r

RA

SELECT

1.

CONSTRUCTOR
40p

APRIL 1977

AUDIO
MPLIFIER

METERLESS
TRANSISTOR
TESTER

MANS *1-641

TEMA

NOEL M.mORRIS

SEIYIKONDUCTOR
DEVICES

ANOTHER

SPECIAL
OFFER
For a limited period
MACMILLAN BASIS BOOKS IN ELECTRONICS

By arrangement with Messrs. MacMillan we are able to offer the above

book at a special low price to readers of RADIO & ELECTRONICS
CONSTRUCTOR.
Normal Price
4.35

SPECIAL OFFER PRICE

Saving 85p

3.50

Both prices include postage and packing

In this introduction to semiconductor devices, the author provides

comprehensive survey of modern active and non -active semiconductor

technology. Without leaning too heavily on device physics, he explains
device functions and then illustrates their use with typical circuits and
applications.
Following a summary of the physical basis of semiconductor elements
in non -mathematical terms
a study of bipolar and field -effect
transistors leads to considerations of monolithic integrated circuits.
More advanced charge -coupled devices, semiconductor memories
and optoelectronic devices are studied in some detail.
CONTENTS
1.
Semiconductors
2. Basic Semiconductor Devices
3.
Semiconductor Diodes and the Unijunction Transistor
4.
Bipolar Junction Transistors, Amplifiers & Logic Gates
5.
Field -Effect Transistors, Amplifiers and Logic Gates
6.
Monolithic Integrated Circuits
7.
Charge -coupled Devices
8.
Semiconductor Memories
9.
Thyristors and other Multilayer Devices
10.
Optoelectronics

To: Data Publications Ltd., 57 Maida Vale, London W9 1 SN

Please send me within 21 days
copy /copies of
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
I

enclose Postal Order /Cheque for

Name

Address
(Block Letters Please)

(We regret this offer is only available to readers in the U.K.)

RA IO h ELECTRONICS
i

CONSTRUCTOR

APRIL 1977
Volume 30 No. 9
Published Monthly (1st of Month)
First Published 1947

Incorporating The Radio Amateur

Editorial and Advertising Offices
57 MAIDA VALE LONDON W9 1SN
Telephone

Telegrams
Databux, London

01 -286 6141

Data Publications Ltd., 1977. Contents

may only be reproduced after obtaining

METERLESS TRANSISTOR TESTER

by Bruce Woodland

534

500th EDITION OF WORLD RADIO CLUB

539

Report by Ron Ham

NEWS AND COMMENT

540

POLARITY /BASE RESOLVER

(Suggested Circuit 317) by G. A. French

542

- "M5"

THE

Part

Annual Subscription: t_5.50 (U.S.A. and

Canada $11.00) including postage. Remittances should be made payable to Data
Publications Ltd ". Overseas readers please
pay by cheque or International Money

Technical Queries. We regret that we

551

by R. A. Penfold

556
by J. R. Davies
"HEADS OR TAILS ?"
MOBILE AMATEUR RADIO LOG
558
REQUIREMENTS
ANTIQUE AND WARTIME RADIO by Ron Ham559
SURGE CURRENTS (Notes for Newcomers) 561
by R. J. Caborn

Order.
are unable to answer queries other than
those arising from articles appearing in
this magazine nor can we advise on

546

POCKET RECEIVER
by Sir Douglas Hall, K.C.M.G.

CMOS AUDIO AMPLIFIER

prior permission from the Editor. Short

abstracts or references are allowable
provided acknowledgement of source is
given.

CATALOGUE

563

TRADE NOTES

563

modifications to equipment described.

We regret that such queries cannot be
answered over the telephone; they
must be submitted in writing and
accompanied by a stamped addressed
envelope for reply.

SHORT WAVE NEWS

by Frank A. Baldwin

Correspondence should be addressed to

the Editor, Advertising Manager, Subscription Manager or the Publishers as
appropriate.

IN YOUR WORKSHOP

RADIO TOPICS by Recorder

576

Opinions expressed by contributors are

not necessarily those of the Editor or
proprietors.

WORKSHOP AIDS

578

Production. -Web Offset.

MEDIUM AND LONG WAVE SUPERHET

Part 2 by A.

The Radio & Electronics Constructor is printed

by Swale Press Ltd.

1977

P.

Roberts

TV Repair

ELECTRONICS DATA No. 21

Screening)
(For the Beginner

Published in Great Britain by the Proprietors and

Publishers, Data Publications Ltd, 57 Maida
Vale, London W9 SN

APRIL

For DX Listeners

564

566

570

iii

THE MAY ISSUE WILL BE

PUBLISHED ON 2nd MAY

521

WILMSLOW AUDIO
THE Firm for speakers!
SPEAKERS
Baker
Baker
Baker
Baker
Baker
Baker
Baker
Baker
Baker
Baker

Group 25, 3, 8 or 15 ohms

Group 35, 3, 8 or 15 ohms
Group 50/12 8 or 15 ohms
Group 50/15 8 or 15 ohms
Deluxe 12" 8 or 15 ohms
Major 3, 8 or 15 ohms
Superb 8 or 15 ohms
Regent 12" 8 or 15 ohms
Auditorium 12" 8 or 15 ohms
Auditorium 15" 8 or 15 ohms

astle BRS/DD 4/8 ohms

Celestion G12M 8 or 15 ohms
Celestion G12H 8 or 15 ohms
Celestion G12/50 8 or 15 ohms
Celestion G12/50TC 8 or 15 ohms
Celestion G15C 8 or 15 ohms
Celestion 0180 8 or 15 ohms
elestion HF1300 8 or 15 ohms
Celestion HF2000 8 ohms
Celestion MI-11000 8 or 15 ohms
Coles 4001 G &K
.

Decca
Decca
Decca
Decca

London ribbon horn

London CO/1000/8 Xover
OK30 ribbon horn

C0/1/8 Xover (DK30)

EMI 14 x 9 Bass 8 ohms 14A770

EMI 8 x 5, 10 watt, d/cone, roll surr.
EMI 61" d/cone, roll surr. 8 ohms
Elac 59RM109 (15) 59RM114 (8)
Elac 6i" d/cone, roll surr. 8 ohms
Eiac 10" 10RM239 8 ohms
Eagle FR4
Eagle FR65
Eagle FR8
Eagle FR10
Eagle HT15
Eagle HT21
Eagle MHT10
Eagle FF28 multicell. horn
Fane
Fane
Fane
Fane
Fane
Fane
Fane
Fane
Fane
Fane
Fane

15, 8 or 16 ohms
33T, 9 or 16 ohms
50, 8 or 16 ohms
55, B or 16 ohms
60, 8 or 16 ohms
70, 8 or 16 ohms
100, 8 or 16 ohms
Crescendo 12A, 8 or 16 ohms
Crescendo 12BL, 8 or 16 ohms
Crescendo 15/100A, 8 or 16 ohms
Crescendo 15/125, 8 or 16 ohms
Pop
Pop
Pop
Pop
Pop
Pop
Pop

COMPLETE KITS

11V

13.00

SPEAKERS

12.50

21.00
25.75
9.95
12.95
15.95
18.00
20.00

f26.95
39.95
7.50
8.55
13.50
5.90
31.50
6.95
20.50
4.75

Kef T27

12.50 Kef T15

395
.9
8110
35 Kef
Kef 8200
3.95
3.95 Kef B139
DNS
3.95 Kef
Kef 0N12
6.75 Kef DN13 SP1015 or SP1017
11.95
14.95 Lowther PM6
18,50 Lowther PM6 Mk.l
4.50 Lowther PM7
Peerless K01ODT 4 or &ohms
5.50
5.25 Peerless DT1OHFC 8 ohms
Peerless K040MRF 8 ohms
7.50
Peerless MT225HFC 8 ohms
5.75 Richard Allan CA12 12" bass
9.95 Richard Allan HP8B
12.50 Richard Allan LP8B

16.75

19.95
21.75
33.95
42.95
44.95
54.95
64.95

STOCK FOR

Richard Allan DT20

Richard Allan CN8280
Richard Allan CN820
Richard Allan Super Disco 60W 12"
Coles 4001 G &K
Tannoy 10" Monitor HPD
Tannoy 12" Monitor HPD
Tannoy 15" Monitor HPD

RADFORD STUDIO 90, RADFORD MONITOR 180,

RADFORD STUDIO 270, RADFORD STUDIO 360,
HIFI ANSWERS MONITOR (Rogers), HIFI NEWS NO
COMPROMISE (Frisby), HI FI NEWS STATE OF THE
ART, WIRELESS WORLD TRANSMISSION LINE
(Bailey), PRACTICAL HIFI & AUDIO MONITOR (Giles),
PRACTICAL HIFI & AUDIO TRIANGLE (Giles),
POPULAR HIFI (Colloms) ETC.
On Dem. Answers Monitor, State of Art, etc.
Construction leaflets for Radford, Kef, Jordan Watts,
Tannoy, HiFi Answers Monitor, Free on request
PA Amplifiers, microphones etc. by
Linear, Shure, Eagle, Beyer, AKG etc.
FREE with orders over 10
"Hi -Fi Loudspeaker Enclosures" Book

522

SPEAKER KITS

75.95 Baker Major Module 3, 8 or 15 ohms each 18.00

Crescendo 18, 8 or 16 ohms
each f 15.75
910 Mk.11 horn
15.75 Goodmans DIN 20 4 or 8 ohms
Pair 51.95
920 Mk.II horn
45.95 Goodmans Mezzo Twin kit
pair 17.5
Helme
XLK
20
HPX1 crossover 200 watt
f2.50 Helme XLK
30
pair 21.9
13 x8, 15 watt dual cone
5.50
Helme
XLK
35
pair 26.75
801T 8" d/c, roll surr.
9.50 Helme XLK 40
pair 38.5s
Goodmans Axent 100
8.50
KEFkit 1
pair 59.50
14.95
Guoomans Audiom 200 8 ohms
56.00
KEFkit
Ill
each
22.00
Goodmans Axiom 402 8 or 15 ohms
pair 61.50
Goodmans Twinaxiom 8, 8 or 15 ohms 10.60 Peerless 1060
Peerless 1070
each 54.95
Goodmans 8P 8 or 15 ohms
6.50 Peerless 1120
each 61.00
Goodmans 1013 8 or 15 ohms
6.95 Peerless 2050
pair 43.95
Goodmans 12P 8 or 15 ohms
16.50 Peerless 2060
pair 58.50
Goodmans 12PG 8 or 15 ohms
each 13'.95.
17.75 Richard Allan Twin assembly
Goodmans 12PD 8 or 15 ohms
18.75 Richard Allan Triple 8
each 20.75.
Goodmans 32AX 8 or 15 ohms
44.013 Richard Allan Triple 12
each 25.95
49.00 Richard Allan Super Triple
Goodmans 15AX 8 or 15 ohms
each 29.50
24.00 Richard Allan RA8 Kit
Goodmans 15P 8 or 15 ohms
pair 37.8
39.95 Richard Allan RA82 Kit
Goodmans 18P 8 or 15 ohms
pair 59.4
16.95 Richard Allan RA82L Kit
Goodmans Hifax 750P
pair 65 70
Goodmans 5" midrange 8 ohms
4.25 Denton 2XP Kit
pair 23.25
Gauss 12"
115.00 Wharfedale Linton 3XP Kit
pair 34.25
Gauss 15"
139.00 Wharfedale Glendale 3XP Kit
pair 49.56
Gauss 18"
165.00
HI -FI
Jordan Watts Module, 4, 8 or 15 ohms 16.25
ON DEMONSTRATION

Fane
(21.00 Fane
25.75 Fane
f17.50 Fane
15.00 Fane
22,50 Fane
14.50

Akai, Armstrong, Bowers & Wilkins, Castle,

8.50
Celestion, Dual, Chartwell, I.M.F. RAM,. Neal,
10.75
Dalesford, Sansui, J.R.'Formula 4, Ortofon,
10.95
Linn Sondek, Stanton, Pickering, Kef, Leak,
11.95 Pioneer, Radford, Richard Allan, Rotel, Tandberg,
24.95
Trio, Videotone, Wharfedale, etc.
2.75
-Ask for our HiFi trio. list-7.25
THIS MONTH'S SPECIALS (Carr. f2,5)
4.95
ROTEL RA312
66.00
32.00 SANSUI 331
109.00
35.00 TRIO KR2600
109.00
48.00 VIDEOTONE MINIMAX ll
46.95
145.00
8.25 SANSUI SC2000/2002
PIONEER
CTF2121
136.00
9.50
ROTEL RX15211
91.00
10.50
3.75
We stock the complete Radford range of
19.80
amplifiers, preamplifiers, power amplifiera,
12.50
8.50 tuners etc., and also Radford Audio laboratory
6.25 equipment, low distortion oscillator, distortion
measuring set. audio noise meter etc.
16.95
3.15
ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT
17.95
(Prices correct at 10/3 /77)
5.90
Send stamp for free 38 -page booklet
78.75
"Choosing a Speaker"
85.00
All units guaranteed new and perfect
99.00
Carriage and insurance
Speakers up to 12" 60p; 12" 1.00; 15" 1.75;
18" 2.50; Kits 1.00 each (2.00 per pair),
Tweeters & Crossovers 33p each.

WILMSLOW
AUDIO

DEPT REC
LOUDSPEAKERS, MAIL ORDER AND EXPORT
SWAN WORKS, BANK SQUARE, WILMSLOW
HIFI, RADIO & TV: SWIFT OF WILMSLOW, 5
SWAN STREET, WILMSLOW CHESHIRE
PA, HIFI ACCESSORIES: WILMSLOW
AUDIO, 10 SWAN STREET, WILMSLOW
CHESHIRE
TELEPHONE: LOUDSPEAKERS, MAIL ORDER
AND EXPORT WILMSLOW 29599
HIFI, RADIO ETC.. WILMSLOW 26213

Access & Barclaycard Orders

accepted by phone

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

Strlnu Sound
Q.V. MODULES FOR COST CONSCIOUS CONSTRUCTORS

NEW THIS MONTH!

UNIT TWO
FOR LOW AND HIGH

MADE IN OUR OWN U.K. FACTORY

100 watt R.M.S. POWER AMP and

MATCHING 70 V. POWER SUPPLY

Unit Two is styled

similarly to Unit
One below but
incorporates
valuable

additional
features

OUTPUT CARTRIDGES
Here's another real money saver
from Stirling Sound! Wire it into``
your system and style it how you wish
Full instructions make this completely
straight-forward. Use Stirling Sound power
amps. for choice, bo Unit Two will work superbly in any system. Active ton a control circuits
give bass and treble rise and cut of +5dB each,
to 5 mV; RIAA corrected
accepts-inputs from

Your chance to save 1.95

Today's best 100 watt value now made even greater by including the
Stirling Sound SS.370 power supply together at the sensational price
of 21.00 *. A ruggedly built and guaranteed assembly, ideal for
disco, P.A., guitar use etc, Normal selling price for items bought
separately is 22.95*
already superb
value
so don't delay
order NOWl
SS.1100
100 watt R.M.S. power amp
with heatsink
type mounting flangef9.45*

--

Full size heat sink

SS.370

also adaptable for ceramics, etc. S/N

60dB; channel separation typically
ratio
30 -20,00 Hz 1dB.
56dB; frequency range

SS.1100H
andSS.370
(P /P

money saver this. Compatible with all

relevant Stirling Sound modules as well as other
A real

makes.

Combined pre -amp with active tone -control

circuits. 15dB at 10Khz treble and 30Hz bass.
Stereo, Vol. /balance/treble /bass. 200mV out
for SomV in. Operates from 10 to 16V supply.

UNIT TWO

Stirling Sound power supply units

with Modules SS.103 to SS.120. V.A.T. becomes 121 %.
If ordering

TONE CONTROLS /PRE -AMPS

SS.100 Active toned control, stereo. 15dB on
bass and on treble
1.60

SS.101 Pre -amp for ceramic cartridges, etc.

Stereo. Passive tone control details supplied.
1.60
SS.102 Stereo pre -amp for low output magnetic
P.Us. R.I.A.A. corrected
2.65
LARGE 12p S.A.E. BRINGS LATEST

NOW

SS.203-1 COIL -TYPE STEREO DECODER

for use with SS.201 and SS.202, recommended
where economy is called for. Available in two
forms:with

I.C.

for neg. earth

Transistor type for pos. earth

2.50
2.00

TO CHOOSE FROM
Complete with mains transformers and low volt
take -off points not SS.300). All at 8% V.A.T.
rate.

P/P

55.312

12V/1A

SS.318
SS.324
SS.334
SS.345
SS.350

18V/1A
24V/1A

SS.370

34V/2A
45V/2A

50V/2A
70V/2A

3.75'
4.15"
4.60'
5.20'
6.25'
6.75'
12.50'

50p

50p
50p
5Op

50p

50p
1

WHAT QV MEANS TO YOU

SS.300 Power stabilising unit 10 -50V adjustIt means Stirling Sound QUALITY and VALUE
able for adding to unstabilised supplies. Built in
from modtiles made in our own Essex factory.
protection against shorting
(p /p 35p) 3.26'
They are all tested and guaranteed and offer
unbeatable value. Designed by highly specialist electronic engineers with wide experience
SS.310/50 Stabilised power supply with variof constructors' and experimenters' needs.
able output from 10V to 50V /2A. Built-in
WATCH HOW THE STIRLING SOUND
protection against shorting (p /p 50p) 11.95'
RANGE GROWS!
STIRLING SOUND 16 LARGE PAGE EQUIPM ENT AND COMPONENTS PRICE LIST

subject to alteration without notice.

A member company of the Bl- Pre -Pak group established 1959

Sept. RC.4, 220-224 WEST ROAD

wtSTCLIFF -ON -SEA, ESSEX SSO 9DF

APRIL 1977

7.80

See above

SS.201 Front end tuner, slow geared drive, two

gang, A.F,C. facility. Tunes 88 -108 MHz.5.00
SS.202 I.F. amplifier. Metering and A.F.C.
2.65
facilities
SS.203 Phase Lock Loop Stereo Decoder
for use with the above or other FM mono tuners.
3.85
A LED may be fitted.

8 %. Make cheques, etc. payable to Bi -Pre -Pak Ltd. Every effort is made
to ensure correctness of information at time of going to press. Prices

Personal callers welcome

POWER SUPPLY UNITS

WITH 13 -15V
TAKE -OFF
POINTS
Except
SS.312

F.M. TUNING MODULES

WHEN ORDERING add 35p for p/p unless stated otherwise. V.A.T.
add 124% to total value of order unless price shows ' when VAT. is'

Telephone Southend 10702146344

21.00*

(1.00 where SS.370 is ordered)

Q.V. MODULES TO SAVE YOU MONEY

UNIT ONE TONE CONTROL/PRE -AMP

POWER AMPLIFIERS
3 -40 Watts R.M.S.
SS.103 3 watt r.m.s. mono. Short- circuit
protected, Uses one I.C.
1.75
SS.103 -3 Stereo version of above using two
3.25
I.C.s
SS.105 4 watts r.m.s. into 3 ohms, using 12V
2.25
S5.110 10 watts r.m.s. using 24V and 4 ohms
2.75
load
SS.120 20 watts r.m.s. into 4 ohms, using
3.25
34V
SS.140 Delivers 40 watts r.m.s. into 4 ohms
using 45 volts supply unit such as SS.345. Ideal
3.95'
for small disco. P.A. etc.

12.50

(with larde heat sink)

Tested before despatch (ready built) and guaranteed. For 10 -20 V. operation.

tMORE STIRLING SOUND

1.00

70V/2A power supply

with low volt take -off

SPECIAL 0E-LUXE 25 WATT HI -FI AMP BARGAIN

Made to sell at 7.25

LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE AT

This is the BI- Pre -Pak SS.125, designed and
made for the connoisseur market of hi-fi and
technical specialists. Gives 25 w.r.m.s. into 8
ohms using 50V, 22 w.r.m.s. into 4 ohms from
150 mV for full out33V. input sensitivity
put; distortion less than 0.05% at all powers.
With full instructions. TESTED & GUARANTEED.
LIMITED NUMBER ONLY AVAILABLE. Ideal for test
and lab. work, super hi -fi etc.

5.20

--

SS.125
Power Amp

523

THE MODERN BOOK CO

WORLD RADIO T.V. HANDBOOK 1977
Price: 5.50

by J. M. Frost
UNDERSTANDING MICROPROCESSORS

PRICE: 3.75

by Motorola

OP -AMP CIRCUIT DESIGN & APPLICATIONS

PRICE: 4.00
by J. Carr
SIMPLE ELECTRONICS FOR MODELLERS
PRICE: 3.30
by I. R. Sinclair
HAM RADIO A PRACTICAL GUIDE

& HANDBOOK
PRICE: 5.00
by K. Ullyett
BUILD -IT BOOK OF MINIATURE TEST &
MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS
PRICE: 3.30
by R. P. Haviland
MICROELECTRONICS
PRICE: 3.75
by C. L. Hallmark
TOWERS` INTERNATIONAL TRANSISTOR
SELECTOR
PRICE: 5.10
by T. D. Towers
RADIO COMMUNICATION HANDBOOK VOL. I
PRICE: 8.00
by RSGB

THE RADIO AMATEUR'S HANDBOOK 1977

PRICE: 6.50
by A.R.R.L.

ELECTRONICS FAULT DIAGNOSIS

PRICE: 3.25
by I. R. Sinclair

110 ELECTRONIC ALARM PROJECTORS FOR

THE HOME CONSTRUCTION
PRICE: 2.25
by R. M. Marston
CASSETTE TAPE RECORDERS
PRICE: 5.15
by J. Earl
MASTER ELECTRONICS IN MUSIC
PRICE: 2.85
by T. D. Towers
HI FI IN THE HOME
PRICE: 3.00
by J. Crabbe
PRICE: 3.60
HI FI YEAR BOOK 1977
BUILD YOUR OWN WORKING ROBOT
PRICE: 3.60
by D. L. Heiserman
THE CATHODE RAY OSCILLOSCOPE & ITS USE
PRICE: 4.00
by G. N. Patchett

PRICES INCLUDE POSTAGE

Country
We have the Finest Selection of English and American Radio Books in the

59 -2I

PRAED STREET (Dept RC) LONDON W2 INP

Telephone 01 -723 4185

NEW STYLE SELF -BINDER

for
"Radio 8 Electronics

Constructor"

The "CORDEX" Patent Self- Binding

Case will keep your issues in mint
condition. Copies can be inserted or
removed with the greatest of ease. Rich
maroon finish, gold lettering on spine.
made
Specially constructed Binding Cords are
hard
from Super Linen of great strength, very
twisted and twice doubled. They are attached
to strong RUSTLESS Springs
under tension, and the method
adopted ensures PERMANENT
RESILIENCE of the Cords. Any
PRICE
slack that may develop is
immediately compensated for
and the Cords will always
remain taut and strong. It is
impossible to overstretch the
springs, as a safety check
including V.A.T.
device is fitted to each.

El .20

Available only

from:-

Data Publications Ltd,

524

P.

& P. 30p

Owing to heavy demand please

allow 27 days for delivery.

57 Maida Vale London W9 ISN

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

PRECISION

IN YOUR HAND!
with the PRECISION

PETITE miniature electric drills

The Mk. li PI drill ilustrated is excellent
for speedy work on p.c. boards, light
metalwork and plastics. It operates from a
9 -14v. d.c. source @ 2 amps and turns at
10,000 r.p.m. with 120 cmg. torque. A
wide range of accessories is available.
ALSO the New P2 drill ... more powerful,
faster and of larger capacity has 4 collets
for 0 to 3.5 mm. tool shanks, long ball
bearing shaft and powerful motor running
at 12,000 r.p.m. with 320 cmg. torque
12v d.c. @ 3 amps.

Sole Distributors:

PRICES inc V.A.T.

Mk. Il Drill Stand
Mk. Il Drill Only
flexible Shaft
Transformer
Variable speed Transformer
S.30 Kit (Drill with 30 tools)
Kit Complete
P2 Drill only
Replacement accessories
Postage for spares (any quantity)

p.p.
p.p.
p.p.
p.p.
p.p.
p.p.
33.48 1.15 p.p.
16.50 65 p.p.
40p each
15p

4.40

8.79
6.46
6.00
8.25
17.62

36
35
25
70
70
86

PRECISION PETITE LTD.

119a High Street, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 8HG

Tel.: 01 -977 0878
24hr Telephone Enquiry Service

Send 9in. x 4in. SAE for

illustrated leaflets
and order form

2. Become a

I.Understand
electronics.

radio amateur.
Learn how to become a radioamateur in contact with the whole
world. We give skilled preparation
for.the G.P.O. licence.

Step by step, we take you through

all the fundamentals of electronics

and show you how easily the sub ject can be mastered using our
unique Leana-Kit course,

2)

lid an oscilloscope.
draw and understand
diagrams.

Carry out over 40 experiments on basic electronic

circuits and see how
work.

NEirErErIrrrEENrrrrirnumo11Mil
Brochure, without obligation to:

Illrr Eli eiEalmMNNINii

rrrra

wAa

vim

BRITISH NATIONAL RADIO & ELECTRONICS SCHOOL,

I
I

P.O. Box 156, Jersey, Channel Islands.

NAME
ADDRESS

REC 47

NE

inNN

APRIL 1977

_Eiste

smNE NE Ell ME

Block caps please

INN

NENE Rill

rmuenmarrrr- Own rrrIwe -rlO

INN

rI

525

THE 'NUTS & BOLTS"' OF THOSE PROJECTS!

packs of B.A. Threaded cadmium plated
BA BOLTS
screws, slotted cheese head. Supplied in multiples of
100.
No.
Price
Type
No.
Price
Type
845
0.51
839
1 "OBA-

MINIATURE MAINS Pri240V

with two independent secondary windings.

1.30

0 -6v, 0 -6v RMS 280mA

2024 MT280
2025 MT150

1.30'

0 -12v, 0 -12v RMS 150mA

240v
Secondary
6v -0 -6v 1DOrnA
9v -0 -9v 100mA
12v -0-12v 100mA

MINIATURE MAINS
No.
2021
2022
2023
1

Price

Type

No.

Pd

Price

1.3 5'

1.30'

amp MAINS Pri 240e

Secondary
6v -0 -6v amp
9v -0 -9v amp
12v -0 -12v amp
15v-0-15v amp
30v-0 -30v amp

No.

2026
2027
2028

2.70"
2.20"
2.80*

1
1

2029

f2.90

2030

3.80

p &p 30p
p &p 30p

&p 30p
&p 30p
p &p 30p
p
p

STANDARD MAINS Pri 240v

Multi- tapped secondary mains transformers available in

amp

amp and 2 amp current rating. Secondary taps

are 0-g19- 25-33- 40 -5yy0v.

4, 7,
volts.
No.
2031

tape;

10, 14,a5, 17, 19, 25, 31, 33, 40, 50, 25 -0 -25

2033

Price

Rating
.1

3.42.
4.40

amp
amp

840
842
843
644

"OBA

-e

"2BA
"26A
2BA

5.45

&p 30p
o &o 50p
p

p &p

85p

0.69
0.54

0.63
"6BA

2BA
SOLDER TAGS
of 100.
No.
Type
OBA

851

2BA

852

12
862
6BA
hot tinned supplied in multiples

161

4"

2q"

5'''"

2i"

LT719 MIN INPUT

Pri 20k Secondary 1k 20 x 15
Order no. 2043

x 13 x

13mm

15mm

0.32"

LT728 MIN DRIVER

Secondary 500 ohm C.T.

Dimensions 25 x 20 x 20mm
Order no. 2047 0.43"
Pri 1k C.T.

