USB interface for SATSAGEN

USBDAALBFER is the SATSAGEN multi-purpose hardware interface.
An example of the USBDAALBFER interface for SATSAGEN to output an analog sweep ramp (0-10Vpp)

With a USBDAALBFER interface, you can:

  • Connect the PLL Synthesizers LMX2820, LMX2595, ADF5355, ADF4351 and the Si5351
  • Power a Noise Source to perform a Noise Figure and Gain analyzer
  • Connect the Log Detectors AD8317, AD8318 and AD8307
  • Drive an RF switch to improve VNA operations
  • Use the Spectrum Analyzer analog triggers
  • Generate an analog ramp synchronized to SNA/VNA scans to drive external systems, like filters or generators
Some basics about the multi-purpose interface for SATSAGEN (Video)

AD8317/AD8318 Log Detector devices interface for SATSAGEN (Video)

ADF5355 Synthesizer board interface for SATSAGEN (Video)

SATSAGEN INTERFACE by Franck F1SSF (Article - English)

SATSAGEN INTERFACE di Franck F1SSF (Article - Italian)

The code provided is compatible with the Arduino and Raspberry PI boards:

Arduino code

Schematics

LMX2595/LMX2820 interface

Satsagen >= v.0.9.3.6, USBDAALBFER >= v.5.3

Components

  • A microcontroller like an Arduino Nano/Uno/Pro mini
  • LMX2595/LMX2820 board
  • 5k trimmer
  • 100NF capacitor
  • 10 k resistor
  • 6 1K resistors
  • 3 560 Ohm resistors
  • Momentary switch NO
  • LED

Schematic for Arduino Nano/Uno/Pro mini

Schematic for Raspberry Pi Pico

ADF5355 interface

Components

  • A microcontroller like an Arduino Nano
  • ADF5355 board
  • 5k trimmer
  • 100NF capacitor
  • 10k resistor
  • 6 1K resistors
  • 3 560 resistors
  • Momentary switch NO
  • LED

Schematic

ADF4351 interface

Satsagen >= v.0.9.2.1, USBDAALBFER >= v.4.9

Components

  • A microcontroller like an Arduino Nano
  • ADF4351 board
  • 5k trimmer
  • 100NF capacitor
  • 10 k resistor
  • 6 1K resistors
  • 3 560 resistors
  • Momentary switch NO
  • LED

Schematic

Si5351 interface

Satsagen >= v.0.9.2.1, USBDAALBFER >= v.4.9

Components

  • A microcontroller like an Arduino Nano
  • Si5351 board
  • 5k trimmer
  • 100NF capacitor
  • 3 1K resistors
  • Momentary switch NO
  • LED

Schematic

LOG DETECTOR devices interface

Components

  • A microcontroller like an Arduino Nano
  • AD83xx LOG DETECTOR module (AD8317, AD8318, and AD8307 supported)
  • 5k trimmer
  • 100NF capacitor
  • 3 1K resistors
  • Momentary switch NO
  • LED

Schematic

Triggers interface

Components

  • A microcontroller like an Arduino Nano
  • 5k trimmer
  • 100NF capacitor
  • 3 1K resistors
  • Momentary switch NO
  • LED

Schematic

PWM D/A converter

Components

  • A microcontroller like an Arduino Nano
  • Step-up module 5V to 15V
  • LM358 or equivalent
  • 1uF capacitor
  • 1K, 4K7, 33K, and 47K resistors
  • Momentary switch NO
  • LED

Schematic

D/A converter MCP4725 based

Components

  • A microcontroller like an Arduino Nano
  • Step-up module 5V to 15V
  • MCP4725 module
  • LM358 or equivalent
  • 10NF capacitor
  • 1K, 4K7, 33K, and 91K resistors
  • Momentary switch NO
  • LED

Schematic

Noise Source power switch

Simple version

Risk of damaging the Noise Source module! Do not use the XL6009-based step-up module for this application. The XL6009 can reach 50 Volts of unstabilized output in some input voltage conditions below 4 Volts. Use a traditional 28-volt stabilized power instead or an MT3608-based step-up module

Components

  • A microcontroller like an Arduino Nano
  • Step-up module 5V to 29V MT3608-based
  • 1K, 560, and 10K resistors
  • Momentary switch NO
  • LED

Schematic

Noise source power switch

With a voltage control feature

Components

  • A microcontroller like an Arduino Nano
  • Step-up module 5V to 28V MT3608-based
  • 1K, 4k7, 28k, 33k, 47k, 100k, and a 180K resistors
  • 5k trimmer
  • 1uF, 47uF, and a 100uF capacitors
  • NPN transistor, and a PNP transistor like 2N5551 and 2N5401
  • Momentary switch NO
  • LEDs

Schematic


VNA RF Switch

Components

  • A microcontroller like an Arduino Nano
  • RF Switch module HMC536-based
  • 1K, 47K resistors
  • Momentary switch NO
  • LED

Schematic

All schematics can be mixed into one interface (except PWM and MCP4725 D/A).

