RF Head 1w driverboard help
-
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 2959
- Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 1:23 am
Re: RF Head 1w driverboard help
The 74HC4024 goes (at 5V supply) to around 77 MHz. You can get it slightly higher by running it at 6 Volts (not really recommended).
There is a 74AC4024 that goes to over 120 MHz, but they're more expensive than the whole of the rest of my discrete PLL these days.
The 4024 is ideal for doubler rigs. I explained earlier in this thread why doubling is a good idea. It makes for much greater stability as you can't get the big stages coupling back into the oscillator.
There is a 74AC4024 that goes to over 120 MHz, but they're more expensive than the whole of the rest of my discrete PLL these days.
The 4024 is ideal for doubler rigs. I explained earlier in this thread why doubling is a good idea. It makes for much greater stability as you can't get the big stages coupling back into the oscillator.
"Why is my rig humming?"
"Because it doesn't know the words!"
"Because it doesn't know the words!"

- Bton-FM
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 463
- Joined: Sun Jun 16, 2019 2:55 pm
- Location: Beside the seaside
Re: RF Head 1w driverboard help
Have you got a doubler circuit or a link to one ?
-
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 2959
- Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 1:23 am
Re: RF Head 1w driverboard help
Here you go:
The original varicaps were BA102, but I've seen reverse-biased 1N4148 used for the modulation and green LEDs for the VCO tuning.
The BSX20s can be replaced with the BF199
The diodes around the 4040 need to be worked out for the frequency you want to use, and take the feed to the 4046 from the most significant diode cathode. The diodes around the 4060 set the divider in the 4060 to give the reference you want. The doubler and filter stages are switched off when the PLL is out of lock, so you can't transmit on the wrong frequency.
You'll get about 20mW of clean Band II out.
The coil in the oscillator stage was a Toko S18 white (7½turns) with a ferrite slug, and the doubler and filter coils were Toko S18 yellow (4½turns) also with ferrite slugs. The S18s are difficult to get in the UK, but a few places still stock them.The original varicaps were BA102, but I've seen reverse-biased 1N4148 used for the modulation and green LEDs for the VCO tuning.
The BSX20s can be replaced with the BF199
The diodes around the 4040 need to be worked out for the frequency you want to use, and take the feed to the 4046 from the most significant diode cathode. The diodes around the 4060 set the divider in the 4060 to give the reference you want. The doubler and filter stages are switched off when the PLL is out of lock, so you can't transmit on the wrong frequency.
You'll get about 20mW of clean Band II out.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
"Why is my rig humming?"
"Because it doesn't know the words!"
"Because it doesn't know the words!"

- Bton-FM
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 463
- Joined: Sun Jun 16, 2019 2:55 pm
- Location: Beside the seaside
Re: RF Head 1w driverboard help
Thank you!
I’ll give it a go sometime but first I want to finish the one posted at the top of this thread for starters.
I’ll give it a go sometime but first I want to finish the one posted at the top of this thread for starters.
-
- big in da game.. trust
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Fri Nov 29, 2019 10:10 pm
Re: RF Head 1w driverboard help
Cracking boards well worth the money nice audio too
Fusion Fm (Birmingham) Unreal Fm (Birmingham) 

- Electronically
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 431
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 11:43 am
Re: RF Head 1w driverboard help
Dunno if that's the right driver but seems so.
Sent from my AMN-LX9 using Tapatalk
Sent from my AMN-LX9 using Tapatalk
-
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 2959
- Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 1:23 am
Re: RF Head 1w driverboard help
The 74HCT4024 will go to 110MHz if you run it at 6.2V (the absolute maximum). I use 74F160 these days if I need to divide ~100MHz directly (like for a PLL-controlled Band I receiver)
"Why is my rig humming?"
"Because it doesn't know the words!"
"Because it doesn't know the words!"

-
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 612
- Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2014 4:20 pm
Re: RF Head 1w driverboard help
I managed to get a a component layout for this from NRG on eBay, but some of the values of the Resistors are totally different to what I can see on images of this board ready built.
Do you have any old notes or a component layout around from when you did these, please?
Not sure whether to build with component layout provided my NRG, or copy ready built driver board values!

-
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 400
- Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2017 5:56 pm
Re: RF Head 1w driverboard help
He rarely replies to customers on eBay, dont think he can be that dedicated to actually selling anything to be honest, if you got anything out of him then you were luckyteckniqs wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:38 pmNRG Chris in the UK is still about doing bits and bobs.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/nrg-electronics
Sony ST 920 QS
- sinus trouble
- proppa neck!
- Posts: 1421
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 11:34 pm
Re: RF Head 1w driverboard help
I hate to be so brutally honest! This is the problem with Ebay! People expect the cheapest price and a lifetime of technical support thrown in for free! Mr NRG is a busy man just like the rest of us!LeeCavanagh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 4:47 pm He rarely replies to customers on eBay, dont think he can be that dedicated to actually selling anything to be honest, if you got anything out of him then you were lucky
Im sure he will help if he can!
I am as stupid as I look! 

-
- tower block dreamin
- Posts: 400
- Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2017 5:56 pm
Re: RF Head 1w driverboard help
sinus trouble wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:32 amI hate to be so brutally honest! This is the problem with Ebay! People expect the cheapest price and a lifetime of technical support thrown in for free! Mr NRG is a busy man just like the rest of us!LeeCavanagh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 4:47 pm He rarely replies to customers on eBay, dont think he can be that dedicated to actually selling anything to be honest, if you got anything out of him then you were lucky
Im sure he will help if he can!
You can be as honest as you like, i respect that.
I should point out that each time i contacted him it was with an interest in buying, not for support, but not once have i had any reply
Sony ST 920 QS