This is one of the easier to build kits. It simultaneously shows the Low, Actual, and High Temperature readings in degrees F and degrees C (so it's educational too). It toggles between F and C about every 5sec. You reset it by momentarily unplugging the battery. The battery consists of 2-AA cells and should last about one year. The temperature sensor is a MicroChip MCP9801 which is spec'ed at +/-1 degree C from -10C to +85C and +/-3 degrees C from -55C to +125C.

The display is a 12x1 serial LCD (3-3/4" x 7/8") and the programmed microcontroller is a Freescale MC9S08QD4. All the parts are supplied (except the batteries) and an instruction sheet is provided.

The price for of this Kit is $10 plus $2 postage in the USA and $4 postage for DX.

This standalone unit (no attached PC required) has a frequency range of 3.5Mhz to 1417.5Mhz (yes, 1.4Ghz) depending on the Si570 part used. I have tested it up to 1200Mhz which is as high as my scope will go. Really an amazing, low jitter, and very low spur levels chip. You can go to the SiLabs website and look at the specifications. All setup and control is via the rotary encoder knob and it's push button. Power is battery (3V) or external power (5V-12V). It's compatible with all Si570 CMOS and LVDS versions, single ended or differential output, and any default frequency. This makes an ideal signal source for SoftRocks and many other projects. The Si570 Controller and Frequency Generator Kit includes a 12 digit LCD frequency display, a programmed MC9S08QG8 microcontroller, and a rotary encoder for tuning. It can ordered with a CMOS Si570 chip which is spec’d at 3.5Mhz to 160Mhz. Using other LVDS Si570 parts, the frequency range can be extended up to 1.417Ghz.

Jack Smith, K8ZOA, of Clifton Laboratories has provided an excellent evaluation of the CMOS Si570 capabilities and the Si570 Controller kit at Clifton Laboratories

Sid Boyce, G3VBV, provided additional insite on how he used his Si570 Controller at G3VBV info

Features:

• Plus or minus Frequency Offset to compensate for Mixers, IF's, etc. The LCD will show the actual frequency.
• Frequency out integer Multiplier and Divisor for SoftRock (4x, etc). The LCD will show the actual frequency.
• Selectable encoder pulses per dial increment allows Variable Dial Speed.
• Dial Lock indicated by a flashing cursor. A momentary push of the PB sets/resets Dial Lock.
• Startup Memory location is selectable.
• 980 memory locations to save frequencies. The first 20 locations are Si570 Controller operational parameters.
• For best accuracy, the custom factory set registers in your Si570 chip are read and used.
• Can be powered for short periods with the 2-AA cells but the chip draws ~70ma so they won't last long and external power is advised.
• Hold knob PB in and rotate to change cursor location to selected digit, release, and tune
• Hold knob PB in for 3sec to save frequency to memory location shown. Memory will jump to next available location.
• Left most memory position provides for external BPF selection (1-8) provided via a 3 bit and Ground header (000-111) with 3V logic (memory "0xx" selects a BPF, "1xx" selects another BPF, etc).

The display is a 12x1 serial LCD (3-3/4" x 7/8") and the programmed microcontroller is a Freescale MC9S08QG8. All the parts are supplied (except the batteries) and an instruction sheet is provided.

There are many output options available ranging from normal termination resistors to isolation transformers to LVDS/ LVTTL level converters. Some of thse devices have their own frequency limitations such as the MiniCircuits RF transformers are spec'ed to 800Mhz and the FIN1002 is spec'ed to 400Mhz. It's totally dependent on your application. The Si570 Controller board has footprint options for many alternatives. Also some of you bought Si570 parts from Tom Hoflich, KM5H, and may want to use those parts. Some of you have sample parts or parts from other sources. For that reason, the kit is offered with or without the Si570 part. The Si570 parts I supply are CMOS "C" speed which means they are spec'ed 3.5Mhz to 160Mhz by SiLabs (although they have been observed much faster than that).

The price for of this Kit without Si570 is $25 plus $2 postage in the USA and $5 postage for DX.

The price for of this Kit with CMOS Si570 is $40 plus $2 postage in the USA and $5 postage for DX.

Options:

There are 3 optional parts available. None of thse are required for an operational kit, only if you want RF isolation or LVDS conversion from differential to single ended LVTTL.

Mini Circuits TC1-1T RF Transformer is $2 plus $2 postage in the USA and $2 postage for DX. No postage if ordered with a kit.

Mini Circuits TC4-1T RF Transformer is $2 plus $2 postage in the USA and $2 postage for DX. No postage if ordered with a kit.

FIN1002 LVDS to LVTTL Converter $1 plus $1 postage in the USA and $1 postage for DX. No postage if ordered with a kit.

