Giantkiller moves forward into Full Heterodyning.

[Feynman]

Okay, so I'm going to re-run these experiments once I get some beers...


But, in the meantime, I was looking for how to build a computer controlled frequency oscillator, and I came across the

FERRARI OF OSCILLATORS:   RISE TIME = 1ns,   Sweep 1KHZ to 68MHZ  !








Controlled via Serial!  Yo te quiero infinito, Oh my corazon!   

http://www.linear.com/pc/downloadDocument.do?navId=H0,C1,C1010,C1096,P2415,D1449

[amigo]

Here's another Square Wave gen from LTC that does not require PIC, just in case someone needs it: http://www.triplespark.net/elec/oscillator/LTC1799/

[Feynman]

Thanks amigo.... you don't need PIC though, you can control it with Arduino over I2C. 

PIC is cheaper, but Arduino is way easier to program.  (built in USB interface, I2C library called "Wire" etc)




You can get Arduino for about $35USD at sparkfun, and it includes built in USB interface.

[armagdn03]

Okay, so I'm going to re-run these experiments once I get some beers...


But, in the meantime, I was looking for how to build a computer controlled frequency oscillator, and I came across the

FERRARI OF OSCILLATORS:   RISE TIME = 1ns,   Sweep 1KHZ to 68MHZ,  WTF!


Controlled via  Serial!  Yo te quiero infinito, Oh my corazon!   

http://www.linear.com/pc/downloadDocument.do?navId=H0,C1,C1010,C1096,P2415,D1449

HOLY CRAP IN A BUCKET!  ME WANT ME WANT!!! 

[Feynman]

Digikey has them for about $3-4 apiece.   Get the LTC6903 if you are going to control via SPI bus, and get LTC6904 if you are going to control it via I2C bus.  I think I2C bus might be easier with Arduino  (only 2 wires).  Also you will probably need a 8 pin MSOP to DIP converter so you can plug the sucker into your experiment board (about $5). 

Components: 

Arduino ($35)  http://sparkfun.com
LTC6903/LTC6904 ($4)  http://digikey.com
8 pin MSOP to DIP convertor ($6)  http://www.epboard.com/eproducts/protoadapter.htm#MSOPtoDIPAdapter  (you want part E8-0047).

and of course the infamous IRF840 MOSFET.


I'd like to make the Java control software compatible with GKs PIC implementation as well, and publish it under GPL. That way we can start some serious experiments with resonance.