10 buffer amplifier, 11 lock detect, 12 buffer amplifier – Viking 242-2009-632 User Manual
Page 84: 13 rf amplifiers, 3 ocxo drawer, 1 introduction
 
CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
6-12
March 1999
Part No. 001-2009-600
RF bypass is provided by C416, C418 and C419. The 
output of Q403/Q404 is coupled to U403, pin 20 by 
C417.
6.2.10 BUFFER AMPLIFIER
A cascode amplifier formed by Q406 and Q407
provides amplification and also isolation between the 
VCO and Synthesizer U403. A cascode amplifier is 
used because it provides high gain, high isolation and 
consumes only a small amount of power. The input 
signal to this amplifier is coupled from VCO A007, 
pin 6 by C433. C433 also provides DC blocking. Bias 
for the amplifier is provided by R450, R451, R453, 
R454 and R455. L403 is an RF choke. RF bypass is 
provided by C430, C431 and C479. The output of 
Q406/Q407 is coupled to U403, pin 11 by a non-polar-
ized capacitor formed by C429/C499.
6.2.11 LOCK DETECT
When the synthesizer is locked on frequency, the
Lock Detect output on U403, pin 2 is a high voltage 
with narrow negative-going pulses. When the synthe-
sizer is unlocked, the negative-going pulses are much 
wider, the width may vary at a rate determined by the 
frequency difference of fV and fR.
The locked or unlocked condition of the synthe-
sizer is filtered by R440/C423 and applied to J401, pin 
16, then sent to the RF Interface on J102, pin 16 for 
detection.
6.2.12 BUFFER AMPLIFIER
A cascode amplifier formed by Q410/Q411 pro-
vides amplification and also isolation between the 
VCO and exciter RF stages. A cascode amplifier is 
used because it provides high gain, high isolation and 
consumes only a small amount of power. The input 
signal to this amplifier is coupled from VCO A007, 
pin 4 by C441. C441 also provides DC blocking. Bias 
for the amplifier is provided by R464, R465, R466, 
R467 and R468. L406 is an RF choke and R463 low-
ers the Q of the coil. RF bypass is provided by C434, 
C442, C445, C443, C444 and C480. The output of 
Q410/Q411 is matched to the Exciter RF stages by 
C446, R450 and two sections of microstrip.
6.2.13 RF AMPLIFIERS
RF amplifier Q412 is biased by CR402, R469,
R470 and R472. C448 provides RF bypass from the 
DC line and R471/R472 provide supply voltage isola-
tion. A section of microstrip on the collector acts as 
an RF choke to the supply line. Q412 is matched to 
Q413 by C449, C451 and two sections of microstrip.
RF amplifier/buffer Q413 is similar in design to
Q412. The collector voltage of Q413 is switched by 
Q405. The Logic Push-To-Talk (LPTT) on J401, pin 
11 turns on Q405 and conducts the 15V supply to the 
collector of Q405 and to Q413. The output of Q413 is 
matched to 50 ohms by two sections of microstrip and 
C465 that also provides DC blocking. A 3 dB attenua-
tor follows amplifier Q413. The RF output of the 
Exciter is on coaxial connector J402 to the Power 
Amplifier.
6.3 OCXO DRAWER
6.3.1 INTRODUCTION
The OCXO (Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator)
drawer produces the 1.25 MHz reference signal input 
for the high stability synthesizer loops of both the 
Receiver and Exciter. One OCXO drawer alone can 
drive eight repeaters. More repeaters can be driven 
with the use of external rack mounted 8-Way split-
ters. The signal level at each of the eight outputs is 
high enough to allow splitting the signal through an 
additional 8-Way splitter to drive additional repeaters.
The OCXOs generate a 10 MHz signal. The fre-
quency stability of these oscillators is better than 
0.1 PPM from -40
°
C to +70
°
C (-40
°
F to +158
°
F).
One half hour after a cold start (at room temperature), 
the oscillators will be within 1E-8 of their stabilized 
frequency. Two OCXOs are used for redundancy. The 
drawer can be configured so that either oscillator is 
main and the remaining oscillator will be standby. If 
the main oscillator has an output failure, the drawer 
will automatically switch to the standby oscillator to 
drive the outputs. The oscillators can be switched 
between main and standby remotely. The drawer will 
not allow remote switching of oscillators if either 
oscillator has an output failure.