This design will record Barometric Pressure and Temperature over time and log the data out to your computer via the USB port. It will also graph the Pressure and Temperature data after normalizing the range to fill the sheet. The LCD will show the Pressure and Temperature and the trend from a reference point you defined. Pressure data can be displayed in millibars or inches of Hg and the Temperature data can be displayed in F or C. These parameters, setting the clock, and resetting the memory is done during initialization.

The programmed microcontroller is a MC9S08QG8, the Pressure sensor is a MP3H6115A (which you can order as a sample from Freescale), The 18bit ADC is a MCP3421, the RTC is a PCF8563, and the Temperature sensor is a MCP9801. A 24AA256 EEPROM is provided and will store over 2000 time-stamped Pressure/Temperature data points.

The display is a 12x1 serial LCD (3-3/4" x 7/8"). Instruction sheets and schematic are provided. Batteries are not included. This kit is a little more difficult to build due to several small parts.

Here are some of the features:

• Data logging interval to EEPROM and LCD in seconds, default is 100 sec.
• You can specify how many logging intervals you want the Trend Reference to use for LCD display. The default is 200 intervals. In other words is the logging interval is set to 100 seconds and the Trend Reference point is 200 intervals, the pressure trend data on the LCD (right hand side) is relative to 20K seconds ago (~5.5Hrs).
• Calibration to your local weather bureau.
• Time is recorded in YYMMDDHHSS
• Data dump to your computer can be full, partial, or real time. Full and partial will also have the P/T graph.

The MP3H6115A Pressure Sensor is the most expensive part at About $18. Some of you have sample parts or parts from other sources. For that reason, the kit is offered with or without the MP3H6115A part.

The price for of this Kit without MP3H6115A is $30 plus $2 postage in the USA and $4 postage for DX.

The price for of this Kit with MP3H6115A is $48 plus $2 postage in the USA and $4 postage for DX.

The price for of this USB to TTL interface is $10 plus $2 postage in the USA and $4 postage for DX.

The Morse Code Buddy (MCB) allows you to receive and send practice code at speeds of 3-wpm to 40-wpm with a keyboard or iambic paddles, or just shirt pocket use for receiving practice code via the beeper or headphones. There are three versions of microcontroller, which is pluggable. The "C" version sends random 1x1, 1x2, 1x3, 2x1, 2x2, 2x3 calls (USA and DX) with 20 varying tones on a per call basis (sorry, no random noise in the background). It will send all alphabetic combinations. The "P" version sends random groups of all Morse Code letters, numbers, and characters. The "B" version will allow Beacon mode where a character string you define is repeated at an interval you define. Handy for calling CQ on a basically dead band or using for transmitter hunts. Hit any keyboard key on any of the versions and it reverts to iambic keyer mode.

It's also a 512 byte memory keyer, with adjustable tone, keyboard or iambic paddle input, Tx keying via a 2N7000, and it's powered by 3-AA batteries (>100hrs). The two large pads to the side of the keyboard connector can be used for isolated mounting or fabricate a set of paddles from the pads to the grounded shield of the keyboard connector (old relay contacts ?) and you have yourself a set of homebrew mini-paddles. Cool, huh ?

The power options are many since the power requirement is 4-5VDC. You can use the battery box provided with 3-AA batteries for portability, you can tap 5V off your rig if that is available, you can use an external 5V power supply, or you can tap 5V off a computer USB port you may have on the desk (all you need is a cable with the USB connector). If you use a cable for power it's a good idea to provide a strain relief using a plastic tie-wrap through one of the two holes at the keyboard connector end of the board.

This is a relatively easy kit to build. Some of the parts are an interference (tight) fit so they stay in place when you flip the board over for soldering.

Features:

• Stereo or Mono headphones, 3.5mm stereo jack
• Paddle input, 3.5mm stereo jack
• Keyboard input, 6pin Mini-DIN
• Keyboard arrow up/down is 1-wpm change, Page up/down is 5-wpm change
• Keyboard arrow left/right is 20Hz tone change
• Toggle the sidetone on/off
• Lock/unlock "key down" for tuneup or tuner adjustment
• Any paddle/keyboard input and MCB goes to Operational Mode, will go back to Practice Mode with "Alt/P"
• "Alt/F1-F12" stores memory, "F1-F12" plays memory in any sequence.
• The first two characters stored in location F10 "seed" the random number generator.
• Toggle Farnsworth Mode on/off
• Toggle the variable tone Practice Mode on/off ("C" version)
• Store and erase memory
• Keyboard speed/tone default modes
• Jumpers to select speed for shirt pocket use, all other parameters use last saved data.

The price for of this Kit is $15 plus $2 postage in the USA and $4 postage for DX.

The price for the MCB, ASSEMBLED, is $20 plus $2 postage in the USA and $4 postage for DX.

Each kit is supplied with a "C","B", or "P" microcontroller (you specify). If you want more than one, please add $5 for each additional microcontroller to the above numbers.