_[sdiy]_ICL8038 worst ic off all time!

[Karl Dalen]

 --- Scott Gravenhorst <music.maker at gte.net> skrev: >
=?iso-8859-1?q?Karl=20Dalen?= <karldalen at yahoo.se> wrote:
> >I cant understand why such a crap design are still made?
> >Even a simple neatly done discreete design would out perform
> >the 8038!
> 
> Well, I think the datasheet contains examples of the worst ways
> to _use_ the 8038.  Check http://www.midwest-analog.com/diylvco.html
> for what I would call the right way to use it.  The circuit has
> a wider linear sweep range than the datasheet circuit and it also runs
> cool.

The worst way is to use it at all! :-)

> >There should be a list of "worst-IC-designs-of-all-time" it would 
> >also be nice with a list of the most "neat" IC design of all time to!
> >In the first list i would definitively put the 8038 and a bunch of
> >early FM chips! In the second list i would put the 555, the 4046.
> 
> 555, I agree, in fact, I'd put that on the "worst IC of all time" list.
> The 7555, however is fine.  I like the 4046 used as a PLL, I built a
> frequency multiplying module with one.  The VCO basically sucks by
> itself. 

Hmm, i dont think the VCO sucks,as i remember, BJ showed once many years
ago that you could build a remakable advanced VCO out of a 4046 IC! Well,
at least a "very high frequency LFO" with sync and 4 quadrant modulation
on the square, if im not remebering completely wrong, thats not bad for
such a cheap and simple IC. Or one could use the HC version and do a
nice DC to 30Mhz function generator. I say forget about the 8038! 

Speaking of function generators, you can use a PNP expo on the I set 
pin on the MAX038 to convert it to a expensive VCO!

KD


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