Tablerock Shortwave Daddy Operating Manual

SHORTWAVE DADDY

USB AM/FM/SHORTWAVE RADIO

ASSEMBLY AND OPERATING MANUAL

TABLEROCK INSTRUMENTS CO.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT:

WWW.SHORTWAVEDADDY.COM

FOR UPDATES AND ADDITIONS

COPYRIGHT 2012

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this manual may be reproduced without the

express written consent of Tablerock Instruments Co.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 1

TAKE ADEQUATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .......................................................... 1

SHORTWAVE DADDY FEATURES: ............................................. 2

CONTENTS OF KIT: .................................................................... 5

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS: ...................................................... 8

TOOLS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY: .......................................... 8

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS: ............................................................................. 8

STEP 1: ...................................................................................... 10

STEP 2: ..................................................................................... 14

STEP 3: ..................................................................................... 16

STEP 4: ..................................................................................... 21

STEP 5:...................................................................................... 23

OPERATIONAL INSTRUCTIONS: ............................................. 27

CONNECTING TO WINDOWS PC OR LAPTOP: .................................................. 27

CONNECTING TO MAC OS X SYSTEMS AND LINUX (UBUNTU) SYSTEMS: ............ 29

IF USB PORT FAILS TO OPERATE AFTER DISCONNECTION AND RECONNECTION TO

USB PORT (WINDOWS): ............................................................................ 30

CHANGING TO AM MODE (WHICH ALSO INCLUDES SHORTWAVE): ................... 31

CHANGING TO FM MODE: ......................................................................... 31

ENTERING A FREQUENCY ON THE AM/SHORTWAVE BAND: .............................. 31

ENTERING A FREQUENCY ON THE FM BAND: .................................................. 32

USING AM/SHORTWAVE MODE SEEK/TUNE FUNCTION:............................ 32

USING FM MODE SEEK/TUNE FUNCTION: ................................................... 32

CHANGING THE BANDWIDTH FOR THE AM/SHORTWAVE CHANNEL FILTER: ....... 33

RDS/RDBS DISPLAYED INFORMATION: ....................................................... 33

RSSI AND SNR DISPLAYED INFORMATION: ................................................... 34

IN-CIRCUIT PROGRAMMING OF THE MICROPROCESSOR: .................................. 34

ANTENNA AND GROUND CONNECTIONS: ........................................................ 36

RESET PUSH-BUTTON: ............................................................................... 38

WARRANTY INFORMATION: ................................................... 38

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the ―Shortwave Daddy‖—an easy to assemble PC based
and USB powered AM/FM/Shortwave radio kit with many features that will delight
both DX shortwave enthusiasts and experimenters seeking to learn more about
microprocessor controlled radios.

The radio circuit and PCB (printed circuit board) have been designed to make
assembly easy for electronics novices who have minimal soldering skills. All

components for soldering are ―though hole‖ and require none of the harder surface

mount skills that tend to frustrate many newcomers to the electronics hobby.

The few surface mount components on the main PCB or sub-assembly PCB have
already been soldered. Our goal is to make this kit as enjoyable as possible for both
novices and experts to build and enjoy.

When operating the radio, the radio frequency is ―tuned‖ and band selection is
made utilizing a 10-key touchpad, push-button switches and LCD display. The radio
broadcast is heard through the PC or laptop speakers. No drivers need to be installed.
The PC or laptop USB port is used to power the radio. No external batteries or other
power source is required.

We want your feedback!

Please visit us at www.shortwavedaddy.com and tell us what you like about the
kit and how we can improve it. Your ideas can make future versions of the Shortwave
Daddy even better!

Take Adequate Safety Precautions

1. Make sure your work area is un-cluttered and well-lighted.

2. Make sure your work areas is well-ventilated while soldering. Do not breathe
soldering fumes. Use a fan to blow the fumes away from your face while you are
working or use appropriate safety equipment such as a fumes extractor or hood.

3. Wear eye-protection (safety glasses) at all times while working. No project is
worth the loss of your vision.

4. Ensure that your soldering iron is placed in a non-flammable stand when not in
use.

5. Wash your hands after you finish work for the day or before eating or drinking.

1

6. Quit working for the day if you become tired or inattentive.

7. Never connect the Ground Header or any connector on the Shortwave Daddy to

a mains ground (outlet plug ground) or mains line connection (outlet plug ―hot‖

terminal—110Volts) or the neutral terminal. Connection to a mains ground
or mains line connection or the neutral connection may result in a
serious electrical shock to the user which can cause serious bodily
injury or death.

Shortwave Daddy Features:

Kit Assembly:

 Easy to assemble kit with no surface mount soldering skills required. All

components are ―through-hole‖. Assembly time is estimated at six to ten
hours for most enthusiasts.

 Kit comes complete with everything necessary for assembly except for a

soldering iron, hand tools, solder, flux and clean-up supplies.

