From: IZ7SLZ <iz7slz.domenico@gmail.com>
To: "rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org" <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
Message-ID: <bd779da8-6acb-37bc-2d1c-2fc4aa043d28@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2016 21:29:32 +0100
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Subject: LF: talking about EbNaut
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Dear Group,

i want to share with the group some informations on EbNaut recently 
exchanged between me and Tom, DK1IS. He hold in his shack some marine 
radios that are almost ready for this mode.


*Domenico, IZ7SLZ wrote:*

Noted your excellent setup in qrz.com <http://qrz.com>. So maybe you are 
familiar with  marine radios.
Mine is composed by a Sailor exciter s1301L and a Standard Radio reserve 
transmitter  ST86A used as PA (120W).
Receiver is a JRC nrd-92m.

Both equipment synthetizers are steered with an external homemade 10 MHz 
GPDO.
This setup is working fine also on LF and i use it in EbNaut experiments.
Since you can control your Hagenuk tx and rx with a Rb oscillator, may i 
invite you in some EbNaut test or qso?

*Tom, DK1IS wrote:
*
>
> Mine is composed by a Sailor exciter s1301L and a Standard Radio 
> reserve transmitter  ST86A used as PA (120W).
> Receiver is a JRC nrd-92m.
>
Nice radios in either case - I just downloaded the specs. Ah, the S1301L 
is the MF extended version: fine! But like with my EX1001 the smallest 
tuning step is 100 Hz - this was the reason for me to let the exciter 
work on 13.6 MHz resp. 4.76 MHz and divide the output frequency down by 
100 resp. by 10. Btw, from Sailor I use their fb fiber core rubber 
antenna insulators, 60 cm long and very robust, for ships - they stand 
the 8.9 kV rms LF voltage on my Marconi since 15 years in every weather. 
I bought them for peanuts at a marine radio shop during holidays on 
Bornholm island, Denmark.
>
> Both equipment synthetizers are steered with an external homemade 10 
> MHz GPDO.
> This setup is working fine also on LF and i use it in EbNaut experiments.
> Since you can control your Hagenuk tx and rx with a Rb oscillator, may 
> i invite you in some EbNaut test or qso?
>
Originally the EX1001 has no external reference input but a rather good 
central TCXO at 9 MHz.  I added a PCB with 10 MHz input from the 
rubidium oscillator, dividing down to 1 MHz and then filtering out the 9 
MHz harmonic with two CB xtals. Works fb and can be switched over to the 
primary TCXO.
EbNaut: thanks for the invitation, Domenico, but so far no experiences - 
being not the real PC freak up to now I avoided time and effort to get 
in process. May be the appetite will come later ...
*
**Domenico,  IZ7SLZ wrote:*

Just for your information (and hoping to let you hungry :-)) i briefly 
describe my  EbNaut arrangements:

First of all, S1301L Exciter synthetizer has been modified with a 10 MHz 
OCXO instead of its original TXCO. I added a simple PLL that controls 
the voltage of  the "frequ. adj." pin of this OCXO by comparing the 10 
kHz reference signal (coming from the GPS) and 10 kHz from the divider.

Yes, S1301L has only 100 Hz resolution. I studied its circuit diagram 
and noted that it is not very difficul to obtain at least 10 Hz 
resolution by adding another loop in the synthetizer. But i never 
performed such modifications. This becouse  i'm using a PCI slot sound 
card with good specifications that, after Spectrum Lab calibration 
process (using 1pps signal  from the same GPS), gives an output audio 
very precise and almost without glitches.
The audio card is a PHASE 88 PCI from Terrasoniq (German design).

So i use this audio to modulate the exciter in USB mode and i can obtain 
the precision and resolution needed (on milliHz).
Ok, this is not the best arrangement to obtain TX signals; Markus and 
Wolf never suggested it. But, thanks to Spectrum Lab great job, it 
works,  as confirmed by many EbNaut decodes and OP32 measurements using 
DF6NM grabber.

To obtain EbNaut bpsk modulation i just feed the exciter with a tone 
(around 1500 Hz - depends on final QRG) generated by Spectrum Lab via a 
ring modulator composed by 2 audio transformers and 4 diodes. Ring 
modulator is switched  by the two RS232 signals ( DTR - RTS) managed by 
EbNaut-tx program.

