Scribd
Upload
35 views4 pages

Adalm Pluto With External Clock

Uploaded by

eb3frn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
35 views4 pages

Adalm Pluto With External Clock

Uploaded by

eb3frn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

2021/08/17 23:47 1/4 ADALM Pluto with external clock

ADALM Pluto with external clock

ssh login:

user: root
password: analog

external clock:

Pluto Rev.B:

the internal level at the AD93xx chip should be max. +/-700mV. The minimum level is very small,
even below +/- 100mV it still works fine.

Depending on the external level a reduction is necessary.

Example: the 40 MHz output level of the Amsat downconverter is about +/- 1V. If you connect a 10pF
capacitor in series, you get a suitable level.

Pluto Rev.C:

no soldering is necessary, you only need a SMA/U.fl adapter cable.

Level: the maximum level for Pluto Rev.C is given with about 3Vpp. But it works also with very low
levels of <100mV, so you should not give too much voltage to the ext. clock connector.

Here is an excerpt of the Pluto Rev.c schematic:

Satellite Wiki - https://wiki.amsat-dl.org/


Last update: 2021/08/17 14:36 en:tricks:pluto_extclk https://wiki.amsat-dl.org/doku.php?id=en:tricks:pluto_extclk

You can see that the ext. clock input is 50 ohms and there is also a DC block capacitor.

Activating the ext. clock on the Pluto Rev.B

Software commands are not required because the external clock on a Rev.B pluto is just an additional
hardware cable.

Activating the ext. clock on the Pluto Rev.C

between internal and external clock is switched by a control line in the Pluto. This is operated by the
following commands (log in to Pluto as root using ssh):

fw_setenv refclk_source external


fw_setenv ad936x_ext_refclk_override "<40000000>"
pluto_reboot reset

And switch back to the internal TCXO:


https://wiki.amsat-dl.org/ Printed on 2021/08/17 23:47
2021/08/17 23:47 3/4 ADALM Pluto with external clock

fw_setenv refclk_source internal


pluto_reboot reset

Alternative clock frequencies

with the above command you can also set alternative frequencies.

E.g. 25 MHz, because you need this frequency for the LNB anyway. So you can feed LNB and Pluto
with the same reference and save some effort with portable stations.

Pluto Rev.B

fw_setenv ad936x_ext_refclk "<25000000>"


fw_setenv xo_correction 25000000
fw_setenv qspiboot_extraenv true
pluto_reboot reset

Pluto Rev.C

fw_setenv refclk_source external


fw_setenv ad936x_ext_refclk_override "<25000000>"
pluto_reboot reset

Note: on the Internet you can find many reports that operation with 10 MHz is not possible, and only
works from about 13 MHz. In my tests, I could confirm this in the meantime. But even with 13 MHz the
PLL in Pluto was not always stable. Only from 20 MHz (up to 80MHz) trouble-free operation was
possible.

Operation at the Amsat downconverter:

at the 40 MHz output of the downconverter the Amsat upconverter is already connected.

It is possible to connect the Pluto additionally to this line, but you have to take measures to damp
overshoots:

Satellite Wiki - https://wiki.amsat-dl.org/


Last update: 2021/08/17 14:36 en:tricks:pluto_extclk https://wiki.amsat-dl.org/doku.php?id=en:tricks:pluto_extclk

From:
https://wiki.amsat-dl.org/ - Satellite Wiki

Permanent link:
https://wiki.amsat-dl.org/doku.php?id=en:tricks:pluto_extclk

Last update: 2021/08/17 14:36

https://wiki.amsat-dl.org/ Printed on 2021/08/17 23:47

You might also like