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G8MNY  > TECH     30.09.18 09:35l 87 Lines 4266 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 40111_GB7CIP
Read: GUEST
Subj: PSK31 interface isolation
Path: IW8PGT<IR2UBX<DB0RES<DB0ERF<OK0NAG<OK0NBR<SV1CMG<ON0AR<GB7CIP
Sent: 180930/0729Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:40111 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G8MNY@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To  : TECH@WW

By G8MNY                                     (Updated Nov 09)
(8 Bit ASCII graphics use code page 437 or 850, Terminal Font)
 ________________________________________________________
³         ŚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄæ ŚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄæ  ==  ==  == ³
³ ßßßß == ³  \     ³ ³ Rx 14.273.5 vfo A 12³    _    _   ³
³ /~\     ĄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄŁ ĄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄŁ   (_)  (_)  ³
³ \_/                          ____  IC-735              ³
³      ßßß ~~~~~~""""""~~~   /'    `\    ßßß   /"~"\  [] ³
³  0   ÜÜÜ                  |(~)     |   ÜÜÜ  |     |    ³
³           Ž Ž Ž Ž Ž Ž    ³  ~       ³        \._./  [] ³
³ /~~\ ßßß  Ž Ž Ž Ž Ž Ž     |        |   ßßß  ==  ==  == ³
³ \__/ ÜÜÜ  # # # # # #  []  \.____./    ÜÜÜ  [___] [___]³
ĄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄŁ
Having just got going on this mode with an IBM Laptop & ICOM IC735. I was
concerned about damaging either with a direct connection!

This applies to all modes like RTTY SSTV AMTOR etc, where a PC/RIG is connected
to anything with medium to high DC current supply with a different earth or has
RF currents!

So I have made an isolated barrier TO PROTECT THE LAPTOP's SOUND CARD FROM
R.F.I. & getting ZAPPED & also the Rig from the Laptop's RF QRM. As well as
doing that it also STOPS any HUM LOOPS & DAMAGING DC PATHS the can also burn
out RIG's MIC/LS & the PC interfaces!

For this rig it gave a nice 1 plug solution...

     LAPTOP                                                  ICOM IC735
                                          PNP ______________ Pin 3
                  ___           1 OPTO 5    ³/e   ³          PTT       A
    RTS  7 oÄÄ1kÄ)___)Ä2k2ÄÄĀÄÄÄÄæ     ŚÄÄÄÄ´    _³_1N4001
RS232 9 pin      ³   ³   1N_³_  _³_  ³/     ³\   /_\                   U
    GND  5 oÄÄÄÄÄŁ   ³ 4148/_\  \_/š ´        ³   ³          Ground
                     ĄÄÄÄÄÄÄĮÄĀÄÄŁ   ³\e______³___³_________ Pin 2     X
                              ³ 2      3   ³          Screen
                  ___         ³            ³                           1
LS      Tip oÄ8RÄ)___)ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ)ÄÄæ    ŚÄÄÄÄ)ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Pin 4
Jack 3.5mm       ³   ³        ³   )||(     ³                 Mod Input
       Sleeve=ÄÄÄŁ   ³        ³   )||(     ³
                     ³        ³   )||(     ³ ÄÄÄÄ    ĄÄÄÄÄ´                  ___        ³             ³                          ³       ³    )||(     ³        V ³_³ Rx Jack      G
                     ĄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĮÄÄÄŁ    ĄÄÄÄÄĮÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄŁ   3.5mm
                            small 1:1 signal
                             transformers

Of course for other Rigs with different pinouts etc. refer to handbooks.

TRANSFORMERS
They need to be low capacitance primary to secondary & could be from scrap
modems/answering machines etc. about 10mm cube in size. A 1:1 ratio is not that
important as lnsformer.

TX PTT
The Rproected by aries 1k in the plug to reduce t
                  ___           1 OPTO 5
    RTS  7 oÄÄ1kÄ)___)Ä2k2ÄÄĀÄÄÄÄæ     ŚÄÄÄÄÄĀÄÄÄĀÄ PTT
RS232 9 pin      ³   ³   1N_³_  _³_  ³/      ³   ³
    GND  5 oÄÄÄÄÄŁ   ³ 4148/_\  \_/š ´       ³   ³       But the Opto & NPN
                     ĄÄÄÄÄÄÄĮÄĀÄÄŁ   ³\e   ³/   _³_      may be less RF immune
                              ³ 2     3ĄÄÄÄ´    /_\      in this arrangement.
                                           ³\e   ³  Gnd
                                             ĄÄÄÄĮÄÄ

There are many types of opto isolators most should work OK onceare found.

SERIES Rs
A good idea but not essential is to copy the series R in the plug at the PC end
if you can, as this does stop some RF & excMICSOCKET
If you using a mic socket (r line) for the input either on the laptop
or the rig, you will need an attenuator ideally in the mic plug so that RF+hum
pickup are attenuate    1k   Plug          ill need
Screen  ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĮÄÄÄGnd        o be small.
          Inside mic plug

BOXING UP
The whole lot is mounted on stripboard, & housed in a small plastic box making
sure the 2 sets of leads are kept away from each other.

IN USE
With a local aerial, this simple isolation significantly reduces the QRM
compared to a direct connection.

With a small nearby SW PLL SSB Rx with a small whip aerial it produces a good
demonstration of the mode & n G8MNY @ GB7CIP


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