[FLWSS] Marker Project Members May 14

[George Presley]

Update for uze guys,

The marker project is making good progress. The ref oscillator/oven is good
to go. Both prototypes are still holding .01 ppm. That is 10 times better
than what we thought our affordable goal would be. That part of the design
is done. Power drain after initial heating is 40 mA at 12 volts. This
circuit can operated from 8 to 15 volts.

Here are some estimates on cost. Not too far off.

PARTS:               COST:
Heater board kit     $20.00  (we may get a qty break)
Ref Oscillator       $ 3.00
SMA connector        $ 3.00
Three-term 5v reg    $  .30
SMD cap/res          $  .30 
Pomona Box #2428     $ 7.50  http://www.tequipment.net/Pomona2428.asp
* No cheep leads on this item. Help needed here. Does anyone have about 25
nice small RF tight boxes? You saw the prototype at the last meeting.   

Phase II

We have one prototype harmonic generator that shows strong promise and
likely will be the final design. Joe is seeing a -66 dBm signal level at
10.368 GHz. With some attention to an antenna, a 200ft range is possible.
The circuit is simply "kick ass" on the input of the Gali-1 for 2 thru 10
GHz. The 74AC74 is a divide 2 of the 19.2 MHz which uses the 9.6 harmonics
to hit 144, 432, 902.4, and 1296.  

MMIC pwb             $ 2.50
Gali-1 mmic          $ 1.50
IC 74AC00            $  .50
IC 74AC74            $  .50
SMD caps/res/ind     $ 2.00
Switch, conn, etc.   $ 5.00       Total --------> $46.10
 
Question: How many of you are interested in adding a POST MIXING circuit to
generate the 100 KHz markers. We have 3 ops. LET ME KNOW SOON or we NA this.
 (1) Build it into the design. Cost could be an additional $10.00 and
Joe/George time.
 (2) Additional AUX connector and you provide the 100 KHz signal. $1.00.
 (3) "How to" put it in your own box. $ 0.00.

Question: Does anyone have a bunch of container boxes to put this project
into? It needs to be RF tight. Big enough to hold about 4 of the Pomona
boxes. Many people have also expressed an interest in including a battery.
Too many questions here. How do you envision using it? I'll post another
email soon with my opinions on this subject. 

That's it for now. Moan and grown about the price for a while and be
brushing up on your abilities to build stuff using SMD parts. Joe and I are
trying to keep the build process simple but a steady hand will be needed.
I'm sure there are good helpers among the group. 

George K4RSV
Joe, Chief Engineer, KI4NPV