signal indicator

John Larkin · 2019-05-03T03:15:21+00:00

I'll have a LVDS signal with data or a square wave, in the range of maybe 1 MHz to 2 GHz. I figure I can pump it through an 10EP89 ECL buffer to give it some heft. Each output will become almost 2 volts p-p. I'd like to light an LED if there is signal present. How does this look? The 10 pF caps shouldn't load my signals much, especially in the lower signal path that doesn't need to be super fast. I suppose I could buy some fancy RF detector chip, but I'd rather just use fairly ordinary parts. Any other ideas? -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc lunatic fringe electronics

signal indicator

May 03, 2019 83 Replies

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Lasse Langwadt Christensen 7 years ago

$37

way more fun

the neurosurgeons have gotten a great deal of practice since middle age men started mountain biking, and breaking their neck ...

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Clifford Heath 7 years ago

Comments there say it didn't break, but was attached with the wrong bolts and came loose on a bump. All the same... scary! It seems like a thin steel insert (liner tube) inside the centre of an Al bar could at least fail softly - it would probably be lighter overall too.

Clifford Heath

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Clifford Heath 7 years ago

Well, mental health is important too (reinforced by finding good people around). Perhaps even more important than physical health, in these crazy days of doom and despots.

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Jan Panteltje 7 years ago

On a sunny day (Mon, 13 May 2019 13:07:32 -0700) it happened John Larkin wrote in :

After all the ideas I would use a cheap PIC on both sides. I have the code for frequency counter if > 4 MHz led1 done else if > 3.5 MHz led2 done else if > 3 MHz led1 + led2 done else of > 2.5 MHz all off done

18F14K22 internal clock PLLs to 65 MHz, software loop can generate the frequencies, Even the very cheap ones have 2 hardware comparators to detect the RF. As many LEDs / output as you have spare pins. And flexible, can add function later, standard part, good availability. Unless you live on food stamps the price would be insignificant for small series. Coding time would be less than Usenet time ;-)

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