LT729 MIN OUTPUT

Pri 200 ohm C.T. Secondary 3.2 & 8 ohm 400mW

f0.39'
ohms 500mW

0.42

L. E. D.'s
Pe2e09
TIL2a
09

TIL211
TIL213
FLV115
FLV310
FLV410

Order no Colour
1501
1502

.125"
.125"
.125"

1503
1504
1505
1506

RED
GREEN

YELLOW
RED
GREEN

YELLOW

.25p

pack of standard sizes and colours which fail to

perform to their very rigid specification, but which are
ideal for experimens.
Ord[' no. 1507 0.90

L.E.D. CLIPS
Pack of 5
Pack of 5

526

.125"
.2

1508/.125
1508/.2

1"

1.04"
1.32

Order No,
BR1/50
BR1 100
1381/400

Price

Price

Order No.
BR2/50

0.40
0.45
0.50
0.55
0.65

8R2/200

BR2 400
BR2 1000

No.

100m
250mA
500mA

622

Price

.15p
.30p

623
624

QUICK BLOW
No.
Type
631
250m

1.6A

No.
635
636

Type
lA

No.
506
507
508
509
510

0.22
0.24
Type
4A
5A

No.

Type

625

2.5A

1}"

No.
632
ALL 7p EACH
No.
Typpe
636
2.5A
639
3A
ALL 6p EACH
Tyyppe

500m

619
620

No.

628
629
630
No.

80mA

634

Type
4A

No.
641

5A

E0.33'
0.38
0.42
0.13"
0.18"

SPST-

No.
1980
1981

BLACK

1982
1983

WHITE

moulded in high

insulation. Material
available in a choice of
colours ideal for small
apparatus

BLUE

1984
YELLOW
LUMINOUS 1985
No.

Description

Miniature S.P.S.T. toggle

2 amp 250v AC
Miniature S.P.S.T. toggle
2 amp 250v AC
Miniature D.P.D.T. toggle
2 amp 250v AC
Miniature D.Pp..D.T. toggle centre
250v
off Push button S.P.S.T. amp
250v AC
Push button S.P.S.T. 2 amp
250v AC
Push button D.P.D.T. 2 amp
250v AC

Price

0.22

0.22
0.22
0.22

0.22"
0.22"
Price

1958

0.50

1959

0.85"

1960

0.65'

1961

0.85"

1962

0.65

1963

0.68

1964

0.80"

MIDGET WAFER SWITCHES

Single -bank wafer type suitable for switching at 250v

AC 100mA or 150v DC in non- reactiver loads make before -break contacts. These switches have a spindle
0.25" dia and 30 indexing.
Price
Order
Description
No.
0.48"
1965
1 pole 12 way
0.48
1966
2 pole 6 way
0.46"
1967
3 pole 4 way
0.48"
1968
4 pole 3 way

Order

MICRO SWITCHES
Plastic button gives simple
on -off action
Rating 10 amps 250v AC
Button gives pole change
over action
Rating 10 amp 250v AC

Price

No.

1969

0.20

1970

0.25

DISPLAYS

Price
LED
Order
Type
No.
0.80
1510
single
.3"
BDL707
1.50
1511
BOL747 .6" single
1.80
1512
8 DL727 .5" double
COLD CATHODE ITT 5087 ST
decimal
and
0
-9
Displays
Side viewing indicator tubes.
points. Wide viewing .angle - operates from 180v with
16k series anode resistors - character height 16.5mm
pin connections supplied.
Order No. 1513 Price 0.80

Negative Regulators TO220 case

MVR 7915 15v 2.00
MVR 7905 5v 2.00
MVR 792424v 2.00
MVR 7912 12v 2.00

621

ALL 5p EACH

3.15A
2A
.626
5A
627
1.6A
ALL 7p. EACH

0.12

Toggle switch SP.S.T.

1975
1g amp 250v AC
Toggle switch D.P.D.T.
1976
amp 250v AC
Rotary ON -OFF mains switch 1977
Push switch Push to make 1978
1979
break
Push
to
switch
Push
Colour
ROCKER SWITCH
RED
A range of rocker

switches

Price

0.10"

Positive Regulators TO220 case

MVR 7815 15v 1.25
MVR 7805 5v 1.25
MVR 782424v 1.25
MVR 7812 12v 1.25

0.20'

615
616
617
618

1973
1974

D.P.D.T. miniature slide

D. P.D.T. standard slide

VOLTAGE REGULATORS

0.07"
0.10

No.

SWITCHES
No.

Description

0.25
0.28
0.30
0.35

651/200

Type

lA

Price
.12
.25p
.25p
.12p

Order no.

0.86

QUICK BLOW2Omm
No.
Type
Type
611
1A
150mA
612
1.5A
250mA
613 2A
500mA
614
2.5A
800mA
ANTI -SURGE 20mm

Type

2nd Grade L.E.D.'s

Size

0.82
0.78"
0.64
0.44

& FUSES
FUSE HOLDERS
Price
Order

ohm 200mW

& 8

Price

0.62"
0.62

8"
6"

20mm x 5mm chassis mounting

chassis mounting
1 "' x "
1 "' car inline type
Panel mounting 20min
Panel mounting 14"

0.38"

LT730 MIN OUTPUT

Pri 500 ohm C.T. Secondary 3.2
Order no. 2049

7"

100vRMS
200vR MS
400vR MS

20 x 15 x 15mm
0.32
Order no. 2044

Order no. 2048

0.30

2
5,.

SILICON 2 AMP
Type
50v
100v
200v
400v
1000v

LT724 MIN OUTPUT

Pri 1.2 -C.T. Secondary 3.2 & 8 ohm 200mW
Dimensions 20 x 15 x 15mm
Order no. 2045 0.38

Dimensions 25

854

4'

4'

SILICON
Type
50vRMS

Pri 10k Secondary 2k-C.T.

f0.30

RECTIFIERS
BRIDGE
AMP

LT722 MIN DRIVER

LT726 MIN OUTPUT

Pri 500 ohm Secondary 3.2 &
Dimensions 20 x 15 -x 15mm
Order no.1 2046

59"

164
165
166
167

LT711 MIN DRIVER

Pri 10k Secondary 2K -C.T 15 x 13 x 13mm
Order no. 2040 0.35

LT712 MIN OUTPUT

Pri 500 ohm Secondary 8 ohm 100mW 15
Order no. 2041
0.28"
LT717 MIN INPUT
Pri 150k Secondary 1k 20 x 15 x 15
Order no. 2042 0.52

Price

No.

853

Height

Width

Length

162
163

0.42

48A
68A

In two sections, vinyl covered

top and sides, aluminium bottom, front and back.
Price
Height
Width
Length
No.
1.40"
2"
5'T"
8'"
155
1.80'
3"
8'
11"
156
1.25
1d. "'
4x"
e"
157
1.60"
51"
2 "
9"
158
ALUMINIUM BOXES. Made from bright ali., folded
construction each box complete with half inch deep lid

MINIATURE INTER /DRIVER

Order no. 3051

INSTRUMENT CASES.

4'

Pri 100k Secondary 1k 15 x 13 x 13mm

Type

Price

0.42
0.36

4'

LT710 MIN INPUT

0.15

No.
159
160

0.23

"6BA
848
849
"68A
0.33
850
1

-flat

and screws.

20k Secondary 1k Ratio 5:1

Order rio. 2038

.- "4BA

0.38
0.33
0.50
0.30

846
847

Packs of cadmium plated full nuts in

BA NUTS
multiples of 100.
No.
Price
Typpe
Price
No.
Type
0.42
857
48A
0.90
855
OBA
0.36
858
6BA
856
0.60
2BA
cadmium Plated plain stamped
BA WASHERS
washers supplied in multiples of 100.
Price
No.
Price ' Type
No.
Type

AUDIO OUTPUT Pri 12k Secondary 5 ohms

200mW Dimensions 20 x 16 x 15
Order no. 2037 0.25*
Prl

"48A

0.83

859

Price

& BOLTS

-NUTS

TRANSFORMERS

642

ORDERING
PLEASE WORD YOUR ORDERS
EXACTLY AS PRINTED, NOT
FORGETTING TO INCLUDE
OUR PART NUMBER

V.A.T.

ADD 122% TO PRICES MARKED*

ADD 8% TO OTHERS EXCEPTING
THOSE MARKED *. THESE ARE ZERO

Just a selection from

our huge stocks!

SEE OUR
1977 CATALOGUE
126 pages packed with
valuable information

ORDER NOW
ONLY 50p
plus 15p p&p

Dept. C5, P.O. Box 6, Ware, Herts.

Shop at: 18, Baldock Street, Ware, Herts.
Open 9 to 5.30 Monday to Saturday

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

4" RANGE

--"

Size 4,'

Value
0 -50UA

31"

Price

No.

0 -5000A
0.1 MA
0-50V

13'05

1306

2" RANGE

2f-

Value
0-50UA

0 -1000A
0-500A
0-1 MA
0-50V

1"

0-1MA

Price

3.50
3.50
3.50
3.50
3.60

1311

Value

0-1MA
0 -500UA

30mm

No.

Price

1313
1315

4.80
3.20

EDGEWISE
Size 31" x 1i"
Cut out

13-"

No.

1307
1308
1309
1310

MR2P TYPE
Size 42 x 42
Value
0-50A

4.50
4.50
4.50
6.00
6.00

1302
1303
1304

0 -1000A

Size

11"

2f"

2'

11"

No.

Price

1316
1317

4.05
4.05

MINIATURE
BALANCE/
TUNING METER
Size 23 x 22 x 26mm
Sensitivity
100/0 /100MA
Price

No.

1318

1.95

BALANCE/TUNING
Size 45 x 22 x 34mm

Sensitivity

1.00/0/100UA

No.

Price

1319

2.00

MIN. LEVEL METER

Size 23 x 22 x 26mm

Sensitivity 2000A

U50 100 Germ. Gold bonded 0A47 diode16130

COMPONENT PAKS
ORDER

PACK
NO QTY

Cl

200

Price

C2

150

1.95

C3

50

C4

80

C5
C6
C7

5
2

No.

Price

1321

2.00

NEWNES TECHNICAL BOOKS

No. 238
TRANSISTOR
POCKET BOOK
PRICE 3.90t

PRICE 2.25t

No. 225

No. 230 BEGINNERS

GUIDE TO

110 THYRISTOR
PROJECTS USING
SCRS & TRIACS
PRICE 2.50t

TELEVISION
PRICE 2.25t
No. 231 BEGINNERS
GUIDE TO
TRANSISTORS
PRICE 2.25t
No. 233 BEGINNERS
GUIDE TO
RADIO
PRICE 2.25t
No. 234 BEGINNERS
GUIDE TO COLOUR
TELEVISION
PRICE 2.25t

No, 227
110 COS /MOS
DIGITAL IC
PROJECTS FOR
THE HOME
CONSTRUCTOR

PRICE 2.25t
No. 226

110 OPERATIONAL
AMPLIFIER
PROJECTS FOR
THE HOME
CONSTRUCTOR

No. 235
ELECTRONIC

PRICE 2.50t

No. 236
ELECTRONIC
COMPONENTS

PRICE 1.80t
No. 237 PRINTED
CIRCUIT ASSEMBLY
PRICE 1.80t

No. 242
ELECTRONICS
POCKET BOOK
PRICE 3.75t
No. 239
30 PHOTOELECTRIC
CIRCUITS &
SYSTEMS

PRICE 1.80t
Also a full '77 range of Technical and Data
See our Catalogue
Books

ORDERING

10

Ce
C9

3
15

C11

C12

30

C13
C14

20

C15
C16
C17
C18
C19
C20

20
15
4
2
1

V.A.T.
ADD 123-% TO PRICES MARKED*
ADD 8 %, TO OTHERS EXCEPTING
THOSE MARKEDt. THESE ARE ZERO

APRIL 1977

NO

Resistor mixed value approx.

(Count by weight)
Capacitors mixed value approx.
(Count by weight)
Precision resistors. Mixed
values.
ith W resistors mixed preferred
values.
Pieces assorted ferrite rods.
Tuning gangs. MW /1 W VHF.
Pack wire 50 meters assorted
colours single strand.
Reed switches.
Micro switches.
Assorted pots.
Metal lack sockets 3 x 3 5mm.
2 x standard switch types.
Paper condensers preferred
types mixed values.
Electrolytics'trans. types.
Pack assorted hardware
Nuts/bolts, gromets etc.
Mains slide switches ass.
Assorted tag strips and panels
Assorted control knobs.
Rotary wave change switches.
Relays 6 -24V operating.
Pak, copper laminate approx.

20054

15

C21

C22

50

C23

60

024

25
30

C25

ins.

Assorted fuses lOOmA-5amp.

Metres PVC sieeving assorted
size and colour
+ watt resistors mixed preferred
values.
Presets assorted type and value.
Metres stranded wire assorted

colours.

NO QTY
S1
6

52

S3

Slider potentiometers, mixed

0.60

16171
16172

"0'60

16174

0.60
0.60
0.60

0'60

'0'80

16173

16176
16176

0,60

16177
16178
16179
16180

'0.60

0.60

16181
16182

0.60
'0.80
0.60

16183
16184

0.60
0.60

16185

0.60

16188
16186

0.60

16187

LC.'s 76110 Eye, to MC1310P- MA761.

Data supplied with pak.

PRICE '1.50
ORDER NO. 16229
U76A AUDIO POWER OUTPUT
AMPLIFIERS
8 Assorted types SL403 76013 76003 etc
Data supplier./ with pak.
ORDER NO. 16228
PRICE 1,00

74 SERIES PAKS

0.60

*0,60

16194

ro.e0

log.

16195

'0.80

Slider potentiometers, all 47k

S6

Slider potentiometers, all 47k

CASSETTES
Bt -PAK LOW COST
Order No.
Price
301
0.36

302
20.45
303
0.84
AGFA COLOUR COMPACT
C60
304
0.58
305

f1.29

C120

AGFA STEREOCHROM.E
307
308
309

1.29

310

0.96

AGFA S. F. D.
312
T.D.K. S.D.
321
322

323
T.D.K. E.D.
324

1.56

2.22
1.23
1.80
0.95
1.44
2.04

Manufacturers "Fall Outs" which include

Functional and part-Functions! Units. These
are ciassed as 'out-of -spec' from the maker's
very rigid specifications, but are ideal for
learning about I.C's and experimental work.
74G 100 Gates assorted 7400-01 -04 -10

50-60 etc.
Order No. 18224

16190
16191

'

VEROBOARD PAKS
VBt Approx 30

matrix.

RIG VALUE
JUMBO COMPONENT PAKS
Mixed Electronic Components

Resistors, capacitors, pots, electrolytics and coils .plus -Marty other useful
items. Approximately 3Ibs in weight.

Order No. 16221. 21.50

85p p &p

C280 CAPACITOR PAKS

75 Willard C260 capacitors, mixed values
ranginp from .OtuF to 2.2uF complete with
identification sheet.
1.20
Order No. 16204

CABLES

3126
3127
3128
3129
Individ
4 core
Screened 3130
Single Mic'phone H/duty 3131
3 core Mains :Same)
3132
2 core Oval (2.5amp)
3133
2 core Speaks,
3134
CP10 Low -Loss U.H.F
3135
CP11 Multicore: 8way
3146
15way
3136
CP12 Standard VHF Coax
3232
CP2
CP3
CP4
CP5
CP6
CP7
CP8
CP9

Twin Microphone
Stereo Screened
4 core Screened

Just

Price

per
Order No. Meter

Description
CP1
Single Microphone

0.07
0.13

0.14
0.25
0.26
0.12
0.09
0.08
0.07
0.14
0.25
0.40
0.10

selection from our huge

stocks
'

SEE OUR

1977 CATALOGUE

I.C. PAK

126 pages packed with

valuable information
ORDER NOW ONLY 50p
plus 15p PAP

inin-

cluding: Logic, 74 series,

Linear, Audio and D.T.L.
Many coded devices but
some unmarked
you
to identify.
Order No, 16223

OUR SPECIAL
PRICE 1.20

0.80

Order No. 16200

APPROXIMATELY
200 PIECES

sq. Ins. various sizes, all

1" matrix.

0.80
Order No. 16199
Vat. Approx 30 sq. ins. various sizes, .15"

MAMMOTH

Assorted fall -out

tegrated circuits,

1,20

74F 50 Flip -Flops assorted 7470- 72 -73 -74

76- 104 -109 etc.
Order No. 16225
1.20
74M 30 MSI Assorted Types. 7441- 47 -90154 etc.
1.20
Order No. 16226

'0.50

16193

0120

16170

lin.

S5

C60
C90

0.60
0.80
0.60

16192

Slider potentiometers, all 22k

Cho
C90

16167
16168
16169

tin.

C60

0.60

in.

Slider potentiometers, ail 470

ohms
Slider potentiometers, all 10k

S4

C90
C120

16166

0.80
0.60
0.80

C60

16165

0.60
0,60

16164

ORDER PRICE
NO

values.

C60
C90
C120

PRICE

SLIDER PAKS

PACK

C120

PLEASE WORD YOUR ORDERS

EXACTLY AS PRINTED, NOT
FORGETTING TO INCLUDE
OUR PART NUMBER.

Manufacturers "Fell Outs" which include

Functional and part Functional Units. These
are classed as 'out-of-spec' from the maker's
very rigid specifications, but are Ideal for
learning about I.C.'s and experimental work.
U721 30 Assorted Linear Types.
709 -741-747 -748- 710 -588 Etc.
PRICE 21.50
ORDER NO. 16227
07660 FM STEREO DECODER

No.

Vu METER
Size 40 x 46x 29mm
Sensitivity 130UA

Price

0.60
0.60
20.60
0.60
0.60
0.60
0,60

16131
150 Germ. 0A7O/81 diode
U52 10Q Silicon Diodes 200mA 0A200 16132
16133
U53 150 diodes 75mA 154148
16134
Hat
750mA
Top
60 Sil Rect
1)54
16135
U55 20 Sil Sect Stud Type 3 Amp
16136
U56 50 400mW Zeners D07 Case
60.60
16137
.157
30 NPN Trans BC107/8 Plastic
20.60
U58 30 PNP Trans BC177/178 Plastic 16138
0.60
U59 25 NPN T039 2N697/2N1711 sil 16139
0.60
16140
U60 25 PNP T059 252905 silicon
0.60
16141
30 NPN Tote 25706 silicon
U61
0.60
16142
062 25 NPN BFY50/51
16143
'0.60
U63 30 NPN Plastic 2N3906 silicon
16144
`60.60
064 30 PNP Plastic 253905 silicon
0.60
16145
065 30 Germ. 0071 PNP
16146
1.20
U66 15 Plastic Power 253055 NPN
1.20
16147
067 10 TOS Metal 253055 NPN
0.60
16148
066 20 Unijunction trans 11543
16149
1. 20
amp SCR T039
U69 10
1.20
16150
8 3 amp SCR T066 case
U70
of
type
to
the
given
as
a
guide
Code No's mentioned above are
device in the pak. The devices themselves are normally unmarked.
1151

C10

DIAGRAMS
PRICE 1,80t

Order No.

Pak No.

1320

No. 229 BEGINNERS

GUIDE TO
ELECTRONICS

LINEAR PAKS

SUPER UNTESTED PAKS

PANEL METERS

WORLD SCOOP!

JUMBO

SEMICONDUCTOR PAK
Transistors -Germ and Silicon Rectifiers
Diodes - Triacs - Thyristors - I.C.s and Zeners.
ALL NEW & CODED. Approx. 100 Pieces.
Offering the amateur e fantastic bargain PAK
and an enormous saving identification and
data sheet in every pak.
2.25
Order No. 18222

C1.48

2.05
325
T.D.K. SUPER AVILYN
C60
1.53
326
2.20
C90
327
C30 LETTER TAPE

Complete in mailing box -15

mins each side.
Price 0.35
Order No. 3193

DEPT C5, P.O. BOX

6,

WARE, HERTS.

SHOP 18 BALDOCK ST, WARE, HERTS.

OPEN 9 to 5.30 Mon /Sat.
AT
527

VIAL ..
LATEST
LTS
BOUND
OUE
ON VOLUME

AVAILABLE
NOW
O

No. 2
N.
29
off

lcrnc
"Radio & Electronics
"ai

IN4148 Sp; 6 for27p; 12 for 48p.

% at5mA. Values
LOW PRICE ZENER DIODES: 400mW; Tol. + -57.5V;
8.2V; 9.1V;
available; 3V; 3.6V; 4.7V; 5.1V; 5.6V; 6.2V; 6.8V;
;16V;18V;20V;22V;24V;27V;30V.
15V
104; 11V; 12V; 13V; 13. 5V;

osrco"

Constructor"

for 33p; 10 for 65p. SPECIAL: 100 Zeners for 6.00.

at 40 C;
.RESISTORS: High stability low noise carbon film 5%, 1 WEACH;
8p
2.20 to 2.2MO ALL AT Ip
IN at 70C. E12 series only - from
or 10 of any one value; 70p for 100 of any one value. SPECIAL PACK:
5.00.
10 of each value 2.20 to 2.2M0 (730 resistors)
- Brand new wire
.SILICON PLASTIC RECTIFIERS - 1.5 Amp
.nded D027: 100 P.I.V. -7p (4/26p); 400 P.I.V.- 8p (4/30p).
BRIDGE RECTIFIERS: 2} Amp. 200V-40p; 350V - 45p; 600V - 55p.
ALL AT Sp
SUBMINIATURE VERTICAL PRESETS -0.1W only:
10K, 15K, 22K,
each; 500,1000, 2200, 47017,6800 1 K, 2.2K, 4.7K, 6.8K,
47K, 100K, 220K, 680N, 1M, 2.5M, & 5M.
PLEASE ADD 8% VAT TO ALL ITEMS EXCEPT THOSE MARKED
WITH
WHICH ARE 124%. PLEASE ADD 20p POST AND
PACKING ON ALL ORDERS.
lists
Send S.A.E. for lists of additional ex -stock items. Wholesale price
PLEASE
available to bona -fide companies. ALL EXPORT ORDERS
MAIL.
ADD COST OF SEA/AIR
All at 7p each;

et

Dept.

65
4645

RDN
MARCO
ACdtso,TRADING
ao. Tl

col
982

HXL Slp

AUGUST
A
UGUST 1975 to JULY 1976

WEM, Salop. Tel: WHIXALL (Salop)

h Old School, Edstaston, WM
The
Ltd.).
Pos Minicost Trading Ld)
(STD 094872) (Props:

Pl,l

(T

iiot Taig

Comprising

776 pages

Still the simplest, fastest way

of constructing your
electronic circuits. Vero
Electronics Ltd manufacture
boards to suit most of your
requirements, including,
Verostrip, Dual in line I.C.
boards, Plain Boards, etc. A
new catalogue is available
(price 10p + S.A.E. at least 7"

PRICE 3.10 P &P 75p

inc. index

VCrO

BOUND VOLUME No. 27

(August 1973 to July 1974)

BOUND VOLUME No. 28

(August 1974 to July 1975)

x 9 ")

PRICES
VOL. 27

2.40 per volume

P &P

75p

P &P

75p

VOL. 28

2.75 per volume

Limited number of these

volumes still available.
We regret all earlier volumes are now
completely sold out.

Available only from

Vero Electronics Limited, Retail Dept.,
Industrial Estate, Chandler's Ford, Hants., 505 3ZR
Telephone Chandler's Ford 7956 (STD 04125)

528

DATA PUBLICATIONS LTD.,

57

MAIDA VALE, LONDON, W9 1SN

RADIO

&

ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

RETURN OF POST MAIL ORDER SERVICE

R.C.S.

NEW BSR HI -FI AUTOCHANGER

STEREO AND MONO

12'

77,

7" records
Auto or Manual. A high
quality unit backed by BSR
7
reliability with 12 monthsguarantee AC 200/250v.
Plays

Size

13;

10"

11

or

,.

Cryy..

in.

Above motor board 3;in.

Below motor board 2 +in.
With STEREO /MONO CARTRIDGE

.,,
11.95

Single player version with cueing' device

>',

Post 75p

13.50

HEAVY METAL' PLINTHS

B.S.R. or G

finish. Size

ward decks. Silver grey

12;

141

Size 16 x 131 x 7in.

7tin.

rCaG

Lu J

18P

16 +16 +16/275s 45p

4/350V
201 50 +50/300V
50p
8/350V
65p
75p
32A-32/450V
16/350V
70p 1001-50+ 50/350V 85p
32/500V
50p 32 +32 +32/350 75p
25/25V 10p 8.16/450V
50p
95p
30.000/25V
50/50V 10p 16 +16/450V 50p 4700/63V
95p
100/25V 10p 32 +32/350V 50p 420/500V
1.50

LOW VOLTAGE ELECTROLYTICS CONDENSERS

22, 25, 50, 65. 150, 470, 500, 680, 1500, 2200, 3300,
mkt all 6 volt 10p ea.
22, 25, 68, 100. 150, 200. 220, 330. 470. 680, 1000,
1500, 2200, bald all 10 volt Op ea.
220, 330, 1000. 4700 mfd all 4v. 10o ea.
2. 4, 5. 8, 16, 25, 30, 50, 100, 200mF 15V 10p.
1
500n1F 12V 15p 25V 20p
50V 30p.

EXTRA LARGE PLINTH & COVER

Post 1

R.C.S.
f

.9

DECK
SINGLE
RECORD

110

WATT, 8 OHM. CERAMIC MAGNETS

95_

45p

COMPLETE STEREO SYSTEM

Two full size loudspeakers t3 e 10 x 3 }in. Player

Seit clips to loudspeakers makinzq it extremely compact.
Overall size only 131 x 10 x 8 1-In. 3 watts per channel,
plays all records
33 rpm 45 rpm.

Separate volume '& tone

controls 240v
AC inains.

MAINS TRANSFORMERS

AapPeOa ch

250- 0 -250V 80mA. 6.3, 2A

250 -0 -250 80mA. 63v 3.5e, 63v la or 5v 2e E4.60
350 -0 -350 80mA. 6.3v 3.5a, 63e la or 5v 2a. 5.80
300 -0 -300 120mA. 63v 4e C.T.; 6 -3v 2a
7.00
220e 45mA. 6.3v 2a.
1.75
HEATER TRANS 6,3v 3 amps 1.45
}amp, 95p
GENERAL PURPOSE LOW VOLTAGE. Tapped outputs
2 amp 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 24, 30v 4.60
amp 6. 8. 10. 12, 16. 18, 20, 24, 30, 36, 40. 48. 60, 4.60
2a, 6, 8, 12, 12, 16, 18. 20, 24, 30, 36, 40 48, 60 7.00
3a. 6, 8 10, 12, 16, 18, 20, 24, 30, 36, 40, 48, 60 8.70
5a.6. 8. 10. 12, 16, 18, 20, 24, 30, 36, 40.48, 60 f11.25
5. 8, 10, 16v ta 2. 6 -0 -6v 500mA E1. 9v la 1
1

12. 300mA i 12v 50OrnA 1. 12v 750mA 1.

40v 2a tamed 10v or 30v 2.95.
20e 3e E2.
40v 2e 1'2.75 30e 5A and 34v 2A ct. 3.50
20 -U -20v 1a 2. 30v 1;5 1.75, ztty fa 1.75, la 2
1

amp Transformer. mounted on panel with 'put ana

outout fuses supplies 0,20v,40v,60v or 20-0 -20e 3.50
to 115v
1

Attractive
Teak.finish
Weight 131s.

bargain Price

22.50

85p carrie

GARRARD

MINICHANGER

Plays all size records, 3 speed.

Size 12 x 83in. Complete with
Stereo /mono cartridge.

9.95
r,se

Up to 1OOniA output.

Poet75o.

i Please state voltage

many types- Ideal for models. 1.25

ALUMINIUM PANELS 18s.w.g. 6 x 4in. 15p; 8 x 6in, 26p;

10 x 7in. 30p; 12 x 5in. 30p; 12 x 8in. 40p; 18 x 6in.
46p; 14 x 9in. 50p; 12 e 1 tin. 55p; t 6 x 10in. 76p.
ALUMINIUM ANGLE BRACKET Sin long x f x ; 15p.

;inch DIAMETER WAVECHANGE SWITCHES 46p.

EA.