The Arduino’s code is suitable for all schematics.

Raspberry Pi Pico summary Pinout

Arduino Code

Latest release:

usbdaalbfer5.3.zip  Sources v.5.3

usbdaalbfer5.3.PiPicoBins.zip Binaries v.5.3 for Pi Pico and Pi Pico 2

 - LMX2820 synthesizer support
 - Can be compiled for Arduino and Raspberry Pi Pico platforms.

Require SATSAGEN version >= 0.9.3.6    

The sketch is customizable by editing the file usbdaalbfer_config.h

- Comment one or more #define USE_xxx and #define PLLAUTOSTART lines to reduce the space occupied on the program flash. The sketch with all features activated does not fit on Arduino boards with ATmega328P; comment out the features you do not use.

- Uncomment #define NSPVC line if you use this schematic or Franck's interface to enable the noise source power voltage control feature

Older versions:

usbdaalbfer5.2.zip  Sources v.5.2

usbdaalbfer5.2.PiPicoBins.zip Binaries v.5.2 for Pi Pico and Pi Pico 2

 - LMX2595 synthesizer support
 - Can be compiled for Arduino and Raspberry Pi Pico platforms.
 - Fixed the overlapped pins problem in 5.1

Require SATSAGEN version >= 0.9.3.3    

The sketch is customizable by editing the file usbdaalbfer_config.h

- Comment one or more #define USE_xxx and #define PLLAUTOSTART lines to reduce the space occupied on the program flash. The sketch with all features activated does not fit on Arduino boards with ATmega328P; comment out the features you do not use.

- Uncomment #define NSPVC line if you use this schematic or Franck's interface to enable the noise source power voltage control feature


usbdaalbfer5.1.zip  Sources v.5.1

usbdaalbfer5.1.PiPicoBins.zip Binaries v.5.1 for Pi Pico and Pi Pico 2

 - LMX2595 synthesizer support
 - Can be compiled for Arduino and Raspberry Pi Pico platforms.

Require SATSAGEN version >= 0.9.3.3    

The sketch is customizable by editing the file usbdaalbfer_config.h

- Comment one or more #define USE_xxx and #define PLLAUTOSTART lines to reduce the space occupied on the program flash. The sketch with all features activated does not fit on Arduino boards with ATmega328P; comment out the features you do not use.

- Uncomment #define NSPVC line if you use this schematic or Franck's interface to enable the noise source power voltage control feature
usbdaalbfer4.9.zip  v.4.9

 - ADF4351/Si5351 synthesizers support
 - Enabled reference frequency configuration field to PLL synthesizers
 - Energy saving power down for PLL synthesizers 

Uncomment #define NSPVC line if you use this schematic or Franck's interface to enable the noise source power voltage control feature
usbdaalbfer4.8.zip  v.4.8

   -Fix EEPROM corruption blocks the Noise Source power interface operations

Uncomment #define NSPVC line if you use this schematic or Franck's interface to enable the noise source power voltage control feature

usbdaalbfer4.6.zip  v.4.6

   -Fix the switch to change the interface mode cannot be used when the noise source power control is enabled

Uncomment #define NSPVC line if you use this schematic or Franck's interface to enable the noise source power voltage control feature

The MCP4725 library version 0.3.2 by Rob Tillaart is required.
usbdaalbfer4.5.zip  v.4.5

   -Source Noise power voltage control feature

Uncomment #define NSPVC line if you use this schematic to enable voltage control feature

The MCP4725 library version 0.3.2 by Rob Tillaart is required.
usbdaalbfer4.4.zip  v.4.4

   -Source Noise power driving
   -VNA RF switch driving

The MCP4725 library version 0.3.2 by Rob Tillaart is required.
usbdaalbfer4.2.zip  v.4.2

   -ADF5355 The library code was rewritten
   -ADF5355 Resolution by 1Hz steps, XO correction

The MCP4725 library version 0.3.2 by Rob Tillaart is required.
usbdaalbfer4.1.zip  v.4.1

   -ADF5355 support

The MCP4725 library version 0.3.2 by Rob Tillaart  is required.
usbdaalbfer31.ino  v.3.1

Allows these SATSAGEN operations:

   -Analog trigger inputs
   -Analog ramp output with PWM or a dedicated D/A chip if available
   -Analog log detectors input
   -And for future development: RF switches driving

The MCP4725 library version 0.3.2 by Rob Tillaart is required.
usbdaalbfer2.ino  v.2.0

This version can be used for the real-time triggers feature of SATSAGEN v.0.5.0.2!
usbdaalbfer.ino   v.1.0