45 - IF Amplifiers 

Nick--Many thanks for the shout-out! I didn't know you'd done this and I just happened to run across it. One thing I like about your PCB design is that it's not too compact . . . I think mine is too crammed together for some people. Coincidentally, I recent decided to do a "large-print" edition so those who suffer from FFS (fat-finger syndrome) have an easier time assembling them. I'm still waiting for the prototypes to come in from Shenzhen. In addition to spacing things out a bit, I made the pads for the gain-setting resistors without holes but big enough to use like Manhattan isolation pads (or like Chuck Adams' "muppet" pads). This will make it vastly easier to change the gain as desired. Getting those resistors out of the holes in the existing board is hard enough, but then clearing out the solder from those plated-through holes to install different resistors is a nightmare. The "large-print" edition with the surface pads should make it easy. --73, Todd K7TFC

Hi Nick. You radiate a lot of positive energy. After watching your videos, I always want to pick up a soldering iron.

Thank you Nick.

Hello Nick. I just wanted to say thank you for all the work you put into these videos. They are perfectly matched to us novice DIY’ers with the same RF design interests as you. Great content and videos - thank you. God bless.

I will check out the previous video on scratch-building IF Amp. Thank you

Another great, informative video, thanks Nick! I was particularly interested in when amplifiers cease to be linear and why. You explain this very clearly. Best 73 G0ACE

Another great video, and nice to see how the compression point is measured! So pleased that my student has become my teacher - long may it continue!

Nicely done video Nick. Especially the compression point. Re the Gerbers: It is possible to edit Gerbers, but it's a bit of a faff and only done if you have to. Having the full circuits, netlist and layout files etc makes life much easier. The biggest problem is that the source files may not be readable by all systems, but eagle is (or was before they messed about with the license) one of the more common formats, so should be readable by other layout programs. Your layout looks really good for a first attempt so well done on that. Two things for the rev 1.01. Pop a hole in each coax pads so that you can insert a terminal pin. It's surprising how easy even big pads can lift if you rework the connections a few times. (In the current design you can drill the pad and solder the pin to both sides.) Rework the power connections so that they are in the same place and same polarity regardless of which way around the boards are positioned. Helps keep wiring tidy. A design nicety only Andy

I'm only at the eight minute mark, but I just wanted to say what a beautiful looking little board. Then with the components, such a neat job.

There is a place called Osh Parc where there is a PCB production plant and must likely will let you create boards onto the area that would normally be waste material.

Hi Nick, great video again. Are you going to use the same set of amplifiers between the BPF and first mixer? 73, Gerard

such a nice board!

Can the distortion be seen on an oscilloscope when you reach the compression point? I would like a spectrum analyser but it’s beyond my budget

Is that module from the Zero IF transceiver.

Be careful with that spectrum analyzer! I would recommend to put an external DC block on the input to the SA. Even if it is internally protected for DC it is a good practice and habit to get to always have a DC block (and possibly a pad as well) to protect the sensitive (and very expensive to repair) input stage of the SA.

Hello. We found you doing electroncis so much fun, and were wondering if any prototype services may help? Would love to supply and reach any YT collab together! Is there anyway we could get you connected? (PCBWay luz)