-way, or 2 p- 6 -way, or 3 p. 4 -was.

p,1 2 -way, or 4 p, 2 -way, or 4 p 3 -way.
TOGGLE SWITCHES, sp. 20p. dp. 25p dp. dt. 30p.
D.P.D,T. CENTRE OFF 85p, S.P.D.T. CENTRE OFF 45p.
Many types TOGGLE' SWITCHES in stock
2 p. 2
1

CHARGER TRANSFORMERS. Input 200/250v

for 6 or 12v 1;a C2.75 4a 4.60.
FULL WAVE BRIDGE CHARGER RECTIFIERS:
6 or 12v outputs I la 40p; 2a 55p;' 4a 85p.

R.C.S. STABILISED POWER PACK KIT

BLANK ALUMINIUM CHASSIS. 18 s.w -g. 23in. sides

6 e 4in. 70p;' 8 x 6in. 90p; 10 x 7in. 1.15;
14 x Sin. 1.50; 16 x 6in, 1.45; 12 x 3in. 87p;
16 x 10in. 1.70. All boxes, many sizes in stock,

AU'0 TRANSFORMERS 115v to 230v or 230v

150w f5; 250w 6; 400w 7; 500w 8.

All parts including printed circuit and instructions to

build this unit. Voltages available: 6v, 7.5v, 9v, 12e.

CASSETTE RECORDER MOTOR ONLY. 6 Volt.

Will npl

1977

--

1'5.95

Post45p

8.50
- --

f 9.5P

7.50
6.50
4.95

Bass units only 20W

Bass units only 15W
Bass units only 10W

Post 65p

Bookshelf Cabinet

f7.50

Teak Veneer. For above units

Past 1 50

R.C.S. 10 WATT
AMPLIFIER KIT
:&>,s+:,4

;..a

required.

This kit is suitable for record players, tape play back,

guitars, electronic instruments or small P.A. systems.
Two versions are available. A mono kit or a stereo kit. The
mono kit uses 13 semiconductors. The stereo kit uses 22
semiconductors with printed front panel and volume,
bass and treble controls. Spec. 10 watts output into 8
ohm, 7 watts into 15 ohms. Response 20 cps to 30K/cs.
.Input from 20mV high imp. Size 91-M x 3in x
.

2.95 45

11.25

Stereo kit

f 17.50

45

LOUDSPEAKERS P.M. 3 ohms, / e 4in. E1.25; 6' in. El 50:

8 x 5in. f 1.60, 8in. 1.75; 10 x 6in. 1.90; 10in. 2.50,
SPECIAL OFFER LOUDSPEAKERS' All Brand New.
3 ohm. 2 tin, 21m 3tin 5in 8 ohm, 21M; 2 /in; 5 x 3in.
5m_ 15 ohm, 31n
5in, 6 x 4in; 5 x 3in; 7 x 41n;
25 ohm 2 in, 3in 5 e 3in, 7 x 4 in; 35 ohm, Lion, 5in.
80 0l rr 2 m; 211n.
LU
3m.
ohm,
L EACH

1.25

fTWEETER VOLUME CONTROL 15 ohm 10 watt

with 1i1. long threaded bush for wood panel
mounting. Will suit all tweeters
75p
RICHARD ALLAN TWIN CONE LOUDSPEAKERS. 8in.
diameter 4W 2.50, 10in, diameter 5W 2.95; Post 25p.
12in. diameter, 6W 3.50, 3 or 8 or 15 ohm models.
SPEAKER COVERING MATERIALS. Samples Large S.A.E.
Horn Tweeters 2- 16Kc /s. 10W 8 ohm or 16 ohm 3.60.
De Luxe Horn Tweeters 2-18 Xc/s, 15W, 8 ohm
6.80
TWO-WAY 3.000 cps CROSS OVERS 3, 8 or 15 ohm 1.90
3 WAY CROSSOVER 850 cps and 3000 cps 125 watt) 2.20
100 WATT HORN TWEETER
f10.9

GOODMANS'CONE TWEETER
18,000 cps. 25 watts. 8 ohm.
5-lin. Woofer 10 watt. P-rice 4.95.

3.25

ELECTRO MAGNETIC
PENDULUM MECHANISM
,p r t o , over 250 hrs continuous on SP2 battery,
f illy
stable
g and speed, Ideal displays teaching
ek'miro magnetism or for metronome; strobe etc. 95p. Post 20p

1.5v

d.

11

WEYRAD TYPE COILS

P50'1AC 60p
P50'2CC 40p
P50'3CC 40p

RA2W 1.20
OPTI
LFDT4

85p

Twin Gang
Printed Circuit

2
85p

85p

COAXIAL PLUG 10p. PANEL SOCKETS 10o. LINE 180.

OUTLET BOXES, SURFACE MOUNTING 40p
BALANCED TWIN RIBBON FEEDER 300 ohms, 5p yd.
JACK SOCKE Std. open-circuit 20p, closed circuit 25p;
Chrome Lead Socket 45p. Phono Plugs 10p. Phono Socket 8p.
JACK PLUGS Std. Chrome 30P, 3.5mm Chrome 15p. DIN
SOCKETS Chassis 3 -pin 10p; 5-pin 10p, DIN SOCKETS
Lead 3 -pin 18p; 5 -pin 25p; DIN PLUGS 3 -pin 18p; 5 -pin
25p, VALVE HOLDERS 5p, CERAMIC 10p; CANS 5p.
I

R.C.S. 100 WATT VALVE

STEREO FM /AM TUNER AMPLIFIER

CHASSIS BY KUBA

AMPLIFIER CHASSIS

Prol.ssiunal model. Four inputs, Treble, Bass. Master

Volume Controls. Ideal disco, P.A. or groups. 5 speaker
This all transistor chassis has push button selection for long.
medium. short and V.H.F. wave bands. Features A.F.C. on
V.H.F. band with automatic stereo beacon light. Volume tone
end Balance controls with push button mains on /off switch.
OV1 1,10 I,,. k
arlri,lt' aml
An
-.
fitt..,l. Foi Watts 11^, phannel nutlet `
,: a ,i,
11 . 4 x 5in
PosT
:

33.50

f.50

outputs, very robust job

S.A.E. for details

85
1'I

plus 2.50 carr-

NEW MIXER /AMP 150 WATT

PROFESSIONAL

68

TRANSISTOR AMPLIFIER
volume treble Carr. 1.50
or group, P.A. amplifier
!Send for leaflets on Disco Gear, Cabinets, etc.
4 151151ily 3 outputs separate
and bave nontrols. Ideal disco

Access and Barclaycard welcome Phone your Order Open 9 -6 Wed.

Rail Selhurst.
Cash price includes VAT
Components Lists 10p.

APRIL

arsioo

8 or 15 ohm
as illustrated

RADIO COMPONENT SPECIALISTS

Minimum post 30p.

Mono kit

f3.45

WIPE -WOUND RESISTORS, 5 watt, 10 watt, lb watt.

10 ohms to 100K, 12p each, 2w 0.5 ohm to 8.2 ohms 15p,
TAPE OSCILLATOR COIL. Valve type 35p.
FERRITE ROD 6" x 3" 30p; 6" x I" 20p; 3" x
10p.
14p.
TAG STRIP 28 way

PLAYER

ELAC 9 x 5in. HI -FI SPEAKER, TYPE 59RM.

THIS FAMOUS AND WIDELY USED UNIT

NEON PANEL INDICATORS, 250V Red or Amber, 30p

RESISTORS, 1w., w-, 1w 20 %, 2p; 2s5. 8p. 10 to 10M.
HIGH STABILITY. r 3 w. 2% 10 ohms to 10 meg., 12p.
Ditto 5 %, Preferred values, 10 ohms to 10 meg., 5p.

Fitted with auto stop, compatible cartridge. Base platn. Size 11 in, x 8 }in. Turntable. Size 7in. diameter. A/C
mains 220/250V motor has a separate winding 14 volt
power p small ample rec.
3 speeds plays all size records.
Post

Two for 13.

itl

"

14n,x 12 }in. x 41in., 2.50.' 6' -20

Si, s: 'A'
x 12 ',tin. e 4sin.. 3.'C' - - 171M. x 131in. x 31in.. 3.25.
in.
19ie. x 141in. x 4 }in. 3.50; 163in. x 14in. x 4in. 3.50"
Ideal for record decks, tape decks, etc.

19 vv

Size: 20in. x 19 4-in. x Sin. TEAK FINISH

CALLERS ONLY
18.50

rr

And crossover, 10 watt

Sate 3 or 8 ohm

1000eiF 12V 20p ; 25V 35p 50V 47p ; 100V 70p

2000n1F 6V 25p 25V 42p 50V 57p 4700/63V 95p.
2500nrF 50V 62p ; 3000inF 25V 47p ; 50V 65p.
5000mF 6V 25p; 12V 42p; 35V 85p; 54A/ 95p.
500V -0001 to 0.1 10p; 0,25 12p; 0.47 25p
CERAMIC pF to 0.01 rnF, 5p. Silver Mica 2 to 5000pF, 5p.
PAPER 350V -0 -1 7p, 0.5 18p; 1mF or 2mF 150V 15p.
MICRO SWITCH single pole changeover 20p.
MICRO SWITCH sub finie 250.
TWIN GANG. "O -0- 2OBpF + 176pF 2. TWIN 3650E 50p.
Slow motion drive 365pF + 365pF with 25pF + 25pF 65p.
500oF standard twin gang 7hp.
12(.7 PI- twin gang hop.
1

TINTED PLASTIC COVERS

With tweeter

Post 1.25

7.50

20p 250/25V'
209 500'25V
220 100 +100/215v
30p 150 +200 /275v
50p 8 +8/450V

E.M.I. 133- x 8in.

SPEAKER SALE!
Bur 15 ohm
20 watt version

NEW ELECTROLYTICS CONDENSERS

21350V

ELAC 10in HI -FI UNIT

10 watt, 15 ohm full range unit, 35 to
16,000 c.p.s. Base resonance 40 c.p.s.
BARGAIN PRICE
4.50 post 45p
With P.V.C. Cover. Cut ou: for most

GENERAL PURPOSE TRANSISTOR

PRE- AMPLIFIER BRITISH MADE

Ideal for Mike. Tape RU.. Guitar, etc. Can be used with Battery
9 -12v. or H.T, line 200 -300V. D.C. operation. Size 14" x 11" x'
". Response 25 c.p.s. to 25 Kds, 26 db gain.
For use with valve or transistor equipment.
Post
1.46 3Op
Full instructions supplied..petails S.A.E.

337 WHITEHORSE ROAD,

CROYDON, SURREY.
9 -1 Sat. 9 -5 (Closed for lunch 1.15 -2.30)

Tel. 01 -684 1665,

529

JUST A FEW BARGAINS ARE LISTED - SEND STAMPED ADDRESSED

ENVELOPE FOR A QUOTE ON OTHER REQUIREMENTS. PAY A VISIT.
OVER 90% OF STOCK BELOW QUANTITY WHOLESALE PRICE.
ALL PRICES INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT IN LIEU OF
GUARANTEE

TRADE
COMPONENTS

Goods sent at customer s risk, unless suficient payment for registration (1st class letter
post) or compensation fee ( parcel post) included.

JAP 4 gang min. sealed tuning condensers 20p

Car type panel lock ELECTROLYTICS MFD /VOLT. Many others

and key
40p in stuck
70
200 300 450
18 volt 4 amp charger, Up to 10V 25V 50V 75V 100V 250V 350V 500V
Chassis B7 B7G
9p
bridge rectifier 79p MFD
Shrouded chassis 87G B9A-88A
.. 10p
3.00
612A tube
GC10 /4B
.. 9p
10 4p 5p 6p 8p 10p 12p 16p 20p
25 4p 5p 6p 8p 10p 15p 18p 20p
Telescopic
aerial
Speaker 6" x 4" 5 ohm ideal for car radio 70p
50 4p 5p 6p 9p 13p 18p 25p
Closed 9k ", open 38k"
100 5p 6p 10p 12p 19p 20p
TAG STRIP 6 way 3p 5 x 50pF or 2 x 220pF Fitted right angle TV
85p 1
250 9p 10p 11p 17p 28p
20p
plug, 50p
9 way 5p Single 1p trimmers
500 10p 11p 17p 24p 45p
Grey polystyrene 61 x 112 x 31mm, top secured by 4
BOXES
1.50
1000 13p 22p 40p 75p
self tapping screws 32 1p
2000 23p 37p 45p
Clear perspex sliding lid, 46 x 39 x 24mm 10p
ABS, ribbed inside 5mm centres for P.C.B., brass corner inserts,
As total values are too numerous to list, use this
screw down lid, 50 x 100 x 25mm orange 48p; 80 x 15C x 50mm
price guide to work out your actual requirements

VALVE BASES
Printed circuit B9AB7G

3p

..

--

black 70p; 109 x 185 x 60mm black

ALUMINIUM

3"x2"x1"
39p
24" x 51,"x 11" 45p
4"x4"x1'z" 45p

4" x

2" x 2"

1.10

44p

12"

4"x5.'x 1;'54p

8/20. 10/20, 12/20 Tubular tantalum 20p each

16- 32/275V. 100- 100/150V. 100- 100/275V 30p;
50- 50/385V. 12,000/12V, 32- 32- 50/300V, 2020-20/350V 60p; 700 mfd /200V 1.00; 100 -100100- 150- 150/320V 2.00.

.20

10"x7"x3" 1.22
x8"x3" 1.50
1p

RS 100 0 100 micro amp null

Approx. 2" x ;'" x 4'"

2p

INDICATORS

RESISTORS

SWITCHES

watt
Type

Way

E1

x 3

12"

4"x21'"x1Z'"'45p
Pole

5"

watt

....

---

- -

indicator

1.50

30p
18p Up to 15 watt wire Bulgin D676 red, takes M.E.S. bulb
18p
wound
red pushfit
6p
neon,
Mains
volt
or
12
20p
2
or 2% five times R.S. Scale Print, pressure transfer sheet .10p
6p
3
1
price.
CAPACITOR GUIDE maximum 500V
20p Cinch B way std 0.15
2
1
Up to .01 ceramic 3p. Up to .01 poly 4p.
pitch edge connector2Op
12 bank, multi- pole /way push- button
up to .1 poly etc. 5p..12 up to .68 poly
30p Semiconductor Data .013 6p.
(4 interlocking)
Silver mica up to 360pF 8p, then to
etc.
Covers
pages.
Book
171
rocker
switch
S.P.S.T. 10 amp 240v. white
2,200pF 11p, then to .01 mfd 18p.
25Al2
types
Japanese
20p
fitting
with neon. 1" square flush pane!
8p. .1/600: 12p. .01/1000, 8/20. .1/900,
S.P.S.T. dot 13 amp, oblong, push-fit, rockerl5p through to 250335. .22/900, 4/16. .25/250 AC (600vDC) 40p.
Type/connection/para10/150, 40/150.
1.50 5/150, 9/275AC,
meter details
AUDIO LEADS
high voltage in stock.
others
and
Many
VAT
No
80p
5 pin din plug 1800 both ends 14- Mtr.,
3 pin din to open end, 112 yd twin screened 35p
POTS
FORDYCE DELAY UNIT
35p Log or Lin, single or dual,
Phono to Phono plug, Eft.
Will hold relay, etc., for approx.
4
6

Sub. Min. Slide

Slide
13 amp rotary
2 Amp 250V A.C. rotary

....

COMPUTER AND AUDIO BOARDS

VARYING PANELS WITH ZENER, GOLD BOND,

SILICON, GERMANIUM, LOW ANO HIGH POWER
TRANSISTORS AND DIODES, HI STAB RESISTORS,
CAPACITORS. ELECTROLYTICS, TRIMPOTS, POT
CORES, CHOKES ETC.
3lb for 85p +
71b for 1.95 +

85p post and packing

1.20 post and packing
3" Tape Spools 3p

1k horizontal preset

with knob

3p

1" Terry Clips 4p

12 Volt Solenoid

30p

TV KNOB
Dark grey plastic for recessed shaft (quarter
5p
inch) with free shaft extension

switched carbon or wire wound, rotary or slider. All

types
16p

3p

1.5m Edgetype

Skeleton Presets

Slider, horizontal or vertical standard or submin. 5p

THERMISTORS
VA1008,
VA1039,
VA1055,
VA1082,

VA1034,
VA1040, ion
VA1066,
VA1100

v'.A1077,

240 volt A.C./D.C.

15 secs after power off. Ideal for alarm circuits,

1
etc.

CONNECTOR STRIP
Belling Lee L1469, 4 way polythene. 6p each
6p

11 glass fuses 250 m/a or 3 amp (box of 12)

Bulgin. 5mm Jack plug and switched socket (pair)

30p

5p

Reed Switch 28mm. body length

MAINS DROPPERS

66+66.-158 ohm, 66--.,-66+137 ohm

17 +14 --6 ohm, 266+14 +193 ohm

5p

I typ 50-;- 401k5

ohm
285+575+148 -f-35 ohm
25- x35+97+59 -4-30 ohm

5p
V1005,
RELAYS
12 volt S,P.C.O octal
30p
ENM Ltd. cased 7 -digit counter 2+ x 1; x 1" mercury wetted high 51" x 22" Speaker, ex- equipment 3 ohm
8p
a.c.)
or
mains
75p
12V
d.c.
approx.
(48
40p 2 Amp Suppression Choke
speed
..
P
PAXOLINE
ZM1162A INDICATOR TUBE
P.O. 30)0 type, 1,000 3x24x A" 1
..
41x4x%,
P
0 -9 Inline End View. Rectangular Envelope 170V OHM coil, 4 pole d/o
4p
1
2.5M /A
40p PCV or metal clip on MES bulb Holder
2p
REGULATED TAPE MOTOR
Mains or 12v d.p.c.o VALVE RETAINER CLIP, adjustable
bop heavy duty octal
9v d.c. nominal approx 14" diameter
50p
TRANSFORMERS
OUTPUT
25p
2.50 (p &p 85p) 3.5mm metal stereo Sub - miniature Transistor Type
12v 8 amp Transformer
1

..........

Ferric Chloride, Anhydrous mil. spec. 1Ib bag 40p

lu

RADIO SHACK
THEJOHNS
LONDON

20p 'Valve type,

,S.W.11
HILL, BATTERSEA,
161 ST.
on request.
Open 10 a.m, till 7 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. VAT receipts
Terms: Pa ment with order Telephone: 01 -223 5016

530

40p

... ... .. 25p

6 volt ZA
Whiteley Stentorian 3 ohm constant impedance volume control way below trade at 60p
Transformers

Yellow Wander Plug Box of 12

18 SWG multicore solder

25p

RS

2 }p

foot

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

2N2401
30p
2N2412
70p
2N2483
2N2904/5/6/7/7A
15p
2N3053
14p
2N3055 R.C.A.
50p
2N3704
S
2N3133
20p
2N4037
34p
2N5036 (Plastic 2N30551
30p
31p
2SA141/2/360
20p
2SB135/6/457
30p
40250 12N30541

SEMICONDUCTORS

Full spec marked by Mullard. etc. Many other types in stock

16p

C1028/17,6

ACY28
AD149

19p
4F0

125p
20p

AF124/6/7

AF139
AF178/80/81
AF239

300p

30p
6p
BC107/8/9 + A/B/C
BC147/8/9 4- A/B/C/S 6p
+
6p
BC157/8/9
A/B/C

ASY27/73

179B

12p

BC186/7tp
BC184CL/ C

20p

BC263g214B
BC327/8, 337/8

8p
10p

BC547/8/8A/8C
Amp

Volt
1,600
140

1.4

42
110

0.6
5

C555/6/7/8/9

BCY70/1/2
BD112/3
BD115/6
BD131/2/3
BD 135/6/7/9
BD140/142

9p
12p
50p
12p
50p
31p
35p
30p
30p

1SOp

BCX32, 36

BCY40

D201 /2/3/4

B0232/4/5/8

BF

180/1 /2/3/4/5

194/5/6/7
BF194A. 195C
BF200, 258. 324
BF202/3

BRIDGE RECTIFIERS
BYX10
OSH01 -200
BY164
EC433
Texas

400

RECTIFIERS
Amp
Volt
4/6/800
IN4004/5/6
1
1250
IN4007/BYX94
1
1,500
BY103
100
1.5
SR100
400
1.5
SR400
1,250
1.5
REC53A
30
2
LT102
300
2.5
BYX38-300R
600
2.5
BYX38-600
900
2.5
BYX38-900
1,200
2.5
BYX38-1200
300
2.5
BYX48-300R
600
BYX49-600
3
900
BYX49-900
3
1,200
BYX49-1200
3
6
300
BYX48-300R
600
6
BYX48-600
6
900
BYX48-900
1,200
6YX48-1200R 6
150
10
BYX72-150R
10 .
300
BYX72-300R
10
500
BYX72-50GR
10
300
BYX42-300
600
10
BYX42-600
10
BYX42-900
900
1,200
10
BYX42-1200
300
BYX46-30011" 15
400
BYX46-400R* 15
500
BYX46-500R* 15
15
BYX46-6005
600
BYX2O.200
25
200
40
300
BYX52-300
1,200
BYX52-1200 40
1

*Avalanche type
TRIACS
Volt
Amp
6
800
Plastic RCA
BTX94 -900
25
900
1200
BTX94 -1200
25
Mullard Data Book
RS 2mm Terminals
Blue R Black
Chrome Car Radio facia
Rubber Car Radio gasket
DLI Pal Delayline
.
.

2p
P

5P

5p
18-izp

7p
Sp

14p
10p
40P
45p
5Op

55p

26p
35p

40p
52p
40p
50p
60p
80p
35p
45p
55p
30p
65p
80p
95p
1.00
1.50
1.75
2.00
60p
1,75
2.50

45p
23p

7p

30p
50p

2N9887

40p

2N1507/2219

15p

50p
80p
80p

BPX40
BPX42
BPY10

(VOLTIAC)
B PY681

BPY69
BPY77

80p

OCP71

34p

BIG L.E.D.
2v 50m /A

0.2"

max.

ORANGE
YELLOW

1:20
4.00
6.00

for 40p
5p
50p
10p
5p

.3" red

14p 1
15
14p 6.5
14p 6.5

RED

segment L.E.D. 14
D.I.L. 0- 9 +D.P. display
1.9v
10m /a segment, common
61p
anode

0.25MFD

DL747.6"
1.25
Minitron 3" 3015F filament

2MFD
4MFD

1.10

CQY11B L.E.D.
Infra red transmitter
One fifth of trade

1p
Holder
Transistor or Diode Pad 1 p
Holdersorpads 5Opper100

20
15

30

800
250
250
250

1MFD

tool

CHASSIS SOCKETS
Coax 3p, 5 Din
180 9p, 5 or 6 pin 240 din
6p, speaker din switched 5p
3.5 mm switched 5p, stereo
+" jack enclosed 10p.
Car Aerial 9p,

CRAZY OFFERS

ASZ20
ASZ21

8p

0C200 -5

30p

TIC44
2G240
2G302
2G401
2N711
2N2926
2N598/9
2N1091

11p
8p
BCY70 /1/2 8p
10p
BF115
4p
BY126/7
10p
HG1005
3p
HG5009
3p
HG5079
3p
L78/9
10p
M3
3p
C81
BC186
BCY30 -34

O47

0C23

TOTAL GOODS PLUS CARRIAGE, ADD V.A.T.

3p

3p
20p

2N1302
2N1907

8 mfd.

8p.

24p
1

5p
5p

25p
4p
6p
8p
8p

1
Germ. diode 1p

GET120(AC128
In

1" sq.

sink
GET872

2S3230

64v 40p
40v 30p
500v 6p
16v 4p
500v 11-p
1500v 2p
25v 30p
200v 25p
15v 12p
35v 10p

2200 mfd.
2500 mfd.

T03 HEATSINK
Europlec HP1 T03B individual 'curly'
power transistor type. Ready drilled 12p

heat

12p
12p
30p

.14p

..
Centercel
BZY61 /BA148
BB103/110 Varicap
BB113 Triple
Varicap
.

BA182

400 mfd.
.1 mfd,
.1 mfd.
2200 mfd.
1000 mfd.
10000 mfd.
1250 mfd.
6800 mfd.
32 +32 mfd.
16 +32 mfd.
8 +8 mfd.

10v

6p

275v Sp
350v 12p
350v Sp
35v 44.p
150 mfd.
70v 41p
100 mfd.
mfd. non- polar35Uv 3p
100v 10p
680 mfd.
160v 3p
15 mfd.
4700 pf.sub min 500v 14-p
4700 mfd.
63v 70p
300 mfd.
450v 25p
Philips electronic engineer
kits add on series E1004
75p each
1

G.E.C.

capacitors

5%

013,

Hi -stab

.056,

.061,;066, .069, .075, .08,

.089, .095,

24p
10p

I5p

37p

... 15p

045/7/10
%

BZY88 Up to 33 volt 7p
15p
BZX61 11 volt

BR100

Diac......

15p

INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

TAA700

2.00
1.00

TBA800

741 8 Din d.i.l. oo.

24p
Amp
TAD100 AMRF
1
CA3001 R.F. Amp 50p
CD4013 CMOS
36p

TAA3001wtAmp
TAA550 Y or
TAA263 Amp
7400

22p

..65p

7402/4/10/20/30

7414

7438/74/86
7483
LM300,

2 -20

10p
14p
56p

24p

69p
volt

74154
TBA550Q

90p

1.50

..
..

30p
35p
30p
1

90p

.. 1.00
.. 3.00
.. 8.00

Push-to-Break or
Push -to -Make Panel

24p
30p Switch
15p ENAM. COPPER WIRE
20p
PER YD.
209 SWG.
3p
20 -24
26 -42
2.5p
32p

volt
volt
volt
volt

extraction and insertion

15p
Philips Iron Thermostat
...
McMurdo PP108 8 way edge plug 10p

6p
2p

THYRISTORS
Volt
..
..
240 BTX18 -200
400 BTX18 -300
..
..
..
BTX30
240
-200
..
500 BT107
..
500 BT101 -500R
..
..
..
..
500 BT109 -5008
600 BTW92 -600RM
800 BTX95-800R Pulse Modulated
1000 28T10 (Less Nut)

PAPER BLOCK CONDENSER

I.C.
1

Plastic, Transistor or Diode

0A200 -2
10p

Amp

PHOTO SILICON CONTROLLED

SWITCH BPX66 PNPN 10 amp 1,00

SMALL ORDERS, ENCLOSE SUITABLE

STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE
LARGE ORDERS, ADD SUFFICIENT FOR
POSTAGE, INSURANCE, ETC.

APRIL 1977

40p
45p

Tested unmarked, or marked

ample lead ex neW equipment
5p
0071/2
8p
ACY17 -20

15p

0 -30, or 0 -15, black pvc, 360

dial, silver digits, self adhesive,
41" dia.

5p

OPTO ELECTRONICS
Photo transistor
Diodes
80p
BPX29
TIL209 Red 10p

..

Relay socket
Take miniature 2PCO relay
87G or B9 valve can

30p
26p
40o
90p

..

NEW B.V.A. VALVES

60p
6BW7
EB91
34p
ECH81
34p
ECL80
36p
EF80
34p
EF183
34p
EY86/7
34p
PC86
53p
PC88
53p
PC97
36p
34p
PCC84
PCC89
45p
PCC189
45p
PCF80
'34p
PCF82
34p
PCF801
46p
PCL82
34p
PL81
35p
PY500A
80o
PY81/800
38p
R20/U26
50p

12p

0C35
0N222
T 1P30/3055
TIS88A F.E.T.
ZTX300/341
2N393 (MA3931
2N456A

6p

4Op

26pg
30p
80p
90p
14p
27p

BSY95A
CV7042 10C41/44
ASY63)
GET111

30p
27p

BF336
BFS28 Dual Mosfet

20p
17p
13p
50p

BSV79/80 F.E.T.s
BSV91 Mosfet
BSX20/21
BSY40

BF

B X12/29/30

8RY39/56
BSV64

50p
15p
20p
15p
6p

BF115/167/173
BF178/9

40p

BFX84/88/89
BFY50/51/52
BFY90

49p

BDX77
BD437

BFW10/11 F.E.T.
BFW30

OTHER DIODES

1N916
1N4148
BA145

2p each

GARRARD

GCS23T Crystal Stereo

66p
Cartridge
Mono (Stereo compatible),
Ceramic or crystal
60p

HANDLES
Rigid light blue nylon
61" with secret fitting
5p
,screws
Belling Lee white
plastic surface coax

outlet box 20p

Miniature Axial Lead

Ferrite Choke formers
2p
RS 10 Turn Pot 1%

500 0,

250,
50K

1K,
1

Copper coated board

10"

9" approx 25p

TIE CLIPS
Nylon self locking 7"
or 31"
2p
Geared Knob
8 -1 ratio 1hhh" diam,
black 70p
R.S. 21" 35 ohm loud
60p
speaker

MAIL ORDER CUSTOMERS ONLY ADD

8% VAT -I PAY BALANCE ON 12 % ITEMS
BY A
ALL ENQUIRIES, ETC., MUST BE ACCOMPANIED
STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE

531

COME TO THE NORTH'S PREMIER AMATEUR RADIO EVENT!

