So...is there anything to solder or build after the official FDIM "buildathon" on May 14th ?
You bet there is!  The next day, May 15th at 1 PM in the same room as the "buildathon",
we are resurrecting the 2003 ARCI "buildathon" kit, the NOGA/Flying Pig Frequency Counter.

The Freq Counter can be used for straight frequency counting up to about 45 MHz or as a
digital frequency readout on any single conversion HF radio where the VFO can be sampled.
The FC has provisions to display the frequency with the IF offset, either positive or negative.

The 2003 "buildathon" FC was based on the FC from AADE.COM, version DFD1A
Our FC version includes a backlit LCD for viewing at night.

There are 24 FC kits available. Cost is $40 in advance or $45 at the door.
Payments should be made via PAYPAL.  The eMail ID is:

or send a $40 check to:


Bring your solder station, solder and tools. We will supply power and test equipment.
For additional information, please eMail me, W8DIZ at my PAYPAL eMail address shown above.

FLYING PIGS/NOGA FREQUENCY COUNTER - FDIM  BUILDATHON 2003 - Assembly

Solder both sockets to the PCB

Install and solder the following fixed resistors. Save 4 trim leads for LCD mounting.

R3 (Brn,Blk,Org) 10K ohm 1/8 watt -right of J1
R2 (Red,Red,Brn) 220 ohm 1/8 watt - right of J2 - see PCB Top View-not labeled on board
R4 (Yel,Vio,Brn) 470 ohm 1/8 watt - right of U1 and upper left of R8
R8 (Blu,Gry,Brn) 680 ohm 1/8 watt - lower right of R4
R9 (Red,Red,Brn) 220 ohm 1/8 watt - right of R8
R10(Red,Blk,Brn) 200 ohm 2 watt - right end of board next to LCD

Install and solder 14 pin header (female) on top of the PCB
Install 14 pin header (male)  to bottom of the DSP1 LCD 

Install and solder 2 cut resistor leads to lower right and lower left corner of LCD.

Install and solder 2 cut resistor leads to the LCD holes on the right-middle of the
LCD. These holes are just to the left of the large 2 watt resistor R10 on the
right edge.  These connections provide power to the LCD backlight.

Install and solder the following diodes - solder and trim leads

D2 - 1N4148 banded end to bottom of board - right of U1
D1 - 1N4148 banded end to top of board - right of D2
D3 - install a jumper - see PCB Top View -not labeled on board between +9 and +12

Install and solder

X1 - 10 mHz Xtal- below "Flying Pigs". Tilt the Xtal while soldering. Then straighten out 
the Xtal. solder and trim leads.
This keeps the crystal case from shorting to tracks on the PCB.
C1 - 100 nf - above upper left corner LCD
J1 - 3 pin header into board - on top of board (Side of board with printing.) - below C1
C8 - 30 pf trimmer - left of X1-flat section toward bottom of board.
C7 - 6.8 pf - right of X1 (C7 value is 43p on schematic)
C6 - 100nf - right of R3
C3 - 220pF - above R2 - see PCB Top View
C2 - 100nf - below FDIM - see picture-not labeled on board
C10 - 33uf +to square whole - right of C2 (C10 value is 22u on schematic)
C4 - 100nf- below C2
U3 - LM317 flat edge toward bottom of board - right of C4
C9 - 33 uf + to the LEFT SQUARE hole - right of U3 (C9 value is 22u on schematic)
C5 - 100 nf - right of D1
J2 - 3 pin header into board - below NOGA-- on top of board (Side of board with printing.)

Install and solder
R1 10K single turn POT - left of LCD
R7 100 K ten turn pot - insure screw is facing left - [MEDIUM]
R5 100 K ten turn pot - insure screw is facing left - [COURSE]
R6 50 K ten turn pot - insure screw is facing top-left - [FINE]

Install orange/white wires to +12 (orange), GND (white)
Install green wire to IN, right of C5
Install white wire to GND - below "IN"

Plug 74HC4046 into U1 - "U" to top of board
Plug PIC16C71 into U2 - "U" to left of board


TEST AND CALIBRATION

Calibrate Freq Counter:
Connect a jumper on J1 (Offset on/off) to the left two pins (OFF).
Connect a known frequency source to input -green & white wire - white is ground
Power up the Freq Counter with either 12 to 14 Volts (orange wire +, white ground)

Verify that the LCD backlight is on (if using 12 to 14 volts).
Adjust the LCD Contrast by turning R1 (left center edge)
With a KNOWN RF source applied to the input, adjust C8 until the displayed frequency
matches the known source.

Adjustment the IF offset pots:
Remove the RF calibration source from the input and short the input to ground.
Keep the Freq Counter powered up.
Connect a jumper on J1 (Offset on/off) to the right two pins (ON).
Adjust R5,R6 and R7 all the way CW or CCW to get a "00" reading on the LCD.

From top to bottom, the IF offset pots are:
R6 - Fine IF offest
R7 - Medium IF offset
R5 - Course IF offset

Adjust R5 until the display is as close as possible to the desired offset but does not exceed the offset.
Adjust R7 until the display is as close as possible to the desired offset but does not exceed the offset.
Adjust R6 until the display is set at the desired offset.

This completes the IF offset adjustment.

Note:
J1 is used to enable/disable the IF offset for the freq counter.
J2 is used to either add or subtract the IF offset from the input frequency.

TECH INFO:
----------
R5, the course offset pot range is 0 to 20,807,680 Hertz, in 163,840 Hz
increments
R7, the medium offset pot range is 0 to 162,560 Hertz, in 1280 Hz
increments
R6, the fine offset pot range is 0 to 1,270 Hertz, in 10 Hz increments
Each of the pots can be adjusted to 128 different values.