ADF4350 & ADF4351 based Oled RF Source Generators - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2019, 07:44:47 am
content: After having a trawl around here for information on the Oled Screened version of the ADF 4350 or ADF 4351 available on Aliexpress or Ebay I came up with only bits and pieces of information and a few snippets of possible code to drive or even sweep it.I have only just cracked mine open this afternoon for a first look and run some lower frequencies (140-300MHz) into my 100MHz Micsig scope to see how the wave looked. Screen Captures below but take them with a grain of salt as they are clearly outside the range of the Micsig but the shape is fairly reasonable.Driving it from the front panel is fairly easy even without any instructions and seems to work as claimed from +10dBm to-50dBm and a bit over 130MHz to 4.4GHz (ADF4350 variant). Apart from quickly putting it on a Frequency counter I haven't really tested it properly at the higher end and a SA is on my list for this years toys. I will drop over to a mates place and have a play with his and a much higher frequency Scope in the next few weeks.So Questions to others.1 Existing Software or software links to drive or sweep it?2 Anyone got any SA data on what the waveform looks like as far as harmonics or spurs?Initial thoughts are it is not to badly made and does what it claims for a low price. Switchmode Plug pack is in the bin and replaced by an old transformer based one.

author: Aiy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2019, 03:38:18 pm
content: I see that your processor still has the markings (the STC component)Can you get the exact model or a vertical closeup of the processor?If we get that we might have a chance to make code for it ourselves

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2019, 03:53:58 pm
content: Is that can crystal the source of its reference signal? (If so, ughhhh...) Is there a way to use a higher quality external reference signal?

author: maginnovision
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2019, 03:56:15 pm
content: I assume that's only for the STC micro.

author: RoadRunner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2019, 05:10:44 pm
content: A little while ago i made my self a little hardware to Sweep and few other tricks with AD4351 , i have written software in QT.there also a little video attached , where i am looking with mySpectrum analyzer, you can see in video there is quite a bit harmonics.Looks like MCU in your unit is doing all the frequency calculation, and if i am right then i see a chip near to usb with 12Mhz crytal, which may be doing just usb to serial conversion. this device may be detected as com port. you can just rewrite firmware for this MCU or find out serial communication format some how.With my QT application i do all the calculation at PC side and only trasmit AD4351 Resistor hex value over USB HID protocol.i have made an comment a while another post here.Quote from: RoadRunner on July 18, 2018, 07:40:44 am

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2019, 11:21:00 pm
content: A bit more time today so off with the covers and cans. I will leave those of you with more RF knowledge than me to speculate what the scrubbed chips might be12Meg Xtal will be for the STC and it runs a 340 USB chip that Windoze10 hooks up to. I will get around to having a play with Putty in a bit with some information @Aiy put in this thread from a while agohttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/help-with-software-for-adf4351-signal-source/msg1325451/#msg132545120Mhz TCXO is what is feeding the 4350 which can be programmed to take inputs from 10-250Mhz via an internal divider. So adapting this board providing the 4350 can be sent the changes could be fed with a 10Mhz external in or even a better quality 20MHz feed.

author: Kosmic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2019, 12:30:48 am
content: Quote from: beanflying on January 10, 2019, 11:21:00 pmLook like 2 Digital Step Attenuators and a Amplifier at the end just before the coax.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2019, 02:11:18 am
content: Very similar to the one I got, bean. For some reason, I thought you got the 4351. The font on the top of the enclosure on mine is more cramped, but it has 137.5MHz instead of LF. Interesting.I see someone likes bendy traces on that PCB.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2019, 02:17:31 am
content: In hind site I should have looked a bit more before pushing the evilbay button and got the 4351. It did complete the excuse to buy a new Siglent Arb Generator to cover the gap however

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2019, 03:13:09 am
content: A-ha. A gap that I still have. Hmmm.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2019, 09:41:03 am
content: This could be interestingGot some reading to do.https://vhfdesign.com/pll-lo/lo-pll-usb.htmlhacking the AD softwarehttps://gm8bjf.joomla.com/articles/9-pc-control-of-analog-devices-adf4xxx-synthesiser-chips

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2019, 04:42:26 am
content: Interesting. So, GM8BJF's method might enable use of AD's software with our generators (probably using direct USB-to-TTL on the PCB rather than the onboard USB).