Connection to PC or Laptop:

 Radio connects to PC or laptop through any open USB port with a standard

USB type ―B‖ to USB type ―A‖ printer cable and is powered solely by the USB
port. No batteries or other power source is required to power the radio.

 The radio uses the sound system and speakers of the PC or laptop. No

external speakers or connections are required.

 Radio broadcasts can be recorded utilizing software on the PC or laptop such

as Audacity. This allows for easy verification of reception reports for QSL
purposes and the archiving of broadcasts.

 The radio does not require ANY drivers to be loaded when it is plugged

in to the USB port. Simply plug the radio in and enjoy.

Compatibility:

 Radio is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and most other

legacy versions of Windows

 Radio is compatible with MAC (Apple) operating systems with the addition of

a free program ―LineIn‖ available at: http://www.rogueamoeba.com/freebies

2

Radio Specifications:

 Worldwide AM Band 520kHz – 1710kHz
 Shortwave Band 2.3MHz – 26.1 MHz
 Worldwide FM Band 64MHz – 108 MHz
 Advanced AM/FM/Shortwave seek tuning
 AM/FM/Shortwave digital tuning
 Seven selectable AM/Shortwave channel filters (1kHz, 1.8 kHz, 2kHz, 2.5kHz

with gradual roll off, 3kHz, 4kHz, 6kHz)

 RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator)
 SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio Indicator)
 RDS/RDBS processor displays FM call letters and category of station

received (Rock, Country, Classic Rock, etc.)

 Multiple antenna connectors including a female BNC, 3.5mm jack and a

ground connection header allow the use of a variety of antennas including
telescoping, long wire, various aerials, and the use of ear buds for an FM
antenna. This allows for extensive DX (Long Distance Reception)
experimentation.

 ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection built into circuit
 10-key touchpad for easy entry of frequency and channel filters
 Easy to read 4 x 20 character LCD display
 Band selection and seek functions are chosen by four (4) tactile push-buttons
 Reset push- button can be used to reset the circuit
 Compact design ( 7‖ x 4‖) (177mm x 111mm)
 Radio can easily be mounted in an enclosure if desired (enclosure not

included)

3

Radio IC:

 Radio functionality is achieved through the use of the Silicon Labs SI4735

broadcast radio receiver IC (integrated circuit).

 The SI4735 is a digital CMOS AM/FM/Shortwave radio receiver IC that

integrates the complete tuner function from antenna input to audio output.

USB Audio Codec:

 The utilization of the PC or Laptop sound system without the requirement of

drivers to be installed is achieved through the Texas Instruments PCM2906C
stereo audio codec with USB interface.

 The PCM2906C is a single-chip, USB, stereo audio codec with a USB-

compliant full-speed protocol controller. The USB protocol controller
requires no software code.

 The PCM2906C is fully compliant with the USB 2.0 Specification

Microprocessor Control of Radio:

 The Silicon Labs SI4735 IC is controlled utilizing a Microchip PIC18F2550

microprocessor

 The existing preloaded software program can be modified or replaced by the

user with user’s own version of software. This allows users to experiment

and write their own program to take advantage of the capabilities of the
SI4735 IC

 A new microprocessor program can be compiled and then downloaded to the

microprocessor using a Microchip Pickit 2 programmer and the in-circuit
Programming Header on the PCB without having to remove the PIC18F2550
(the LCD display does have to be unplugged to re-program the PIC)

4

Contents of Kit:

Quantity Description

1 Printed Circuit Board

3 .1uF Capacitor

3 .22uF Capacitor

1 .47uF Capacitor

1 .022uF Capacitor

6 1.0uF Capacitor

1 2.2uF Electrolytic Capacitor

2 15pF Capacitor

3 18pF Capacitor

2 22pF Capacitor

1 33pF Capacitor

2 330pF Capacitor

2 1800pF Capacitor

5 10uF Electrolytic Capacitor

3 1K Resistor

1 1 Meg Resistor

4 1.5K Resistor

1 2.2 Resistor

2 3.9K Resistor

5

Quantity Description

10 10K Resistor

4 12K Resistor

3 22K Resistor

2 22 Resistor

2 100 Resistor

1 LCD Contrast Resistor

1 .18uH Inductor

1 4.7uH Inductor

1 220uH Inductor

2 1N5819 Diode

1 12.000 MHz Crystal

1 20.000 MHz Crystal

1 32.768 KHz Crystal

1 3.5mm Antenna Jack

1 BNC Jack

1 USB Type B Connector

1 Ground Header (2 pin male)

1 Keypad Header (7 pin female)

1 LCD Header (16 pin female)

1 LCD Header (16 pin Male)

1 Programmer Header (6 pin male)

1 Dip Socket (28 pin)

1 3.3V Voltage Regulator

5 Tactile Momentary Push-button Switches

6

Quantity Description

1 LCD Display

1 10 Key Keypad

1 OPA2353 PCB sub-assembly

1 PCM2906 PCB sub-assembly

1 SI4735 PCB sub-assembly

1 PIC18F2550 microprocessor

4 14 Pin male Headers

2 4 Pin Male Headers

8 Mounting Hardware (spacers, sleeves, washers, 2-56

X 7/8‖ screws and nuts)