NORTHERN RADIO SOCIETIES ASSOCIATION ANNUAL

CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

BELLE VUE-MANCHESTER
SUNDAY 24th APRIL 1977

DOORS OPEN AT

Trade Stands
Inter -Club Quiz

a.m.

11

Club Display Stands

Grand Raffle
Club Stand Trophy
RTTY & Repeter Exhibits

Construction Contest
RSGB Bookstall

Ample car parks and facilities for the family including

ZOO and FUN FAIR!
Talk -in for FM mobiles on 2 metres S22 and R6 (GB3MP) and on 70cros 433.2 MHz
and RB4 (GB3MR)

EXHIBITION HALL ENTRANCE IS AT REAR OF BELLE VUE,

OPPOSITE MAIN CAR PARK
OFF HYDE ROAD, A57

--

R EVO R OPTICAL

THE METAC DIGITAL CLOCK

*COMPLETE KIT *

TECHNICAL
`

42 TAVISTOCK STREET
LONDON W.C.2
Tel. 01 -836 4536

10.00

:.,

die. lens

FLEXIBLE
MAGNIFIER
WITH CAST IRON BASE,
PRECISION GROUND AND
POLISHED LENS, CHROME

POST
p
FREE
\

I
~

Pleasant green display. 12/24 Hour readout

Silent Synchronous Accuracy. Fully electronic
Pulsating colon. Push- button setting
hr. Attractive acrylic case
Building time
Easy to follow instructions. Size 10.5 x 5, 7 x 8 cm
Ready drilled PCB to accept components
1

KIT PRICE 9.60, 76p VAT

SAME DAY DESPATCH: ORDERS RECEIVED
BEFORE 2.00 P.M. ARE POSTED ON THE SAME DAY
SEND YOUR ORDER TO

PLATED'

FRAME AND FLEXIBLE TUBE.

IDEAL FOR HOBBIES, AND
DETAILED WORK WHICH REQUIRES

DAVENTRY
UXBRIDGE
METAC ELECTRONIC AND TIME
CENTRE

67 HIGH STREET

DAVENTRY
NORTHANTS.
TEL. 76545

BOTH HANDS FREE.

CALLERS WELCOME
(Subject to price ruling at the time of issue)

532

.
#

''

3 THE NEW ARCADE

HIGH STREET
UXBRIDGE
TEL. Uxbridge (08951 56951

MIDDLESEX

Cash, Cheque or Postal Order or if you wish to use

Barclaycard or Access, simply quote name, address

and card number when ordering

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

CUSTOM
CABINETS

INTRODUCING
FROM

We build all types of loudspeaker enclosures,

disco consoles, amplifier cases etc., to our
designs or for your special requirements.

New Miniature
Soldering Iron
A

HOME CONSTRUCTORS
Professionally finish Vour equipment using our specialist
fittings:
Recessed pocket handles approx W51" x H21" x D3" 38p
each
Lifting bar recessed handle approx W61" x H101" x D21"
1.96 each
Corner protectors (black nylon) for rounded edges, supplied
each
with screws and brads
Comer protectors (metal) 1,'-," for square edges, supplied
screws
10p
each
with
Standard jack socket recessed mounting plate 9p each
Cabinet feet 11" dia x 1" high (black polyethylene) 9p each
Black "Vynide" cabinet covering approx 52" wide 1.90
per yard
Black "Vynair" baffle covering approx 52 " wide 2.60 per
yard
11" speaker fixing bolts, CIS with left-handwood screw int
:baffle, including washers and nut. 2BA 6p sach;4BA

with

220 -240 Volts

16 -18 Watts

7*

FEATURES

Insulation tested at1500 Vac

* Lightweight

BIT TYPE

lip

*Slim easytohod

* Fourtip sizes

19 1.5mm

20 30mm
21 4.5mm
22 60mm

*Complies with

Consumer Protection
Regulations B.S. N?3456 2/14
*All parts easily replaced
New bit securing method

* Built in

suspension hook

PRICES: IRONS 3.70 each

BITS 41p each

4p leach
Pre -cut cabinet parts/bafes etc. price on application
Prices include VAT
On orders under 5 please add
60p towards postage and packing

(inC.VATand P& P)
Trade enquiries welcome.
Cheques a Postal Orders to Manufacturers & Distributors

LIMITED

S. & R. BREWSTER

SURREY AUDIOTRONICS

51B LIND ROAD, SUTTON, SURREY

For expert advice
Tel: 01 -643 0005

86 -88 UNION STREET, PLYMOUTH, PL1311G

Telephone

0752 65011
0

Forgive the terrible puns. If you don't quite twig 'em have a word with
your opera -going friends and they will reveal all! Frankly, we've used
the characters above simply to catch your attention and to lead you on
to the more interesting point that Home Radio Components Ltd. are
the people to deal with when you need components for the projects
featured in this magazine, or for any other electronic gadget you may
be creating. Thousands of constructors have proved that they get
good advice, good components, good value, good service from
Home Radio. Many buy over the counter at Mitcham, many purchase by
Mail Order sending a cheque or P.O. each time they need something,
and a growing number of customers are proving the advantages of
joining the Home Radio Credit Account Scheme. Whichever methoa
you opt for you'll need a Home Radio catalogue. Read all about it
in the paragraph below.

r
The famous Home Radio Components Catalogue comprises 200 pages, listing about 5,000 items, nearly 2,000
of them illustrated. Everything is set 'out so clearly and
concisely that the catalogue is a pleasure to use. When
you buy one we also send you a free mini catalogue filled
with extra special bargains. The saving on some purchases
from this bargain list alone can more than pay for the
catalogue, which costs 1 plus 40p for' post and packing.

Send off the coupon with your cheque or P.O. for 1.40
now. The catalogue and bargain list will come to you
by return post.

Please write your Name and Address in block capitals

NAME
ADDRESS

HOME

RADIO

(Components)

LTD.,

Dept. RC

234 -240 London Road. Mitcham, Surrey CR4 3HD

Regd No 912966 London,

HOME RADIO (Components) LTD. Dept. RC, 234 -240 London Road, Mitcham, CR4 3HD. Phone: 01 -648 8422

APRIL

1977

533

ffiiYSSThR
TESTER

TEST
20,

0..-,,

METERLESS
TRANSISTOR
TESTER

40.
60-

-500
`400
,o6

z
GAIN

By Bruce Woodland

boo

This test instrument allows the rapid determination of polarity

and large signal gain of bipolar transistors. An l.e.d. readout
replaces the usual moving -coil meter, conferring economic advantages and resistance to mechanical shock. The battery current demand is low and virtually the absolute minimum of manipulations
is necessary to evaluate a transistor.
Many constructors augment their transistor

supplies by the purchase of mixed untested transistors and reclaimed devices from computer boards.
Again, during the design of circuitry it is often
desirable to have at least a rough idea of the gain of a
transistor even when this is a new marked device. For
all these requirements some form of transistor tester
is necessary.

SPECIFICATION
A quick look at the data sheet of any transistor will
demonstrate the large number of tests which must be

carried out to fully evaluate it. Fortunately, most home

constructor applications require answers to three
questions only:
1. Is the device functional?
2. What is its polarity?
3. What is its gain?
When a large number of devices are to be checked a
testing instrument which is quick to use and involves
the minimum of manipulations is obviously the most
desirable. The tester to be described falls into this
category and readily provides answers to the three
basic questions just noted. No meter is incorporated,
and so the cost and size can be kept to quite a small
level.

534

PRINCIPLE
The block diagram of Fig. 1 illustrates the principle
of operation of the transistor tester.A square wave oscillator provides an alternating voltage such that one
output is at 2.7 volts positive when the other is at
2.7 volts negative, and vice versa, both voltages being

2.7V+

RC

2-7v-

Buffered
B

oscillator

Comparator

Polarity
indicator

Test

transistor

2.7v+

ov-2.7vFig.

1.

Block diagram illustrating the operation

of the meterless transistor tester
RADIO

&

ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

with respect to earth. One output is applied to the

emitter of the transistor under test, whilst the other is
applied to the transistor base via RB and to the transistor collector via RC.
If the transister is a p.n.p. type (and assuming the
requisite values in RB and RC) it will be turned on
when the collector is negative and the emitter
positive. The collector will then be positive of earth.
When the polarities at the collector and emitter are

reversed the transistor simply becomes nonconducting. Thus the presence of a p.n.p. transistor
is indicated by a positive voltage at the collector dur-

ing the half-cycles from the square wave oscillator

when the voltage applied to RB and RC is negative.
During the other half-cycles the collector will also be
positive because a positive voltage is then applied to
RC.
The reverse holds true with an n.p.n. transistor, the
collector of which goes negative.
The collector is connected to the non - inverting input of an operational amplifier which has two lightemitting diodes wired in opposing polarity in its feedback loop. If the non -inverting input goes positive the
op -amp output follows, lighting the l.e.d. which indicates "p.n.p.''. Similarly, when the non-inverting
input goes negative the other l.e.d. lights up, to in-

GAIN

RB

GAIN

RB (ka) =

GAIN

(kc)

GAIN

RB

RC

RB
4.7

RC

2.7

4.7

4.7

7.5

Fig. 2. Equations developing the relationship

between RB and test transistor gain when the
transistor collector is at earth potential

dicate "n.p.n.".
If the transistor under test has an open- circuit
collector, both 1.e.d.'s will be illuminated, because the
op -amp output then follows the square wave oscillator. The same will happen if the value RB is too
high to allow the transistor to turn on.

to be illuminated. The value of RB at which this occurs then gives an indication of the gain of the tran-

BIAS RESISTOR VALUE

We may next investigate the value of RB which is
required to cause the collector of the test transistor to
be just at mid -rail voltage, i.e. at earth potential, during half-cycles when the transistor is conductive. The
full rail voltage is twice 2.7 volts, or 5.4 volts, and we
shall assume that the test transistor is a silicon type
with a base -emitter forward voltage drop of 0.7 volt.
Under these circumstances the current in RC is 2.7
volts divided by RC, whilst the current in RB is.5.4
volts minus . 0.7 volts, or 4.7 volts, divided by RB
The gain is IRC divided by IRB, and this is equal to
the first expression in Fig. 2. The second equation
then gives an expression for RB. In the practical circuit RC is 4.3ka, leading to the third and fourth
equations in Fig. 2.
It will be seen from the last equation that RB in
kilohms is equal to gain mutliplied by 7.5. Thus, the
collector of a transistor with a gain of 20 will be at
earth potential when RB has a value of 150k a. The
corresponding value of RB for a gain of 40 is 300k S.,
for a gain of 60 is 450k a, and so on.
The last equation in Fig. 2 is a little inaccurate for
germanium transistors, with their base- emitter
forward voltage drop of about 0.15 volt, but the error
is not in practice of any serious significance. Most
transistors encountered these days are, of course,

The full working circuit appears in Fig. 3. This has

two integrated circuits, of which IC1 is a CMOS MC14049 hex inverter /buffer and IC2 is a 741 op -amp.
Two of the inverters of IC1, in association with Cl, Rl
and R2, form a simple square wave oscillator with a

silicon types.
We can now see how the arrangement of Fig. 1 can be
employed for first determining the polarity of a transistor and then its gain. Should RB initially be given a
relatively low value the test transistor, if serviceable,
is bound to be turned on, whereupon one of the two
1.e.d.'s will light up to indicate polarity. The value of
RB is then increased until the collector of the test
transistor passes earth potential, causing both 1.e.d.'s
APRIL 1977

sistor.

WORKING CIRCUIT

roughly equal mark -space ratio running at appprximately 2.5kHz. The remaining four inverters are
parallel coupled in pairs to increase their current sink
and source capabilities, and are arranged to provide
complementary polarity outputs from the oscillator.
One output connects to the emitter of the test transistor and the other to R6, which replaces RC of Fig. 1.
RB of Fig. 1 is replaced by R7 and whatever
resistance, in R8 to R17, is switched in by S2.
A CMOS device is employed for IC1 as it is
necessary to have a symmetrical voltage swing about
earth. A t.t.l. device would be unsuitable.
The feedback loop around IC2 includes LED1,
LED2 and R4. R3 sets the sensitivity such that 0.1
volt difference between the test transistor collector
and earth corresponds to a flow of 10mA in the appropriate l.e.d. The l.e.d. current is limited by R4.
When the non-inverting input goes positive the i.c.
output follows and LEDs lights up. LED2 is illuminated when the non -inverting input goes
negative.
A dual rail supply which is nominally 2.7 volts
positive and negative of earth is given by the circuit
comprising R5, ZD1, ZD2, C2 and C3. The press button S1 ensures that power is only demanded from
the 9 volt battery during an actual test, thus prolonging
battery life. The current requirement is about
16mA, whereupon a PP3 battery is quite suitable.
It may be felt that, bearing in mind the internal
output stage of a 741, a dual 2.7 volt supply may be insufficient to allow the 1.e.d.'s to be illuminated. No

535

R4

20
52

40

R1

60

80

R1

100

15

200 300 400

R16

500

R17

600

780

+27V

Test

RI1

socket
qE

LED2
Pin

\\

ICI

+2.7V

LEDI - P.N.P,
LED2 - N.P.N.

OV

-2.7v
Pin 8 ICI

Fig. 3. Full circuit diagram for the transistor tester. The numbers at the contacts

responding gain figures

of S2 indicate the cor-

COMPONENTS
Resistors
(All watt WO
Rl 39k
R2 68k
R3 lOsz
R4 68
R5 220
R6 4.3k
R7 150k
R8 150k
R9 150k
R10 150k

Rl1 150k
R12 750k
R13 750k
R14 750k
R15 750k
R16 750kn
R17 750k
Capacitors
Cl 0.01uF type C280 (Mullard)
C2 20tcF electrolytic, 10 V. Wkg.
C3 201cF electrolytic, 10 V. Wkg.
536

Semiconductors
IC1 MC14049 or CD4049
IC2 741, 8 pin d.i.l.
ZD1 BZY88C2V7
ZD2 BZY88C2V7
LEDs red l.e.d. (see text)
LED2 red l.e.d. (see text)

Switches
S1 press -button, push to close, miniature
S2 1 -pole 12 -way rotary, miniature

Battery

BY1 9 volt battery type PP3 (Ever Ready)

Miscellaneous
Pointer control knob
8 pin i.c. holder
16 pin i.e. holder
Battery connector

Printed circuit board

Materials for case (see text)
RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

trouble was experienced in this respect with the

prototype, which worked satisfactorily with battery
voltages down to 6 volts. Taking into account the
relatively high slope resistances of 2.7 volt zener
diodes at low currents, this would indicate a comfortable voltage margin. The author employed l.e.d.'s of
about 0.2in. diameter obtained from Radio Shack of
Battersea.

CONSTRUCTION
The construction of the tester can be carried out in
any reasonable manner preferred by the reader, and
the following details of the author's instrument may
be helpful as a guide.
The prototype is housed in a home -made case having internal dimensions of 54in. long by 2in. wide by
14in.deep. The sides and ends consist of in. wood and
the front panel of s.r.b.p. sheet. The sides, ends and
front are covered overall with Formica. The back consists of a piece of aluminium with flanges at the end
which provide a push fit.
The printed circuit board is mounted on three 4n.
spacers tapped 6BA, these being secured to the s.r.b.p.
panel by countersunk 6BA screws whose heads are
covered by the outside Formica. The body of S1 is

between the front panel and the component side of the

printed board, appearing betweeen R5 and ZD2. A
miniature press - button was employed here. Larger
push- buttons would necessitate increased spacing
between the front panel and the board, and a corresponding increase in case depth. The author fitted
two transistor sockets on the front of the case, one
wired for transistors with a BCE lead -out configuration and the other for transistors with a CBE configuration. The l.e.d.'s are mounted directly on the
printed board, being positioned such that their forward ends just fit into two holes drilled for them in
the front of the case.
The ten transistors, R8 to R17, are mounted directly
to the tags of S2. There is just sufficient space behind
the printed board to take a PP3 battery, this being insulated from the copper pattern of the board by a

piece of foam plastic sheet. The front panel is marked

up with gain figures for S2, these corresponding to the
gain figures shown in the circuit diagram of Fig. 3.
The Iegend "PNP" appears alongside LED1 and
"NPN" alongside LED2. The indeiltifying letters
"B ", "C" and "E" appear, as applicable, beside the
transistor holders.
The printed board is reproduced full -size in Fig. 4.

o
To

test sockets

LED2

To Si

LEDI

IC2

-_ ir

ICI

C.ADA

J-

R6
To BY!

To

S2

.{ R2

neg.

...

6BA clear

I1516"

6BA clear

6BA clear

33f4"

Fig. 4. Component and copper sides of the printed board. This is reproduced full size for tracing

APRIL 1977

537

It is strongly recommended that integrated circuit

holders be used for IC1 and IC2, whereupon these two
i.c.'s may be plugged in after all soldering is completed and the wiring has been checked. Fig. 5 shows
the resistors which are soldered to the tags of S2.
USING THE TESTER
To use the tester first connect the transistor to be
checked to the instrument. Set S2 to "20" and press
Sl. If the transistor is a satisfactory component and
has been connected correctly, either the "PNP" or the
"NPN" l.e.d. will light.
Keeping S1 pressed, rotate S2 to higher gain figures
until both 1.e.d.'s light up. The highest gain setting
with only one 1.e.d. alight is the value taken, the exact
value lying between the two figures. If the transistor is
not faulty, both l.e.d.'s should be alight when S2 is in
the

"0" position.

Layout inside the tester. There is space for a

PP3 battery over the printed board
To

R7

In this view the printed board has been moved to one

side. On the front panel can be seen the two holes for the
l.e.d.'s, the connections to the transistor holders and
switch Si

Fig. 5. Resistors R8 to R17 are wired directly

to the tags of S2. The two wires connect to R6
and R7 on the printed board

538

Normally, the transition from one l.e.d. being alight

to two being alight should be of an abrupt nature as
S2 is moved from one position to the next. However, it
may be found with quite a few transistors that the second l.e.d. commences to glow faintly at the setting of
S2 which is just below that at which both l.e.d.'s are
fully illuminated. This will occur if the gain of the
transistor is such that the collector voltage is just
short of reaching earth potential. The gain figure is
then that at which the second l.e.d. glows faintly, and
will be more accurate than is given when the change
from one l.e.d. to two l.e.d.'s is of an abrupt nature.
RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

500th EDITION OF
WORLD RADIO CLUB
Report by Ron Ham

Since it began on July 1st, 1967, more than

32,000 members have joined World Radio Club,
a popular weekly programme broadcast by the
BBC World Service for the benefit of shortwave
listeners, and those who want to know more
about the technical side of radio communication.
During the past decade, the lifetime of the
programme, there has been a fantastic advance
in electronics which has reflected in the design
of radio receivers and transmitters, broadcasting and recording techniques, and in the
world of amateur radio. Throughout this period,
World Radio Club producers have done their
best to keep its listeners informed of the
progress with hundreds of outside interviews at
places where the developments were being
made. The Club's reporters have been to both

national and international exhibitions and talked to representatives on their stands about their
particular radio products. Listeners have heard
reports from factories, schools, research labs,
and the armed forces, in fact they have talked
about anything from the worlds smallest television set to the giant radio telescope at Jodrell
Bank. Frequently outside specialists have been
called in to take part in a particular programme
along with their regular team. Often an article of
special interest has appeared in one of the
technical journals and soon afterwards, the
author, or a representative of that journal, has
been invited to WRC to discuss the subject
further.
With this sort of background it was no surprise when the BBC invited, for the first time,
an audience of radio enthusiasts to Bush House
(HQ BBC World Service) to witness, and
celebrate the recording of the 500th edition of
World Radio Club, and furthermore, to take
part in the programme by putting questions to a
panel of experts. As usual, Frank Hennig,
APRIL 1977

G3GSW, was in the chair and the panellists

were Bill Wood, Head of the BBC's Engineering
Information Department, Desmond Colling of
the International Shortwave League, and Henry
Hatch, G2CBB well known to listeners because,
for many years he has answered members'
technical problems in a straightforward and un-

complicated manner.
Questions from the audience about AM or
FM, Fading, Amateur call signs, frequency
allocations, and the sunsport cycle were adequately answered by the team in the true club
spirit which has been the programme's hallmark since it began.
Among the enthusiastic studio audience were
many people who had taken part in previous
programmes as well as representatives from the
technical press, radio clubs, and shortwave
organisations. The RSGB President, Lord
Wallace of Coslany and General Manager,
George Jessop, G6JP, were in the audience and
Lord Wallace delighted everyone when he told
Frank Hennig that now he is President,
everybody calls him George which emphasises
the friendly atmosphere which exists throughout
the world of amateur radio.
Richard Lambley, G8LAM, who has been
producing the programme on a temporary basis
read a letter of good wishes from the European
DX Council and Reg Kennedy, regular
producer, told of the time when his tape
recorder belched out smoke while he and former
chairman, Peter Baresby, were flying with the
RAF in a piston aircraft over the north Atlantic interviewing the crew for WRC. It was
the human items like these that helped to make
the evening of February 11th a most enjoyable
one for all of us who were there.
The writer would like to add his good wishes
for the future of World Radio Club, and to
thank the BBC for a wonderful evening.
539

AND

NEWS

MASSIVE EXPORT CONTRACT

It is pleasant to report a massive export contract won by companies in the
GEC -Marconi Electronics group. The
contract, worth 150 million, has been
awarded to GEC -Transportation Projects Limited for the provision of elec-

trification, telecommunications,

signalling and locomotive equipment

operating at 25kV a.c. for Brazil's
Federal Railway Network.
As well as system design respon-

sibility, the contract includes the

supply of equipment and services for a
new "steel railway" which will run
from the iron ore centre of Belo
Horizonte to the major steel complex
at Volta Redonda a distance of some
400 kilometres.
When completed in early 1982 the
new rail link will carry quadruple headed trains of up to 12,000 tons at
speeds reaching 60 kilometres per hour.

It is expected to transport 50 million

tons of iron ore each year from Belo
Horizonte and Jaceaba to Volta
Redonda, and it will also provide a

limited passenger service between the

areas.
In addition, the contract provides
for the electrification of the existing
line which runs for some 450
kilometres from the port of Sepetiba
near Rio de Janeiro via Volta Redonda
to Manoel Faio near Sau Paulo.
This latest contract, the largest ever
placed by the Brazilian Railway
Authority, involves several GEC ,companies in the supply of equipment.

Electrical equipment for the

locomotives will be manufactured by

GEC Traction Limited, signalling

systems by GEC - General Signal

Limited, substation equipment by

AID TO INSTALLING FM RADIO AERIALS

A single co-axial downlead can be

used to connect both a television aerial

and an FM radio aerial, using a new
twin TV /FM outlet unit introduced by
MK Electric.
This means that a householder can
make use of his existing television
downlead when he decides to install an
FM aerial in the loft or developers can
add to 'the "sellability" of new homes
by providing for connection of FM
radio as well as television aerials.
Two of the new MK 3522 isolated
TV /FM socket -outlets units will be
required, installed on a "back -toback" arrangement with one in the
normal television aerial outlet position
and the other suitably located in the
loft. The co -axial downlead is con-

540

netted to the rear of this second unit,

and the TV and FM aerials are connected into the front -plate using nor-

mal co -axial plugs.

The twin TV /FM outlet unit will fit
into the same box as the normal coaxial TV outlet and the two sockets are
clearly engraved "TV" and "FM ".
Although suitable for use in this
way, the new twin outlet unit has been
introduced by MK primarily to meet
stringent regulations that have been
proposed for multi -outlet aerial installation in blocks of flats etc. It is anticipated that, if introduced, these
regulations will call for a 2,000V isolation value for the outlet units.
Recommended retail price of the
3522 isolated TV /FM co -axial socket outlet is 3.08 plus VAT.

GEC Switchgear Limited and GEC

Power Transformers Limited, and
cables, microwave radio and multiplex
communications equipment by GEC

Telecommunications Limited and

Telephone Cables Limited. Further,

the overhead contact system will be

provided by Balfour Beatty Power
Construction Limited, and a training
programme for the Brazilian operating
staff will be arranged by Transmark,
the British Rail consultancy organisation.
GEC - Transportation Projects was
set up in 1972 to seek comprehensive
contracts in the expanding field of

railway electrification and metro

systems, incorporating equipment
manufactured by the GEC product
companies. It has certainly achieved
an outstanding success in its Brazilian
venture.

RADIO AMATEURS
ASSIST SCIENTIFIC
EXPEDITIONS
Following our comments in the
January issue regarding the giving of
news of activities and evelopments outside the scope of the individual shack or
workshop, we are indebted to the latest

edition of Region 1 News, the Journal

of the International Amateur Radio
Union Region 1 Division, for news of
cooperation between Italian Radio
Amateurs and recent scientific expeditions.
At the beginning of 1976, a team of
fifteen Italians explored the King
George Islands in Antarctica. This expedition was directed by Italian radio
Amateur Remato Cepparo, I1SR. The
programme of the expedition included
biological studies, geological observations and exploration of some of the
Island's mountains. One of the mountain peaks was named "CIMA
RADIOAMATORI", to commemorate
the very helpful work carried out by
radio amateurs in sustaining communications between the expedition
and Italy. Radio contact with the expedition was maintained by radio
Amateurs from the town of Monza,
near Milan, most of the contacts being
on the 14MHz Amateur band.
During July and August of last year,
another Italian expedition visited
Greenland and they had a volunteer
radio operator in 14CDH. The expedition call sign was 14CDH/OX. The
base camp was near Umiamako
Muna, close to latitude 72 N, and the
radio station was operated from a tent.

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

COMMENT
EMI LAUNCH NEW PROFESSIONAL AUDIO RECORDING TAPES
EMI Tape Limited, of Hayes, Middlesex, has introduced a new range of professional audio recording
the EMITAPE 830 series.
tape
The EMITAPE 830 range is based on a high output low -noise professional tape developed
specifically for high quality reproduction in studio
mastering and broadcast applications. Its most
significant features are increased high /low frequency
magnetic remanence values and an excellent signal to -print ratio. In addition, the extremely low modulation noise and low head wear properties previously
associated with the highly successful EMITAPE 815
broadcast quality tape have been incorporated in the
new product.
The new tape initially will be available in three
formats: 831 non -backed standard play; 832 matt back standard play, particularly good for non pressure pad high -speed spooling; and 833 long play
for use with low tension battery recorders, with a
range of widths to suit studio requirements.
The 830 series has a much higher magnetic
remanence which gives an improved signal to noise
ratio of 77dB.This has been achieved by EMI Tape's
new oxide formulation and a new type of production
process. Reduced intermodulation 4nd third harmonic distortion gives the tape, for instance, less than

third harmonic distortion at the 1KHz I.E.C.

(International Electro Technical Commission)
reference level. To provide a greater built -in overload
2

fail -safe, EMI Tape has improved the headroom to

give a maximum output of +8.5dB for 3% harmonic
distortion at 1KHz. This high 1KHz output is complemented by a similar output at 10KHz.