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2019, 05:29:28 am
content: Maybe if it can be made work. The other option is to cut the STC out of the loop and use one of the Arduino based alternates as the code is more readily available (also suits me with one less IDE to learn).There is some traces heading to the Attenuators and Amplifier which may be an issue due to the lack of part numbers unless they can be sniffed and work out what they are getting from the STC?The Chip btw in case anyone is interested and cant make out the photo STC 15L2K60S2 (3V) here is a link to the 887 Page manualhttp://www.stcmicro.com/datasheet/STC15F2K60S2-en.pdfand the IDE/Software pagehttp://www.stcmicro.com/rjxz.htmlThis isn't a priority for me as the front buttons will do what I need but being able to sweep the output and similar would be handy extras if it can be sorted.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2019, 12:09:49 am
content: We have a winner for devices software.My ADF had a small crack on the front plastic fascia and I have had a evilbay case running to 'resolve' it. As part of this I had included the lack of software and could they provide me with it (wasn't included in the description). Net result I got a few $ back to buy a beer and the link to an anonymous download (as they tend to do) web page.Rather than risk it being lost or changed I have re uploaded to my google drive (50Mb) herehttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1P0UuyIaOWkd2SuybAyi6DiOgxmsLj_ZC/view?usp=sharingWhat it does is give basic functionality over the ADF4350 and 4351 via USB as per the screen shot. Anyone with more programming smarts than me want to take a look at the software to see how hackable it might be?Putting the covers back on mine for now.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2019, 06:18:32 am
content: Thanks, bean. I took a stab at translating the document and, in the process, ran across many discrepancies with regard to the command formats, the number of bytes in some of the w commands, and exactly what they represent. Also, I didn't see anything about the c command(s).If you have a chance to try it out, let me know of any corrections to my version of the docs. I need to toddle off to bed.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2019, 06:23:18 am
content: Had a bit of a look at what it installed on my PC. Seems a chunk of the download above was .Net and most likely looking at the files C++ as well.It installed these three files I have zipped up AFTER RENAMING THEM so don't try and use them as it won't work.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 04:24:16 am
content: Doing some casual playing with this Generator and one of my other recent Toys. I had been running the Siglent SDG2042X against my GPSDO for a few hours to look at it's internal oscillator for similar deviation and accuracy. Standard deviation was about 0.003 PPM and sitting just on -0.67PPM low.As it has some nice easy to use Stats on the built in Frequency counter I hooked up the ADF4350 @ 200MHz (Siglent Max) to it to see how it was for a better idea of accuracy with the stock TCXO input to the ADF and overall stability.Seems mine sits a little low as per the photo below but is sitting rock solid for stability. I had it switched on for about 30 minutes before I started this log BTW. Time to tweak the SiglentEDIT Re Calibrated the Siglent (now -0.05ppm) ADF 4350 output is at 199.99990 or -0.48PPMNot intended to be a Lab Grade look but a reasonably stable source.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 05:41:57 pm
content: Wow, I didn't expect half a ppm for the ADF4350 gen. Nice.

author: beampower
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 04, 2021, 10:10:14 pm
content: Did you have any luck finding a spec sheet or some basic instructions?

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2021, 09:22:08 am
content: Quote from: beampower on March 04, 2021, 10:10:14 pmOther than what is above no. Chunks of this year have been a write off but I did just get a 500Meg Scope so I was going to plug mine back into the front end for a play hopefully over the weekend.

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2021, 01:22:31 pm
content: Why not buy a cheap LTDZ device on AliExpress or Banggood and run it with my software?More info on my signature...Cheers,Vitor