7

Assembly Instructions:

Tools and Materials Required for Assembly:

 Soldering Iron
 Solder (Radio Shack 62/36/2 Rosin-Core Solder .022 diameter, part

number 64-013 or equivalent)

 Tip tinner and cleaner (helpful to clean soldering tip; Radio Shack part

number 64-020 or equivalent)

 Flux (Radio Shack Rosin Soldering Flux, part number 64-022 or Chipquik

SMD291 Paste Flux or equivalent)

 ESD Wrist Strap (Radio Shack part number 276-2397 or equivalent)
 Wire cutters and small pliers
 Isopropyl Alcohol and old toothbrush/Q-tips to clean flux off PCB
 Compressed Air or Hair Dryer to dry PCB after cleaning
 Small screw driver
 Magnifying eye glasses (helpful to prevent eye strain)

General Instructions:

Take Adequate Safety Precautions

1. Make sure your work area is un-cluttered and well-lighted.

2. Make sure your work area is well-ventilated while soldering. Do not breathe
soldering fumes. Use a fan to blow the fumes away from your face while you are
working or use appropriate safety equipment such as a fumes extractor or hood.

3. Wear eye-protection (safety glasses) at all times while working. No project is
worth the loss of your vision.

4. Ensure that your soldering iron is placed in a non-flammable stand when not in
use.

8

5. Wash your hands after you finish work for the day or before eating or drinking.

6. Quit working for the day if you become tired or inattentive.

7. Never connect the Ground Header or any antenna connector or any part of the

Shortwave Daddy radio to a mains ground (outlet plug ground) or mains line

connection (outlet plug ―hot‖ terminal—110Volts) or the mains neutral terminal.
Connection to a mains ground or mains line connection or the mains
neutral connection may result in a serious electrical shock to the user
which can cause serious bodily injury or death.

Take a Leisurely Pace

One of the enjoyable aspects of building electronics projects is the leisurely pace that
can be taken to build a project. We highly recommend that you take this approach in
building the Shortwave Daddy. A much better final project will result if you spread the
work over several days or nights.

If you find yourself becoming tired or inattentive, quit for the night (or day).

Take Time to Learn How to Solder (If you need to)

Unfortunately, we can’t include a tutorial on how to solder. However, there are
many resources on the internet that will teach you everything you need to be able to
competently build the Shortwave Daddy.

We recommend that you Google ―How to solder through-hole components‖ and also
study the many YouTube videos on through-hole soldering.

Also, we further recommend that you practice your soldering skills on perforated
copper clad board prototyping board (available at Radio Shack and other electronics
retailers) before attempting to build this kit.

9

Step 1:

Special Note!

When inserting capacitors and diodes, there are two types of components that
must be inserted in a particular orientation on the PCB: These are the electrolytic
capacitors, C4, C12, C17, C21, C22 and C27; and the two diodes, D1 and D2.

Electrolytic capacitors have polarity. This means that the longer lead is ―positive‖
and the shorter lead is ―negative‖. (Figure 3) This is also marked on the
electrolytic capacitor by an arrow running along the side of the capacitor on the
side that is negative. When inserting and soldering the capacitor onto the PCB,
the negative, shorter lead must be inserted into the round pad marked ―-―. The
positive, longer lead must be inserted into the square pad marked ―+‖.

Diodes D1 and D2 have to be inserted in a particular way too. One end of the

diode body is marked with a stripe. This is the ―cathode‖ end and must be

inserted onto the PCB in accordance with the stripped end of the diode printed
on the PCB. The other end of the diode is the ―anode‖ end and is inserted on the
end that is not marked with a stripe.

1. Without soldering any components, insert all of the resistors, capacitors,

inductors and diodes into their locations on the PCB in accordance with the
values printed on the PCB next to the number of the component. (Figure 1)
When inserting each component, make sure that the component is pulled
down as close to the surface of the PCB as possible. In other words, there
should be as little space as possible between each component and the surface
of the PCB. As you insert each component, make an angle bend on each lead
on the bottom of the PCB so that the component will not fall out and will
remain in position until it is soldered. (Figure 2)

All other capacitors, resistors and inductors can be inserted without
regard to polarity orientation.

2. After making certain that all components are in their proper place, turn the

PCB over and apply a small amount of flux on each solder hole that has a lead
protruding through it. (Figure 4) It is important that you can see the flux on
each solder joint to make sure enough has been applied.

10

Figure 1

Figure 2

11

Figure 3

Figure 4

12

3. Starting from one end of the reverse side of the PCB, solder all of the

capacitors, resistors, diodes and inductors.

