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Project development, ideas, and suggestions / Re: A PIC Based SHF Audio / Video workstation.
We start with a simple lil off the shelf 1.2 Ghz reciever module that can be tuned by a voltage. This is fed by a ramp and the same ramp drives the X deflection on a standard scope. The Y deflection is the IF output of the module.
The block diagram for a filter profiler
The block diagram for a reciever with integral band scanner output to a X/Y Osilloscope.
The finished workstation.
The 6 working modes. 1 Spectrum analyzer, 2 Frequency counter, 3 RF signal generator, 4 AC/DC/RF Voltmeter with historic trace, 5 Filter profiler and 6 Transmitter reciever.
The workstation is driven by a PIC processor. The processor dives 4 D-A converters, for the X and Y axis of the display, the control voltage of the tuner module, and the output wave form for the signal generator / modulator. The PIC generates the display in real time flicker free while performing the control functions.
The front panel artwork. The workstation is divided into a transmitter and a reciever. The reciever on the left and the transmitter on the right.
On the incomming we have signal gain, the centre frequency and the width of the scan, being simple low frequency op amp offsets and controls of a set of op amps in instrumentation configuration. This sets the limits on the spctrum analyzer.
In the centre we have the control for the RX and TX VFO's. On the right we have the TX modulation controls.
Along the bottom we have RF In, IF and demodulated IF out, RX VFO control in or out, On the TX side, we have TX VFO control, External RF in from another sig gen, The SHF AC/DC/RF Voltmeter in, Modulating Sig gen in and TXRF out.
A very simple setup that cost me less than $200 to build.
Here is a pic of the SHF workstation in typical use scenario monitoring a video signal from a satellite.