moRFeus_A frequency converter and signal generator - any practical experiences? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: TimYTTT
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2024, 12:05:54 pm
content: Does someone have practical experiences with the moRFeus (https://www.crowdsupply.com/othernet/morfeus)? According to description moRFeus (product available since 2018) has certain potential for various RF experiments, but there are just few reports about it`s usage. Thanks for the info. Tim

author: rteodor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2024, 01:05:21 pm
content: Quote from: TimYTTT on October 05, 2024, 12:05:54 pmToo bad it is not sold in EU anymore. I would love to have two of them and play Tx-Rx mixers.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 05, 2024, 04:03:59 pm
content: I have a couple of them, but I've only really ever used the generator function and not the mixer. As a generator they are pretty limited but work OK for CW. An external stepped attenuator is helpful.I'm away from the office for a couple of weeks, so I can't do any tests on them right now.They are still in stock at CS, but as they likely never had CE testing that would explain why they wont ship to EU. Mouser (who own CS) show over 400 in stock.

author: TimYTTT
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2024, 05:21:58 am
content: Quote from: Kean on October 06, 2024, 05:19:18 am

author: rhb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2024, 09:28:47 pm
content: I have one. Never have used it. Bought a bunch of HPAK & Tek kit which made it superfluous.The output is a square wave. That should tell you a lot. It has a built-in bias tee, so rather scary to connect to stuff like a spectrum analyzer if the less than wonderful UI results in it getting turned on by accident.Have Fun!Reg

author: rteodor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2024, 10:38:50 am
content: Whatever tinySA can measure (with a DC block + 20dB at.)As a generator TinySA (Ultra) is a lot more useful in interface, output level can be set (with some limitations), it can do some modulation and its output is sin.

author: rhb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2024, 04:57:30 pm
content: Could not agree more. I have *4* tinySAs specifically so I can use them as signal generators for a Field Day portable test bench.If @rteodor’s figures don’t convince you that you *don’t* want one I’ll be happy to feed both to my 8560A and post them. If you’re not convinced I’ll be happy to sell my moRFeus for 1/2 price.Have Fun!Reg

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2024, 07:55:22 pm
content: I have one and it does work as advertised.https://vma-satellite.blogspot.com/2021/10/tinysa-how-to-increase-frequency-range.html

author: rhb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2024, 01:09:54 pm
content: @Bicurico That is *very* cool! I want to test a $20 radar detector, but none of my kit goes above 26 GHz and most of the radars are 30+ GHz. By choosing a high frequency from the moRFeus the harmonics from the square wave can be far enough apart in the band of interest to not be an issue. Thanks! I was a bit annoyed by the moRFeus every time I saw it because for HF it’s pretty useless compared to the tinySA. As an accessory for the tinySA you’ve demonstrated it’s actually useful.Have Fun!Reg

author: ftg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2024, 04:16:47 pm
content: I have used the 5th harmonic from a cheap ADF4350 board for testing and tuning a 20GHz LNB with success.If the detector is one of those cheap ebay specials, then it's LO will be a swept ~11.5GHz one.It should detect the 10.525GHz ADF4350 3rd harmonic, but I'm unsure about the 6th harmonic for 24GHz and 9th harmonic for 34GHz.

author: TimYTTT
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2024, 07:53:22 am
content: @rhb: Thanks for your kind discount offer for moRFeus. I am not sure if I am going to do something with moRFeus, there are other valuable alternatives. I wanted to get some feedback about it`s use. For me the built-in mixer is that what makes difference to other solutions.Bicurico provided an interesting example, maybe there are also some other interesting implementations like this.Kind regards,Tim