4. Using a wire cutter, trim the excess length of the components leads. Be

careful not to cut the solder joint. (Figure 5) It is acceptable for the
residual component lead to protrude 1mm - 3mm from the solder joint.
(Figure 6)

Figure 5

Figure 6

13

Step 2:

1. Insert the 20.000 MHz, 12.000 MHz and 32.768 KHz crystals (XTAL) and apply

a small amount of flux on the bottom solder hole where the leads protrude. Then,
solder the 20.000 MHz, 12.000 MHz and 32.768 KHz crystals and trim the
excess length of the crystal leads on the bottom of the PCB.

2. Insert the 3.3V voltage regulator. The regulator is oriented with the black

part of the regulator body facing the USB Type B connector. See the
top left corner of the PCB in Figure 24 below. Apply a small amount of

flux on the bottom solder hole where the leads protrude. Then, solder the 3.3V
voltage regulator and trim the excess length of the regulator’s leads on the bottom
of the PCB.

3. Insert the USB Type B connector and apply a small amount of flux on the bottom

solder hole where the four (4) pins and the two (2) larger posts protrudes. Take
care in inserting the four smaller pins into the PCB. Make sure that the pins are
not bent. Then, solder the USB Type B connector.

4. Insert the BNC connector and apply a small amount of flux on the bottom solder

hole where the two (2) mounting posts and the two (2) pins protrude. Then,
solder the BNC Connector.

5. Insert the 3.5mm antenna jack and apply a small amount of flux on the bottom

solder hole where the leads and mounting posts protrude. Then, solder the

3.5mm antenna jack.

6. Note in Figure 7 how all of the solder joints of the BNC connector, USB type B

connector and the 3.5mm antenna jack are completely filled in with solder.

14

Figure 7

7. Insert the six pin male Programming Header, apply a small amount of flux on the

bottom solder holes where the leads protrude and solder the Programming
Header.

8. Insert the two pin male Ground Header, apply a small amount of flux on the

bottom solder holes where the leads protrude and solder the Ground Header.

9. Insert the seven pin female Keypad Header, apply a small amount of flux on the

bottom solder holes where the leads protrude and solder the Keypad Header.

Make sure that the Keypad Header is aligned perpendicular to the
PCB, i.e. not cocked to one side.

10. Insert the sixteen pin female LCD header, apply a small amount of flux on the

bottom solder holes where the leads protrude and solder the LCD Header. Make

sure that the LCD Header is aligned perpendicular to the PCB, i.e. not
cocked to one side.

11. Insert the 28 pin DIP socket for the PIC18F2550, apply a small amount of flux on

the bottom solder holes where the leads protrude and solder the DIP socket.
(Figure8) The notch on the end of the DIP socket should be oriented to the right.

Do not insert the PIC18F2550 microprocessor IC at this time.

15

Special Note!

The SI4735, PCM2906C and OPA2353 PCB sub-assemblies are susceptible to
damage from ESD (electrostatic discharge). ESD is more commonly known as
static electricity.

While handling and soldering these sub-assemblies, you should ground yourself
using an ESD wrist strap.

In addition, particular care should be taken on days when the humidity is low.
As a rule of thumb, if you are receiving a static electricity shock when you touch
doorknobs and other metal objects, you should exercise additional care when
handling the PCB sub-assemblies or better yet, wait for another day when the
humidity level is higher.

The PCB has ESD protection built in through the inclusion of surface mounted
ESD suppressors which will help protect the circuit once assembly is complete.

Figure 8

Step 3:

1. The next step requires handling and soldering of the SI4735, PCM2906C and

OPA2353 PCB sub-assemblies.

16

2. Although not absolutely necessary, the use of a breadboard makes soldering the

male headers to the PCB assemblies much easier. If you have a breadboard,
insert the 14 pin male headers on the breadboard such that the PCB sub­assemblies can be inserted on top of the male headers. (Figure 9) After applying
a little flux on each pin, solder the SI4735 and PCM2906C PCB sub-assemblies
on two (2) 14 pin male headers and solder the OPA2353 PCB sub-assembly on
two (2) 4 pin male headers. (Figures 10 and 11)

Figure 9

Figure 10

17

Figure 11

If you do not have a breadboard, take care that the male headers are soldered to the PCB
sub-assemblies such that the headers are perpendicular to the PCB sub-assemblies.

3. Familiarize yourself with the location of Pin 1 of each of the PCB sub-assemblies.

Pin 1 is labeled on each PCB sub-assembly. In addition, the actual IC chips have
a small dot or circle in the corner of the chip that corresponds to Pin 1. It is

important to note the location of Pin 1 because the PCB sub­assemblies must be oriented correctly on the main PCB when the sub­assemblies are soldered to the main PCB.