NORTHERN RADIO SOCIETIES' ASSOCIATION

The Annual Convention and Exhibition of
the NRSA, which is sponsored by radio
societies in the North of England, will take
place at Belle Vue, Manchester on Sunday,
24th April, 1977.
The doors will open at 11.00 am and there

will be a record number of trade exhibitors in

attendance, as well as club display stands.
Other highlights will include a Grand Raffle,
an Inter -Club Quiz and a Construction Contest
(s.a.e. for rules to Mr. John D. Clifford
G4BVE of 10 Arley Avenue, Bury, BL9 5HD).

XEROZA RADIO MOVES TO LONDON

Xeroza Radio, formerly of Bishop's Tawton, Devon, have now

removed to new remises at 306 St. Paul's Road, Highbury
Corner, London N.1.
They have extensive stocks of electronic components and
carry a complete range for radio and electronics constructors.
The business is under the control of Mr. Tom Powell who has
had many years experience in the component field.
Mrs. Rita Shepherd, G3NOB, has retired from the position
of Honorary Secretary of the Radio Amateur Invalid and Bedfast
Club. The new Honorary Secretary is Mr. H. R. Boutle, G2CLP,
who is, incidentally, Business Manager of the famous
Shuttleworth Collection of aircraft. Mr. Boutle's address is 14,
Queen's Drive, Bedford MK41 9BQ.
Messrs Radio Shack, of 161 St. John's Hill, Battersea, London SW11, have informed us that they have on a number of occasions recently been confused with the famous American firm of
the same name who are, of course, associated with the Tandy
Corporation of Bilston Road, Wednesbury, W. Midlands. This
can cause particular difficulty when components or equipment is
involved.
We trust that readers will note the distinction to avoid inconvenience to both firms.
APRIL 1977

"Looks as though all you'll need this

time is two small stoppings and a 13
amp fuse!"

541

--I SUGGE
ED CIRCUIT I
SUGGESTED

POLARITY/BASE
RESOLVER
By G. A. French

It is often possible to obtain job -lots

ofunmarkedbipolar transistors at very
low cost, whereupon it then becomes
necessary to sort these out into n.p.n.
and p.n.p. types, and to determine
their lead -out functions. Such a

process can be very tedious if, say, a

multimeter switched to an ohms range
is employed to find the transistor
polarity, and it can still be excessively
time -consuming if a standard transistor gain meter is used. This article
describes an extremely simple and in-

tion.

RESOLVER CIRCUIT
The circuit of the polarity /base
resolver appears in Fig. 1, and it will
be seen that it requires very few components. There are three test terminals, three light -emitting diodes,
three resistors, a 3 -way rotary switch,
a single pole on -off switch and a 4.5
volt battery.
The transistor to be checked is connected to the three test terminals with
S2 closed. S1 is then taken through its
three positions. If all three l.e.d.'s
light up for one position and only one
1.e.d. lights up at the remaining two
positions, then the transistor is an
n.p.n. type and the switch position at
which all three l.e.d.'s are illuminated
corresponds to the base lead-out. Thus,
should all the three l.e.d.'s be lit when
the switch is at position 3, then the
base lead -out connects to test terminal

Test

terminals

R1
I

expensive item of test equipment

which not only determines the polarity
of a bipolar transistor but also identifies its base lead -out. In consequence, much of the initial sorting
of unmarked transistors can be carried
out with negligible difficulty and expenditure of time. The test instrument
also provides a rough and ready check
for transistor serviceability, since it
will indicate whether a transistor has
an open- circuit or short-circuit junc-

kn

LED,

ed on at the start of a checking session

and turned off at the end. Its function
is merely to prevent battery current
drain when the instrument is not in
use.
The operation of the circuit is quite
easy to follow and it is helpful to
remember that a bipolar transistor can
be looked upon as two junction diodes
connected back -to -back, as in Fig. 2. It
should also be borne in mind that
"conventional current" is assumed to
flow from positive to negative, and
that it flows in a diode in the direction
indicated by the arrow -head which
constitutes part of the diode symbol. It
also flows in the direction indicated by
the emitter arrow -head in the transistor symbol.

3.
RI

-R3

LEDI

Fig.

1.

/4watt

- LED3

see

5 /o

text

of the
resolver.

The circuit

polarity/base

Despite its sophisticated

performance this requires
very few components

542

If it is found that all three l.e.d.'s

light up at two positions of Si and a
single l.e.d. is lit at the third position,
the test transistor is p.n.p. Further, the
switch position at which the single
l.e.d. is illuminated corresponds to the
base lead -out of the transistor.
The currents flowing in the circiut
are low and there is no necessity to
turn off S2 when connecting a transistor to the terminals. S2 can be turn-

Fig. 2. Bipolar transistors

may be looked upon as two
diodes connected back-toback. The corresponding
diodes for n.p.n. and p.n.p.
transistors are shown here

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

P.N.P. TRANSISTOR
We turn next to the situation which
arises when a p.n.p. transistor is connected to the test terminals, as occurs

in Fig. 4. Once more we connect the

base lead -out to terminal 2 and we

LED4

Fig. 3. Connecting an n.p.n.

transistor to the resolver.
All three I.e.d.'s are lit when
the switch is in position 2

N.P.N. TRANSISTOR
Fig. 3 illustrates the situation where
an n.p.n. transistor is connected to the
test terminals. We shall assume that

the base lead -out is connected to terminal 2.

When switch S1 is in position 1,
current flows through Rl and LEDs,
causing this 1.e.d. to light up. Current
cannot flow into the remainder of the
circuit because t is stopped by the
emitter -base junction of the transistor,
which acts as a reverse connected
diode. As a result, only LED. is illuminated. If SI is taken to position 3,
current flows in R3 and LED3, causing this 1.e.d. to be illuminated. Again,
current cannot flow into the rest of the
circuit because the collector -base
junction of the transistor functions as
a reverse connected diode. In consequence, only LED3 is lit.
If Si is taken to position 2, current
flows in R2 and LED2, whereupon
LED2 lights up. Both the base -emitter
and base -collector junctions now act as
forward connected conducting diodes,
and current flows through these into
R1 and LEDI and into R3 and LED3.
As a result, all three l.e.d.'s are illuminated.
To sum up, taking S1 through its
three positions causes a single l.e.d. to
be illuminated at positions 1 and 3,
and all three I.e.d.'s to be illuminated
at position 2. These results indicate
that the test transistor is an n.p.n. type
and that its base is connected to ter.
minal 2. Had the base been connected
to terminal 1 the three I.e.d.'s would
have lit up with S1 in position 1.
Similarly, if the base had been connected to terminal 3, the three l.e.d.'s
would be illuminated with S1 in position 3.

APRIL 1977

shall start by examining the situation

when S1 is in position 2.
With the circuit in this state,
current passes through R2 and LED2,
causing this l.e.d. to light up. Current
cannot flow to terminal 1 because the
base -emitter junction of the transistor
acts as a reverse connected diode.
Similarly, current cannot flow to terminal 3 since the base- collector junction also acts as a reverse connected
diode. Thus, only LED2 lights up.
When we come to consider the
remaining positions of Sl, circuit functioning becomes more complex and
takes advantage of active transistor
operation in addition to passive diode
conduction.
Fig. 5(a) shows the situation with SI
in position 1. Current flows through
R1 and LEDI, and LEDI lights up.
The emitter -base junction of the transistor acts as a forward conducting
diode and current flows also into terminal 2 and thence into R2 and LED2.
LED2 becomes illuminated Since
there is now a relatively high current
in its emitter -base junction the transistor turns on and passes collector

LED!

LED

Fig. 4. Here, a p.n.p. tran-

sistor is connected to the

circuit. With St in position
2, only one l.e.d. is illuminated

LED2

Fig. 5(a). When the switch is in position

up

1,

all three l.e.d.'s light

(b). With the

circuit redrawn, the transistor may be recognised as

being in the common emitter mode.
543

current, this flowing into R3 and

LED3, which also lights up. The consequence is that all three 1.e.d.'s are illuminated.
The circuit can be more readily
followed if we omit the switch and
redraw the circuit of Fig. 5(a) in the
manner shown in Fig. 5(b). What we
now have can be readily recognised as
a common emitter amplifier with base
bias from the negative rail being
provided via LED2 and R2. The transistor is therefore turned on and causes
collector current to be passed via
LED3 and R3. Since the base and
collector currents are approximately
equal the circuit configuration requires only that the transistor has a
current gain of unity, and such a requirement will obviously be met by
any serviceable transistor.
In Pig. 6(a) we have the switch in
position 3, whereupon current flows in
R3 and LED3. The collector-base
junction of the transistor acts as a
forward connected diode and allows
current to flow into R2 and LED2.
Due to a minor anomaly associated
with the bipolar transistor, current
also flows from the emitter of the transistor into RI and LED1. All three
light- emitting diodes become illuminated.
To follow this situation more clearly, Fig. 6(b) shows the circuit of Fig.
6(a) rearranged and without the
switch. Now, due to the symmetrical
construction of a junction transistor it
is possible for the device to function as
a working transistor with the collector
acting as an emitter and the emitter
acting as a collector. The current gain
offered by a transistor working in this
mode is, normally, much lower than
that given when the transistor is con nected correctly but, in practice, the
gain is found to be greater than the unity figure required by the present circuit. In Fig. 6(b) a base current flows
in the base -collector junction (with the
collector acting as an emitter)
whereupon current flows in the circuit
connected to the emitter (acting as a
collector).
Reviewing the circuit operation illustrated in Fig. 4 to Fig. 6(b), a single
l.e.d. lights up when Si is in position 2
and all three l.e.d.'s light up when SI is
in positions 1 and 3. This identifies the
transistor as a p.n.p. type with its base
connected to terminal 2.

LED

LED!

(a)

Fig. 6(a).

b)

All three l.e.d.'s are lit also when the switch

is in

position 3
(b). Rearranging the dia gram shows transistor operation more

clearly

LEDI

Terminai

LED3

Card

3-

Terminal 2

Terminal

LED2

--

--

PRACTICAL POINTS
The author checked the prototype
circuit with a wide range of transistors

of both polarities, these consisting of

modern silicon small signal and power
types, and germanium small signal and
power types. A few of the germanium
transistors were very early types, such
as the 0C44, 0C45 and 0071. All
transistors checked out successfully in

the manner just described.

Although not encountered by the
author, there is a slight risk that some
germanium power transistors may
pass reverse leakage currents which

544

si

Fig. 7. A suitable front panel laye ut for the polarity/base resolver

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

could cause an 1.e.d. to be partially illuminated when, properly, it should be

extinguished. If this should occur, the
partly lit 1.e.d. should be considered as
being extinguished and the transistor
concerned looked upon as a specimen
which passes a suspiciously high
reverse leakage current. It is possible
also that some p.n.p. transistors may
not function adequately in the "wrong
way round" mode of Figs. 6(a) and (b).
Such an eventuality has to be mentioned for completeness but, in the
writer's experience, it simply did not
happen with any transistor checked by
him.
Should it be found that a transistor
does not cause illumination of the
l.e.d.'s in one of the two manners just
described, it is possible that it has a
short -circuit or open- circuit junction
or that it is, say, a field- effect transistor. A transistor with four lead -outs
may be a bipolar type having one lead out connecting to a shield and to the
metal can. This lead -out can be identified with an ohmmeter before connecting the remaining three lead -outs
to the test terminals.
The current flowing in each l.e.d. is
of the order of 2mA and, assuming a
forward voltage drop of 2 volts in each
l.e.d., the highest voltage appearing at
the test terminals will be 2.5 volts only.
These low currents and voltages
should not damage any transistors, including field- effect types, connected to
the test terminals. In Fig. 5(a) the
emitter current of the transistor is the
sum of the base and collector currents,
i.e. about 4mA. Similarly, the collector
current in Fig. 6(a) is about 4mA.
Such a current is still more than adequately low to ensure that no damage
is caused to the transistor.
The three l.e.d.'s can be any small
red types having reasonable sensitivity. Red l.e.d.'s Type 4, as supplied by
Doram Electronics, were employed in
the prototype circuit, and these give a
surprisingly high light output at a
forward current of 2mA. However,
most other l.e.d.'s should offer a similar
performance. With the Doram l.e.d.'s
the anode lead -out is shorter than the
cathode lead -out. The cathode lead outs are those which connect to the
negative rail.
The unit can be assembled in a
small plastic case with Si, S2, the
three 1.e.d.'s and the test terminals on
the front panel. A suggested panel
layout is shown in Fig. 7. S1 is provided with a pointer knob, and lines are
drawn on the panel linking it with the
corresponding test terminals. This
gives quick operation and there is no
need to show the numbers 1, 2 and 3 on
the panel itself. Also affixed to the
panel is a card stating that n.p.n. transistors are identified by the fact that
all three 1.e.d.'s are lit at one switch
position, whilst all three 1.e.d.'s are lit
at two positions for p.n.p. transistors.
The card gives a reminder that the
base lead -out is identified by three
l.e.d.'s for n.p.n. transistors, and by
one 1.e.d. for p.n.p. transistors.

APRIL 1977

NEXT MONTH'S
SPECIAL PROJECTS

CMOS CRYSTAL
CALIBRATOR

A simple but comprehensive crystal calibration

oscillator.
kHz -100 kHz
1 MHz
500 kHz

-250

MEDIUM AND DUAL

SHORT WAVE RADIO
Part 1
A self- contained 3- transistor
design covering the medium

wave band and

short

wave bands.

ALL THE USUAL FEATURES

PLUS

MANY OTHER ARTICLES

01i914' #0/09

ON SALE

2nd MAY
545

THE

"M5"

POCKET RECEIVER
Although this medium wave receiver is small enough to fit into a pocket it
incorporates a full size 5 by 3 inch elliptical speaker and is specifically designed for economy of operation. The first two transistors are employed in a reflex
circuit which provides a high level of amplification both at radio and at audio
frequencies.

Almost all small portable receivers, whether commercially built or designed for home construction,
have a weakness, in the author's opinion, in that too
small a proportion of the space available is allowed
for the speaker and the battery. Miniature speakers
do not make a pleasant sound. The quality given by
the 5 by 3 in. elliptical speaker used in the present
design is far better than that obtainable, say, from the
speaker measuring 2 1-in. in diameter. And very small
batteries like the P13 normally employed in such
receivers cause expensive running costs unless the
current passed is only about 2 or 3mA hardly practicable if speaker operation is required at anything

above a whisper.

The present receiver uses a battery consisting of

two HP2 or SP2 cells, giving a nominal 3 volts from
which 25mA is drawn. A perfectly satisfactory output
volume is obtained for a pocket receiver. For similar
results to be obtained from a 9 volt battery a current
of about 10mA would need to flow (we are considering

total receiver current, not that drawn by the output

stage only.). At the time of writing, two HP2 cells cost
rather more than one PP3. Two SP2's cost less, but
these will not give quite the same life as HP2's. According to figures supplied by Ever Ready, HP2 cells will
give 205 hours at 25mA for an end point of 25% of the
initial voltage, this assuming use at 4 hours per day.
Under the same conditions only 18 hours use will be
obtained from a PP3 at 10mA. Allowing for the extra
cost of two HP2's, the economy of the arrangement
used in this receiver is still about 8 times as good as
that which would be given by a similar output from a
PP3 battery. Which, when all is said and done, is
worth having. Who would not jump at a mini which
averaged 320 m.p.g.!

SPEAKER
The case of the receiver measures approximately 5
by 24 by 14in., and the set can be carried in a jacket
pocket or lady's handbag. It is built around the
Doram Electronics 3 -4 51 speaker code number 248785, which has nominal dimensions of 5 by 3in. In
546

practice the speaker is a little less than 54in. long and

is 24n. wide. The mounting centres are 125.5 by
39.6mm., or approximately 5in. by 1 #in., whilst the
magnet diameter is in. We have been assured by
Doram Electronics that, so far as can be reasonably
maintained, speakers supplied against the code
number just given will continue to have the same
dimensions as that used in the prototype.
If a speaker having different dimensions is
employed there may well have to be changes in the
dimensions of the sections of the red receiver. This
comment applies also to speakers having a magnet of
different diameter. However, the circuit will work
well with any 3 Sa speaker, and constructors who are
not interested in miniature design can obtain excellent results using, say, an 8 by 5 in. speaker.
With reference to the name given to this receiver,
the design is based on the author's "Miniflex" principle, which has formed the basis of four receivers
appearing in earlier issues of this journal. A number
of improvements have been made in the design and,
of course, the layout and component details are quite
new. The choice of title, "M5 ", is thus understandable.
Constructors are advised to study the diagrams
carefully, and to read all the constructional details,
before commencing work on the receiver. This will ensure that the parts are assembled together in correct
manner.

CIRCUIT DETAILS
The circuit is shown in Fig. 1. The signal is picked
up on the ferrite aerial winding, Li, which is tuned by
VC1, and is applied to the base of TRl. Capacitor Cl
provides a capacitive tap across the tuned circuit and
allows reaction in the Colpitts mode to be provided
without the necessity for a separate feedback winding.
Selectivity is controlled to some extent by the value of
Cl. A value of 1,000pF gives slightly greater signal
strength but with a small reductin in selectivity,
whilst 470pF gives very good selectivity but with
possibly unsatisfactory reaction at the higher frequenRADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

Part

By

Sir Douglas Hall, K.C.M.G.

cies. The value of 680pF quoted in the Components

List gives a good compromise.

TRl is an emitter follower, and the r.f. signal at its

emitter is applied to the base of TR2. At radio frequencies TR2 functions as a high gain common
emitter amplifier, producing an output signal across
the r.f. choke L2. This is applied to diode 131, which
rectifies the signal and applies the detected a.f, back
to the base of TRl via Ll. Note that D1 is a silicon

diode and that a germanium diode must not be used

here. C2 shunts the diode and allows some feedback
of the r.f. signal for regenerative purposes.
Once again TRl functions as an emitter follower
and the signal across Rl is applied to the base of TR2
which, at audio frequencies, similarly functions as an
emitter follower. Indeed, the two transistors form a
Darlington pair at a.f., whereupon the output at TR2
emitter is at very low impedance
of the order of
50 L. An interstage transformer, Tl, is then employed

--

R4

+3V

""MN`'1

LSI
TRI
PN 2905

BF 167

or

TR2

2N4289

BF115

TR4

R2

C3

= C8
VCI

C5

III

LI

II

1I

TR3

DI

BC I69C

Ferrite
aerial

T1

000
BF115 BF167

Lead

-outs

Fig. 1. The circuit of the

APRIL 1977

000)
bce

bce

shield

BC 169C
Lead -outs

PN2905
Lead -outs

2N4289
Lead -outs

"M5 " medium wave portable receiver

547

COMPONENTS
Resistors
(All fixed values
Rl 6.8k
R2 390n

watt 5 %)

R3 2.2 sZ
R4 82 0
VR1 220 n potentiometer, linear (see text)
VR2 100k n pre -set potentiometer, 0.1 watt
skeleton, horizontal

Capacitors
Cl 680pF silvered mica
C2 47pF silvered mica
C3 0.1F plastic foil
C4 1004F electrolytic, 3 V. Wkg., axial (Siemens)
C51,000/4Felectrolytic, 3 V. Wkg., axial (Siemens)
C6 100F electrolytic, 3 V. Wkg., axial (Siemens)
C7 2.21tF electrolytic, 25 V. Wkg., axial (Siemens)
C8 47pF silvered mica
VC1 300pF variable, "Dilemin" (Jackson)

Inductors
L1 ferrite aerial (see text)
L2 2.5mH r.f. choke, type CH1 (Repanco)
Ti Interstage transformer type LT44 (Eagle)
T2 Output transformer type TT56 (Repanco)
to give a step -up in voltage (as against the more usual
step -down arrangement encountered in transistor circuits). There is in consequence a "free" voltage
amplification of 10 times before further a.f.
amplification is given by TR3.
TR3 gives a very large degree of amplification and
its collector connects directly to the base of TR4,
which operates as a Class A emitter follower output
transistor. TR4 emitter couples to the primary of output transformer T2, whose secondary couples in turn
to the speaker. Pre -set potentiometer VR2 sets the
bias current for the base of TR3 and is adjusted such
that TR4 passes an emitter current of 23mA. A

Semiconductors
TRl BF167
TR2 BF115
TR3 BC169C
TR4 PN2905 or 2N4289

Dl 1S44

Switch
Si d.p.d.t. slide switch (see text)
Speaker
LS1 3-4 0 5 by 3in., code no 248 -785 (lloram)

Miscellaneous
2 -off HP2 cells (Ever Ready)
28 -way tagstrip (see text)
Ferrite rod, 4 by lin.
Spring clip, type no. LK -2721 (Lektrokit)
2 -off control knobs
6BA studding
Spring (see text)
Materials for case (see text)
Nuts, bolts, wire, etc.

typical transistor in the TR4 position can be expected

to have a current amplification of 150, whereupon a
base current of about .1501A will produce the desired
emitter current. This base current is also, of course,
the collector current of TR3. Since TR3 collector
current is only about 15012A, and since it has a current
gain of about 500, its input impedance is high and
there is no significant damping of the winding of Tl
which feeds it. The overall amplification is therefore
good as also, within the limitations of the output
power available, is the quality of reproduction.
R3 provides negative feedback at d.c. for TR3 and
TR4, a.f. feedback being cancelled here by the large

.:-Y..'S>,'

lt,WAW,>,.
4*v:

548

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

value capacitor, C5. The main purpose of C8 is to prevent amplification by TR3 and TR4 of any r.f. signal
which may filter through to these two transistors. C8
also provides a little top cut.
Volume and reaction are controlled by VR1. As the
slider of this potentiometer approaches the end of the
track connecting to Cl regeneration increases. On the
other hand, as the slider approaches the end of the
track connecting to the input winding of Tl the
resistance across that winding reduces until, at zero
setting, no audio signal at all is applied to TR3. The
overall effect is that of an efficient reaction control
combined with an equally efficient audio frequency
volume control.
The type of component chosen for T2 is important.
The d.c. resistance of its primary must be very low, as
is essential when a 3 volt supply is available and only
a small voltage drop can be afforded. Initially, the
author employed an R.S. Components output
transformer type T/ T7. This has now been discontinued, but the author mentions the fact in case
readers may have one of these transformers in their
spares box. A suitable alternative is the Repanco type
''T56 output transformer. The Repanco transformer
is modified by the removal of its clamp.
Due to the small size of the receiver and other fac-

tors, a number of the components have to be specified by

make and type. All the electrolytic capacitors are

Siemens axial types, these being listed by Electrovalue Ltd., 28 St. Jude's Road, Englefield Green,
Egham, Surrey, TW20 OHB. Potentiometer VR1 is a
type P20 component, also available from Electrovalue. One of the two alternatives for TR4, the
PN2905, is again stocked by Electrovalue.
Slide switch Si should be a miniature d.p.d.t. slide
switch having fixing centres at approximately lin.
(29mm.). A miniature 28 -way R.S. Components
tagstrip is required, and this can be obtained from
Doram Electronics as a 28 -way tagstrip type B. The
ferrite rod is 4in. by ein. and may be obtained in this
size, or can be a longer rod cut down. In the latter instance a V -cut is made with a triangular file all round
the rod at the point where it is to be broken and it is
then tapped sharply against the bench. The ferrite
rod is held by a *in. spring clip, this being a Lektrokit
part no. LK2721 which is available (in packets of 10)
from Home Radio. Home Radio can also provide
12in. lengths of 6BA brass studding (threaded rod),
which is required for the receiver assembly.
A small spiral spring is required for fitting between
the two cells. This can be obtained from a cycle or
hardware store, and further details of it are given
later.

Top

1/4*plywood

11/2

11/2'

1/8 holes for

Cut -out for

SI dolly

woodscrews

3/4"

r1/2.

Top screwed here

3/8 dia

(VC!)

68A
clear

#
Speaker

11/2'

3116"

cut -out

43/8"
6 BA

dear
Use speaker as template

21/16'

for

these 4BA clearance holes

I3/4

1/16 S.R.O.P.

1/

/16' S,R.B.P

1/8 "holes

for

16

S.R.BRI

Bottom screwed here

57/16

woodscrews

3/16

H311--

3/e

3/8 dia

-(see text)
%l

3/16"

11
Bottom
1/4' plywood

Aluminium
(pas. battery

11/4

3/4

contact

plate )

3/1r
...!!!

11116

Fig. 2. Details of the sections which make up the receiver case

APRIL 1977

549

CONSTRUCTION
Construction starts with the cutting out of the items
shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen that the materials used
here are small pieces of ;in. plywood, Ain. s.r.b.p.,
and aluminium sheet of any gauge between 16 and 20
s.w.g. First cut out and drill the s.r.b.p. speaker panel
and cut out the top and bottom plywood panels. Screw
the top and bottom to the speaker panel using five
countersunk screws for each plywood piece and then
cover this assembly with Fablon of a suitable choice.
Take up VR1. The metal back of the case of this
potentiometer makes contact with the negative side of
the battery formed by the two HP2 cells, and it will be
found that an extension of the plastic spindle
protrudes slightly at the back (to couple with the
switch in a combined potentiometer and switch). File
down this extension, so that the HP2 cell will be able
to make reliable contact with the potentiometer back.
Next cut out the two s.r.b.p. sides. The two 6BA
clear holes on either side of the spindle hole for VC1
take 6BA bolts which secure the capacitor in place. It
will be found that VC1 frame is very close to, or
touches, the speaker frame when the sides are
assembled, and it may be necessary to shift the 6BA
clear holes very slightly to the left, as shown in Fig. 2.
This was not needed with the prototype, but the point
can be checked at the present state of construction.
The orientation of VC1 can be seen in the wiring
diagram of Fig. 3.
The fixing holes and dolly slot dimensions for slide

when the tip of the drill just appears. The resulting

depression ensure good seating for the battery positive
stud. The contact plate is used as a template to mark
out the corresponding two 6BA clear holes in the
s.r.b.p. panel. Position of the aluminium plate on the
s.r.b.p. panel so that there is a +in. free at the bottom (to
give clearance for the plywood bottom panel) and Ain.
clearance on either side, then mark out and drill the
holes in the s.r.b.p. panel. Fit the contact plate, and
cover both the s.r.b.p. panels with Fablon. A contrasting colour of Fablon for the sides, as against the
front, top and bottom, gives an effective finish. The
prototype had plain black for the front, top and bottom, and plain yellow for the sides and back (to be
described later). Mount VC1, VR1 and Si, and also
wire in Cl, all as shown in Fig. 3. Then put the two
s.r.b.p. panels on one side for the time being.
Make up a sleeve of paper or Fablon about 3in.
long, and put it on the ferrite rod. Close -wind 70 turns
of 26 s.w.g. enamelled wire in a single layer on this
sleeve, the winding starting about 1,'-in. from one end
of the rod. Anchor the coil ends with tape and put the
rod on one side for use later.
Mount the speaker over a piece of thin gauze, using
three 1in. roundhead 4BA bolts and one +in. roundhead 4BA bolt. Following the view shown in Fig. 3, fit
the three lin. bolts at the bottom and upper left hand
speaker holes, and the tin. bolt at the upper right
hand speaker hole. As will be deduced from the diagram, two tagstrips and the ferrite aerial clip will be
mounted on the lin. bolts.

Clip holding ferrite rod

-7.

VCI

TI

L2

Speaker togs

--+
. =II(ilIIIII)IIIiIII1 ' t
4

-214W1-4,

'

5 Speaker
magnet
r

Cb

,_

oa000iI
e

TR2

Soldered to case

if i

Rb)411131

1
_

TR3

$..

`."

iRI

TR4

T2

-VR2
Solder tag soldered
to clamp or core
of T2

battery
contact plate
Pos.

Battery cells here

-_ +

Neg. battery makes contact

with

VR1

case

Fig. 3. Wiring and layout of the components in the receiver. Note that part of the circuit is completed via

the clamp feet of Ti

switch S1 on the right hand s.r.b.p. panel (again as

seen in Fig. 2) correspond to those required by the
switch used by the author. They may require slight
modification with other switches. When mounted, the
body of the switch is on the inside of the s.r.b.p. panel.
The aluminium plate in Fig. 2 provides the battery
positive connecting point. The tin. hole in its centre
is not drilled all the way through, and drilling ceases
550

NEXT MONTH

In next month's issue, the concluding article will

complete the constructional details for this receiver
and will describe the simple setting up procedure required to bring it into full working order.
(To be concluded)
RADIO

&

ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

SPECIAL PROJECT...

