MiniTiouner hardware Version 2

The Minitiouner hardware is designed for easy home construction, uses only leaded components and consists of the 3 main components.

To build the unit you only need to buy the following and then download the free MiniTioune software.

• The USB interface is available ready programmed from the MiniTiouner category in the BATC shop.

• The version 2 main PCB is available from the MiniTiouner category in the BATC shop.

• The Serit tuner or NIM covering 143 - 2450 MHz is available from the MiniTiouner category in the BATC shop. NOTE - due to different pinouts the previously available Sharp and Eardetek NIMs will NOT work with the version 2 board

• The unit uses an adjustable MCP1826 as the 1v regulator, which can be hard to find and is available from the MiniTiouner category in the BATC shop.

All other components such as Rs, Cs and 5v buck regulator are available from normal suppliers - see the parts list further down this page.

Building the Version 2 MiniTiouner PCB

The PCB has been developed to fit snuggly inside a Hammond 1455 series 103x120x53mm enclosure and uses standard leaded components so no specialist techniques needed.

Parts list and schematic

The parts list and schematic are available for download:

File:SERIF.pdf

File:Seritpartsv3.xls

Note the 22uF electrolytic capacitors on the regulators are low ESR types chosen to minimise oscillation - substitute at your peril! Ceramics can be used instead but through hole 22uF ceramics are expensive.

The small regulator module is available from ebay - search for "MP1584 step down buck regulator".

The blank PCB, tuner, USB module and 1 volt regulator are available from the BATC shop

Setting up the hardware

The design uses a MP1584 buck converter step down module to reduce the input, which can be in the range 6-20V down to 4V. Using a switching converter significantly reduces the generated heat. Optionally a 3.7-5.5V supply can be used instead, bypassing the converter Three low drop out linear voltage regulators are used to regulate the digital 3.3V and 1.2V and analogue 3.3V supply rails. Linear regulators and extensive filtering are used to ensure low noise for maximum RF performance.

There is not much to set up but before connecting the DC-DC converter to the input of the linear regulators, the output MUST be set to 3.7-4v output. This is because these LDO regulators can only handle a maximum of 6V input. There is a zener to provide some protection but damage is still possible and worst case you could end up with whatever is on the input appearing at the output - i.e. 5.6V on the 3.3V and 1.2V rails.

Mike, G0MJW, has written some instructions on building and testing the board - download them here File:Notes on building the BATC v2 Minitiouner.pdf

There are two options, one is to set the correct converter voltage before its installed on the PCB. The other is to remember not to fit the jumper JP2, ALT 4V that connects it to the regulators and set it up in commissioning.

We recommend that you build and then test all the voltage rails BEFORE fitting the NIM. This is easy as you can probe the top of the RFCs to measure them.

If you don't use the DC-DC converter and run directly off an external 5V (DO NOT connect a higher voltage) supply to JP2, you may need to heatsink the regulators. With the DC-DC converter, the copper area on the board seems to be adequate as a heatsink.

Do not allow too much strain to be exerted on the USB socket - at least one has been known to dislodge during use.

Testing and using the MiniTiouner for the first time

Once you are satisfied the voltage levels are correct and there is no smoke, you need to run the MiniTioune software.

Full details including how to set up the software, drivers and decoders is on the MiniTioune software page.

On the air

Apart from the the version 1 PCB with adaptor card, this version 2 PCB with Serit tuner is the only available solution to receive and decode DVB-S2 reduced bandwidth modes - this picture shows G0MJW receiving G8GTZ/P 1920*1080 HD pictures on 146 MHz using 32 APSK (approximately 1.3 mbit/s in 550 KHz bandwidth).