4. While observing proper ESD procedures (see Special Note above) insert the

SI4735 PCB sub-assembly on the main PCB. (Figure12) The SI4735 PCB sub-

assembly is oriented with Pin 1 on the right hand top side of the PCB
sub-assembly. It may be helpful to use a piece of blue painter’s masking tape

to temporarily hold the PCB sub-assembly in place for soldering. Then, turn the
main PCB over and apply flux on each of the pins of the PCB sub-assembly where
it protrudes through the solder hole and solder each pin.

18

Figure 12

5. While observing proper ESD procedures (see Special Note above) insert the

PCM2906C PCB sub-assembly on the main PCB. (Figure 13) The PCM2906C

PCB sub-assembly is oriented with Pin 1 on the right hand top side of
the PCB sub-assembly. It may be helpful to use a piece of blue painter’s

masking tape to temporarily hold the PCB sub-assembly in place for soldering.
Then, turn the main PCB over and apply flux on each of the pins of the PCB sub­assembly where it protrudes through the solder hole and solder each pin.

Figure 13

19

6. While observing proper ESD procedures (see Special Note above) insert the

OPA2353 PCB sub-assembly on the main PCB. (Figure 14) The OPA2353 PCB

sub-assembly is oriented with Pin 1 on the right hand bottom side of
the PCB sub-assembly. It may be helpful to use a piece of blue painter’s

masking tape to temporarily hold the PCB sub-assembly in place for soldering.
Then, turn the main PCB over and apply flux on each of the pins of the PCB sub­assembly where it protrudes through the solder hole and solder each pin.

Figure 14

7. Figure 15 shows to proper mounting of the three (3) PCB sub-assemblies.

Figure 15

20

Step 4:

1. Apply flux to the 16 gold colored solder pad holes on the LCD display on the side

where the screen in located. Then, insert the 16 pin Male Header into the solder
holes of the LCD such that the long side of the male header protrudes on the side
opposite the LCD screen. (Figure 16) Solder the male header to the LCD. Take
care that the male header is soldered perpendicular to the LCD, i.e. not cocked to
one side.

Figure 16

2. At this point in the assembly process, the only components left to solder to the

main PCB should be the five (5) tactile push-button switches. We have learned
that this is a good point in the assembly process to stop and thoroughly clean the
main PCB board and the LCD display of all solder flux and solder residue. In
addition, the tactile push-button switches are not sealed and if the switches are
immersed in alcohol, it is difficult to dry them out. Therefore, we do not

recommend installing the five (5) push-button switches until the main
PCB board is thoroughly cleaned and dried.

3. Obtain a shallow plastic container that can be disposed of after use. We have

found that plastic frozen dinner trays work well for this purpose. It is important
to allow as little of the alcohol as possible to enter the USB Type B connector, the
BNC connector and the 3.5mm Antenna Jack.

4. Pour some Isopropyl alcohol into the disposable container so that the level is

approximately 5mm – 10 mm. While holding the main PCB by the BNC

21

Connector, stand the PCB up vertically in the alcohol and use an old toothbrush
or stiff paint brush to thoroughly clean all flux and solder residue from the rear of
the PCB. (Figure 17) Take your time and clean both sides.

5. After cleaning is completed, thoroughly dry the PCB and all connectors with

compressed air or a hair dryer using the warm setting.

Figure 17

6. Use a Q-Tip sparingly dipped in alcohol to clean the solder joints on the LCD

display. Do not allow alcohol to touch on any other part of the LCD

display other than the solder joints. Do not immerse the LCD display
in alcohol. Dry the solder joints of the LCD display by dabbing them with a

paper towel or a dry Q-Tip.

22

Step 5:

1. Insert the (5) tactile momentary push-button switches into their solder holes

on the man PCB. Four (4) of the push-button switches are installed at the
bottom right hand corner of the PCB and one push-button switch (reset
switch) is installed at the top right hand corner of the main PCB. The
switches are designed to ―snap‖ into the solder holes and will stay in place
prior to soldering. The pins of the push-button switches are arranged in a
rectangular pattern must be correctly aligned with the solder holes. ( Figure

18)

Figure 18

2. Turn the main PCB over, apply a small amount of flux on the pins of the push-

button switches and solder the pins.

3. Clean the solder joints with a Q-Tip dipped in alcohol and dry the joints by

dabbing with a paper towel or dry Q-Tip.

4. Take a moment to examine the main PCB prior to final assembly. If there is

any remaining flux or solder residue, now is the time to clean it off.

5. Insert the PIC18F2550 microprocessor into the 28 pin DIP socket. The

microprocessor should be aligned with pin 1 on the right hand top
side of the DIP Socket. The pins of the microprocessor may need to be

slightly pinched to make insertion into the DIP socket easier, however take

23

care that you do not bend or misalign the pins with the holes of the DIP
socket.

6. The Keypad and LCD are each mounted to the main PCB with four (4) 2-56 X

7/8‖ screws, sleeves, spacers, washers and nuts.

