
USBDAALBFER is a multi-purpose interface SATSAGEN compatible with driving external systems, like an SNA that accepts horizontal input with ~ 10Vpp for sweep operations. Moreover, this interface makes analog inputs available to enable triggers or connect Log Detectors. It can be connected to an ADF5355 board from Arduino code version 4.1 and SATSAGEN v. 0.6.0.3.
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)
Schematics
LMX2595 interface
Components
- A microcontroller like an Arduino Nano/Uno/Pro mini
- LMX2595 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:
usbdaalbfer5.2.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
Older versions:
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