[time-nuts] GPS down converter question

Attila Kinali attila at kinali.ch
Thu Dec 3 07:53:25 EST 2015


On Wed, 2 Dec 2015 21:12:42 -0500
Ian Stirling <is at opus131.com> wrote:

>   Here's a video of Dave Jones soldering a QFN chip.
> http://www.eevblog.com/2013/01/08/eevblog-408-schmart-board-0-4mm-qfn-smd-soldering/

Unfortunately, this technique only works if you don't have a ground pad
to solder, which most of the RF chips have. Actually, a lot of them have
no other ground pins than the ground pad. Also, the long traces for the
breakout are prohibitive for RF stuff. Even if you just run it at 70MHz,
the chip is designed for GHz operation, which means you have to treat
all signals as if they were operating there. Otherwise you will have
some funny effects.

			Attila Kinali

PS: Please be aware that Dave Jones is often borderline wrong with
what he presents in his videos. So take them with a grain of salt
and check any "facts" independently before relying on them.

-- 
It is upon moral qualities that a society is ultimately founded. All 
the prosperity and technological sophistication in the world is of no 
use without that foundation.
                 -- Miss Matheson, The Diamond Age, Neil Stephenson


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