[hpsdr] Penelope Output power problem (HELP PLEASE)

[Steven Doyle]

Hi,

I have done some testing and checked the following.

Gert Build Penelope so T2 installed correctly
Tune Power set to 100
Drive set to 100
PA Settings set to 38.8

The output of T1 is 236mV(Peak to Peak) and the output of the operation 
amplifier circuit is 2.4V(Peak to Peak)  which looks correct to me as I 
believe the gain is set to 10. Maybe the input (236mV) is low I don't know.

Any further ideas or what these voltages should typically be  ?

thx

Steve
G1YLB

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Graham / KE9H" <KE9H at austin.rr.com>
To: "Gerd Loch" <g.loch at nt-electronics.de>
Cc: "'Steve Niles'" <n5en at wt.net>; "'Steven Doyle'" <steve_doyle at o2.co.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 6:33 PM
Subject: Re: [hpsdr] Penelope Output power problem


> All:
>
> On the US built Penelope, and I assume on Gerd's Penelope, the
> power control loop will start to go unstable, (a very low frequency AM
> modulation appears on the signal) if you set the PA settings between
> 38 and 38.6.   This is why I recommended a PA setting of 38.8 or 39
> rather than 38.
>
> --- Graham / KE9H
>
> ==
>
> Gerd Loch wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> The transformer is assembled according to the errata.
>> All Penelopes were tested for correct output. On 6m however the output
>> is down to about 120 mW. This is the case for all Penelopes and is due
>> to the design.
>>
>> You can compensate differences in output through "PA-Settings" where you
>> can adjust the gain of the PA. That means a lower value for PA gain
>> result in a higher output from Penelope.
>>
>> If you set all PA-settings to the lowest gain (38) the output is up to
>> 500mW on 80m and slightly less on the higher bands.
>>
>> 73, Gerd
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Graham / KE9H [mailto:KE9H at austin.rr.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 
>> 22, 2009 2:28 AM
>> To: Steve Niles
>> Cc: Steven Doyle; g.loch at nt-electronics.de
>> Subject: Re: [hpsdr] Penelope Output power problem
>>
>>
>> Yes, if it is one of Gerd's Penelope's, then the transformer should be
>> installed correctly.  I guess I didn't read all the way to the bottom.
>>
>> --- Graham /KE9H
>>
>> ==
>>
>> Steve Niles wrote:
>>
>>> Surely Gerd installed the transformers per the errata... Right Gerd?
>>>
>>> Steve N5EN
>>>
>>>
>>> Graham / KE9H wrote:
>>>
>>>> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>>>>
>>>> Steve:
>>>>
>>>> Is the drive level set all the way to 100 for the test?
>>>>
>>>> Also, you need into PowerSDR under
>>>> SetUp,
>>>>   PA Settings,
>>>>        and set all of the PA setting windows to 38.8.
>>>>
>>>> This will usually get you up to about 300 mW.
>>>>
>>>> If you still want the full 500 mW, refer to the Errata
>>>> sheet for Penelope in the Support section.
>>>>
>>>> http://hpsdr.org/support.html
>>>>
>>>> This explains that you must reverse the output transformer to get the
>>>>
>>
>>
>>>> full rated output.
>>>>
>>>> --- Graham / KE9H
>>>>
>>>> ==
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Steven Doyle wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>>>>>
>>>>> forgot to add that I am running the following versions
>>>>>
>>>>> PowerSDR 12Apr2009
>>>>>
>>>>> Firmware
>>>>> Ozy FX2:20090201
>>>>> Ozy 12
>>>>> Mercury 26
>>>>> Penelope 11
>>>>>
>>>>> thanks
>>>>>
>>>>> Steve
>>>>> G1YLB
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steven Doyle"
>>>>> <steve_doyle at o2.co.uk>
>>>>> To: "hpsdr" <hpsdr at lists.hpsdr.org>
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 10:37 PM
>>>>> Subject: [hpsdr] Penelope Output power problem
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi All,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I just received my new Penelope from Gert(thankyou), but I  am
>>>>>> unable to get anything like 0.5W out.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> With the PA gain set to min (38dB) in PowerSDR and the drive level
>>>>>> set to 100  I am only getting 49mW out on the display when I select
>>>>>>
>>
>>
>>>>>> Tun in PowerSDR. I don't have a mike connected yet. My external power 
>>>>>> meter seems to confirm this also.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Any idea as to what might be causing this, any test sugestions very
>>>>>> welcome.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Steve
>>>>>> G1YLB
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Tracey" <bill at ewjt.com>
>>>>>> To: "Steven Doyle" <steve_doyle at o2.co.uk>; "hpsdr"
>>>>>> <hpsdr at lists.hpsdr.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 7:19 PM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [hpsdr] Penelope USB Blaster connector ?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If you want to program the FPGA - P3 (due left of the FPGA if
>>>>>>> looking at comp side of board, Atlas connector edge down). If the 
>>>>>>> ROM P2 - in the upper left corner of the board.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> In both cases, pin 1 can be found looking for the square pad on
>>>>>>> the header on the solder side of the board.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bill (kd5tfd)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> At 12:48 PM 4/21/2009, Steven Doyle wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Can anyone tell me which ten pin header I should connect my USB
>>>>>>>> blaster to on Penelope and which is pin 1
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Steve
>>>>>>>> G1 YLB
>>>>>>>>
>>
>>
>>
>