SDR - CONTROL of the SI570
This is the answer if you do not have a parallel port. http://www.sdr-kits.net/USB/USB_Description.html A USB connected controller. May be interfaced to a Softrock without an Si570.
Now Tony's Softrock v8.4 and later come with integrated USB control. This is the same unit, all the information required for the Softrock is on this site http://www.sdr-kits.net/USB/USB_Description.html Look carefully, everything is there! This also applies to the add-on XTALL USB board for early Softrocks.
Driver Installation go to http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/RX_V9_0/02_usb.htm at the bottom it describes the basic driver installation. At http://www.sdr-kits.net/USB/USB_Description.html is all the information you may need if there are further problems. You do have to look hard, it is there!
This web site shows what SDR software will work with this controller. There are links to USB DRIVER AND SOFTWARE http://www.mydarc.de/dg8saq/SI570/index.shtml Here you can download "SOFTWARE AND SCHEMATICS:" SI570_firmware.zip. Extract this to a convenient place. First load drivers. Insert USB plug and direct the "Wizard" to the SI570_firmware folder in the extracted folder. Then the drivers are installed. If you miss this and the driver does not get installed go to "Device Manager", find the "Unknown USB Device" and "Update the Driver", directing it to the folder.
Click "Easy to use PC software" this gives you USB_Synth.zip. Extract the .exe. This enables one to set the frequency independent of an SDR program. (This sets the Si570 to any frequency within its range, try outside their specification, I have at least one of Tom's LVDSs that goes to 700MHz (or higher?)
All this is in the PDF at http://www.sdr-kits.net/USB/USB_Description.html Click "SDR-Synthesizer Kit Documentation (PDF File)" about 3/4 way down the page, for "USB-Synthesizer Kit Instructions v10.PDF" and "USB Synthesizer Kit Update 1" for USB Synthesizer Kit Update 1.PDF
For Tom, DG8SAQ's USB troubleshooting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/files/DG8SAQ/AVR-SI570-Troubleshooting.pdf this includes a link to M$ usbview www.mydarc.de/dg8saq/hidden/usbview.zip
Included in the software is a USB test program. It will read the Si570 so its frequency could be set, then the registers read to be transferred to a PIC for specialist use. TOM WARNS, "DO NOT USE ANY OTHER BUTTONS ON SI570_USB_Test UNLESS YOU EXACTLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. YOU MIGHT CORRUPT THE AVR EEPROM". See his PDF!
================================
Si570 Type:- It is recommended to use the CMOS with this kit, but if you have the LVDS it may be used with Softrocks. Look at http://www.sdr-kits.net/hiddentest/index_files/LVDS%2020interfacing.pdf The LVDS has slightly higher specifications but the difference may not be noticed. The more adventurous could use a receiver like the FIN1002. This option is available in all of Tony's current kits containing the Si570.
Tony has a similar board to interface USB with the Si570 on his earlier kits. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/message/24140 This is likely to be the best way to control it, just plugging in where the PIC goes. As in many of these sort of additions the source is available for those who wish to develop further, or customise. This board uses the controller from SDR Kits above, so the DG8SAQ software above also works with it. NOTE Tony's way of connection on the Softrock v8.4 INTEGRATED USB CONTROL:- "The electrical connections to the PC from the v8.4 board involve only the soundcard line-in cable and the two data lines in the USB port connection. This results in only a single ground connection between the v8.4 board and the PC, the ground in the line-in cable. With only a single ground connection to the PC the center frequency noise is very low, however, the USB control of the Si570 seems to be good." Since then problems have been noted, I rectified a lack of control by connecting a 100nF between the two grounds, Tony has used some filtering in the v9.0 Lite. TONY IS REPLACING THE ZENER DIODES IN THIS UNIT, THEY SEEM RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERMITTENT OPERATION. See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/message/26904 A further problem may be the result of the SCL I2C line not being pulled high. Many find powering the Softrock BEFORE inserting the USB solves this.
Two solutions to this, pull the SCL line to the USB 5V rail with a 47K. Just this line needs pulling high. Or revised software for the ATTiny at http://home.ict.nl/~fredkrom/pe0fko/SR-V9-Si570/ Cecil can supply a chip with this new software, ask him:- http://www.softrockradio.org/catalog/32/microcontrollers
Fred PE0FKO's version of the USB controller ATTiny 45 Look at PE0FKO's web page. He really has the ATTiny USB AVR per forming well! http://home.ict.nl/~fredkrom/pe0fko/SR-V9-Si570/ Smooth tuning and automatic BPF switching, Si570 calibration.
I created a new version V15.10 of my firmware for the USB AVR Si570 controller, and put it on my web page http://home.ict.nl/~fredkrom/pe0fko/SR-V9-Si570/ for the people interested in the firmware (source). "It is not firmware that Tony deliver with the SoftRock kits!" This version will support the LO frequency change by a offset and multiply (fixed point) numbers. This feature can be used by front end mixers with a fixed frequency, all kind of sub-sampling or other fraction multiply like the SoftRock VHF converter is using. The next version WinRad ExtIO_Si570.dll V0.8 will support the configuration of the offset and multiply factor in the firmware. There is also a bug fixed that is important for the RXTX users. The second CW Key input 2 was not supported in the firmware, why in some cases the SDR software was transmitting. (The second CW input was zero, that means pressed!). For using the CW inputs, disable the ABPF option in the firmware! The 'smooth tune', 'automatic band pass filter selection', 'one site calibration' and 'LO calculation' are included in the ATtiny45 (4K flash rom) with the normal 'set freq by value & si570 register' calls. (No separate set freq command and application change necessary) People not capable to program the AVR chip, can order a ATtiny45 programmed chip by Cecil, K5NWA http://www.softrockradio.org/PRG-AVR1. Use Winrad to setup the AVR, it will save the Si570 calibration setting so will not need calibrating with any other software. You can also set BPF start and stop frequencies for each band.
REPROGRAMMING The thread started here:- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/message/31029 shows one programmer to reprogram it. The software is Windows command line, I used W98, To get it to work on XP or Vista you need to find giveIO.sys on the web (eg http://www.dynamiclink.nl/htmfiles/rframes/info_sys/info_g/19.htm ) I did not get the installer to work, it may be safer just to as I did and place it in the same folder as avrpp.exe. Here is just one link that shows how to make a command window easier to use. http://www.petri.co.il/add_command_prompt_here_shortcut_to_windows_explorer.htm . Once you have the command prompt in the avrpp folder the command "avrpp file.hex" loads the new file. To set the fuse bits on a new chip use "avrpp -fl11100001" and "avrpp -fh1011101" Thanks Bob! Other programmers are available. http://home.ict.nl/~fredkrom/pe0fko/Fuse-restore-ATtiny45/ -ATtiny45/ Removing the fuse from ATTiny45, not too obvious, needs some study. Not necessary for reprogramming one that has already had a prior version of the software.
If you do not want to bother with reprogramming then Cecil will supply the AVRs with the software installed, just make sure he knows what you want. http://www.softrockradio.org/PRG-AVR1 March 26th v15.10
Another USB solution for the experimenter:- BitWacker http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/files/9V1AL/UBW%20Emulator/
