7000DLE QSK Modifications

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w9ac
Posts: 290
Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2017 4:01 pm

7000DLE QSK Modifications

Postby w9ac » Sat Apr 20, 2019 1:10 pm

I recently loaded P2 v.1.9 on my 7000DLE and it's now a real CW machine running under Thetis 2.6.5. QSK performance is awesome. A big thanks to the development team. This feature came in time for a mod I started last week and completed today. Back in 2016 I made a similar mod to a 200D.

In the attached photos, an Arduino microcontroller is mounted adjacent to the Orion MKII board. Its purpose is to manage PureSignal relay activation. When the microcontroller senses activity on the CW line, a pair of PhotoMOS optocouplers (ASSR-1520) open two relay coils (RL17 and RL19). This action occurs only in CW mode. Bypassing the PureSignal relays on transmit substantially reduces acoustic relay chatter. Several LEDs can be seen; they’re used as status indicators.

Another photo shows K5 (T/R relay) replaced with a silent RF reed relay (Aromat/Matsushita RSD-12V). The relay is shock-mounted with RTV on the PA board. Fine-stranded silicone robotics wire further decouples noise from the relay. In CW, only the reed relay is activated. With the cover in place, there’s zero mechanical noise; it’s as quiet as PIN diode RF switching. RL19’s control line is hard-wired in parallel with K5 so a software/firmware fix isn’t possible.

A third photo shows a Dow-Key microwave relay (P/N 401-2208) installed near the cooling fan. The relay is controlled by Thetis’ open-collector table. The relay routes transmit RF from the Orion board to either: (1) the 100W PA; or (2), an SMA connector on the back panel. The latter allows for directly feeding Orion into my LDMOS amp without the need for padding at the amp input. There appears to be some simple low-pass filtering on Orion – and of course the external amp has its own LPF based on band of operation. I’ll need to make measurements to ensure harmonic and spurious levels are adequately attenuated.

The Arduino microcontroller code is attached.

Paul, W9AC

Code: Select all


/***************************************************************************************************************************************
* ANAN 7000DLE PureSignal Relay Inhibit Routine (RL17, RL19)                                                                           *
* (test version 0.11)                                                                                                                  *
* Paul Christensen, W9AC (04/14/2019)                                                                                                  *
* © 2019 Paul Christensen, W9AC                                                                                                        *
* All rights reserved, although program may be freely copied or modified for non-commercial use.                                       *
* e-mail: w9ac@arrl.net                                                                                                                *
*                                                                                                                                      *
* 1) When operating in CW mode, this program deactivates two relays (RL17 & RL19) on the ANAN 7000DLE PA board. These relays are used in*
*    the PureSignal linearization algorithm and serve no purpose in CW mode. Deactivation results in quiet QSK operstion.              *
*                                                       *
* 2) Orion's dit and dah lines are sampled for key contact closure.  Upon sensing closure of either or both contacts, two photoMOS     *
*    relays open and and are placed in series with the RL17 and RL19 relay coils.  The end result is that both RL17 and RL19 are       *
*    deactivated during CW operation.                                            *
*                                                                                                                                      *
***************************************************************************************************************************************/

/***************************************************************************************************************************************
*                                                                           *                                                                       
*                     the following terms are fixed definitions                                                                        *
*                                                                           *                                                                       
***************************************************************************************************************************************/
#define ditSample 2                               // the controller digital pin for Orion 'dit' key line sample
#define dahSample 3                               // the controller digital pin for Orion 'dah' key line sample
#define outputLED 4                               // the controller digital pin for output status LED, photoMOS relays driving ANAN RL17 & RL19
#define ditLED 5                                  // the controller digital pin for Orion 'dit' key line LED                                     
#define dahLED 6                                  // the controller digital pin for Orion 'dah' key line LED                                   
           

/***************************************************************************************************************************************
*                                                                           *                                                                       
*     the delay terms below are variable definitions.  Delay time in millseconds (ms.)                                                 *
*                                                                                                                                      *
***************************************************************************************************************************************/

long interval = 1000;                             // enter interval time to pulse PS relays
long pulseMillis = 0;                             // create register to store last time pulse measurement was updated; initialize

/***************************************************************************************************************************************
*                                                                                                                                      *
*                    the setup routine runs once to initialize I/O                                                                     *
*                                                                                 *                                                           
***************************************************************************************************************************************/
void setup()  {
  pinMode(ditSample, INPUT);                     // declare pin 2 to be a digital input
  pinMode(dahSample, INPUT);                     // declare pin 3 to be a digital input
  pinMode(outputLED, OUTPUT);                    // declare pin 4 to be a digital output
  pinMode(ditLED, OUTPUT);                       // declare pin 5 to be a digital output
  pinMode(dahLED, OUTPUT);                       // declare pin 6 to be a digital output
  digitalWrite(ditSample, HIGH);                 // set dit key input line high
  digitalWrite(dahSample, HIGH);                 // set dah key input line high
  digitalWrite(outputLED, HIGH);                 // turn off output status LED, photoMOS relays driving ANAN RL17 & RL19
  digitalWrite(ditLED, LOW);                     // turn off dit key line LED
  digitalWrite(dahLED, LOW);                     // turn off dah key line LED
  }
 