CMOS
AUDIO AMPLIFIER
By

R. A. Penfold

Incorporating a linear CMOS integrated circuit, this unusual a.f.

amplifier offers a low quiescent power supply drain and requires no
protection against thermal runaway in the output transistors.

As anyone who has designed a Class B transistor

a.f. amplifier will know, one of the main problems is
the elimination of significant levels of crossover distortion. This type of distortion is particularly
troublesome since it increases with decreasing output
power, and it is at low levels that the distortion is
most noticeable.

APRIL 1977

OUTPUT STAGE
A basic Class B emitter follower output stage is
shown in Fig. 1. TRA is the driver transistor and the
circuit is set up such that under quiescent no- signal
conditions its collector potential is approximately
mid -way between the positive and negative supply
rails. If a signal is applied the collector then goes
551

TRB
N.P.N.

TRA
Input

TRC

Output

P.N.P.

Fig.

1.
Basic circuit for a complementary
emitter follower Class B output stage

positive and negative in response to the signal

waveform. When it goes positive, transistor TRB
becomes conductive and acts as an emitter follower,
causing a corresponding voltage to be passed to the
output load. TRC becomes conductive as an emitter
follower when the collector of TRA goes negative.
TRB and TRC do not offer any voltage gain but
provide a high level of current amplification,
whereupon the output load can have a relatively low
impedance. The load is normally, of course, a
loudspeaker.
Let us assume for a moment that RB is not in circuit and that the bases of TRB and TRC are connected together. If the output transistors are silicon
types, TRB will not then become conductive until its
base is taken some 0.65 volt positive of its base and, in
the same way, TRC will not become conductive until
its base is taken about 0.65 volt negative of its emitter.
The result will be a very high degree of crossover distortion in the output signal, as is illustrated in Fig. 2
where the central part of the signal waveform is not
amplified at all. The waveform in Fig. 2 has a peak
amplitude of some 3 or 4 volts, and it is obvious that
the crossover distortion will become proportionately
more severe for signals of lower amplitude.

Germanium transistors do not become conductive

until the base is taken about 0.2 volt forward of the
emitter. If TRB and TRC of Fig. 1 were germanium
transistors, they would not amplify until the signal at
TRA collector passed 0.2 volt positive and negative of
the quiescent level. Again, a high degree of crossover
distortion would result.
It is to prevent crossover distortion that resistor RB
is interposed between the bases of TRB and TRC.
The collector current of TRA flows through RB, and
the latter can be given a value such that it drops about
1.3 volts (twice 0.65 volt) for silicon output transistors
or about 0.4 volt (twice 0.2 volt) for germanium
output transistors. Thus, both output transistors
are just conductive under quiescent conditions, and
respond to small as well as large signal excursions at
the collector of TRA. In consequence the crossover
distortion is reduced.
It is not, unfortunately completely eliminated. This
is because the current gain of the output transistors is
lower when they are just conductive than it is when
they pass an appreciable collector and emitter

6
3

CA3130
Top view

C5

AC176
AC12B
Lead -outs

Fig. 3.

Ic

The circuit

of the CMOS audio amplifier.

current. One way of further reducing the crossover

distortion which still remains is to give RB a higher
value again, causing the output transistors to pass an
appreciable current under quiescent conditions. Such
an approach, however, raises further problems.

THERMAL RUNAWAY

Fig 2. If RB of Fig. 1 were omitted and the output transistor bases connected together, a sine
wave input would be reproduced at the output

in the manner shown here

552

The

ditic

If the two output transistors pass a significant

current under quiescent conditions there is a waste of
supply power, and this is an undesirable feature if the
amplifier is battery driven. What is, perhaps, a more
important point is that there is an increased risk of
thermal runaway.
Should the temperature of the output transistors
increase due to normal power dissipation or to a high
RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

Germanium transistors do not become conductive

ambient temperature, their base- emitter turn -on

voltages become decreased, whereupon they are
capable of passing under quiescent conditions an increased current. This in turn raises their temperature
again, with a consequent further reduction in base emitter turn -on voltage. The process is self- sustaining
and can lead eventually to the transistor
temperatures becoming so high that they burn out.
The effect is known as thermal runaway.
Partial prevention of thermal runaway can be
achieved by replacing RB with a temperature sensitive voltage dropping device such as a thermistor, a
diode or a diode - connected transistor. The voltage
across the device falls as its temperature increases,
whereupon the base -emitter voltages applied to the
output transistors decrease. An approach of this
nature assists in preventing thermal runaway due to
high ambient temperature, although it cannot guard
against temperature rise due to power dissipation in
the output transistors themselves unless the voltage
dropping device is thermally coupled to them.
Another method of reducing the risk of thermal

until the base is taken about 0.2 volt forward of the

emitter. If TRB and TRC of Fig. 1 were germanium
transistors, they would not amplify until the signal at
TRA collector passed 0.2 volt positive and negative of
the quiescent level. Again, a high degree of crossover
distortion would result.
It is to prevent crossover distortion that resistor RB
is interposed between the bases of TRB and TRC.
The collector current of TRA flows through RB, and
the latter can be given a value such that it drops about
1.3 volts (twice 0.65 volt) for silicon output transistors
or about 0.4 volt (twice 0.2 volt) for germanium
output transistors. Thus, both output transistors
are just conductive under quiescent conditions, and
respond to small as well as large signal excursions at
the collector of TRA. In consequence the crossover
distortion is reduced.
It is not, unfortunately completely eliminated. This
is because the current gain of the output transistors is
lower when they are iust conductive than it is when
they pass an appreciable collector and ' emitter

f--

R5

VON

SI

8
7

o 6

0
0

TRI
AC176

CA3130
Top view

C5

t9V

C4

Output
TR2

AC176
AC 128

AC 128

Ltad-outs

i
Fig. 3. The circuit

of the CMOS audio amplifier. The output transistors are cut off under quiescent conditions

urrent. One way of further reducing the crossover

listortion which still remains is to give RB a higher
'slue again, causing the output transistors to pass an
ppreciable current under quiescent conditions. Such
n approach, however, raises further problems.
'

THERMAL RUNAWAY
If the two output transistors pass a significant
urrent under quiescent conditions there is a waste of
upply power, and this is an undesirable feature if the
mplifier is battery driven. What is, perhaps, a more
nportant point is that there is an increased risk of
hermal runaway.
Should the temperature of the output transistors
icrease due to normal power dissipation or to a high
RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

runaway consists of inserting low value resistors, RC

and RD, in series with the emitters, as illustrated in
Fig. 1. If the output transistor current increases, so
does the voltage dropped across the resistors, with a
corresponding reduction in the transistor base emitter voltages. Naturally, some of the output power
is wasted in the resistors.
In the amplifier circuit which is described in this
article, advantage is taken of a CMOS linear op -amp
to provide an output stage having none of the drawbacks which have just been detailed. Both the output
transistor bases are connected together, whereupon
the risk of thermal runaway is removed and resistors
RC and RD are not required. Also, the very high gain
of the CMOS op -amp enables a negative feedback
loop to be set up which brings crossover distortion
down to a negligibly low level.
APRIL 1977

ambient temperature, their base -emitter turn-on

voltages become decreased, whereupon they are
capable of passing under quiescent conditions an increased current. This in turn raises their temperature
again, with a consequent further reduction in base emitter turn -on voltage. The process is self-sustaining
and can lead eventually to the transistor
temperatures becoming so high that they burn out.
The effect is known as thermal runaway.
Partial prevention of thermal runaway can be
achieved by replacing RB with a temperature sensitive voltage dropping device such as a thermistor, a
diode or a diode -connected transistor. The voltage
across the device falls as its temperature increases,
whereupon the base -emitter voltages applied to the
output transistors decrease. An approach of this
nature assists in preventing thermal runaway due to
high ambient temperature, although it cannot guard
against temperature rise due to power dissipation in
the output transistors themselves unless the voltage
dropping device is thermally coupled to them.
Another method of reducing the risk of thermal

R5

THE CIRCUIT
The complete circuit of the amplifier is given in
Fig. 3, and it will be seen that this is quite simple and
requires few components. The input and driver stages
are provided by the CMOS op -amp, which is a
CA3130. The output transistors are germanium types
rather than silicon, since their lower base -emitter
forward voltages permit a slightly higher output
voltage swing. They are connected in a complementary emitter follower output circuit. The amplifier
will provide an output power of about 300mW into a
15a speaker. Higher impedance speakers can also be
used but will cause a reduction in the maximum output power. With a 40 S2 speaker, for example, the
maximum output power is limited to about 125mW.
Speakers with impedances lower than 15Q should not
be used.
An input of slightly more than 100mV r.m.s. is required for maximum output, and the input impedance is about 120k [2 . Both these figures apply
when the volume control, VR1, is set to maximum.
They can be altered to some extent to suit individual
requirements by changing component values, and this
aspect is discussed later.
The amplifier has a quiescent current demand of
approximately 3.5mA from the 9 volt battery, this
consisting of the current drawn by IC1 plus a small
current in Rl and 112. In the absence of an input
signal only leakage current flows in the output transistors. At full output the current consumption is at
an average level of around 50mA.,

COMPONENTS
Resistors
(All fixed values

Rl 5.6k i

watt 5 %)

R2 5.6k 0
R3 12k 0

R4 220k St
11,5 220kQ
R6 10k 0 (See text)
VR1 220k . potentiometer, log

output transistors are cut off under quiescent con ,ns

runaway consists of inserting low value resistors, RC

and RD, in series with the emitters, as illustrated in
Fig. 1. If the output transistor current increases, so
does the voltage dropped across the resistors, with a
corresponding reduction in the transistor base emitter voltages. Naturally, some of the output power
is wasted in the resistors.
In the amplifier circuit which is described in this
article, advantage is taken of a CMOS linear op -amp
to provide an output stage having none of the drawbacks which have just been detailed. Both the output
transistor bases are connected together, whereupon
the risk of thermal runaway is removed and resistors
RC and RD are not required. Also, the very high gain
of the CMOS op -amp enables a negative feedback
loop to be set up which brings crossover distortion
down to a negligibly low level.
APRIL 1977

Capacitors
Cl 330F electrolytic, 10 V. Wkg.
C2 0.1F type C280 (Mallard)
C3 15014F ceramic
C4 680AF electrolytic, 10 V. Wkg.
C5 100F electrolytic, 10 V. Wkg.
Semiconductors
IC1 CA3130
TR1 AC176
TR2 AC128

Switch
SI s.p.s.t. switch
Miscellaneous
Speaker (see text)
9 volt battery
Battery connector
Veroboard, 0.15in. Matrix
Veropins, 0.15in. type
Input socket (see text)
Screened wire.
553

All in all, the circuit of Fig. 3 is very versatile and

will have many possible uses.
Considering the circuit in detail it will be seen that
ICI is used as a non -inverting amplifier. Both its inputs are coupled via resistors to the junction of Rl
and R2, which provides a voltage which is central
between the supply rails. Cl is a bypass capacitor.
Since the input impedance of the non -inverting input at lead -out 3 of the i.c. is extremely high, R4 can
have any value. The input impedance of the amplifier
can, if desired, be altered by changing the values of
R4 and the volume control. C2 provides d.c. blocking
at the non -inverting input. The 10k S2 resistor, R6, has
no significant effect on a.f. performance and is merely
a surge current limiting resistor to protect the Lc. if
the input is derived from a battery powered pre-

amplifier.
C3 is the compensating capacitor for the i.c. and
prevents if from breaking into oscillation. No connection is made to lead -out 5 of the i.c. The output is
taken from lead -out 6 and is applied directly to the
bases of TR1 and TR2. C4 is the output d.c. blocking
capacitor, whilst C5 is the supply bypass capacitor for
the whole amplifier. Sl is the on -off switch.

NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
Negative feedback from the emitters of TRl and
TR2 to the inverting input of the i.c. is provided by
R5 and R3. The voltage gain of the amplifier is equal
to (R3 + R5) divided by R3, and this works out as a
little under 20 times, or 26dB, with the resistor
values specified. The open loop voltage gain of the
CA3130 (i.e. the gain without feedback) is extremely
high, being typically 320,000 times. Thus, a very large
amount of negative feedback is provided in the circuit.
The manner in which the feedback takes up the
output base voltage range at which neither transistor
conducts is quite simple. Assume that both the non inverting input and the output of the i.c. are at zero
potential. Theoretically, the output transistors are
non -conductive and there is no negative feedback.

The non -inverting input now starts to go positive. The

slightest positive excursion at the op -amp input will
cause its output to swing to the positive level required
to cause TRl to become conductive, whereupon the
negative feedback loop will then come into operation.
Similarly, the slightest negative excursion of the input
will take the op -amp output sufficiently negative to
turn on TR2 and cause the feedback loop to be com.pleted once more.
As an input signal passes through zero level there
will be an instant when the op -amp has its full open
loop gain and its output swings from one transistor
base to the other, thereby re- introducing negative
feedback and normalising the gain. The input signal
range over which the op -amp output changes-Wan h
transistor to the other is extremely small, whereupon
crossover distortion is virtually eliminated.
The assumption was made just now that the opamp non -inverting input and output were at zero
level. In practice, the op -amp output would not remain steady at zero level but, due to the very high
open loop gain, would swing from one transistor base
to the other, actuated by the inevitable low noise level
at the input.
In the accompanying oscillogram the lower trace
shows a 500Hz sine wave applied at a power level of a
few milliwatts to a 15 i2 speaker. The corresponding
waveform at the output of the op -amp is illustrated by
the upper trace. The greatly increased gain in the opamp near the waveform centre can be clearly observed.

CONSTRUCTION
The amplifier is assembled on a piece of Veroboard
of 0.15in. matrix having 15 holes by 14 copper strips.
The component and copper sides of this board are
shown in Fig. 4. Before mounting any components,
the two 6BA clear holes are drilled and the three
breaks made in the copper strips.
The components and wire links may then be
soldered to the board. To avoid damage to the integrated circuit, the soldering iron employed must

441.444 ;' vmte s i

IMO

.:.:.:;

...
.

sn<:.

M<,

554

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

have a realiably earthed bit, Being germanium transistors, TR1 and TR2 are more liable to damage by
heat than silicon types, and their lead -outs should be
soldered reasonably quickly. Veropins are fitted for
the external connections to the speaker, the battery,
S1 and VR1. R6 is not fitted on the board and is wired
between VR1 and the input socket. The latter can be a
jack socket, phono socket or any other type of socket
if desired.
preferred. S1 may be ganged with VR1input
impedThe circuit has a fairly high gain and
ance, and the input and output are in phase. Screened
leads must therefore be used in the input circuit.
Otherwise, there could be feedback between the output and input wiring with consequent instability.
A suitable battery is the Ever Ready PP9.
The output quality is well above average for a simple battery operated amplifier, and this is due to the
large amount of negative feedback which is employed.
The noise level is also very low, as is to be expected
when an op -amp provides the voltage amplification.
The unweighted noise level of the prototype (input
short-circuited) is approximately -80dB.

r* Wk\s,
Another view of the amplifier
0

Ci

9V pos. via 5
o 0
0

MODIFICATIONS
If required, the gain and input impedance of the

Ls.

R2
0
O

0
0

TR2
0

To VR1

o0
I

o
0

0 0
0

0,0

aT

00
aE:o

o
0

9V neg.

0
0

Fig. 4. Component and copper sides of the

Veroboard panel on which the amplifier is

assembled

APRIL 1977

circuit are easily modified. The voltage gain is varied

by altering the value of R5, working to the expression
for gain which was given earlier. However, R5 should
not be given a value greater than 680k S2 as the output
quality may then deteriorate. With R5 at 680k a the
input required for maximum output is only about
35mV r.m.s. Slightly in excess of 2 volts r.m.s. is required at the amplifier output for maximum power.
The input impedance is determined by VR1 and
R4. It is desirable for these to have approximately the
same value whereupon the input impedance (with
VR1 set to maximum) is approximately R6 plus onehalf of R4. If the input impedance is reduced
significantly the value of C2, should be increased
proportionately, as there will otherwise be a loss of
bass response. If an electrolytic capacitor is employed
here, the negative lead -out connects to VR1 slider.
Instability may be a problem if the input impedance
is increased, and this can be cured by adding a 100pF
capacitor between lead -out 3 of the i.c. and the
negative rail. This reduces the input impedance of the
circuit at high frequencies and so reduces unwanted
feedback to an insignificant level. There is plenty of
space for the extra capacitor on the Veroboard panel.
R6 is included to meet the manufacturer's
specification that input currents at the inputs of the
CA3130 should not exceed 1mA. If the amplifier were
preceded by a pre-amplifier with an output coupling
capacitor, the situation is feasible in which a current
surge could flow at switch -on or switch -off of the preamplifier. R6 has a value suitable for a pre -amplifier
powered by a 9 volt battery. It should be increased
for pre -amplifiers with a higher supply voltage. A
value of 15k i would be suitable if the pre -amplifier
had a 12 volt supply, and so on. As already stated, R6
plays no part otherwise in the functioning of the
amplifier.
555

"HEADS
OR

TAILS ?"
by J. R. Davies

Apart from describing a very simple electronic "heads or tails" device, this article
also illustrates a method of obtaining a
50 -50 square wave from a 555 timer.

556

Electronic 2-state gambling devices which offer a

random output when a push -button is pressed have
become popular over recent years. Currently, design
has reached the stage where the output of a multibibrator is passed, via a press -to -break push-button,
to the clock input of a J -K flip -flop. Two light emitting diodes are driven by the Q and not -Q outputs of the flip -flop, these outputs changing state with
each pulse from the multivibrator. There is then a
true 50:50 possibility of either l.e.d. being illuminated
when the push- button is pressed.
The circuit to be described here incurs a slight
regression in design approach because it does not
take advantage of the true 50:50 option provided by a
J -K flip -flop. On the other hand it is extremely simple
to assemble, requires very few components and can
be set up for 50:50 operation as closely as can be
determined by a multimeter set to an appropriate
voltage range What will be of greater interest to
the serious experimenter is the fact that the
circuit demonstrates a means of obtaining a 50:50
square wave from a 555 timer when it is connected as
a standard astable multivibrator.

CIRCUIT OPERATION
The circuit of the 555 "Heads or Tails" appears in
Fig. 1. For the time being components VR1 and Rl
should be ignored.
After switch -on at S2, Cl commences to charge via
R2 and R3 until the voltage at its upper plate reaches
two- thirds of supply potential. The comparator at pin
6 of the i.c. is then triggered, causing the internal flipflop to change state and pin 7 to go low in voltage. The
capacitor then discharges via R3 on its own until the
voltage on its upper plate falls to one -third of supply
potential. The comparator coupled to pin 2 is then actuated, pin 7 becomes open and the capacitor charges
once more via R2 and R3. The oscillations thus continue with the upper plate of Cl alternately rising to
two -thirds of supply potential and falling to one -third
of supply potential.
The output at pin 3 goes high when the capacitor
charges and goes low when the capacitor discharges.
When the output is high a current flows through R5
and LED2, whereupon this l.e.d. lights up. With the
output low, current flows through R4 and LEDs,
causing the latter l.e.d. to become illuminated. In
consequence the two l.e.d.'s light successively. The
output at pin 3 is virtually completely isolated from
the internal comparator trigger circuits.
If push-button Si is pressed, the circuit to pins 2
and 6 of the i.c. is broken. Should this occur at an instant when the capacitor is charging it continues to
charge until it reaches supply potential, and the output at pin 3 remains in the high state with LED2
continually lit. Had the circuit been broken when the
capacitor was discharging, it would continue to discharge and the output at pin 3 would be maintained
in the low state, with LED1 continually illuminated.
Thus, pressing S1 causes either LED1 or LED2 to
remain lit, and this provides the "heads or tails"
function of the circuit. Releasing S1 causes the multi vibrator to resume oscillation with LEDs and LED2
alternately flashing.
The circuit runs at a frequency of the order of 7Hz.
This is sufficiently slow to enable the alternate illumination of LEDs and LED2 to be perceived but,
RADIO

&

ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

COMPONENTS
s2

Resistors
(All fixed values

BYi

=T

9V

555
Top view

Fig. 1. The circuit of the 555 "Heads or Tails ?"

A feature of the design is that VR1 can be
adjusted for a 50:50 square wave output
from the 555

with human reaction time at about a third of a second, is just too fast to allow the push -button to be
pressed at the appropriate instant by observation of
the l.e.d.'s. Assuming that the output at pin 3 is a
50:50 square wave, the selection of either l.e.d. then
becomes a random process.

SQUARE WAVE OPERATION

If VR1 and R1, which we have ignored up to now,
were not in circuit, the output of the 555 could not,
however, be a 50:50 square wave. This is because the
capacitor charges via the two resistors R2 and R3 and
discharges via the single resistor R3. In consequence
the charge section of the multivibrator cycle is longer
than the discharge section. It would be possible to
have the output approach a 50:50 sine wave by making R2 very much smaller than R3. In the present circuit R2 has a value which is about one -twentieth of
R3 and so the charge period is some 5% longer than
the discharge period.
It is also assumed when discussing the 555 i.c., that
internal flip -flop triggering occurs at precisely two thirds and precisely one -third of supply voltage
whereas, in practice, there must be some tolerance in
the resistances in the internal potential divider to
which the comparators connect. In the writer's experience, however, there is a remarkably high degree
of consistency between the performance of 555 i.c.'s
of different manufacture so far as flip -flop actuation
is concerned.
Thus, without VR1 and Rl, the circuit can be looked upon as providing what closely approaches a 50:50
square wave. When VR1 and Rl are introduced it
becomes possible to obtain a virtually true 50:50 output, because all that is required is to adjust VR1 such
that the charge period of Cl is slightly reduced and
the discharge period is slightly increased. If the outAPRIL 1977

; watt

5 %)

Rl 470kfl

R2 4.7kn
R3 100k
R4 lkfi
R5 lkri
VR1 100ksa, pre -set potentiometer, skeleton

Capacitor
Cl 1IiF plastic foil
Semiconductors
ICI 555
LEDs green l.e.d.
LED2 red l.e.d.
Switches
S1 push -button, press -to -break
S2 s.p.s.t., toggle
Battery
BY1 9 volt battery

put of the 555 were connected to an accurate oscilloscope, VR1 would merely be adjusted to provide
the requisite square wave, this normally being given

with the slider of VR1 slightly positive of the mid supply voltage. For the circuit to operate 111 requires
a value which is about 5 times that of R3 or greater.
VR1 may also be set up with the aid of a multimeter having (preferably) a resistance on its voltage
ranges of 10,000 ohms per volt or more, and to see
how this can be done it is necessary to examine the
output circuit of the 555 i.c.
The output circuit is shown, in slightly simplified
form, in Fig. 2, where the output transistors are TRB,
vcc+

Fig. 2. The internal output stage circuit of the

555 timer i.c.

557

a virtually instantaneous change from the low to the

high state and vice -versa, the length in time of alternate half - cycles of the output waveform will then be
equal.

SETTING-UP

Fig. 3. Connecting

voltmeter to allow VR1 to

be set up

TRC and TRD, these being driven by TRA. The

earth symbols represent the negative supply rail.
TRA is turned off when the output is required to be
in the high state, whereupon the Darlington pair
given by TRB and TRC receive an input base current
via the (.8k2, resistor. For low output currents to the
negative rail pin 3 then becomes negative of the
positive supply rail by the voltage drops in two base emitter junctions, these adding to a typical value of
around 1.2 volts. For the low output condition TRA is
turned on, driving a base current through TRD and
drawing the base of TRB down to a low level. TRD
turns hard on and, for low currents to the positive rail
(and working from Signetics data) drops to considerably less than 0.1 volt.
A check for 50:50 square wave operation can
therefore be carried out by connecting a voltmeter
between pin 3 and the negative rail, measuring the
voltage given when the output is high, then adjusting
VR1 of Fig. 1 for an output voltage of exactly half
that value with the multivibrator running. Assuming

The setting -up process is illustrated in Fig. 3. The

circuit of Fig. 1 is assembled with the exception that
no connection is made between pin 3 and the junction
of LED1 and R5. A multimeter switched to read 0 -10
volts, or a suitable similar range, is connected
between pin 3 and the negative rail. VR1 is adjusted
to a central setting and S2 is closed. S1 is then pressed
one or more times until a high reading is given in the
voltmeter. This reading is noted. S1 is then released
and VR1 is adjusted for an indication in the voltmeter
which is exactly half the previous reading. Because of
the relatively slow speed of the multivibrator the
meter needle may vibrate slightly on either side of the
reading but this does not prevent an accurate
reading being obtained. The circuit is then set up and
can be brought into use by removing the multimeter
and connecting the l.e.d.'s to the output.
The circuit functions satisfactorily with quite a
high internal resistance in the battery and there is no
need for a high value electrolytic bypass capacitor
across the supply rails. C1 is a plastic foil capacitor,
which nowadays infers a polyester dielectric. The two
l.e.d.'s are mounted on the front panel of the completed unit in company with Si and S2, and require
panel mounting bushes. The author employed green
and red l.e.d.'s Type 4, which are available from
Doram Electronics and which have the anode lead
(coupling to the positive supply) shorter than the
cathode lead. However, any other similar l.e.d.'s may
be employed instead.
The current drawn is of the order of 10mA with Si
closed or open, and a 9 volt PP6 battery would be
suitable

MOBILE AMATEUR RADIO LOG REQUIREMENTS

One of the most pleasing of the changes which have
been introduced into the new amateur radio
transmitting licence regulations, now being issued to
radio amateurs in this country by the Home Office, is
that relating to the keeping of log books recording the
activities of mobile amateur radio stations. The
detail required in the past has been surplanted by
much more reasonable
and practical requirements.
It is also now not necessary to take out a separate
licence for mobile work. The new licence covers
mobile operation from `any vehicle or vessel, but not on
the sea or within any estuary, dock or habour". It
also covers mobile operation "as a pedestrian "! It
should be noted that it does not permit operation
from an aircraft nor may the station be used from a
public transport vehicle. When used as a mobile station in the permitted manner, as indicated above, the
suffix "IM" shall be added to the call sign,
The keeping of a Log Book, recording the times
and other details of transmissions, has always been
an accepted requirement of operating an Amateur
Radio Station and is welcomed by all reasonably
minded radio amateur operators. The requirements

558

for mobile operation in this connection have,

however, been somewhat onerous in the past. Now,
however, the new requirements make things much
easier and more practical. A separate log book may
be maintained for mobile or pedestrian use, distinct
from the main station log. "Entries made in respect
of calls made when operating from a vehicle or vessel,
or as a pedestrian, should be made as soon as practicable after the end of the journey and must consist
of date, geographical area of operation, frequency
band(s) used and time of commencement and end of
journey ".
It is interesting to note the inclusion of "Pedestrian
mobile operation" along with vehicular mobile operation in the new licence regulations. This has no doubt
been done because of the greatly increased popularity
of "hand held" miniaturised radio telephony equipment which is now so readily available. It is now
commonplace at radio gatherings and meetings, to
see portable, miniaturised, amateur radio telephony
equipment, slung over the sholders of those present in
the manner and quite as conveniently as the more
usually carried camera!
A.C.G.
RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

ANTIQUE AND
WARTIME RADIO
ByRon Ham
The author is presenting his collection of antique
and wartime radio equipment this year from April
1st to October 31st at the Cornwall Aircraft Park at
Helston, Cornwall.
Here are some of the items which will be exhibited.
HORN LOUDSPEAKER
The first photograph shows a early receiving installation which comprises an Amplion horn
loudspeaker together with a Gecophone "kit"
receiver on its right. Just visible on the left is one of
the first a.c. mains radios, this being of Philips
manufacture. The loudspeaker, with its fancy
wooden horn, sold for 5 5s. in 1924.
The second photograph takes us up to the start of
World War 2, the set on the left being the aircraft
transmitter-receiver type TR9, which was in use with
the RAF from around 1938 to the early 1940's. This
set, working on short wave frequencies, provided
voice communication between aircraft, and between
aircraft and ground. The receiver was a t.r.f. design
with pre -set regeneration between its r.f. stages and
employed the old 4 pin 2 volt filament valves. These
were powered by a 2 volt accumulator mounted externally. Inside the housing are two further batteries: a
120 volt high tension battery and a grid bias battery.
To the right is a version of the transmitter-receiver
type TR1133 which superseded the TR9. This
operated on v.h.f betweeen 100 and 125MHz and the
set illustrated has crystal controlled receiver oscillator tuning. The valves are 6.3 volt indirectly
heated types and the equipment had 4 pre -tuned
channels, selected by a push- button unit in the aircraft cockpit.

