DG5 Emulator Version 1.5 PCB’s have arrived!

33 Replies

Got the boards in yesterday, was feeling pretty confident about the design, so I ordered 20 this time.  Lucky, the boards look good, and the first one I built fired up right away – whew!

_MG_8852_web

Here it’s fully populated and mounted on an Arduino Duemilanove.

_MG_8862

 

The new boards are a bit more packed than version 1 as they have a few more features.  There’s a 5V 7805 regulator option, 2, 6-pin headers for an external LCD (with a contrast pot), and 4 mounting holes that match up to the Arduino boards.  Quality looks good, these are from Accutrace here in the US – see www.pcb4u.com for info.  Only 2 weeks as opposed to 4 or so from China.

_MG_8853

 

_MG_8854

 

With the boards packed, the clearances between the Arduino and the DG5 shield are tight – too tight in areas as is a usual issue with shields.  I put a piece of electrical tape over the top of the USB connector, and trimmed the mounting tabs for the RCA connectors that protruded thru a little too far.  I also covered the ICSP connector to keep it from touching.

Blocks

Here’s the layout.

_MG_8858_web

 

The 6 pin jumper cables I had are a little long, 12″ I think.  I’ll be ordering up some 4″ jumpers that will make it easy to mount in a case.

If you’re interested in a board, leave me a note here and I’ll get in touch with you!  I am working on the Bill of Materials for the complete kit – I had a lot of parts in my parts bin so I haven’t sourced everything, but most parts are available from Mouser, and a couple are from SparkFun (RCA connectors, LCD Jumpers, shield headers).

33 thoughts on “DG5 Emulator Version 1.5 PCB’s have arrived!”

  1. Geoff Carpenter

    I might be interested in a board to accompany the DG 5 I already have. I can’t solder worth a darn so could I get a price for a completed board?

    Geoff (KG7KTT)

    Reply ↓
  2. admin Post author

    I am not there yet, I am just selling the boards but I might be able to build another one – I need to make a parts order as I am out of some! You would still need an Arduino, an LCD display, a chassis to put it in, etc. It’s more a project than a product.

    Steve
    KV6O

    Reply ↓
    1. Glenn Anderson

      I have a Kenwood TS520S and I would like to interface it to fldigi so that I don’t have to enter the frequency by hand. Would this DG-5 emulator do this. Would it enable the TS520S to be quarried for smeter and vfo freq? Or do I need something else, you had a DDS module that can enter the freq into the TS520S.

      Glenn

      Reply ↓
  3. MARK BRYAN

    Hi steve
    when you a price list let me know might be interested in up dating my old kenwood.
    regards mark m1tvr uk

    Reply ↓
  9. Dominic Uliano

    Hello,
    I would like to buy two (2) of your pc boards for the DG5 simulato. Please respond with price including shipping.

    Thank you

    Kind regards,
    Dominic

    Reply ↓
    1. admin Post author

      Dominic –

      I do not currently have boards for sale – I sold out of the last run. I’ll post on this website if I get more in.

      Steve
      KV6O

      Reply ↓
      1. Dominic Uliano

        Thanks Steve! I am eager to try this project so I hope you get some in soon.

        Regards,
        Dominic

        Reply ↓
    1. admin Post author

      I don’t stock parts for a kit, there are links to get most of what you would need from Mouser and Sparkfun, and a list of the parts as well.

      I should have these new boards ready for shipping soon!

      Steve
      KV6O

      Reply ↓
  13. charlie cheng

    Hi Steve
    Please I need to order a completely built one unit for my TS520 please send me a paypal link for the payment and to be shipped to me here in Dubai UAE my mobile +971564806557

    Reply ↓
  14. Peter Geisler DL6CLM

    Ok Steve – I’v read some more and see you have used the 3 times 4046 ICs to make some signal conditioning and using only the amplifier part of it. Nice idea!

    Reply ↓
    1. admin Post author

      Sorry for the delay Peter, yes, they are 3 PLL’s that track the 3 signals and amplify them to the 5V level.

      Steve
      KV6O

      Reply ↓
  16. Mike

    Hi Steve! I have a set of 599D twins. I know the three signals needed by the DG5 are present in these radios BUT they are not routed to the back panel as they are with the DG5, I’m a”new guy” in the Arduino world but am having fun “playing” any chance you hace some data on the set up and coding that’s available?

    Thanks and 73, Mike N9QR

    Reply ↓
    1. admin Post author

      The program is included in the download – I can’t speak to the 599D twins, but if they work the same way there should be no reason you couldn’t adapt the program or circuit to do what you want. I don’t know enough about them however…

      Good Luck!

      Steve
      KV6O

      Reply ↓
  17. Paul Wooten

    I would e very interested in purchasing a board from you. Also, do you have a bill of material for the board. Your design solves a big problem for the Kenwood TS-520.

    Reply ↓
  18. George Mirtsos

    Steve Hi again,
    Need two boards.Sorry for the delay.
    i cant find a link on your site to buy them.

    Reply ↓
  20. Steven Myers

    Hi, I like the sound of this for a project for me to build.
    I have a friend that loves his TS–520s but the DG5 went belly up, Aussie lingo for dead.
    I would appreciate a quote for 1 x version 1.5 board please and I appreciate the postage costs, things are going nuts over here too.
    My address is:-
    S.L. Myers,
    23 Frederick Street,
    Casino, 2470,
    NSW,
    Australia.
    Callsign:- VK2SLM
    All ok on QRZ.com

    Reply ↓
  21. Bruce Blair

    Ordered two boards last week. Seems like a useful item for my first Arduino project, and an excellent add-on for my trusty TS-520SE.

    73 K7BAB Bruce

    Reply ↓

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