PTT and band switching

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In order to make the Portsdown transmitter integrated with transmit and receive systems, Pin 40 of the GPIO goes high when transmit is selected and the signals on pins 28 and 35 can be used for band switching.

Band outputs

These outputs are used to switch the LO filter and can be used to switch external filter and amplifiers.

Frequency Mhz ATV Band Pin 28 Pin 35
< 100 MHz 71 MHz Lo Lo
100 - 250 MHz 146 MHz Lo Hi
250 - 950 MHz 437 MHz Hi Lo
950 - 4400 MHz 23cms Hi Hi
Care must be taken to properly buffer these 3.3v signals from relay transients.

GPIO band decoder

As we only have 2 GPIO pins to provide 4 outputs, these outputs need to be decoded to provide an output for each band.


Band decoder.JPG


The Portsdown team have designed a simple board which can be either constructed on 0.1” perforated board (veroboard) or on a PCB - this can be home etched using the details below or blank PCBs are available in the BATC shop.

4 band decode.JPG


File:DECODE 4 Band instructions (2).pdf

File:Decode 4 Band Schematic.pdf

File:Decode 4 Band Perf Bd wiring.pdf

File:DECODE 4 Band Mirrored w SS.pdf

File:DECODE 4 Band Mirrored.pdf

File:DECODE 4 Band PCB Layout w SS.pdf


PTT steering

These band outputs can then used to "steer" the PTT line to the correct Power Amplifier using this simple relay and diode circuit - no PCB needed :-)

Tx switching.JPG

Tx Rx sequencer

We also recommend the use of a Tx / Rx sequencer to ensure your mast head relay has changed over and your expensive pre-amp is de-powered before you start transmitting. The sequence is as follows:

To go to Tx:

1) Turn off receiver pre-amp

2) Switch ant c/o relay to transmit

3) Apply power to PA

To go to rx

a) Turn off Tx

b) Switch ant c/o relay to receive

c) Apply power to pre-amp.


Many circuits and pre-built designs are available including this simple single chip design by Ian Waters G3KKD published in CQ-TV 125.

Tx rx timing.JPG

David M0YDH shows Ian's design in operation:- G8ADE RELAY SEQUENCER VIDEO and an updated version with extra relay for Portsdown PTT band switching.

Summary of GPIO connections

As the Portsdown project has expanded in scope, so has demand for the GPIO connections on the RPi. Here is the latest list as of January 2018:

Pin No BCM No Wiring Pi RPi Name Primary Use Secondary Use
1 Example Example Example Example Example
2 Example Example Example Example Example
3 Example Example Example Example Example
4 Example Example Example Example Example
5 Example Example Example Example Example
6 Example Example Example Example Example
7 Example Example Example Example Example
8 Example Example Example Example Example
9 Example Example Example Example Example
10 Example Example Example Example Example
11 Example Example Example Example Example
12 Example Example Example Example Example
13 Example Example Example Example Example
14 Example Example Example Example Example
15 Example Example Example Example Example
16 Example Example Example Example Example
17 Example Example Example Example Example
18 Example Example Example Example Example
19 Example Example Example Example Example
20 Example Example Example Example Example
21 Example Example Example Example Example
22 Example Example Example Example Example
23 Example Example Example Example Example
24 Example Example Example Example Example
25 Example Example Example Example Example
26 Example Example Example Example Example
27 Example Example Example Example Example
28 Example Example Example Example Example
29 Example Example Example Example Example
30 Example Example Example Example Example
31 Example Example Example Example Example
32 Example Example Example Example Example
33 Example Example Example Example Example
34 Example Example Example Example Example
35 Example Example Example Example Example
36 Example Example Example Example Example
37 Example Example Example Example Example
38 Example Example Example Example Example
39 Example Example Example Example Example
40 Example Example Example Example Example

The BCM numbers in this table correspond to the connector labelling on the Willow Electronics GPIO breakout board. Two of the connections are not broken out and need to be directly connected to the GPIO pins. More details to follow.

GPIO pinout.JPG