TWO "CIVVIES"
The third photograph shows two wartime receivers
for which the author has great affection and which
have attracted much attention on previous occasions.
The receiver on the left, made in 1943, is the
medium -wave -only "WCR" or Wartime Civilian
Receiver, and it is still in good voice after all these
years. In the author's exhibition held at Worthing
Museum last year it pounded out programmes from
either BBC Radio 1 or BBC Radio Brighton for 12
hours every weekday throughout the 6 weeks of the
exhibition.
APRIL 1977

In the centre is an Amplion horn loudspeaker of

1924 vintage, this being flanked on its right by
a Gecophone "kit" receiver and on its left by an
early Philips mains set

What did you get in 1943 for your 12 3s 4d.

(including Purchase Tax)? A bare but well made
wooden cabinet with the absolute minimum of radio
components on the chassis inside. The yellow metal
dial (no glass) is inscribed with the words "Home"
and "Forces ", while underneath are just two knobs
for volume and tuning, the on -off toggle switch being
mounted on the chassis at the rear of the cabinet. The
mixer and i.f. valves are red metallised types, there is
a large glass rectifier and an equally large output
pentode. Because the set was made in wartime the
only indentification on the valves is a BVA number.
To save both space and power requirements the
signal rectifier is a Westector.
The set in the picture spent the latter part of its life
in a garden shed, and when the author received it
some three years ago he cleaned the chassis and
valveholders, oiled the moving parts and used a
vacuum cleaner to clean the muck from the
559.

:':

}r'::<<i4tiviii:;uiiii,'.r, iq:.i "'iii i

r%'ij::

1`f,+

a::t<

'--- `-.....'s?'i:5

loudspeaker. A cautious switch -on and the set burst

into life, and has been going ever since with all the
original parts.

loudspeaker and power supply unit, was 49.15s.

Any HRO enthusiast will confirm that from the
mechanical point of view the HRO is beautifully turned out. The tuning drive and dial are the highlights of
the m echanical design; in fact, the effective tuning
NATIONAL HRO
scale length is about 12 ft.
How many readers looking at the second receiver in
When Nell gave the author this set, shortly before
the illustration will at once say that it is the "good old
HRO "? And how right they will be; many of these she died, she warned that it had not been used for 25
sets were used during the war on active service and years. The author located an old mains transformer
quite a number are still being employed by amateurs made by Rich & Bunday in the mid -thirties which
delivered 2.8. volts at 10 amps. Who could not resist
today.
coupling together these two old timers? An h.t. suppwas
the
property
in
the
actual
set
photograph
The
with
of the late Nell Corry (G2YL) and is not one of the ly was soon knocked up and a speaker complete
impedance)
later versions with 6.3 volt valves. Instead, this is one transformer (the HRO output is at highthe
author's
of the originals with the old 2.5 volt Amercian UX- connected to the receiver. Imagine
pleasure when the 9 valves all lit up, the "S" meter jerkbased valves.
receiving short
A full description of the circuit and other details of ed into life and the set was once again
author had
the
sets,
old
these
Knowing
signals.
wave
The
in
appeared
receiver
communications
this early
have this
to
is
he
delighted
and
it
to
work,
expected
Wireless World for August 18th 1938 (then published weekly at 4d). Its cost. with 4 coil units but less particular model in his collection.

.:

;, <>,-....:,:
M:7'4040?.:i

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i.

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:.:: .:..... ................ ....:i,>..;:>:.:

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

L-7

N [T11 EMT

SURGE CURRENTS
by R.

It pays to

J. Caborn

keep an eye open for the possibility of large surge currents when

designing new circuits

In the early 1940's the author was engaged in the
repair of American communications receivers. One
popular model had what appeared at the time to be a
somewhat unusual b.f.o. switching circuit. When the
receiver b.f.o. was switched on for the reception of
Morse signals the automatic gain control bias line was
connected by a section of the b.f.o. switching circuit to
chassis. If this was not done the b.f.o. signal applied to
the detector would cause a small a.g.c. voltage to be
produced, thereby reducing receiver sensitivity.

LIMITER RESISTOR
The apparently unusual feature of this b.f.o.
switching circuit appears in Fig. 1, where the switch
section shown is that which takes the a.g.c. line to
chassis. When the b.f.o. was off the a.g.c. voltage
appeared across the 0.0512F capacitor, and this could
rise to some 8 volts or so. Turning on the b.f.o. caused
the capacitor to be short - circuited via the 10052
resistor, whereupon the a.g.c. voltage, relative to
chassis, was reduced to zero. It should be added that
the receiver was, of course, a valve model in which the
resistors in the a.g.c. circuit were of the order of 470kQ
or more. Compared with these the 10052 resistor of
Fig. 1 was virtually a dead short.
Why, then, had the designer put it in?
The answer is that it was a current surge limiting

resistor. If the switch had short -circuited the

capacitor directly there would have been a tiny spark
at the switch contacts each time they closed, even
from a 0.05F capacitor charged to only 8 volts. The
resultant damage to the contacts would probably have
been quite negligible after hundreds of switch
operations, but what would have happened when
these went into the thousands, as could easily happen
over the years? Wisely, the designer took no chances
and made certain that the surge current at the instant
of switch closure was always safely limited by the
100 n resistor. The instantaneous surge current with
the resistor in circuit could be of the order of 80mA.
APRIL 1977

Without it, the instantaneous current as the capacitor

discharged could well have been several amps.
Most of us have charged an electrolytic capacitor
and then either accidentally or purposely discharged
it. If the capacitor has a value of 100F or so and is
charged to several hundred volts, the spark at discharge can sound like a pistol shot. Connecting a
switch direct across a charged capacitor of this nature
and then closing it would lead to the very early demise
of the switch.
So, whenever a circuit requires that a capacitor
be rapidly discharged by a switch, it is always wise to
insert a current limiting resistor in series, as was done
in Fig. 1. In general, this requirement applies to
capacitors above some 0.02F, and it definitely
applies to all electrolytic capacitors. For low voltage
circuits a current limiting resistor of about 10 a to
30 is usually quite adequate and in most instances
a ; watt component will be satisfactory.

Part of

J7

From
8.F.O. switch

detector

J,.Off
On

J-

10051JF

IOOn
A.G.C. line

1. Part of a b.f.o. switching circuit in a

communications receiver. Its main interest lies
in the use of a current limiting resistor in the
capacitor discharge circuit

Fig.

561

of the receiver on -off switch it is always preferable to

close the receiver switch before turning on the mains

On-Off

200pF

receiver
circuits
To

9V

T
(a)

A.C.
To

receiver

200
NF

circuits

mains

Reservoir
capacitor

Mains power supply

(b)

supply.
Another circuit in which an initial high current surge can flow at switch-on is given by the emitter
follower voltage regulator of Fig, 3. At the instant of
closing the on -off switch the transistor is turned fully
on, and the surge current flowing into the discharged
electrolytic capacitor is largely limited by the battery
internal resistance only. For applications like this it is a
good policy to choose a transistor which is capable of
passing a peak collector current of an amp, even if the
running current drawn from the emitter in normal use
is only in the region of, say, 20mA. A good candidate
here is the BFY50 which, although it is in a small TO5 can, has a peak collector current rating of 1,000mA.
If a transistor having a maximum collector current
rating of the order of 100mA were employed, it is
quite possible that it may mysteriously expire one day
when the on -off switch is closed.

Fig. 2(a). In this common transistor radio cir-

cuit the switch -on current surge is mainly

limited by the internal resistance of the battery
(b). The switch -on surge can be significantly
greater if the battery is replaced by a mains
power supply.

Filament
bulb

Filament
bulb

SWITCH -ON SURGES

There is also a surge current when a voltage is
suddenly applied to a discharged capacitor. A very

common example is shown in Fig. 2(a) in which a 9

volt battery connects to a transistor radio having a
capacitor of, say, 200ktF across its supply rails. At the
instant of switch closure a surge current flows into the
discharged capacitor which can be looked upon, at
that instant, as being a short- circuit. Fortunately, the
magnitude of the current is largely limited by the internal resistance of the battery. With a PP9 battery
this is of the order of 1012, whereupon the instantaneous surge current at switch -on is a little less than
an amp.
The situation changes markedly if the set-owner
decides to economise by replacing the battery with a
mains power supply, as in Fig. 2(b). If, with this
arrangement, the a.c. mains supply is switched on
first, a rectified voltage at low impedance is developed
across the reservoir capacitor. Turning on the receiver
switch can then cause a surge current considerably
higher than an amp to flow. Thus, to ensure long life
On-Off

(b)

(a)

Fig. 4(a). A simple circuit in which a transistor

is used to turn on a filament bulb
(b). Adding a resistor, as described in the text,
can reduce the initial switch -on current surge

in the bulb

FILAMENT LAMPS
Apart from capacitors, another cause of heavy
current surges is given by filament lamps. It does not
always seem to be remembered that the cold
resistance of a filament lamp can be lower than one tenth of its hot resistance, whereupon switch-on surge
currents can be surprisingly high. It is, indeed, a
salutary exercise to check the cold resistance of
several lamps with the aid of an ohmmeter. A 240 volt
100 watt domestic light bulb consumes some 0.4 amp
when it is switched on and has a hot resistance of
about 57012. The cold resistance of such a bulb is,
typically, only 40 SI
Turning to smaller lamps, a 2.5 volt 0.3 amp flash lamp bulb will have a hot resistance, at 2.5 volts, of
about 80 Its cold resistance will normally be lower
than 1 Sa
The fact that filament lamps have such relatively
low cold resistance values should always be borne in
mind when these are switched on by transistors, as occurs in Fig. 4(a). A useful dodge here is to add a
resistor across the transistor, as in Fig. 4(b). When the
transistor is turned off, the resistor allows a current to
flow which causes the bulb filament to be just below
the visible glow level. The bulb resistance is then well
above its cold value, and less initial surge current
flows in the transistor when it turns on and causes the
bulb to light up at full brightness.
!

Regulated
supply

Zener
diode

Fig. 3. A popular voltage regulator circuit. At

switch -on a surge current flows into the discharged electrolytic capacitor connected to the

transistor emitter

562

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

CATALOGUE
MAPLIN ELECTRONIC SUPPLIES
The new 1977 -78 Maplin Electronic
Supplies Catalogue has now been published
and is readily available to readers who mail
the coupon on the back page of this issue.

Considerably bigger than the previous

Maplin Catalogue the present edition has no
less than 216 large pages measuring 111 by
8in. with over 1,000 photographs and
drawings. Over 30 pages give full details of
constructional projects, and a considerable
amount of useful information is provided with
individual components including in particular
linear integrated circuits.
The exceptionally wide range of items listed
includes test gear, electronic organ components, TV game i.c.'s, disco effects, technical

books, coils, transformers, cases, tools and a.

full and comprehensive selection of resistors,

capacitors and discrete and integrated

semiconductor devices. All products are identified by order codes or descriptions and type
numbers, and a full index allows items to be
located in the Catalogue with the minimum of
delay.
Full information on ordering, postage and
VAT is given in an early page in the Catalogue,
with corresponding notes in French, German
and Italian for overseas clients. The new
Maplin Catalogue has been carefully prepared
and is very well presented, and should be of
considerable value to anyone interested in
electronics.

TRADE NOTES
LEADLESS CHECKER
The first of the two accompanying
photographs illustrates an intriguing
item of test equipment which has just
been introduced in the United States.
Referred to as a Leadless Continuity
Checker it is marketed by Transonics
Electronic Distributors, 9305 N.E.
11th Street, Vancouver, Washington
98664.

The interesting feature of the

Leadless Continuity Checker is that it
requires no return lead. The return
circuit is made via the body of the per-

son using the device. In the

photograph, for instance, the person

tracing through the multi -core cable
simply puts the finger of one hand on
the lead to be traced. The checker is
then held in the other hand and its tip

is applied to the leads at the opposite

end of the cable in turn. When the correct lead has been located an l.e.d.
built into the checker lights up.
The checker is also capable of
testing capacitors and diodes. One
lead -out of the component is held in
one hand and the checker in the other;
with diodes, both serviceability and
polarity may be determined. Other
functions associated with a continuity
tester can also be carried out.
Since no return wire is required the
checker may be conveniently clipped
into a pocket like a pen. The voltage at
the tip of the checker in the stand -by
mode is 0.5 volt and maximum testing

current is

11p,A.

PAL DECODER
In the second photograph can be
seen an assembled PAL decoder card,
for colour television receivers, incorporating three new integrated circuits
introduced by SGS -ATES. It is stated
that these incorporate the highest
degree of integration possible within
16 lead d.i.l. packages for the decoder
application, and that the external
component requirement is reduced by
10 to 20% compared with existing
assemblies, thereby giving increased
reliability and savings in space and
cost.

The i.c.'s concerned are type

numbers TDA2140, TDA2150 and
APRIL 1977

TDA2160, and further advantages

conferred are low spread of brightness,
contrast and saturation controls with a
consequent avoidance of pre -setting, a
wide range of output black level adjustment, compensation for chroma
delay line attenuation by an a.c.c.
loop, high noise immunity, and the
Provision of a composite blanking and
burst key pulse generator together
with an independent video signal output for a sync generator.
Further information on the three
i.c.'s and the associated circuitry is
available from SGS- ATES (United

Kingdom) Ltd.. Walton Street,

Aylesbury, Bucks.

563

FOR DX LISTENERS
By Frank A. Baldwin
Times = GMT
We commence this month with some news of two
clandestine transmissions and some schedules of
programmes designed for local consumption in the
Domestic Services of the countries concerned which
may be heard here in the U.K.

CLANDESTINE

The "Voice of Arab Syria" reportedly operates on

9510 from 0800 to 0900 in Arabic. The programmes
are, of course, anti -government and critical of the present Syrian Regime.
The "Voice of the Communist Party of Turkey"
now radiates anti -Turkish government programmes
on 6200 daily from 0810 to 0840 (Sundays to 0900).

DOMESTIC SERVICES
"Radio Pakistan ", Karachi, has a Domestic Service which is best heard here in the U.K. from around
1500 through to 1810 on 3890 and 4735.

Programmes from Rawalpindi may be logged from

around 1500 to 1800 on 4060 and from Islamabad
from 1630 to 1810 on 3330 and on 4785. All this information accords with their published schedule but
past experience has taught that the actual frequencies
used quite often differ from those announced or
published.
There is also a Regional Network in which
programmes in various local languages and English
are taken from the above network and radiated from
Quetta on 3240, 3270, 3990 and 5980 and from
Peshewar on 3155 and on 6080.

IRAN
"Radio Iran" with its First Programme may be
logged throughout the entire 24 -hour period on
various channels but that period from 1630 to 2030 is
probably convenient for most listeners. The frequencies are 8215, 11930 and 15085, the language of
course being Persian (Farsi).
CURRENT SCHEDULES
The frequencies and times quoted here are correct
at the time of writing but either can be subject to
change at short notice.
HUNGARY
"Radio Budapest" broadcasts to Europe in English
from 1200 to 1240 (Monday to Friday inclusive only)
on 6150, 7155, 9585, 11910, 15160 and on
17785; from1515 to 1530 (Tuesdays and Fridays only) a Dx programme on 6110, 7200, 7215, 9585,
11910 and on 15160; from 2130 to 2200 on 5965
7150, 7200, 8655, 11910 and on 15415.
BANGLADESH
"Radio Bangladesh", Dacca, presents an External
Service in English to Europe from 1230 to 1300 on
11900 and 15270; from 1815 to 1915 on 11890 and
15410.
564

Frequencies = kHz

GREECE

"Voice of Greece ", Athens, produces a daily

newscast in English from 1920 to 1930 on 6140,
7215 and on 9675.

NETHERLANDS

"Radio Nederland Wereldomroep", Hilversum,

operates in English to Europe as follows from 0930
to 1050 on 5955, 6045, 7240 and 9660; from 1400

5955. 6045, 11740 (Madagascar

transmitter), 15120, 15185 and 17810; from 1830
to 1950 on 6020, 11730 and on 15375; from 2000 to
2120 to West Europe from the Madagascar relay on
11730.
ROMANIA
"Radio Bucharest" schedule lists the following
programmes for Europe. From 1300 to 1330 on 9690,
11940 and 15250; from 1930 to 2030 on 6150 and
7195; from 2100 to 2130 on 5990 and 7225.
BULGARIA
"Radio Sofia" has an External Service in English to
the U.K. and Eire from 1930 to 2000 on 6070 and
9700 also from 2130 to 2200 on 9700.
ALBANIA
"Radio Tirana" is in English to Europe from 0630
to 0700 on 7065 and 9500; from 1630 to 1700 on
7065, 9480 and on 11985; from 1830 to 1900 on
7065 and 9480; from 2030 to 2100 and from 2200 to
2230 also on the latter two channels.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
"Radio Prague" features programmes in English to
the U.K. and Eire from 1900 to 1930 on 5930, 7245
and on 7345; from 2000 to 2030 on 5930 and 7345
and from 2130 to 2200 on 6055.
The Radio Prague Inter -Programme for Europe in
English may be heard on 6055 and 9505 from 0745
to 0800; 0845 to 0900; 0945 to 1000; 1045 to 1100 and
from 1145 to 1200 the programme consisting of a
feature, news bulletin or news summary.
TAIWAN
The "Voice of Free China ", Taipeh, directs a
programme in English to Africa, the Middle East and
Europe from 2130 to 2230 on 9510, 9600, 11860,
15225 and on 17720.
PAKISTAN
"Radio Pakistan ", Karachi, has an External
Service in which programmes in English are
radiated to Europe as follows
from 1100 to
1115 (a newscast read at slow speed) on 15110
and 17665; from 1815 to 1820 (newscast) on ta1
and 7085 and from 2115 to 2145 (newscast and
feature) on 6210 and 7085.
The World Service directed to the U.K. is as follows
from 0830 to 1100 in Urdu on 15110 and 17665;
from 1915 to 2045 in Urdu, from 2045 to 2115 in
Sylheti on 6210 and on 7085.
to 1520 on

RADIO

&

ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

POLAND
"Radio Warsaw" produces programmes in English
for Europe from 0630 to 0700 on 6135, 7270 and
9675; from 1200 to 1230 on 6095 and 7285; from
1600 to 1630 on 6135 and 9540; from 1830 to 1900
on 6095 and 7285; from 2030 to 2100 on 6095 and
7285 and from 2230 to 2300 on 3955, 5995, 6135,
7125 and on 7270.
AROUND THE DIAL
CHINA
Radio Peking on 6645 at 1404, OM and YL in
Kazakh in the Domestic Service with a programme
for minority groups, scheduled from 1400 to 1455.
Radio Peking on 6790 at 1357, YL in Standard
Chinese to Taiwan scheduled from 0830 to 1903 and.
from 2000 to 0129 on this channel.
Urumchi on 4970 at 1441, YL in Kazakh in the

Domestic Service.
PLA Fukien on 4380 at 1551. YL in Chinese to
Taiwan and other offshore islands, scheduled on this
frequency from 0230 to 1900.
Radio Peking on 6540 at 1933, OM in Italian in a
programme directed to Somalia, scheduled from 1930
to 2000 at this point on the dial.
Radio Peking on 7620 at 1935, OM with a
newscast in English directed to North and West
Africa, scheduled from 1930 to 2030 (the programme
not a one hour news reading!).
Radio Peking on 7385 at 1400 when signing -on
with "East is Red ", followed by the Tamil
programme directed to South Asia, scheduled from

1400 to 1430.

Wulumqi on 4110 at 1610, OM's in chorus,

mandolin -type instrumental music in the Uigher Service.

Wuhan on 3940 at 1525, classical Chinese music,

YL announcer.
Radio Peking on 6860 at 2025, signing-off with
"Internationale" after the programme in Esperanto,
scheduled Fridays and Saturdays from 2000 to 2030.
Wulumqi on 4220 at 1615, OM in Mongolian in the
Home Service.
Wulumqi on 4500 at 1620, YL with aria in Chinese
opera.
Radio Peking on 2460 at 1542, Chinese orchestral
music, YL announcer.

TURKEY

Ankara on 11880 at 1350, local music and songs in

a programme for Turks abroad, scheduled from 0400
to 1330 and from 1630 to 2100 on this channel.

INDONESIA

RRI Palembang on 4855 at 1450, YL with songs in

local -style, OM announcer, orchestral music.

PAKISTAN

Radio Pakistan, Karachi on, 7280 at 1328, interval

signal, identification and programme in vernacular.
Islamabad on 3330 at 0140, YL with song in the
Home Service then local -style music programme.
Karachi on 7085 at 2145, signing-off with choral
National Anthem after announcements in English.
Karachi on 3390 at 1555, OM with songs in Urdu,
local -style music. Quetta on 3240 at 1511, YL with
song in Urdu, orchestral music, OM announcer.

BURMA

Rangoon on 4725 at 1410, YL in Burmese, local

pop records. Suddenly off without National Anthem

at 1415.

APRIL 1977

KHMER REPUBLIC

Phnom -Penh on a measured 4908 at 1429, YL in

Khmer (Cambodian), songs and music in the distinctive local style.

CAMEROON

Garoua on 5010 at 1832, OM with the world news in

English. Also at 2200 when signing-off with National
Anthem and interval singing after epilogue in Arabic.

NIGERIA
Lagos on 4900 at 2000, interval signal (talking

drum), 6 pips, identification and the news in English.

They have been logged on this channel since early
December.
BRAZIL -1
Radio Ribra Preto on 3205 at 0535, OM in Portuguese, local songs and music despite the schedule
(should close at 0400). Still there as late as 0610 fadeout.
Radio Clube do Para on 4855 at 2218, OM with a
sports commentary in Portuguese.
Radio Timbira on 4976 at 2126, OM in Portuguese, ads, jingles and identification.
Radio Poti on 4964 at 2135, OM's with a discussion in Portuguese.
Emisora Rual on 4948 at 2213, YL with song
in Portuguese, OM with a talk at 2215.
Radio Dif," Sao Paulo on 6095 at 0120, OM with
an excited commentary in Portuguese.

VENEZUELA

Radio Occidente, Tovar, on 3225 at 2353, Latin

American music in typical,local style, OM announcer.
The schedule of this one is from 1030 to 0300 and the
power is 1kW.

Radio Valera, Valera on 4840 at 0216, OM in

Spanish with a long talk about Venezuelan commercial and political affairs.
Radio Sucre, Cumana, on a measured 4959 at
0225, OM with a political talk in Spanish followed by
identification and local -style dance music. The
schedule is from 1000 to 0400 and the power is 1kW.
Radio Libertador, Caracas, on 3245 at 0131, OM
with identification in Spanish followed by a political
talk about the Presidency. The schedule of this one is
from 1000 to 0400 and the power is 1kW. Reportedly
there is a newscast in English from 2200 to 2230
which the writer has never yet succeeded in logging

but hope springs eternal!

Radio Monogas, Maturin, on 3325 at 0136, oddly
enough in parallel with Radio Libertador on 3245
together with other Venezuelan stations on the 60
metre band.

BRAZIL

-2

Radio Nacional, Brasilia, on 11780 at 2059, which

I must confess is a more reasonable hour to listen to
South America, with the bell -chime interval signal,
identification by OM and the English programme
commencing with a newscast mainly composed of
items about the Brazilian domestic scene.

ECUADOR

Radio Quito, Quito, on 4920 at 0325, OM with a

local newscast in Spanish with many mentions of
Quito.
NOW HEAR THIS

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

NBC Boroko on 4890 at 2000, National Anthem, OM

in Pidgin with a newscast till 2010 then signal lost under interference.

565

MEDIUM
AND
LONG

WAVE
SUPERHET
by A. P. Roberts
In this concluding article the assembly
of the component panel is described, after
which details are given of final wiring and

alignment.

COMPONENT PANEL
All the components and the ferrite aerial are
mounted and wired up on a plain s.r.b.p. ( "Paxolin ")
panel having the dimensions shown in Fig. 4. This
diagram is reproduced full size and may be traced, if
desired.
First, the panel is cut out to the desired size by
means of a hacksaw, after which the two 6BA clear
holes and the holes for component wires are drilled
out. A small diameter drill is used for the component
wire holes. Since it is possible that the constructor
will not obtain a trimmer having precisely the same
dimensions as that used by the author, the two holes
for TC3 should be marked out with the aid of the actual component to be used. This should be a trimmer
having a tag at each end of its body rather than two
tags at one end. For greatest accuracy, the constructor is also advised to mark out the holes for the tags
and mounting lugs of the oscillator coil and the two
i.f. transformers with the aid of the come ponents
themselves. The same comment applies to TR2 and
TR3. These two transistors have lock -fit pins instead

566

Part 2
of wire lead-outs, and the pins pass through the holes
in the panel which are drilled for them.
The components are mounted on the panel and
their lead -outs bent flat against its underside. The oscillator coil and i.f. transformers are held in position
by bending their mounting lugs outward against the
underside of the board. A similar procedure is
adopted with the pins of IC1 and the tags of TC3. The
ferrite aerial is secured to the panel by two lengths of
single strand p.v.c. insulated wire. These are looped
over the ferrite rod, taken through the appropriate holes in the panel, and then each set of wire
ends is twisted tightly together so as to firmly secure
the rod to the panel. Note that only the insulated
wires should be twisted together. If the bare wire itself
is twisted togethr it will constitute a shorted turn
which will prevent the ferrite aerial from functioning

properly.
When all the components have been mounted, the
lead -out wires are cut to length where necessary and
soldered together, as shown in Fig. 4. Tinned copper
wire of around 22 s.w.g. is employed where lead extensions are required or to bridge wiring gaps. Note
that part of the negative supply rail circuit is completed via the mounting lugs of the oscillator coil.
FURTHER WIRING
The component panel is secured to the front panel
by means of a bracket having the dimensions shown
RADIO

&

ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

Ferrite aerial

LI L3

VCIa
(D)

CI

I/8'
RI

C2

TRI

\s,
JKI(A)

S2(F)

VCIbIc

VRI(H)

51

(G)

JKI(B)

5"

I
6
5

<

4
3
2

Fig. 4. The component and wiring sides of the component panel. This is assembled on a piece
s.r.b.p. board, and is reproduced full size

APRIL 1977

of plain

567

A close look at the component panel

in Fig. 5. This is secured to the front panel under the

mounting bushes of VR1 and S2. The bracket is
made of 18 s.w.g. aluminium. Should it be necessary
for the 3in. dimension of the front panel to be increased, the 1-1-in. dimensions of the bracket should
also be increased by the requisite amount.
All the remaining wiring of the receiver is shown in
Fig. 6. P.V.C. insulated wire is employed to couple
the front panel and component panel sections
together, and this should be kept reasonably neat and
short. However, the leads to the speaker should be
flexible and about 10 to 12in. long. Switch S2 is any
single pole 2 way rotary switch. That employed in the

I1/2"

- f 3/4"--1

prototype and visible in the photographs was a 4 pole

switch with no connections made to three of the poles.
It should be possible to trace out the ferrite aerial
connections from Figs. 4 and 6. If any doubt exists
this can be dispelled by referring back to the circuit
diagram of Fig. 1. The tap in L2 is electrically nearer
the earthly end of the coil, which connects to the
negative supply rail. If an ohmmeter is available, the
resistance between the tap and the earthy end of the
coil will be found much lower than the resistance
betweeen the tap and the non -earthy end.
The quiescent current consumption of the set is
about 7mA, but it rises to many times this value
when the receiver is used at high volume levels. In the
interest of good battery economy it is necessary to use
a fairly high capacity 9 volt battery such as a PP6,
PP'7 or six HP-7- cells in a suitable holder. There is
plenty of space for the battery under S2, and a simple
bracket can be made up to hold it in place.

