[ARC5] A Heterodyne Sweep Generator

Thu Mar 13 00:21:27 EDT 2014

I have pretty much standardized on using the inexpensive passive DBM's
(such as the MiniCircuits SBL-1 or similar) for all my mixing needs.  It's
not perfect for every application but it works very well overall.  It is
robust yet tame in your circuit.  A passive DBM will not let you down in a
strong signal environment.

Dennis AE6C

On Wed, Mar 12, 2014 at 12:34 PM, Ian Wilson <ianmwilson73 at gmail.com> wrote:

> The NE602 has a useful amount of conversion gain - an advantage in
> receiver applications (which is what it was designed for) - and often a
> disadvantage in frequency-conversion applications, I agree.
>
> 73, ian K3IMW
>
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 12, 2014 at 11:55 AM, Bruce Long <coolbrucelong at yahoo.com
> >wrote:
>
> > I agree the ne602-612 is not good with strong signals and therefore at a
> > disadvantage in signal generation applications.  Till you attenuate the
> > signal- feed it into the 602 and then amplify back up to useful levels a
> > DBM looks pretty good in my opinion.  I'm currently working on a simple
> > data receiver based on a ne602 at work.  My input signal is rather strong
> > at -30 dBm- almost too strong for the 602 to handle.  External osc
> > injection does seem overly level sensitive as well....
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >   On Wednesday, March 12, 2014 2:06 PM, "Fuqua, Bill L" <
> wlfuqu00 at uky.edu>
> > wrote:
> >    The main problem I have had with NE602 and SA612 has been when
> > overdriving the inputs.
> > Particularly the oscillator input when using an external oscillator.
> >   If you use something like a NE604 as a detector ,assuming the frequency
> > is low enough, you can use
> > the SSI which produces a log output. Or you can use one of the new Analog
> > Devices parts which have
> > loads of bandwidth.
> >
> > 73
> > Bill wa4lav
> >
> > ________________________________________
> > From: arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net [arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net] on
> > behalf of Bruce Long [coolbrucelong at yahoo.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 11:09 AM
> > To: Ian Wilson; Geoff
> > Cc: ARC-5 List
> > Subject: Re: [ARC5] A Heterodyne Sweep Generator
> >
> > Ive recently been using the ne602 and NE612 at work and I find it to be
> > somewhat finicky.  For a quanty one home brew hetrodyne signal generator
> I
> > would just bit the bullet and use a double balanced mixed.  You will have
> > to increase the lo injection relative to the 1496 to 7 dBm or so but
> > amplification is easy and cheap  Let me know if you need a dbm  I think I
> > may have one I can spare.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wednesday, March 12, 2014 10:37 AM, Ian Wilson <
> ianmwilson73 at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > A reasonable alternative to the venerable 1496 would be the NE602 and
> > friends. Usually available here: http://www.kitsandparts.com/parts.php
> > (W8DIZ).
> >
> > One of those eBay <$5 DDS generators would be perfect here also (either
> as
> > the 'signal generator' or there is public domain to use it as a 'wobbler'
> > in which
> > case you won't need the sawtooth generator + VCO + balanced mixer!).
> >
> > 73, ian K3IMW
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Mar 12, 2014 at 6:20 AM, Geoff <geoffrey at jeremy.mv.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Finding active devices may be a chore, I think the MC 1496 has been
> > > obsolete for 20 years or so. NTE might have a sub.
> > >
> > > That will not be an easy circuit for dead bug construction; FAR may
> have
> > > something similar and there are likely many low cost vintage sweepers
> > that
> > > are still adequate at low frequencies, I had an Eico that was more than
> > > adequate up to 5 mc or so.
> > >
> > > Carl
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roy Morgan" <k1lky68 at gmail.com>
> > > To: "Ken Gordon" <kgordon2006 at frontier.com>
> > > Cc: "ARC-5 List" <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 12:28 AM
> > > Subject: Re: [ARC5] A Heterodyne Sweep Generator
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >> On Mar 12, 2014, at 12:17 AM, Kenneth G. Gordon <
> > kgordon2006 at frontier.com>
> > >> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>  Jeep:
> > >>>
> > >>> I found this when searching for something else.
> > >>>
> > >>> It might be just exactly what both of us need.
> > >>>
> > >>> http://users.tpg.com.au/users/ldbutler/sweepgen.htm
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >> Ken,
> > >>
> > >> Very interesting!
> > >>
> > >> I wonder if FAR Circuits or some such supplier has such a gadget.
> > >>
> > >> Roy
> > >>
> > >> Roy Morgan
> > >> RoyMorgan at alum.mit.edu
> > >> K1LKY Since 1958
> > >>
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> > >>
> > >> -----
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> >
> >
> > >>
> > >>
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