7. Insert a screw into a sleeve and then push the screw and sleeve up through the

bottom of the first mounting hole for the keypad. Place one (1) of the spacers
over the bolt and secure with one (1) of the 2-56 nuts. (Figures 19 & 20). Do

not tighten the nuts at this time. The nuts should be just barely
finger tight. Repeat this process for all eight (8) mounting positions for the

keypad and LCD display. (Figure 21).

Figure 19

Figure 20

24

Figure 21

8. Insert the Keypad male pins into the seven (7) pin female header. The Keypad

mounts on the four (4) mounting screws. It may be necessary to slightly
loosen the mounting screws to properly align the Keypad holes. Secure the
Keypad with a nylon washer and a 2-56 nut on each mounting screw. (Figure

22)

Figure 22

9. Similarly, insert the LCD pins into the sixteen (16) pin female header. The

LCD mounts on the four (4) mounting screws. It may be necessary to slightly
loosen the mounting screws to properly align the LCD holes. Secure the LCD
with a nylon washer and a 2-56 nut on each mounting screw. (Figure 23)

25

Figure 23

10. The completed radio is shown in Figure 24.

Figure 24

26

Operational Instructions:

Connecting to Windows PC or Laptop:

1. Plug a set of unshielded ear buds into the 3.5mm antenna jack to serve as an

initial antenna or use the BNC connector to connect an antenna to the radio.

Note: The 3.5mm jack can only serve as an antenna jack. It is not a
headphone jack.

2. Connect the Shortwave Daddy to a PC or laptop USB port using a standard USB

printer cable.

3. Restart your PC or Laptop.

4. The Title Screen will appear on the LCD screen for approximately seven (7)

seconds. (Figure 25 )

Figure 25

5. After the title screen, a new screen will appear as shown in Figure 26.

27

Figure 26

6. At this point the band mode must be chosen. Push the first push-button (labeled

AM Mode) for the AM/Shortwave band.

The LCD display will flash ―CHANGING TO AM MODE‖

7. Test the operation of the PC or Laptop’s speaker sound system as follows:

 Enter the frequency on the Keypad for a known AM broadcast band radio

station in your area. For example if you know that there is a station at 650
kHz, enter the station frequency in a five digit format, i.e. 00650 and then
press the ―#‖ key.

 On the LCD display, the station frequency will be displayed along with the

RSSI and SNR information

 Make certain that your PC or laptop’s speakers are turned on.

8. If the radio station is not heard through the PC or laptop’s speaker system:

 For Windows, navigate to ―Control Panel‖. The location of ―Control Panel‖

will vary depending on your particular version of Windows.

 Click on the ―Manage audio devices‖ tab
 Click on the ―Hardware and Sound‖ tab
 Under the Sound menu, click on the ―Manage audio devices‖ tab.
 Click the ―Recording‖ Tab
 Click on ―USB Audio Codec‖ so that it is highlighted

28

 Click on ―Properties‖ in the lower right-hand bottom of the screen
 Click on the ―Listen‖ tab
 Make sure the ―Listen to this device‖ box is checked
 Click on ―Apply‖ at the bottom of the screen
 Click on the ―Advanced‖ tab
 Click on the drop-down menu and change the sample rate to ―2 channel,

16 bit, 32000Hz (FM Radio Quality)

 Click on ―Apply‖ at the bottom of the screen
 Click on ―Ok‖.

The radio station should now be heard through your speakers. Adjust the volume level
using the PC or laptop’s volume control or the volume control on the speaker, if so
equipped.

Connecting to MAC OS X Systems:

1. Connection to MAC OS X systems will require the installation of a utility to allow

playing of the radio sound.

2. One such utility is LineIn available for download at:

http://www.rogueamoeba.com/freebies/ or by searching on Google.

Connecting to Linux (Ubuntu) Systems:

The following procedure can be used to connect the radio to Linux Ubuntu systems:

1. Run the following commands in a terminal window:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install paman
parman

2. Using the interface pacat -r --latency-msec=1 -d INPUT_DEVICE | pacat -

p --latency-msec=1 -d OUTPUT_DEVICE, determine and copy the input

device exposed by the radio as well as the output device exposed by your
computer's sound card.

This will usually be: alsa_input.usb-Burr-Brown_from_TISB_Audio_CODEC­00-CODEC.analog-stereo and the output was alsa_output.pci­0000_00_14.2.analog-stereo.

3. Using the command, pacat -r --latency-msec=1 -d alsa_input.usb-Burr-

Brown_from_TISB_Audio_CODEC-00-CODEC.analog-stereo | pacat ­p --latency-msec=1 -d alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.analog-stereo,

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Swap INPUT_DEVICE and OUTPUT_DEVICE with the text you copied from
paman.

