Introduction Spectrum Analyser theory Construction Techniques Power Supply Sweep Generator Logarithmic Amplifier 145 MHz IF Filter 1st Mixer 2nd Mixer 8 MHz IF Filter Low-pass Filter Input Attenuator 10MHz Crystal Calibrator Alignment and Operation

The simple man's Spectrum Analyser Construction Techniques

There are many ways of contructing this project. It is essential to use good RF screening between modules to reduce spurious responses. Good coaxial connections between the modules are also vital. The type of coaxial connectors used isn't that crucial. Since VHF frequencies are involved it's very important to keep all lead lengths as short as possible.

Modular Construction

I find a modular construction style very useful, and particularly applicable to this project. Each module can be tested individually, and a working analyser can be arranged by connecting together some of the modules before all are complete. Being able to connect the modules in different ways helps with testing.

In the spectrum analyser, modular division of the circuit naturally creates a separate module for each RF section, which can be built, tested and made RF-tight in isolation. I built each RF circuit into it's own shielded box, made from PCB stock. I love this method of construction. PCB is easy to cut, easy to solder, and you can create nice boxes of exactly the size and shape required.

The module bases are sized a little larger than the box, so that there is a strip of PCB protrodung at each end which can be soldered to the base board (see later). A small square of PCB soldered in each corner is drilled with a 1mm hole for screwing on the lid. Small quarter-inch size 4 screwes are perfect for the job. I soldered strips of brass shim (available from model shops) over the box edges so that the PCB box lids make good electrical connections with the box walls. It was amazing to observe the reduction in spurious responses and the lower noise floor, as the modules were boxed up instead of being on open boards.

No PCB's!

I never use PCB's in my projects. Partly this is because I think the amount of time taken to fabricate a PCB for a one-off project doesn't make it worth while. Partly because I dislike playing around with messy chemicals when I could be soldering the circuit. But mostly because fundamentally, if you're going to use a PCB you have to know the circuit before you build it. I'm not clever enough to design a circuit first: I design it as I build it, a process often incorporating large doses of trial and error. Therefore for RF circuits I tend to use "ugly" construction over copper clad board groundplane. Some of the modules in this project used semi-PCB's - the integrated circuits soldered directly onto the board, and surrounding components "ugly" style. I make a few tracks by cutting away the area in between the tracks with a sharp craft knife.

PCB's could easily be used for the modules, paying attention to ground planes and keeping all traces as short as possible, particularly in the VHF sections like the first mixer module. In my case I cut the integrated circuit pins short and solder them direct to the tracks side of the board, "surface mount" style. If other construction methods are used, distributed capacitance may be different. This would require some experimentation with the values of the very small capacitors in the VHF oscillators to obtain the correct frequency range.

Coaxial Connections

For intermodule RF connections I used SMB connectors. These are very expensive, but I was fortunate enough to have an old frequency synthesiser in my junk box. It contained 7 rack mounted RF modules in heavy boxes, with SMB sockets. There were semi-rigid coaxial cable connectors of various lengths with SMB plugs on each end. One of the 7 modules was missing so it was of no functional use, but yielded a huge number of other useful components as well as the SMB connectors, which were of sufficient quantity to build this spectrum analyser and leave a few left over. Any other types of coaxial connectors should be OK. A cheaper alternative would be the F-series satellite connectors, which are extremely inexpensive.

DC Connections

All DC connections to the RF modules are made using feed-through capacitors, purchased some time ago at a rally. Simply feeding a wire through a hole in the module wall probably isn't going to provide the same degree of RF shielding.

The junk box frequency synthesiser also contained a large number of inductors, mostly 33uH and about the size of a largish resistor but coloured black. Every DC connection is filtered inside the RF module using a 33uH inductor in series and 10nF capacitor to ground on either side. This forms a Pi-network low pass filter and efficiently removes any RF noise which might be present on the DC line. The absolute value of the inductors and capacitors isn't that important: if other values are available in the junk box, so be it.

Final Module Layout The modules were mounted on a sheet of unetched PCB material, along with the power supply. The photograph below shows a development configuration, in which the centre and span frequency controls were mounted on a temporary front panel and the attenuator also soldered to the base board. At this stage there was no variable IF gain control and no sweep rate control. Later, the PCB base was bolted into an appropriately sized aluminium box from Maplin. Due to the nature of the box construction, the internal board is actually mounted upside down in the lid of the box.