Introduction
The Tait T535 VHF radio as shipped has two channels, which are set by a diode matrix board. Each channel has a transmit and receive frequency, so the diode matrix board has four ‘columns’:
Channel 1 RX Channel 2 RX Channel 1 TX Channel 2 TX
The matrix is programmed by soldering (or desoldering) adjacent pads on the board. If a solder bridge is placed across the two contacts, the link is considered closed, otherwise it is open.
A diagrammatic representation of the diode matrix board is shown below:
Values of the diode matrix:
N9 – 128MHz
N8 – 64MHz
N7 – 32MHz
N6 – 16MHz
N5 – 8MHz
N4 – 4MHz
N3 – 2MHz
N2 – 1MHz
N1 – 500kHz
N0 – 250kHz
A5 – 200kHz
A4 – 100kHz
A3 – 50kHz
A2 – 25kHz
A1 – 12.5kHz
A0 – 6.25kHz
Calculation
Start off by soldering all the links CLOSED.
Decide on the frequencies you want to use for both channels. Subtract 21.4MHz from the receive frequencies (this is required because of the way the synthesizer works). Start subtracting the diode values listed above from your value, until you get to zero. For each diode value you ‘subtract’, desolder (ie open) that pad.
Example:
- Desired TX frequency: 145MHz
- Desired RX frequency: 145MHz
So, for the RX frequency: 145 – 21.4 = 123.6MHz TX: 128MHz + 16MHz + 1MHz = 145MHz
So: 145 – N9(128MHz) -N6(16MHz) -N2(1MHz) = 0 – Done
So, this requires diodes N9 + N6 + N2 – so, to set this frequency you would desolder (open) the pads for N9, N6 and N2.
RX frequency: 123.6MHz (adjusted by subtracting 21.4MHz) RX: 123.6MHz – N8(64MHz) -N7(32MHz) -N6(16MHz) -N5(8MHz) -N3(2MHz) – N2(1MHz) -N1(500kHz) -A4(100kHz) = 0
This requires N8 + N7 + N6 + N5 + N3 + N2 + N1 + A4, so you would desolder these pads to set the RX frequency.
The example diode matrix board shown at the top of this page is set for 145MHz TX and RX on both channels.