Here is the start of the mod to fit an Arduino Nano VFO into the Philips FM1680C radio.
It has gone in pretty well.
In my shack there are 3 of these radios, one with my early (read 40 years ago) synthesizer, and the other couple almost stock.
I like these radios as the layout lends itself to modding various parts one at a time as the boards are in separate channels in the die cast case.
There is plenty of room between the front panel and the works to add the VFO.
This was working on receive but stopped after a bit. I thought the regulator on the Nano board was over heeting so added an external 5V reg, using on of those 3 terminal switch mode regs mentioned elsewhere on the forum. But, it stops quicker now. It turns out, with higher current available, the Nano's processor heats up rapidly and stops working. So, I will have to make up another board to continue with this. My hot air tool had died too so I cannot just easily swap the processor.
The code is just about the same as the other 2M versions, just the * 8 for TX and * 4 for RX have to be changed. The IF is 10.7Mhz.
The mics are hard wired to the radios but have been cut off. I may add a 4 pin mic socket. Also, the antenna connector is a belling and Lee "TV" socket, unlike all the other radios I have so that may be changed too.
It has gone in pretty well.
In my shack there are 3 of these radios, one with my early (read 40 years ago) synthesizer, and the other couple almost stock.
I like these radios as the layout lends itself to modding various parts one at a time as the boards are in separate channels in the die cast case.
There is plenty of room between the front panel and the works to add the VFO.
This was working on receive but stopped after a bit. I thought the regulator on the Nano board was over heeting so added an external 5V reg, using on of those 3 terminal switch mode regs mentioned elsewhere on the forum. But, it stops quicker now. It turns out, with higher current available, the Nano's processor heats up rapidly and stops working. So, I will have to make up another board to continue with this. My hot air tool had died too so I cannot just easily swap the processor.
The code is just about the same as the other 2M versions, just the * 8 for TX and * 4 for RX have to be changed. The IF is 10.7Mhz.
The mics are hard wired to the radios but have been cut off. I may add a 4 pin mic socket. Also, the antenna connector is a belling and Lee "TV" socket, unlike all the other radios I have so that may be changed too.
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