Daily Image
22-03-2024
LOFAR FM radio
| Submitter: | Menno Norden |
| Description: | For their HBO minor project Leon Weber and Bastian Tigelaar reached out to Astron for an embedded electronics project. As radio receiver developer I was curious about the idea what are the benefits of a new type of DSP radio receiver, compared to a traditional super heterodyne receiver, with many external components and alignment. And what could we hear when we connect and bias a LOFAR LBA? This was exactly the project that they envisioned. The project contains a DSP radio chip with RDS, stereo decoder, signal strength indicator. A microcontroller that controls not only the radio chip but also the graphic display. They had only 20 weeks with two days a week to spend. So very ambitious minor project! But they managed very well to make a printed circuit board design, produced at Astron. For the final design they ordered the boards external. Leon was mainly focusing on the electronic RF/EMC design and Bastian more on the embedded programming. He also used GitHub for storing and updating his code developments and documentation in the form of a Wiki. It was a very good learning experience for all of us. It was 25 years ago that I was portable radio sales support engineer at Philips, to support the first designs of radio functions in mobile phones worldwide. This new radio chip would have made the work much easier. Technology changes but having fun with electronic designs is still the same. The radio was also tested in the Astron EMC chamber. It passed the radiated emission test easily. After the project was finished Leon made a very nice 3D printed housing for their project. They both have their own developed radio at home. They can be proud of what they achieved. At Astron we also have two units available for outreach or one day students. Come to my office to see this beautiful piece of work. |
| Copyright: | Astron |
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