In Receiving side, i have modified the JRC NRD-92M to accept a 10 MHz 
TTL signal from the Sailor synthetizer (after small buffering). So 
receiver  is now calibrated enough for EbNaut. Rx audio goes to Spectrum 
Lab that performs some filtering, NB and gives a .wav file prepeared for 
EbNaut-rx decode program.

The time synchronization is also vital for EbNaut. I'm using a small 
software (written by me)  that decodes GPS telegrams and according the 
1pps signal, sets the PC time periodically.

GPS in use is a Rockwell Jupiter (coming from an out-of-order vintage 
AIS DEBEG3400).

*Tom, DK1IS wrote:*

Thanks for the most interesting infos - to become QRV in EbNaut seems to 
be less than complicated I thought . Nice idea to overcome the 
100-Hz-steps of your exciter by modulating it with a suitable audio 
frequency which is necessary for EbNaut anyway! I could do it with my 
EX1001, being also a SSB/CW/RTTY-exciter, too and could even avoid the 
frequency deviders with it - nice approach. But due to the filter 
passband and the modulation one hasn´t a direct frequency readout on the 
exciter any longer - shouldn´t be a real problem. Before going this way 
I would have to check the phase characteristic of the EX1001 
audio/modulation path; in a pinch I could use your ring modulator 
technique too.

Btw, for my GPS controlled units I also use the Rockwell Jupiter 
10-kHz-output. Up to now the 1pps pulse only drives a LED - if its 
flashes coincide with the ticks of my mechanical but DCF77-controlled 
alarm clock, I can be sure that the Jupiter has synchronized - archaic, 
isn´t it ?

So, a lot to think about. Perhaps one fine day we will meet in EbNaut ...