/***************************************************************************************************************************************
*                                                                                                                                      *
*                     the loop routine repeats at the rate of CPU clock speed                                                          *
*                                                                                                                                      *
***************************************************************************************************************************************/
void loop()  {
  if (millis() - pulseMillis > interval) {       // compute time after either dit and/or dah line closure sensed
    digitalWrite(outputLED, HIGH);               // after waiting the pulse interval time, activate output status LED, photoMOS relay that drives ANAN RL17 and RL19
    pulseMillis = millis();                      // reset interval timer
  }
  if (digitalRead(ditSample) == LOW) {           // get the dit line state
    digitalWrite(ditLED, HIGH);                  // turn on dit key line LED if dit contact closed
    digitalWrite(outputLED, LOW);                // deactivate output status LED, photoMOS relay that drives ANAN RL17 and RL19
    pulseMillis = millis();                      // save the current time to a register for pre-switch LED pause duration
  }                   
  else {
    digitalWrite(ditLED, LOW);                   // turn off dit key line LED
  }
  if (digitalRead(dahSample) == LOW) {           // get the dah line state
    digitalWrite(dahLED, HIGH);                  // turn on dit key line LED
    digitalWrite(outputLED, LOW);                // deactivate output status LED, photoMOS relay that drives ANAN RL17 and RL19
    pulseMillis = millis();                      // save the current time to a register for pre-switch LED pause duration
  }                   
  else {
    digitalWrite(dahLED, LOW);                   // turn off dah key line LED
  }
}


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User avatar
w-u-2-o
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Re: 7000DLE QSK Modifications

Postby w-u-2-o » Sat Apr 20, 2019 2:32 pm

Great stuff, Paul, thank you!

73!

Scott
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W1AEX
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Re: 7000DLE QSK Modifications

Postby W1AEX » Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:33 pm

Very clean modification Paul! Beautifully done!

73,

Rob W1AEX
"One thing I am certain of is that there is too much certainty in the world."
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W2PA
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Re: 7000DLE QSK Modifications

Postby W2PA » Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:00 pm

Nice work, Paul.

W1JA and I have been researching relays looking for a really quiet replacement for the main TR relays in the various rigs. I've got an 8000 but the relay arrangement is the same as yours - two of them. Most reed relays don't have the contact rating for the main TR one. The Aromat you mention does, and there seems to be a supply of them out there, even though they're not made any more. So we'll continue to look for possible replacements and post if we find something. The PS relay, of course, is much lower signal level and there are multiple choices, as well as just disabling it on CW as you did.
73,
Chris, W2PA
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w9ac
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Re: 7000DLE QSK Modifications

Postby w9ac » Sun Apr 21, 2019 12:29 pm

Chris,

The idea for the Aromat RSD-12V relay came from the JA manufacturers that used it for T/R in several transceiver models. The initial design was developed by Panasonic/Matsushita. I typically see the Matsushita-branded relays on the used market in plastic encapsulated cases.

When Aromat purchased the product line, most, if not all new production used a metal casing. Either way, the relay is nearly silent when it's adequately isolated -- by far the quietest relay I've experienced and it has very good RF characteristics to 2m.

There's an eBay seller who is currently offering a tray of 50 relays for $200. If I didn't already have a dozen on hand for future projects, I would grab a set.

Paul, W9AC
W4WMT
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Re: 7000DLE QSK Modifications

Postby W4WMT » Sun Apr 21, 2019 3:36 pm

Hi Paul,

Have you had it on SSB yet?
Have you measured PureSignal two-tone IMD performance from your LDMOS amp when bypassing the 7000 PA?

73, Bryan W4WMT
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w9ac
Posts: 290
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Re: 7000DLE QSK Modifications

Postby w9ac » Sun Apr 21, 2019 8:24 pm

Bryan W4WMT wrote:Hi Paul,

Have you had it on SSB yet?
Have you measured PureSignal two-tone IMD performance from your LDMOS amp when bypassing the 7000 PA?

73, Bryan W4WMT


Averaging about -65 dBc with PS engaged and -35 dBc disengaged. That's at 1200W from a 1500W water-cooled eb104.ru amp. I don't run it higher. My experience has been that PS really helps with LDMOS - but I see no little or no IMD benefit of LDMOS designs without PS engaged.

Harmonic and spurious spectrum measurements are still needed. Ill take them as time permits.

Paul, W9AC
Last edited by w9ac on Sun Apr 21, 2019 8:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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