DIY KIT for DDS (Direct Digital Synthesis) Analog Devices AD9959 Arduino Shield by GRA & AFCH

Easy connection to Arduino MEGA 2560 without additional wires and converters

All functions of the DDS AD9959 are brought to the contacts of the Arduino MEGA

With this you can fully reveal all the capabilities of the DDS AD9959 Shield

Opensource Software available on our GitHub repository: https://github.com/afch/DDS-AD9959-Arduino-Shield

Video review on our YouTube channel : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpigQwjc9mg&feature=youtu.be

Listing includes:

• AD9959 DDS Shield Board Bare PCB
• Set of Parts and Components (Electronics, Screws, Nuts, Spacers)
• OLED Display (optional, choose in selector)
• Arduino MEGA Board (optional, choose in selector)
• Clock Chip (optional, choose in selector)
• Principal Electrical Scheme for AD9959 Shield Board v1.1
• BOM List of Parts and Components for AD9959 Shield Board v1.1

We recommend RF Amplifier and Low-Pass Filter for AD9910 DDS Shield:

Low-Pass Filter LPF 7th Order Elliptical 1-1000Mhz 3.5, 7, 14, 28, 144, 433MHz etc for RF Amlifier, Receiver, Transmitter, Mixer, Transceiver, Antenna.

RF Amplifier 8-2000 MHz, GAIN = 20 dB, P = +20 dBm MMIC MRFA89 SOT-89

Key Benefits:

• Convenient and fast control with an encoder.
• 4 synchronized DDS channels 225MHz @ up to 600 MSPS
• Low harmonics no more than -60 dBc. An output RF transformer is used for the correct operation of the current mirror.
• Small spurs.
• 4 layer board. Signal lines TOP and Bottom, inner layers Ground and Power.
• Low Noise LDO Stabilizers.
• Separate power supply for all analog and digital lines (1.8V and 3.3V), 5 pcs IC voltage stabilizers are used. Additionally, there is an RF Ferrite bead interchange.
• High-speed decoupling Level converter and TTL 5V matching.

Types of possible reference oscillators (choose one of them in the selector):

1. XO – Crystal 25 MHz 20 ppm internal oscillator with PLL up to 600 MHz.
2. TCXO – 40MHz (Supports 10 – 50 MHz) 1 ppm external oscillator PLL up to 600 MHz.
3. REF CLK IN – external reference clock input, up to 600 MHz. (this source is NOT INCLUDED).

Features:

• At the output of each channel is a transformer to reduce even harmonics.
• Additionally balancing transformer is used for XO, TCXO and REF CLK IN options.
• Easy to connect OLED display.
• Device control with one encoder and one button.
• The synthesizer is capable to generate sine wave.
• The software allows you to select and configure the frequency of the clock generator through the user menu (without the need to recompile the program).
• Any settings can be stored in non-volatile EEPROM memory (located at Arduino Mega).
• Basic settings are applied and saved automatically.
• This shield support overclocking the AD9959 core up to 600 MHz.
• DDS AD9959 Shield has ability to generate a signal up to 225 MHz with a core overclocking up to 600 MHz (to suppress harmonics, it is recommended to  overclock the AD9959 for frequencies above 200 MHz).

Phase Noise

This parameter is very important and interesting for those who buy DDS.
Since the intrinsic phase noise of DDS is obviously less than that of PLL generators, the final value is highly dependent on the clock source. In order to achieve the values stated in the datasheet on AD9959, when designing our DDS AD9959 Arduino Shield, we strictly adhered to all recommendations from Analog Devices: PCB layout in 4 layers, separate power supply of all 4 power lines (3.3 V digital, 3.3 V analog, 1.8 V digital, and 1.8 V analog). Therefore, when buying our DDS AD9959 Arduino Shield, You can focus on the data from the datasheet on the AD9959.

Figure 18 shows the noise level when using the built-in PLL in DDS. The PLL multiplies the frequency of a 25 MHz generator by 20 times. We use a frequency – 40 MHz (x12 Multiplier) or 50 MHz (x10 Multiplier) from TCXO which gives even more stability.

And figure 16 shows the noise level when using an external reference clock 500 MHZ, with the PLL off.

Comparing these two plots, for example, for Fout = 40.1 MHz and the internal PLL turned on at 10 kHz carrier offset, the phase noise level is -127 dBc @ 10 kHz. And with the PLL off and using external clocking, the phase noise is 155 dBc @ 10kHz. That is, when using an external clock phase noise by 28 dBc better (lower).

For the same frequency Fout = 40.1 MHz, and the internal PLL turned on at 1 MHz carrier offset, the phase noise level is -130 dBc @ 1 MHz. And with the PLL off and using external clocking, the phase noise is 160 dBc @ 1 MHz. That is, when using an external clock phase noise by 30 dBc better (lower).

Conclusion: when using external clocking, You can get much lower phase noise than using the built-in PLL. But do not forget that in order to achieve such results, increased requirements are put forward to the external generator.

OLED Display Menus:

Specifications:

Serial Port Commands:

List of Serial Port Commands:

Starting with version 1.02, the ability to control via the serial port has been added.

C — Set the current output Channel: (0 — 3)
F — Sets Frequency in Hz (100000 — 225000000)
A — Sets the power (Amplitude) level of the selected channel in dBm (-60 — -7)
P — Sets the Phase of the selected channel in dBm (0 — 360)
M — Gets Model
E — Enable Outputs (ALL)
D — Disable Outputs (ALL)
V — Gets Firmware Version
h — This Help
; — Commands Separator

Example:
C0;F100000;A-10
Sets the Frequency to 100 kHz, and Output Power (Amplitude) to -10 dBm on Channel 0 (RF OUT0).
Any number of commands in any order is allowed, but the very first command must be “C”

Serial Port Settings:

Speed – 115200 Bouds
Data Bits – 8
Stop Bits – 1
Parity – No
DTR – OFF

Windows:

An example of setting up a serial port in the Windows console:

mode COM3 baud=115200 DTR=OFF Data=8

Usage example:

echo F100000000 > COM3

Ubuntu 22.04:

An example of setting up a serial port in the Ubuntu:

sudo usermod -aG dialout $USER_NAME$
sudo chmod a+rw /dev/ttyUSB0
sudo stty -F /dev/ttyUSB0 115200 cs8 ixoff -hupcl -echo

Usage example:

echo “F100000000” > /dev/ttyUSB0

DDS AD9959 Arduino Shield Spectrograms:

GRA & AFCH DDS AD9959 Shield External Clock Source VS Internal Clock Source Comparison:

GRA & AFCH DDS AD9959 Shield Oscillogram:

Arduino MEGA to Shield AD9959 Pinout Scheme:

DDS Arduino Shield AD9959 RF Signal Generator Overview:

DDS Arduino Shield AD9959 RF Signal Generator assembled: