RGO ONE Transceiver
Here is first technical manual of RGO ONE in portable data format (PDF) ready to download
Technical supplement consist of RGO ONE schematics, boards layout, parts list and short description of each board.
Download RGO ONE technical supplement
RGO ONE FIRMWARE UPDATES | software update files and notes:
Version 2.00A – CURRENT VERSION
RGO ONE is classic superheterodyne down conversion HAM transceiver covering all HF bands 1.8 – 29.7MHz (160/60m as an option).
Due to its modular construction it can be easily modified or redesigned in manner that suits operator. This kit is intended for users that like building their own home made equipment and constructions.
Here are some of the feature highlights:
QRP/QRO output 5 – 50W
All mode shortwave operation – coverage of all HAM HF bands (160m/60m optional) High dynamic range receiver design including high IP3 monolithic linear amplifiers in the front end and diode ring RX mixer or H-mode first mixer (option).
Low phase noise first LO – Si570 XO/VCXO chip.
Full/semi (delay) QSK on CW; PTT/VOX operation on SSB. Strict RX/TX sequencing scheme. No click sounds at all!
Down conversion superhet topology with popular 9MHz IF
Custom made crystal filters for SSB and CW and variable crystal 4 pole filter -Johnson type 200…2000Hz
Fast acting AGC (fast and slow) with 134kHz dedicated IF
Stylish and professional look
Compact and lightweight body
Custom made multicolor backlit FSTN LCD
Custom molded front panel with ergonomic controls.
Silent operation with no clicking relays inside – solid state GaAs PHEMT SPDT switches on RX (BPF and TX to RX switching) and ultrafast rectifying diodes (LPF) Modular construction – Main board serves as a “chassis” also fits all the external connectors, daughter boards, inter-connections and acts as a cable harness.
Optional modules – Noise Blanker (NB), Audio Filter (AF), ATU, XVRTER PC control via CAT protocol; USB UART – FTDI chipset
Double CPU circuitry control for front panel and main board – both field programmable via USB interface.
Memory morse code keyer (Curtis A, CMOS B); 4 Memory locations 128 bytes each Contest and DXpedition conveniences – XFC function in SPLIT, RIT/XIT function
Specifications
Test conditions:Supply voltage 13.8V, temperature 20C, antenna output terminated with 50ohm dummy load
| General: | |
| Size: | Cabinet: H 80mm; W 200mm; D 194mm (H 3.2”; W 7.9”; D 7.6”) Overall: H 90mm; W 200mm; D268mm (H 3.5”; W 7.9”; D 10.6”) (including optional fan cradle) |
| Weight tuning | 2.670kg (5.9lbs.) (including optional fan cradle and weighted knob) |
| Construction feet. | Rigid steel bottom and top covers. Molded front panel. Aluminum back and heatsink. Collapsible tilt stand and rubber |
| Supply voltage | 10.5 – 14.5VDC |
| Current drain | Receive 0.65A with RX preamp ON Transmit 10.5A typical @ 50W output power Current alarm at 12A |
| Radio topology 9MHz | Single conversion superheterodyne receiver/transmitter with IF |
| Oscillators |
|
| Frequency drift | Less than 50Hz total from cold start at 20°C; Temperature compensation built in |
| Frequency steps | 1Hz, 10Hz, 100Hz, 1kHz. Frequency direct entry via keypad |
| Main encoder tuning rate: 512/256 ppr. (256ppr. is not possible with sw ver.1.00b) | |
| Speed of tuning | 5.12kHz per revolution when 10Hz step is selected |
| RIT/XIT range | ±5kHz with step of 10Hz |
| Bands, MHz* | Basic kit: 3.5-4.0, 7.0-7.3, 10.1-10.15, 14.0-14.35, 18.068-18.168, 21.0-21.45, 24.89-24.99, 28.0-29.7 160m option: 1.8-2.0 60m option: 5.25 – 5.45 |
| Working modes | LSB, USB, CW, CWR |
| Antenna impedance: Unbalanced 50 ohm | |
| Display | LCD type – FSTN positive 149 segments |
| 4 common lines
Polarizer type – transflective |
|
| USB UART interface | |
| FTDI chipset. Speed 9600 – 56300bps | |
| Receiver Sensitivity (MDS) | -135dBm (preamplifier On; VBF filter 2) |
| – | -129dBm (preamplifier Off; VBF filter 2) |
| Selectivity | Crystal 8 pole 2.7kHz first roofing filter at 9MHz 0.2-2.7kHz second variable filter Johnson type 9MHz Crystal 2-pole IF noise filter 9MHz |
| Dynamic range | Two tones close spaced (2kHz):
96db (Preamplifier On; VBF filter 2) 99db (Preamplifier Off;VBF filter 2) |
| Audio |
|
| IF frequency | 9MHz (Other frequencies can be used. Firmware calculate LO&BFO frequencies) |
| Crystal filters | Three type of filters are used – First roofing filter – 8 pole 9MHz; second (optional) 4 pole variable bandwith filter Johnson type 9MHz; third 2 pole noise filter 9MHz |
| Noise Blanker | NB is optional plug-in accessory. IF type. 50db blanking range |
| Audio Filter | AF is optional plug-in accessory. Follows selected bandwith |
| Transmitter Power output |
|
| T/R switching | Clickless quiet diode switching. PTT/VOX on SSB QSK/Delay (10ms – 1.2s) on CW |
| CW sidetone | Internally generated – Pure sinusoidal signal formed same manner as the CW signal. Adjustable frequency (400-800Hz) and volume independent from AF volume |
| SSB method | Balanced modulator with suppressed carrier, 2.7kHz ladder type 8 pole crystal filter (Same filter used on RX). Tracking ALC scheme holds the PEP power in assigned limits |
| Microphone | Standard electret microphone with bias |
| Carrier suppression | |
| 45dB minimum | |
| Sideband suppression | |
| 50db minimum | |
| Spurious products | less than -47dBc |
| Harmonic content | less than -45dBc |
| Intermodulation distortion IMD3 products on SSB @ 40W | |
| -29dBc on 28MHz -31dBc on 14MHz | |
| Duty cycle | 50W – 50%; 20W – 100% (with optional fan cradle) |
| Load mismatch |
|
| Optional Fans | Mounted on metal bracket screwed to back heatsink. Variable speed control for quiet and optimal operation. Fans run above 330C and switch off at 310C |
| METER Keyer | Various parameters during TX can be showed and measured: Current, Forward and Reflected power (SWR), LPF reverse voltage, ALC level. |
| Keying modes |
|
| Speed range | 5 – 45 WPM |
| CW memory | 4 locations 128 bytes each; CW beacon function |
*Performance of RGO ONE transceiver degrades significantly outside HAM bands although reception and tuning is continuous.
