Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
VCXO frequency isn't high enough
"Anthony Fremont" wrote in message ... Eamon Skelton wrote: On Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:02:38 -0500, Anthony Fremont wrote: The problem is (well I think it's a problem) is that I'm all the way down to a 10pF cap for the crystal trimmer and the highest frequency I can get out of it is still less than 3580kHz. Pleae correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm thinking that the 20uH inductor is supposed to pull the colorburst crystal high in frequency then the adjustable cap should be able to tweak it back down. Use less inductance or replace it with a wire link. I did this and now I'm up to 3580.050; an increase of about 70Hz or so.. I don't understand how this was designed to work. What is making the crystal oscillate above its design frequency? I thought the inductor had something to do with it, obviously not. Is it being operated in series mode instead of parallel? I tried putting small cap in series with the adjustable one and that just greatly narrowed the tuning range and only slightly raised the frequency. It seemed to be getting unstable at that point as my old frequency counter started showing variations of quite a few hertz each update instead of remaining steady. It could be the amplitude is too low and the counter is missing ticks. If you want a VXCO, you use the capacitor and inductor to achieve maximum range of the crystal frequency. An inductor in series will lower the frequency. A capacitor in series will raise the frequency. Eliminate the coil and just use the series trimmer to see how how high the crystal frequency can be raised before it becomes unstable or quits oscillating. As Ian suggested, you can add an inductor ACROSS the crystal to raise the frequency. Think of the crystal as being a parallel LC circuit (over simplification) and you'll be better able to visualize how this works. Try a few other color burst xtals in the circuit for the heck of it. You may not be able to pull the crystal that far. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
VCXO frequency isn't high enough
Uncle Peter wrote:
"Anthony Fremont" wrote in message Use less inductance or replace it with a wire link. I did this and now I'm up to 3580.050; an increase of about 70Hz or so.. I don't understand how this was designed to work. What is making the crystal oscillate above its design frequency? I thought the inductor had something to do with it, obviously not. Is it being operated in series mode instead of parallel? I tried putting small cap in series with the adjustable one and that just greatly narrowed the tuning range and only slightly raised the frequency. It seemed to be getting unstable at that point as my old frequency counter started showing variations of quite a few hertz each update instead of remaining steady. It could be the amplitude is too low and the counter is missing ticks. If you want a VXCO, you use the capacitor and inductor to achieve maximum range of the crystal frequency. An inductor in series will lower the frequency. Ok, just like an antenna A capacitor in series will raise the frequency. Same thing again, just like an antenna. However, when I increase the series capacitance, the frequency drops instead of going higher. This I don't really get. Eliminate the coil and just use the series trimmer to see how how high the crystal frequency can be raised before it becomes unstable or quits oscillating. Did this, it helps, but when capacitance is below about 10pF, it seems to get unstable and I still can't achieve the frequency I desire. As Ian suggested, you can add an inductor ACROSS the crystal to raise the frequency. Think of the crystal as being a parallel LC circuit (over simplification) and you'll be better able to visualize how this works. Can you suggest a value to start with? Try a few other color burst xtals in the circuit for the heck of it. You may not be able to pull the crystal that far. That's what I'm thinking now, it just won't pull that far high. I can sure pull it low though. Maybe I should try a 4MHz crystal and pull it down to 3990, this is where the voice transmissions are anyway. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
High Frequency Propagation Models | Shortwave | |||
Get High | Shortwave | |||
Production of High frequency Crystals. | Homebrew | |||
Channel-based AM tube tuner (was Designs for a single frequency high performance AM-MW receiver?) | Shortwave | |||
Wanted- Used Motorola UHF JT1000 High Split (470-520mhz), & a used Syntor X-9000 UHF High-Split | Swap |