have to have a go

@paultomlinson528 5 ай бұрын

Lovely little project looking forward to more

@M0XFXUK 5 ай бұрын

Hi Paul, yes it's been great fun playing around with this. Best regards John M0XFX

@christopheriles1469 5 ай бұрын

Great video John! This has always been a grey area for me but it's starting to make sense with your excellent tuition. I'm looking forward to building one of these when I've thoroughly digested the videos (not watched part 2 yet). Please keep up the excellent work!

@M0XFXUK 5 ай бұрын

Hi Chis, I hope all is good at your side, it's always a pleasure. I am glad you enjoyed the video and I have been able to fill in some gaps. It's been a learning curve for me too. Thank you for the encouragement, best regards John M0XFX

@christopheriles1469 5 ай бұрын

@@M0XFXUK Yes, all good now thanks John. I had cancer last year but one operation and 6 months of chemo have totally rid me of it so I'm looking forward to more radio exploits! This vfo is first on the list; please keep the brilliant videos coming! Cheers, Chris, G0VOE.

@M0XFXUK 5 ай бұрын

@@christopheriles1469 Great to hear that you are on the mend. Yep I have a few radio's waiting in the wings to make some more videos.

@rmwagar6524 Ай бұрын

John, I have gotten a lot from the series, thank you for the great descriptions and sketches I sent an email requesting information on your PCB availability, and have not seen a reply, so I'm trying here. I would like one or two when they are available.

@M0XFXUK 4 күн бұрын

Hi apologies I have been busy with work commitments of late. the PCB should be available again soon and I have made some improvements. Keep an eye on the channel. great to hear that you are enjoying the content.

@MicroChipz 5 ай бұрын

Very interesting.

@M0XFXUK 5 ай бұрын

Alway a pleasure to have MicroChipz on the channel, it's been fun to play around with and let me know if you have any ideas and I will try to include it in part 3. I hope you are well mate. Best Regards John M0XFX

@williamglew2851 2 ай бұрын

how do i buy a board?

@mstover2809 5 ай бұрын

Watching these is really helpful as this is pretty much what I have been wanting to do - so much so that I went ahead a bought a mixer board! First, a question: How difficult would it be to utilize the 2nd clock as a fixed frequency LO and use the RTL-SDR to do the tuning instead? I would like to have the VFO control a radio, but use a SDR dongle to listen in on the HF bands (The older SDR unit I have CANNOT recieve below 30MHz or so) Second, a comment: the 1.3" display seems to use a different driver (SH 1106 I think) where as the "long, skinny one" uses the same SSD 1306, but has a 128x32 resolution (I bought one for an "S-Meter" project, along with a Pro Mini)

@M0XFXUK 5 ай бұрын

Hi, It's really easy to set the clock at a static frequency. Re setting the unit up so RTL's can receive all the HF band will work with the mixer. Re the display, I think that I know the display you are describing and have some knocking about, I will take a look at and see if we can get some support in the code for this. I will try to cover these topics in part 3. Great questions by the way. Best Regards John

@mstover2809 5 ай бұрын

@@M0XFXUK I THINK the only addition to YOUR code would be to enable the "Clk 1" output at 100MHz and feed THAT to the mixer, thereby keeping the VFO output on "Clk 0" as-is for controlling a transceiver!

@M0XFXUK 5 ай бұрын

@@mstover2809 Yes that I think that is an extremely good idea, again I will bring this up in part 3.

@CBRadioWayBack10-4 5 ай бұрын

I want one..

@shaylnandos230 Ай бұрын

Hi, nice video, is it possible to go up to 1.7ghz?

@M0XFXUK 4 күн бұрын

Apologies for the late reply, No this unit uses the Si 5351 which has a range of up to 200Mhz however people have been using the harmonics to get into the GHz range. This does work but it can suffer frequency instability as you are so far away from the base clock frequency. I hope this is of help. Regards John