Front panel controls
RGO ONE transceiver is operated by 15 buttons, three mechanical encoders, main dial optical encoder, one dual concentric potentiometer AF/RF (10kohm/logarithmic + 10kohm/linear). The equipment has large custom multicolor backlit FSTN liquid crystal display (LCD)and two red LEDs, so various parameters like frequency, modes, signal strength and others can be displayed.
1. On/Off/meter/tune buttons
2. LCD
3. Numeric/function buttons
4. TX/ALC LED indicator
5. MIC connector
6. Phones 3.5mm jack
7. Power/Bandwith/Compression level encoder
8. Key speed/Mic gain/Monitor level encoder
9. Main dial frequency knob
10. RIT/XIT/Function parameter encoder
11. Dual concentric potentiometer for audio (AF) volume (inner knob)/RF gain control (outer knob)
The rear panel consist of power supply Anderson power pole connector, SO-239 antenna connector and other interface connectors. Rear panel is shown on fig.2
Rear panel view
1. Antenna socket – SO239
2. Power amplifier heat sink (Optional fan cradle is not shown)
3. Optional XVRT unit output (might be covered if option not installed)
4. Optional XVRT unit input (might be covered if option not installed)
5. RX receive antenna connector (might be covered if option not installed)
6. Ground post
7. External speaker 3.5mm jack
8. Electronic keyer paddle/straight key 3.5mm jack
9. Linear amplifier control line (RCA connector)
10. PTT in control line
11. USB connector
12. Accessory connector ACC1
13. IF out connector for panoramic indicator
14. Power supply 13.8V connector (Anderson power pole)
View Main Board (MB)
RGO ONE Main Board (MB) or so called mother board fits all connectors on the rear panel, power supply, I/O controller (second CPU). MB is also intended to be a chassis for all RF boards and options, as long as “cable harness” and board interconnections.
The board has the following components on it:
– I/O micro controller U5, DAC U7, external fan control – U8, T12, signal multiplexer U9, 3.3V LDO regulator chip U4
View LO board
LO board provides all oscillator signals needed for signal conversion and mixing. The board consists of the following components:
- LO first oscillator realized by U2 – SI570 (570CAC000141DG), 3 switchable low pass filters: 10.8-15MHz; 15-24MHz; 24-39MHz. Filter switching is performed by I2C chip PCA9536
- 9MHz generators – U3 (SI5351) BFO, CW sidetone, beeps, U1 (SA-612) balanced mixer which acts as CW/SSB monitor product detector, digital poteniometer – U7 (MCP4018-502E)
- Tone shaping, (tones on/off ) circuitry – T1,T2,T5
- Temperature compensation oven made by thermo resistor R14 and T3,T4
View RX MIXER
RX MIXER standard is ADE-1 diode ring mixer. Here described is optional high dynamic range H-mode mixer.
The schematic and original H-mode mixer concept has been designed by Colin Horrabin G3SBI and further developed by Martein Bakker PA3AKE.
Service menu
RGO ONE individual firmware parameters are kept in internal FLASH memory. These bytes of information are sensitive and the unit might not work properly if they are changed without needed knowledge and understanding.
Enter service menu:
Press and hold MTR MNU button while switching on the transceiver – enters in service menu. Long press of MTR MNU button stores parameters changed and leaves the menu. Short press of RIT/XIT CL discards changes made and leaves the menu.
It is recommended prior making any changes to the service functions parameters – to write down all values in bellow table:
| No | Service menu function | parameter |
| 70 | F-cAL (frequency calibration) | |
| 71 | IF (intermediate frequency) | |
| 72 | bFocAL (BFO calibration) | |
| 73 | S-FuL (S-meter full scale calibration) | |
| 74 | S-9 (S-meter S9 calibration) | |
| 75 | PA-t (PA temperature calibration) | Must be aligned for proper t |
| 76 | Ic (current consumption) | Must be aligned for proper Ic |
| 77 | Uc (supply voltage) | Must be aligned for proper Uc |
| 78 | Po-25 (output power at 25W) | |
| 80 | 210U (Low pass filter high voltage) | Must be aligned for proper Uc |
Function selection is controlled by encoder 3 or UP REC and DOWN PLY buttons. Parameter selection is controlled by encoder 4
RGO ONE HF transceiver built and aligned
Now includes the following options:
- – Heavy weighted knob
– Bourns optical 128ppr ball bearings encoder
– H-mode high dynamic range first RX mixer
– Variable crystal 9MHz 4-pole filter
– FAN cradle
