Hi,

I am trying to build a "frequency upconverter" that allows me to input
a frequency in the range of 50 to 70 Mhz. The output will be in the
UHF band. Note: This will be a low level signal output.

I found one semi-conductor, UPC8163TB, that meets the specs on the
web, but it is too small (about the size of a grain of rice). Although I am
an experienced electronics tech, I don't have the special equipment to mount
this "speck" IC on a circuit board.

I searched sites such as www.nxp.com (Philips), Mouser, Digi-Key for a
larger semiconductor with similar specs, but I didn't find one. Do you have
any information about another RF frequency upconverter that is physically
larger?
Thanks in advance, Brad

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active keystroke logger (spyware) in your PC.

On 12/18/07 10:02 AM, in article , "Brad"
wrote:

Hi,

I am trying to build a "frequency upconverter" that allows me to input
a frequency in the range of 50 to 70 Mhz. The output will be in the
UHF band. Note: This will be a low level signal output.

I found one semi-conductor, UPC8163TB, that meets the specs on the
web, but it is too small (about the size of a grain of rice). Although I am
an experienced electronics tech, I don't have the special equipment to mount
this "speck" IC on a circuit board.

I searched sites such as www.nxp.com (Philips), Mouser, Digi-Key for a
larger semiconductor with similar specs, but I didn't find one. Do you have
any information about another RF frequency upconverter that is physically
larger?
Thanks in advance, Brad

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active keystroke logger (spyware) in your PC.


The NE602 (Signetics) or SA602 (Philips) may be a good choice.

The Philips Application Notes, AN1981, is helpful.

This IC has been around for at least 10 years so you may find an update of
it available.

I have a MS WORD copy of a Feb. 97, Electronics Now Article that discusses
it at some length. You can email me for it if you decide to try the IC,
which by the way, has an on-chip oscillator, which makes it's use quite
simple. If needed, I can convert it to PDF.

(Brad) hath wroth:

I am trying to build a "frequency upconverter" that allows me to input
a frequency in the range of 50 to 70 Mhz. The output will be in the
UHF band. Note: This will be a low level signal output.

What's your idea of UHF? 300MHz? 1GHz? 3GHz?
How low level is your signal? A number in dBm would be nice.
Numbers please, not generalities.

I found one semi-conductor, UPC8163TB, that meets the specs on the
web, but it is too small (about the size of a grain of rice). Although I am
an experienced electronics tech, I don't have the special equipment to mount
this "speck" IC on a circuit board.

Why use a semiconductor? Your "frequency upconverter" is actually a
mixer. Take two frequencies, mix well, filter out the unwanted junk,
and you have the UHF output. Look into double balanced mixers.
They're cheap, efficient, have clean output, and are easy to use
(design).

For example +7dBm LO input mixers:
http://www.minicircuits.com/products/fm_pic_level_7.html
Lots of app notes and articles on how to use them effectively. Look
under "frequency mixers":
http://www.minicircuits.com/pages/app_notes.html

I searched sites such as www.nxp.com (Philips), Mouser, Digi-Key for a
larger semiconductor with similar specs, but I didn't find one. Do you have
any information about another RF frequency upconverter that is physically
larger?
Thanks in advance, Brad

How big do you want it? Double blanced mixers come in various sizes.
However, you'll find that as you go up in frequency, the package sizes
tend to decrease substantially.

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active keystroke logger (spyware) in your PC.

Why would anyone put a lumberjack (logger) inside my PC?


--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558