2-10 THEORY OF OPERATION
5.2 Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO)
(
Refer to Figure 2-6 and the VHF Voltage Controlled Oscillator schematic diagram)
The VCOB IC (U3801), shown in Figure 2-6, in conjunction with the Fractional-N synthesizer 
(U3701) generates RF in both the receive and the transmit modes of operation. The TRB line 
(U3801 pin 19) determines which oscillator and buffer are enabled. A sample of the RF signal from 
the enabled oscillator is routed from U3801 pin 12, through a low pass filter, to the prescaler input 
(U3701 pin 32). After frequency comparison in the synthesizer, a resultant CONTROL VOLTAGE is 
received at the VCO. This voltage is a DC voltage typically between 3.5V and 9.5V when the PLL is 
locked on frequency.
Figure 2-6 VHF VCO Block Diagram
 
Presc
RX
TX
Matching
Network
Low Pass
    Filter
Attenuator
Pin8
Pin14
Pin10
(3701 Pin28)
VCC Buffers
TX RF Injection
U3701 Pin 32
AUX3 (U3701 Pin2)
Prescaler Out
Pin 12
Pin 19
Pin 20
      TX/RX/BS
Switching Network
U3801
VCOBIC
      Rx
Active Bias
      Tx
Active Bias
Pin2
Rx-I adjust
Pin1
Tx-I adjust
Pins 9,11,17
Pin18
Vsens
Circuit
Pin15
Pin16
RX VCO
 Circuit
TX VCO
 Circuit
RX Tank
TX Tank
Pin7
Vcc-Superfilter
Collector/RF in
Pin4
Pin5
Pin6
RX
TX
(U3701 Pin28)
Rx-SW
Tx-SW
Vcc-Logic
(U3701 Pin28)
Steer Line 
Voltage 
(VCTRL)
Pin13
Pin3
TRB_IN
LO RF INJECTION