4. The audio should start playing over your computer’s speakers.

5. There are other possible methods of connecting the radio to Linux systems. If

you have developed your own method, please contact us and we will post it on the
Shortwave Daddy website, while recognizing your contribution.

If USB Port Fails to Operate after Disconnection and
Reconnection to USB Port (Windows):

There is a known issue with Windows 7 and some previous versions of Windows
regarding disconnecting and reconnecting a device to a USB port several times in
succession. When this occurs more than 3or 4 times without restarting the PC or laptop,
the USB port may stop working which results in no sound coming from the speakers.

Note: This issue is not the fault of the Shortwave Daddy and is solely an
issue with the Microsoft Windows operating system.

Microsoft is aware of the problem and has issued a Support Article discussing the issue
(Article ID: 817900 available at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/817900/en-us).

If this issue occurs after disconnecting and reconnecting the Shortwave Daddy, the
following procedures should be followed:

1. Restarting the PC or laptop usually restarts the non-functioning USB port.

2. Alternatively, without restarting the PC or laptop, the user can use Device

Manager to scan for hardware changes as follows:

 In Device Manager, click your computer so that it is highlighted.
 Click Action, and then click Scan for hardware changes.
 Check the Shortwave Daddy to see whether it is working.

3. Disabling and re-enabling the USB controller may also reactivate the USB port as

follows:

 In Device manger, expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers:
 Right-click the first USB controller under Universal Serial Bus

controllers, and then click Uninstall to remove it.

 Repeat these steps for each USB controller that is listed under Universal

Serial Bus controllers.

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 Restart the computer. After the computer starts, Windows will

automatically scan for hardware changes and reinstall all the USB
controllers that you uninstalled.

 Check the Shortwave Daddy to see whether it is working

Changing to AM MODE (Which also includes
Shortwave):

1. Push the first (1

2. ―CHANGING TO AM MODE‖ will flash at the bottom of the screen.

3. The frequency can then be entered and the channel filter can be changed, if

desired (see channel filter discussion below).

st

) push-button.

Changing to FM MODE:

1. Push the second (2

2. ―CHANGING TO FM MODE‖ will flash at the bottom of the screen.

3. The frequency can then be entered.

nd

) push-button.

Entering a Frequency on the AM/Shortwave Band:

1. After choosing AM MODE, enter the desired frequency in a five (5) digit

format on the Keypad.

2.
 To enter an AM broadcast station frequency, such as 650 kHz, enter

00650 and then press the ―#‖ key.

 To enter a shortwave frequency such as the 5.0 MHz time signal, enter

05000 and then press the ―#‖ key.

 To enter a higher shortwave frequency, such as 11.250 MHz, enter 11250

and then press the ―#‖ key.

 All frequencies must be entered in a five (5) digit format.
 Worldwide AM Band 520kHz – 1710kHz

 Shortwave Band 2.3MHz – 26.1 MHz

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Entering a Frequency on the FM Band:

1. After choosing FM MODE, enter the desired frequency in a five (5) digit format

on the Keypad.

2.
 To enter an FM station frequency such as 96.90 MHz, enter 09690 and

then press the ―#‖key.

 To enter a higher FM frequency such as 100.50 MHz, enter 10050 and

then press the ―#‖ key.

 All frequencies must be entered in a five (5) digit format.
 Worldwide FM Band 64MHz – 108 MHz

Using AM/SHORTWAVE MODE Seek/Tune Function:

1. While in AM MODE, push the third (3rd) push-button.

2. The LCD display will flash ―SEEKING‖ and the radio will tune to the next

available radio frequency.

3. Once in AM MODE, it is not necessary to choose a station before using the

Seek/Tune function.

4. A fast survey of shortwave reception at a particular time can be made by using the

AM SEEK button to scan through the shortwave band to see what can be heard.

Using FM MODE Seek/Tune Function:

1. While in FM MODE, push the fourth (4

2. The LCD display will flash ―SEEKING‖ and the radio will tune to the next

available FM radio frequency.

3. Once in FM MODE, it is not necessary to choose a station before using the

Seek/Tune function.

4. The radio will seek frequencies below the North American standard FM band of

88 MHz to 108MHz. If you do not desire to seek below 88MHz, when the radio
stops at a frequency such as 74 MHz, simply enter 08800, press the ―#‖ key and
then press the Seek/Tune push-button again.

th

) push-button.

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Changing the Bandwidth for the AM/Shortwave Channel
Filter:

1. While in AM MODE, the bandwidth of the AM/Shortwave channel filter can

be changed from the default bandwidth of 2 kHz.

2. There are seven (7) options. At any time while in AM MODE , the bandwidth

can be changed by entering the applicable five (5) digit code as follows and
then pressing the ―#‖:

Code Bandwidth

00000 6 kHz

00001 4 kHz

00002 3 kHz

00003 2 kHz

00004 1 kHz

00005 1.8 kHz

00006 2.5 kHz, gradual roll off

3. The LCD display will flash a message showing that the bandwidth is being

changed. The RSSI and SNR will automatically be updated to show the
changes in signal reception.