73 all, Domenico iz7slz


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    <p dir="ltr">Dear Group,</p>
    <p dir="ltr">i want to share with the group some informations on
      EbNaut recently exchanged between me and Tom, DK1IS. He hold in
      his shack some marine radios that are almost ready for this mode.<br>
    </p>
    <p dir="ltr"><br>
    </p>
    <p dir="ltr"><b>Domenico, IZ7SLZ wrote:</b></p>
    <p dir="ltr">Noted your excellent setup in <a href="http://qrz.com">qrz.com</a>.
      So maybe you are familiar with  marine radios.<br>
      Mine is composed by a Sailor exciter s1301L and a Standard Radio
      reserve transmitter  ST86A used as PA (120W).<br>
      Receiver is a JRC nrd-92m.</p>
    <p dir="ltr">Both equipment synthetizers are steered with an
      external homemade 10 MHz GPDO.<br>
      This setup is working fine also on LF and i use it in EbNaut
      experiments.<br>
      Since you can control your Hagenuk tx and rx with a Rb oscillator,
      may i invite you in some EbNaut test or qso?<br>
      <br>
    </p>
    <b>Tom, DK1IS wrote:<br>
    </b>
    <blockquote
cite="mid:CAC+C6w6HpLZwFM_wh_MFkcYNCveGDmq11q9_Ov93vZ4TwV4AFg@mail.gmail.com"
      type="cite">
      <p dir="ltr"> Mine is composed by a Sailor exciter s1301L and a
        Standard Radio reserve transmitter  ST86A used as PA (120W).<br>
        Receiver is a JRC nrd-92m.</p>
    </blockquote>
    Nice radios in either case - I just downloaded the specs. Ah, the
    S1301L is the MF extended version: fine! But like with my EX1001 the
    smallest tuning step is 100 Hz - this was the reason for me to let
    the exciter work on 13.6 MHz resp. 4.76 MHz and divide the output
    frequency down by 100 resp. by 10. Btw, from Sailor I use their fb
    fiber core rubber antenna insulators, 60 cm long and very robust,
    for ships - they stand the 8.9 kV rms LF voltage on my Marconi since
    15 years in every weather. I bought them for peanuts at a marine
    radio shop during holidays on Bornholm island, Denmark.<br>
    <blockquote
cite="mid:CAC+C6w6HpLZwFM_wh_MFkcYNCveGDmq11q9_Ov93vZ4TwV4AFg@mail.gmail.com"
      type="cite">
      <p dir="ltr">Both equipment synthetizers are steered with an
        external homemade 10 MHz GPDO.<br>
        This setup is working fine also on LF and i use it in EbNaut
        experiments.<br>
        Since you can control your Hagenuk tx and rx with a Rb
        oscillator, may i invite you in some EbNaut test or qso?<br>
      </p>
    </blockquote>
    Originally the EX1001 has no external reference input but a rather
    good central TCXO at 9 MHz.  I added a PCB with 10 MHz input from
    the rubidium oscillator, dividing down to 1 MHz and then filtering
    out the 9 MHz harmonic with two CB xtals. Works fb and can be
    switched over to the primary TCXO. <br>
    EbNaut: thanks for the invitation, Domenico, but so far no
    experiences - being not the real PC freak up to now I avoided time
    and effort to get in process. May be the appetite will come later
    ...<br>
    <b><br>
    </b><b>Domenico,  IZ7SLZ wrote:</b><br>
    <br>
    Just for your information (and hoping to let you hungry :-)) i
    briefly describe my  EbNaut arrangements:
    <br>
    <br>
    First of all, S1301L Exciter synthetizer has been modified with a 10
    MHz OCXO instead of its original TXCO. I added a simple PLL that
    controls the voltage of  the "frequ. adj." pin of this OCXO by
    comparing the 10 kHz reference signal (coming from the GPS) and 10
    kHz from the divider.
    <br>
    <br>
    Yes, S1301L has only 100 Hz resolution. I studied its circuit
    diagram and noted that it is not very difficul to obtain at least 10
    Hz resolution by adding another loop in the synthetizer. But i never
    performed such modifications. This becouse  i'm using a PCI slot
    sound card with good specifications that, after Spectrum Lab
    calibration process (using 1pps signal  from the same GPS), gives an
    output audio very precise and almost without glitches.
    <br>
    The audio card is a PHASE 88 PCI from Terrasoniq (German design).
    <br>
    <br>
    So i use this audio to modulate the exciter in USB mode and i can
    obtain the precision and resolution needed (on milliHz).
    <br>
    Ok, this is not the best arrangement to obtain TX signals; Markus
    and Wolf never suggested it. But, thanks to Spectrum Lab great job, 
    it works,  as confirmed by many EbNaut decodes and OP32 measurements
    using DF6NM grabber.
    <br>
    <br>
    To obtain EbNaut bpsk modulation i just feed the exciter with a tone
    (around 1500 Hz - depends on final QRG) generated by Spectrum Lab
    via a ring modulator composed by 2 audio transformers and 4 diodes.
    Ring modulator is switched  by the two RS232 signals ( DTR - RTS)
    managed by EbNaut-tx program.
    <br>
    <br>
    In Receiving side, i have modified the JRC NRD-92M to accept a 10
    MHz TTL signal from the Sailor synthetizer (after small buffering).
    So receiver  is now calibrated enough for EbNaut. Rx audio goes to
    Spectrum Lab that performs some filtering, NB and gives a .wav file
    prepeared for EbNaut-rx decode program.
    <br>
    <br>
    The time synchronization is also vital for EbNaut. I'm using a small
    software (written by me)  that decodes GPS telegrams and according
    the 1pps signal, sets the PC time periodically.
    <br>
    <br>
    GPS in use is a Rockwell Jupiter (coming from an out-of-order
    vintage AIS DEBEG3400).
    <br>
    <br>
    <b>Tom, DK1IS wrote:</b><br>
    <br>
    Thanks for the most interesting infos - to become QRV in EbNaut
    seems to be less than complicated I thought <span
      class="moz-smiley-s3" title=";-)"></span>. Nice idea to overcome
    the 100-Hz-steps of your exciter by modulating it with a suitable
    audio frequency which is necessary for EbNaut anyway! I could do it
    with my EX1001, being also a SSB/CW/RTTY-exciter, too and could even
    avoid the frequency deviders with it - nice approach. But due to the
    filter passband and the modulation one hasn´t a direct frequency
    readout on the exciter any longer - shouldn´t be a real problem.
    Before going this way I would have to check the phase characteristic
    of the EX1001 audio/modulation path; in a pinch I could use your
    ring modulator technique too.
    <br>
    <br>
    Btw, for my GPS controlled units I also use the Rockwell Jupiter
    10-kHz-output. Up to now the 1pps pulse only drives a LED - if its
    flashes coincide with the ticks of my mechanical but
    DCF77-controlled alarm clock, I can be sure that the Jupiter has
    synchronized - archaic, isn´t it <span class="moz-smiley-s3"
      title=";-)"></span>?
    <br>
    <br>
    So, a lot to think about. Perhaps one fine day we will meet in
    EbNaut ...
    <br>
    <br>
    <br>
    <br>
    73 all, Domenico iz7slz<br>
    <br>
    <br>
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