4. Using the 1 kHz filter allows the user to maximize DX (distant) reception.

However, there is a trade-off because the sound quality of the signal may
suffer. The various bandwidth filters allows for interesting experimentation
with various frequencies and types of signals.

5. The bandwidth filter cannot be changed in FM MODE.

RDS/RDBS Displayed Information:

1. RDS (Radio Data System--Europe) and RDSB (Radio Data Broadcast System-

-North America) are communication protocols for the transmission of data
within the FM broadcast signal.

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2. While in FM MODE, RDS information about the type of music played or the

Figure 27

format for the FM station, along with the call letters for the station will be
displayed. (Figure 27)

3. If the SNR (Signal Noise Ratio) of the station is less than approximately 15,

the RDS data will not be displayed because the signal is too weak.

4. RDS data is not displayed in AM MODE.

RSSI and SNR Displayed Information:

1. While in both AM MODE and FM MODE, the RSSI (Received Signal Strength

Indicator) and SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) are displayed on the LCD. (Figure
27 above)

2. These metrics give the user a good indication of the signal strength of the

station.

In-Circuit Programming of the Microprocessor:

1. The program for the PIC18F2550 which controls the Shortwave Daddy

can be changed by uploading a new program using the 6 pin In-Circuit
Programming Header which is located at the bottom of the main PCB, next
to the first push-button. This allows the user to experiment by uploading

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the user’s own program to take advantage of the many features which the

Silicon Labs SI4735 IC can implement.

2. The program which is pre-loaded on the PIC18F2550 was written in C .

The user may prefer to write their own program using another language,
such as BASIC. The In-Circuit programming Header makes it easy to
upload the user’s own program without having to remove the PIC18F2550.

3. SPECIAL NOTE: If you wish to retain the original factory

control program which comes preloaded on the PIC18LF2550,
you should purchase an additional PIC18LF2550 IC and replace
the existing microcontroller IC. You can then experiment by
uploading your own program, while retaining the option to
reinstall the original PIC18LF2550 should you wish to return to
the original factory program. The PIC18F2550 can be
purchased from electronics distributors such as Mouser,
Digikey and Allied.

4. The In-Circuit Programming Header is based on Microchip’s standard In-

Circuit programmer protocol and can be programmed with the readily
available Pickit 2 programmer. (Figure 28)

Figure 28

5. Although the PIC18F2550 is not removed from the circuit during

programming, it is necessary to remove the LCD display before

uploading a new program.

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6. The six (6) pins of the Programming Header are labeled on the main PCB

using the standard Microchip In-Circuit protocol.

Antenna and Ground Connections:

1. The Shortwave Daddy has two (2) connectors for the use of a variety of antennas

along with a two (2) pin male Ground Header for the connection of an external
ground . (Antennas are not included.)

2. The BNC female connector on the main PCB allows the user to connect an outside

aerial that has a standard male BNC connector. In addition, many different types
of telescoping antennas can be connected to the BNC connector (Figure 29)

Figure 29

3. The 3.5mm antenna jack allows the user to connect a standard set of ear buds as

an antenna. (Figure 30) Note: The 3.5mm antenna jack is not a

headphone jack, but rather only serves as an antenna connector.

4. The user can also connect an long-wire antenna with 3.5mm male connector to

the 3.5mm antenna jack.

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Figure 30

5. The user may also connect an external ground for better reception, especially

when an outside aerial is used. The 2 pin male Ground Header is located above
the LCD and to the right of the 3.5mm antenna jack. In Figure 31, the yellow
cable is connected to the Ground Header.

Figure 31

6. Never connect the Ground Header or any antenna connector or any part of the

Shortwave Daddy radio to a mains ground (outlet plug ground) or mains line

connection (outlet plug ―hot‖ terminal—110Volts) or the mains neutral terminal.
Connection to a mains ground or mains line connection or the mains

37

neutral connection may result in a serious electrical shock to the user
which can cause serious bodily injury or death.

Reset Push-button:

1. At any time, the circuit can be reset by pressing the push-button located at the

top right-hand corner of the main PCB.

2. Pressing the reset push-button will result in the title screen being immediately

displayed on the LCD screen. The band mode will then need to be re-chosen
before the frequency can be entered.

Warranty Information:

It is difficult to extend warranties on a kit that is designed to be assembled by the user.
Therefore, neither Tablerock Instruments, nor any principal or agent of that company
has elected to provide any written or implied warranty, either "limited" or "full", rather
than to attempt to comply with the provisions of various state and federal laws and
regulations. To the fullest extent allowed by law, all implied and express warranties of
merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and any other type of warranty are
disclaimed. Instead, we would invite customers to contact us and describe the nature
and extent of any problem that they may have with this product.

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