ALIGNMENT
The i.f. and mixer -oscillator circuits have to be
I"

Nedia

3/8"dia

VR /SI
I

/4"
Bend

Bend down

through 90

13/8"

Fig. 5. The bracket which secures the component panel at the rear of the case

568

aligned before the front panel and component panel

assembly can be fitted in the case. Alignment commences with the i.f. stages.
Upon initially switching on it should be possible to
tune in one or two stations with S2 in the medium
wave position. The medium wave aerial coil can be
moved along the ferrite rod to peak one of the
transmissions. If a multimeter having a sensitivity of
10,000 tl. per volt or more on its voltage ranges is
available, this can be connected across VR1 with the
positive test lead connecting to the negative supply
rail. It should be switched to read voltages of the
order of several volts. The receiver is then carefully
to a station and the i.f. transformer cores adjusted for a maximum voltage reading.
In the absence of a meter the receiver may be tuned to a fairly weak station and the i.f. transformer
cores adjusted for maximum volume. A strong signal
cannot be used in this case because of receiver a.g.c.
action.
The i.f. transformers are pre -aligned at the factory
and very little adjustment of the cores should be required. Obviously, the cores must not be tampered
with prior to the process of alignment. The cores
RADIO

&

ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

(J)

(G)

Battery clip

(I)

L.S.

(C)

(A)

I.

VCladb

uuv
JKI

RI/SI

Fig. 6. The wiring to the components on the front panel. Not shown here is the bracket Fig.
of
5. This is
mounted behind the front panel on the bushes of VR1 IS 1 and S2

A further view of the completed receiver. The

larger control knob is that for the tuning

capacitor

should be adjusted with a proper trimming tool,

such as the Denco type TT5. An ordinary screwdriver
could damage them.
Trimmer TC2 is adjusted to give the set the correct
frequency coverage. If no suitable r.f. signal
generator is to hand it is probably best to wait until
after dark when Radio Luxembourg on 208 metres
can be received. TC2 is adjusted so that this station is
received with the tuning capacitor close to its
minimum capacitance setting.
If the multimeter is available and is connected
across VR1, tune to a consistently strong signal at the
high frequency end of the band (the same end as
Radio Luxembourg) and adjust TC1 for maximum
voltage. Tune to a similarly strong signal at the low
frequency end of the band (tuning,
vanes
nearly fully enmeshed) and move the medium wave
coil along the ferrite rod for maximum signal
strength. Retune to the high frequency end and readjust TC1, then return to the low frequency end and
re- adjust the position of the medium wave coil on the
ferrite rod. Repeat the procedure until no further improvement can be obtained.
APRIL 1977

If no meter is available, these adjustments may be

made for maximum volume, choosing weak
transmissions instead of strong ones.
Carefully tape the medium wave coil to the ferrite
rod so that it cannot be accidentally moved from its
correct setting.
Put S2 to the long wave position, and set the tuning
capacitor to about the centre of its range. Adjust TC3
to accurately tune in Radio 2 on 1,500 metres. Finally, slide the long wave coil along the rod for best
reception and then tape it in place. Alignment is now
complete and the front panel and component panel
assembly can be fitted in the receiver case.
The procedure just described involves no adjustment of the oscillator coil core, which should be correctly set at the factory. If desired, the low frequency
of the medium wave range may be altered by adjusting the oscillator coil core, but this will then
necessitate repeating the entire mixer -oscillator
alignment process. In general, it is best to leave the
oscillator coil core undisturbed, this being particularly
the case when an r.f. signal generator is not available.
569

In your

This month Smithy's

assistant, Dick, sets out on
the repair of a television
receiver with a fault in the
frame sync section. In the
process he is given
valuable, albeit somewhat
disturbing, assistance by
the Serviceman himself.

worksho
Whistling contentedly, Dick picked
up the only set left on the "For
Repair" rack, a 14 inch 625 line black
and white television receiver, and
carried it over to his side of the
Workshop. He plugged it into one of
the row of assorted mains sockets at
the back of his bench, connected the
u.h.f. aerial and switched on. At once
the sound channel of one of the local
transmitters became auaible from the
speaker of the set.
As he waited for the picture tube to
warm up he glanced cheerfully out of
the window. Outside, the warm glow of
an April sun permeated the late afternoon sky. It was patent that God was
in His heaven and, for the time being
at any rate, all was well with Dick's
particular world.
FRAME FAULT
The screen of the receiver lit up to
reveal a bright and well contrasted picture which was out of vertical synchronisation. Humming to himself,
Dick gazed for a moment at the frames
as they rolled downwards, then he
turned the set partly round, located
the vertical hold control and adjusted
it experimentally. He found a critical
setting at which the picture remained
steady momentarily then he took his
hand away from the control.
The frames started to roll, upwards.
"Well," came Smithy's voice at
Dick's ear, "you've picked yourself a
nice easy one this time."
Dick jumped.
"Dash it all, Smithy," he snorted. "I
do wish you wouldn't keep creeping up
on me like that. It's nothing short of
shattering to suddenly have a disem-

570

bodied voice blast into your lug -hole

unannounced."
"I was talking." retorted Smithy.
ruffled, "in my normal voice. It's a fine
thing I must say if two people in the
same working place can't speak to
each other every now and again."
"Yes, but you don't just speak to
people," stated Dick heatedly. "You
sidle up to them first."
"I do not sidle," replied Smithy indignantly. "I've never sidled in my
life."
"You're always sidling," accused
Dick. "Stap me, you sidled just now.
Anyway, I've forgotten what it was you
said."
Smithy made a brave attempt to
dissipate his irritation.
"What I said," he grated, "was that
you've picked a nice easy fault."
"You mean this set ?"

"I do.

"How is it easy then?"

"Well, just look at it. You've got an
excellent picture with a steady line
lock. All that's wrong with it is that
there's a loss of frame sync at or after
the sync separator. You couldn't have
it much simpler."
"Simple you call it? Blimey, the
fault could be anywhere. What about
the frame timebase ?"
"The frame timebase is almost certainly all right," pronounced Smithy.
"Not only were you able to take the
frame hold control to correct frame
frequency, but you could also adjust it
on either side of that frequency.
you had the frames rolling downwards
the timebase was running above frame
frequency and when they rolled up it
was running below frame frequency.

So the frame timebase is working

just

as it should do, and its hold control has

a good wide range of adjustment. All

that the timebase needs is a spot of

sync."

"Perhaps you're right," admitted

Dick grudgingly. "If there are no sync

pulses getting to the frame timebase
then it has no reference frequency to
follow."
"That would be a true presentation
of the facts if we were talking about a

horizontal flywheel sync circuit,"

Smithy corrected him, "but the situation is different with a frame timebase.
Don't forget that in a conventional

frame timebase the frame hold control

actually varies the length of the scan
section of the timebase waveform, the
short flyback section being the same
length whatever the length of the scan
section. You then adjust the frame
hold control so that, without sync
pulses, the timebase would run slightly
below frame frequency. This corresponds to the scan section of the
waveform being a little too long. The
sync pulses trigger the timebase into
flyback, so that the timebase then runs
at sync pulse frequency."
"Fair enough," said Dick. "Well, I
might as well get the service manual
out for this set."
"There's no need," stated Smithy.
"I've got it here."

SERVICE MANUAL
Smithy placed the manual in front
Of his astonished assistant, then opened it at the circuit diagram of the
receiver.

"Hell's teeth," gasped Dick. "Have

you got second sight or something?

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

First of all you almost completely

diagnose what's wrong with this set,
and then you produce its service
manual out of thin air. I don't get it."
"All that's happened," explained
Smithy patiently, "is that I finished
my last job for the day just as you were
picking up that TV, So I thought I'd do
the TV with you, whereupon I first got
its service manual out of the filing
cabinet. Okay ?"
"Yes, I suppose so," grunted Dick
reluctantly. But it seems to me that
there's no end of sidling and
pussyfooting going on this afternoon."
"Now just stop that," snarled
Smithy. "I'm getting more than a bit
fed up with your comments about my
movements. Let's have a look at this

circuit."

"All right then," said Dick,

switching off the television receiver

and turning his attention to the
diagram. "Where's a good place to
start?"
"At the vision detector," replied
Smithy promptly, as he pointed to the
appropriate section of the circuit.
"Seeing that we've got a case of missing sync pulses it will be a good plan to
trace through from the vision detector,

tube. Unless we have a really way -out

fault we can next eliminate that part of
the receiver as well. As a matter of
passing interest. you'll see that there's
a 6MHz acceptor tuned circuit coupled
to the emitter. This is a 6MHz trap,
and it prevents the 6MHz intercarrier
signal getting to the video output
stage."
'l'he signal we want is from the
video amplifier collector," said Dick
excitedly. "Look, it couples direct to
the sync separator transistor."
"And so it does" agreed Smithy.
"Now, the signal going to the video
amplifier base had negative going sync
pulses. The signal at the collector will
be inverted and so it will have positive
going sync pulses."
"How does that sync separator
work, Smithy ?"
It just amplifies the most positive
part of the signal," said Smithy. "If
you forget that series 1kQ resistor in
its hase circuit for the time being, the
0.22pF coupling capacitor charges up
such that the base -emitter. junction of
the sync separator is fully conductive
when the sync pulse tips are present.
The signal amplitude is quite high at
this point of the circuit, and so the

keeping in mind the sync pulse polarity at the subsequent circuit points."
(Fig. 1.)

"Well," said Dick, "for a start the

625 lines signal has negative modulation with sync pulse tips corresponding
to maximum signal amplitude. The vi;ion detector diode is connected so that
it passes negative half-cycles, and so

the sync pulses in the detected signal

will he negative going."
"Very good," remarked Smithy,
pleased. "Now, the signal at this stage
splits into two directions. In one direction it goes off to the 6MHz intercarrier sound amplifier and in the
other it goes to a video amplifier transistor. The intercarrier amplifier won't
have any effect on frame sync pulses
and so we carry on to the video
amplifier transistor."
"The signal splits up in two directions there, too," remarked Dick, his
finger tracing out the circuit lines in
the diagram. "One direction is from
the transistor emitter and the other is
from the transistor collector."
"Right, ". confirmed Smithy. "The
signal from the emitter goes to the
video output transistor, which then
couples to the cathode of the picture

To

intercarrier

To frame

amplifier

0-IpF

18kn

Frame sync pulse

integrating components

6MHz

multivibrator

2,000
pF

+25V

6.8

OOkn

3.3Mn

6.8kn

kn

Sync

separator
O0IpFF

Ikn

1
Phase

Ikn

l.000
Last

0 OIpF

022

R.F.

}iF

detector choke

pF
I

Vision

flywheel
sync diodes

To line

splitter

300n

330 n

amplifier
PF
choke

5 pF

Video
amplifier

39kn

680n

To video output

15n

transistor
18OpF
o

002
NF

Fig.

1.

APRIL 1977

2.2 kn

330n
6MHz trap

625
The stages between the vision detector and the phase splitter transistor in the monochrome
line television receiver serviced by Dick and Smithy

571

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sync separator transistor is simply cut

off by the signal between pulses." (Fig.
2.)

"Then," said Dick slowly, "the

sync separator only passes collector
current when the sync pulses are
present."
"That's right," agreed Smithy. "All
you get at its collector are pulses which
appear at the same time as the pulses
applied to its base. These must, of
course, be negative going."

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"You said to ignore that 1k i2 series

resistor just now, said Dick. "What
does it do ?"

"Not

great deal," admitted

Smithy. "In company with the 0.22uF

capacitor it offers a time constant
which enables the sync separator to
handle the signal at its base more
readily. Also, it limits peak charging
current in the capacitor. Now, let's see
where those negative going sync pulses
at the sync separator collector go. In
this particular receiver they are passed
to a phase splitter stage whose major
function is to operate the line flywheel
sync section. However, our present interest is with frame pulses so we'll just
give the line flywheel sync section a
miss."
"Hey, wait a minute," interjected
Dick. "We could at least take a quick
look at it."
Smithy glanced at his watch and
frowned.
"Well, it will have to be pretty
quick, then," he remarked. "As we saw
just now we have negative going sync
pulses going into the base of the phase
splitter. These will be large enough to
turn off the phase splitter when they're
present, with the result that we'll get

large positive going sync pulses at the

collector of the phase splitter and large
negative going pulses at its emitter.
These then go to the flywheel sync
diodes coupled to the line timebase."
Smithy pointed to the diodes in the
service manual diagram. (Fig. 3.)
"Those pulses," he resumed, "cause
the two diodes to become conductive
when the sync pulses are present and
to be non -conducting when the pulses
are absent. Applied to the centre of the
diodes is a waveform derived from the
line output stage which has a steeply
falling ramp corresponding to the line
flyback period and a much less steep
rising slope corresponding to the line
scan period. When the line timebase is
running correctly the steep ramp is
applied to the diodes at the same time
as they are made conductive by the
sync pulses. In consequence, and ignoring the line hold potentiometer for
the moment, the voltage at the centre
of the two 12k S2 resistors across the
diodes becomes the same as that held
by the steep ramp when the diodes
conduct. This is the control voltage for
the line timebase frequency. If the line
timebase tries to run too slowly an
earlier part of the steep ramp coincides with the sync pulses and the control voltage goes positive. Conversely,
if the timebase tries to run too fast the
control voltage goes negative. The control voltage is applied via what is effectively a smoothing circuit, which
provides the flywheel effect, to the
timebase oscillator, and it controls the
oscillator frequency in such a manner
as to counteract any changes in it."
(Fig. 4.)
"What about that line hold poten-

tiometer?"
"Ah," said Smithy, "I was coming
to that. The line hold potentiometer

Transistor hard on

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Fig. 2(a). The sync separator

(b). The collector waveform

transistor is only conductive

in the presence of sync
pulse tips at its base

verted sync pulse tips only

of the sync separator consists, in consequence, of inRADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

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Fig. 3. The anti-phase pulses from the phase splitter are applied to
the line flywheel sync diodes, causing these to be conductive
when the pulses are present

Scan

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Fig. 4(a). Here, the pulses

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APRIL 1977

573

setting modifies the voltage present at

the diodes when they conduct. It
provides a reference voltage which
allows the overall circuit to run at correct line frequency, with the frequency
still being held steady by the sampling
of the waveform from the line output
stage."
Smithy stopped talking and looked
expectantly at his assistant.
"$limey," said Dick, "you really
were quick with that explanation."
"I had to be," stated Smithy. "It's
missing frame sync pulses we're looking for, not missing line sync pulses.
Still, that little sojourn with the line
flywheel sync circuit did have one
beneficial result. Since the line sync is
working, it's obvious that there are
positive going sync pulses at the collector of the phase splitter. When the
broad frame pulses are transmitted
these should be integrated by the
following 18k f2 resistor and 2,000pF
capacitor, whereupon large positive
going frame sync pulses are available
for the frame timebase multivibrator."
"Let's take a look at that next," said
Dick quickly.

FRAME MULTIVIBRATOR
"Oh, all right," conceded Smithy.
"At least it will be more to the point to
discuss this than it was to talk about
the line flywheel sync circuit. Here's
the multivibrator bit."
Smithy indicated another part of

the diagram. (Fig. 5.)

"Now," he continued, "this multivibrator controls an output stage
which drives the frame deflection coils
and which provides its own waveform
shaping. All that the multivibrator has
to do is to run at the correct frequency
and to give scan and flyback periods of
the correct length. During the scan
period the right hand transistor is cut
off and during the flyback period it is
turned on. Shall we have a go at it first
without sync pulses ?"
"Yes, please."
"Right," said Smithy. "We can start
at a moment in the multivibrator cycle
when the right hand transistor is off
and is just about to turn on. It's turned
off because its base has been taken
positive by the 0.2212F capacitor,
which is discharging into the resistors
connected to the base. Don't forget
that the transistors in this multivibrator are p.n.p. instead of n.p.n.,
as all the previous ones have been.
When the right hand transistor starts
to pass current its collector goes
positive, reducing the current flowing
via the lOkR resistor to the base of the
left hand transistor. The collector
current of the left hand transistor
reduces, the collector voltage goes
negative and turns the right hand
transistor on harder via the 0.22F

capacitor. 'l'he usual cumulative

amplification in a multivibrator then
takes place and it ends with the right
hand transistor fully on and the left
hand transistor cut off. The circuit
stays in this state for the short period

574

+12v

To frame shaping

and output circuit

Frame sync

pulses

Fig. 5. The frame, or vertical, multivibrator in the television

receiver. The 0.1 uF capacitor is the same component that appears
in Fig. 1, and the shape of the frame sync pulse is idealised. (This
and the preceding circuits are slightly simplified versions of the
circuit employed in the Thorn 1590 -1591 series of television
receivers.)

required for the 0.22F capacitor to

charge via the emitter-base junction of
the right hand transistor and the 330 f2
resistor. This is the flyback period."
Smithy paused.
"That's all nice and easy to follow
up to now," commented Dick. "What
happens next ?"
"As soon as the 0.2214F capacitor
.becomes fully charged the base
current in the right hand transistor
reduces and the base goes slightly
positive. There is a reduction in collector current, causing the collector to go
negative and allow a small base
current to flow into the left hand transistor. This is all that is needed to start
the reverse changeover in the multivibrator. As soon as the left hand
transistor starts to draw current its
collector goes positive, and the 0.22F
capacitor takes the base of the right
hand transistor positive, completely
cutting this transistor off. We have
now started the long scan period, with
the left hand transistor turned fully
on, so that its emitter is negative of the
base of the right hand transistor. The
duration of this period is the time
needed for the 0.221{4cF capacitor to discharge into the 120k (2 resistor and the
47k f2 pot."
"And that," chimed in Dick, "will
be a much longer period than the one
when it charged via the 330 f2 resistor
because the resistance values are a lot
higher."

"You've got it," said Smithy. "Also,

the length of the van period is controlled by the 47k f2 pot, which in con sequence becomes the frame hold con-

trol."
"Right," said Dick. "Let's now put
in the frame sync pulses."
"They're easy," said Smithy. "As
we already know they're positive going, and they're applied via a diode to
the base of the left hand transistor.
They then turn this transistor off and
initiate the flyback period a little
earlier than it would otherwise start.
This assumes, of course, that the
47K2 pot is adjusted so that the
frame scan period without sync pulses
is a little longer than the period when
sync pulses are applied."
Smithy stopped and Dick gazed at
the circuit diagram of the television
receiver with enhanced understanding.
.

ding.

I certainly," he remarked, "know

my way around this circuit a lot better

than I did before."

Smithy gave a mock bow.
"Our earnest aim," he intoned, "is
to provide satisfaction for our
clientele."
Indeed. Now, as you said earlier
on, the frame multivibrator must b
working all right. And there must be
positive going sync pulses at the collector of that phase splitter transistor."
"Correct."
"So that only leaves the components

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

in between."

"Which." pointed out Smithy, "consist of one 18I 2 resistor, one 2,000pF
capacitor, one O.ljF capacitor and a
diode. With, perhaps, a possible
suspect in the 470k S2 resistor connected to the diode. I told you it was an
easy one."

FAULT LOCATION
"With a bit of luck I'll be able to
find it with an ohmeter," pronounced
Dick. "Anyway, here goes."
He disconnected the receiver from
the mains and removed its back. After
that he pulled his battered multimeter
towards him, switched it to an ohms
range and adjusted its set -zero control.
"I'll leave you to get on with it for a
minute or two," said Smithy. "I've
just got to finally screw up the back on
the set I finished before I came over

here."
Smithy walked back to his bench to
complete his work, whilst Dick located
the 18k52 resistor connecting to the
collector of the phase splitter transistor. He reasoned that as one side of
this connected to two capacitors he
would get an accurate reading of its
value by simply applying his test
prods to the resister lead -outs. This he
next proceeded to do. (Fig. 6(a).)
The testmeter indicated 1.242'
"Smithy," he called out happily,
"I've drawn blood first go! The 18k10
resistor is reading low in value."
Jubilantly he picked up his soldering iron and applied it to the printed
board, after which he carefully removed one of the resistor lead -outs from
the board. Unknown to him, Smithy
had now returned and was standing
alongside him. As a routine check,
Dick connected the testmeter prods to
the 18k12 resistor, which now had one
of its lead -outs free of the circuit.
The meter showed 181(12.
A grin passed over Smithy's face
and he moved quietly to the spares
cupboard then returned, just as quietly, to his assistant's side.
Frowning, Dick soldered the resistor
hack in place on the board and
measured its resistance once more.
Again the testmeter indicated 1.2k2.
Puzzled, Dick decided to check
elsewhere. He next applied his
testmeter between the receiver chassis
and the junction of the 18k S2 resistor
and the 2,000pF capacitor. The meter
indicated zero ohms. (Fig. 6(b).)
"Ah," muttered Dick to himself,
"that's more like it."
This time he unsoldered one lead of
the capacitor from the board. He
applied the testmeter prods to the
capacitor and was rewarded again with
a reading of zero ohms.
He unsoldered the remaining
capacitor lead and removed it from the
.

board. Silently, Smithy reached

forward and presented him with a new

2,000pF capacitor.
"Oh thanks, Smithy," said Dick
absently.
He bent the capacitor leads so that

APRIL 1977

they would fit into the holes in the

printed board, then suddenly stopped.
A look of alarm spread over his face.
"Hey, what happened then ?"

"I gave you a new 2,000pF

capacitor."
Dick turned and pointed a trembling finger at the Serviceman.
"You've done it again," he accused.
"Not only have you once more crept
up on me without my knowing, but
you've jumped one step ahead of me in
fixing this set. There's something
supernatural about you today,
Smithy. It's either that, or you've got a
time machine so that you can make little leaps back and forward in time."
"I just exercise," stated Smithy
modestly, "a little informed
foresight."

"Informed foresight ?" repeated

Dick incredulously. "The way you're
acting you should be able to see into
the middle of next week. I tell you,
you're getting decidedly spooky. First
of all, you've started gliding soundlessly around all over the place and when
you get where you're going you just
hover! And how on earth were you able
to hand me a new capacitor just after
I'd found out that the one in the set
was short -circuited?"
"I guessed," explained Smithy, "that
the 2,000pF capacitor in the 'set was
shorted when the l8k S2 resistor read
low when it was connected to the board
and then showed its correct value
when one of its leads was disconnected. Pretty well the only component which could cause these two
readings was that 2,000pF capacitor."
"But," protested Dick, "how could
that capacitor cause the low reading
even if it was shorted ?"
"Because it's connected to chassis,
and the other end of the 18k S2 resistor
couples via a 330 O resistor to the
positive rail. In many transistor TV
circuits there is quite a low resistance
between a positive supply rail and
chassis because of base bias networks
and similar resistive circuits between
the two. So these were effectively connected across the 18k S2 resistor by
way of the short -circuited capacitor."
Dick continued to gaze suspiciously
at the Serviceman.
"Well, fair enough," he remarked
eventually. "But I hope you're not going to get up to any more tricks like
that. This has been an extremely unsettling afternoon."
TEAMWORK
With which words Dick once more
picked up his soldering iron and fitted
the new capacitor to the board. After
snipping off the excess lead -out wires
on the copper side of the board, he
turned the set round, plugged it into
the mains again and switched it on.
After a period the cathode ray tube
reproduced a picture which was firmly
locked in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Dick checked the
frame hold control, to find that this
had a good and very satisfactory lock in range. It was obvious that the frame

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Numicators XN3
25p
I.C:s (new, full spec.) CD4001AE
723 11-05) 90p
SN76660 1.12.
65p
NE555 Timer
709 (T05(; 741 (DIL -8) Op. amps 30p each
discount
at
20%
5+ I.C.'s (any mix)
Nicad rechargeable cells HP7 size 1.05
each; 4+: 95p; 10+ : 88p. Brand new.
We stock amateur V.H.F. equipment and
mobile aerials, s.a.e. details.
Distributors for J. H. Associates Ltd.
(switches and lamps)

Prices include UK Post Packing & VAT

Sole Address:
Mail order only
GAREX ELECTRONICS
7 NORVIC ROAD, MARSWORTH,
TRING, HERTS HP23 4LS
Cheddington (STD 0296) 668684

RADIIM[ECTRONICS
CONSTRUCTOR

ANNUAL
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may be obtained

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ONLY 5.50
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575

Radio
+25V

Topfes

+12 V

270n

By
Recorder

Phase

splitter
47Okn

***

330n

(a)

+25V

Phase

splitter

(b)

Fig. 6(a). Dick initially checked the resistance of the 18k SI

resistor in the frame sync pulse integrating circuit following the
phase splitter. Part of the frame multivibrator is also shown here
(b). Dick's second check consisted

of applying his testmeter to the

2,000pF capacitor

sync pulses were now finding their

way, fully integrated and completely
unobstructed, to the multivibrator in
the frame timebase.
"There you are, Smithy," said Dick
triumphantly, turning to his side.
"Another set finished and ..."
But Smithy had vanished.
Unnerved, Dick gazed around the
empty Workshop. There was suddenly
a rattle at the door handle, after which
Smithy entered, rubbing his hands

together briskly.
"Where the heck," asked Dick, "did
you disappear to ?"

576

"'l'o my usual port of call," replied

Smithy innocently. "I tend to pop out
there now and again throughout the
day. Ah, I see that that TV is working
all right now. We did a good job there."
"We?"
"We," confirmed Smithy cheerfully. "There's nothing to beat teamwork
between two people, where each one
knows precisely what the other one is
up to."
And it has to be recorded that Dick,
on hearing this estimable observation
on the part of the Serviceman, for once
had no reply to offer at all.

RADIO

I should imagine that I am in company with most electronically minded

home constructors when I admit to the
fact that I am something of a hoarder.
I just can't bring myself to throw out
things unless they have a nuisance
value which definitely outweighs any
advantage they may possess. Into this
last category fall such obvious items as
broken down capacitors and resistors
which have shifted in value. The rest
remain.
Although this means that quite a lot
of space is cluttered up with corn ponents and hardware for which there
is no apparent use, the availability of
the odd part can at times be of considerable help in solving some of the
more unusual problems that arise. Let
me give a few examples.

POWER SUPPLY SWITCH

Amongst my equipment is a
variable voltage power supply, the
mains input of which is turned on and
off by means of a double pole rotary
toggle switch. When,"some time ago, I
turned the power supply on at the start
of a working session the internal insulation between the two switch poles
broke down, causing an impressive
crack and the untimely demise of the
cartridge fuse in the mains plug. What
was obviously required was a new
switch, but I just didn't have on hand
a replacement of the same type. This
fitted in a On. front panel hole, whilst
all I had available were standard sized
dolly operated toggle switches requiring a larger pa/lei hole. I didn't particularly relish the idea of filing the
existing panel hole wider to take
one of these. One reason was that the
rotary switch knob matched in with
the remaining control knobs on the
&&

ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

front panel, and a second reason was

that I would in any case be able to get
a new rotary switch of the correct type
in a few days.
Then the inspiration bulb glowed.
Hidden away amongst my junk was an
old IMQ. volume control with switch
which had once been fitted to a valve
radio. J mounted this volume control
in place of the faulty rotary switch,
connecting the wires from the previous
component to the switch section at the
back of the potentiometer. Obviously,
no connections were made to the
potentiometer tags themselves.
I was then in business again. After
switching on with the improvised
switch there was now a considerable
amount of spindle travel available in
the clockwise direction which served
no useful function, but this didn't
matter. I hadn't had to carry out any
metal- bashing work on the front panel
and J now had a perfectly satisfactory
on -off switch. As things happen, it was
abot several months before I finally
got round to obtaining a proper rotary
switch and fitted it in place of the temporary one!

HEAT SINKS
At another time I was playing
around with an a.f. amplifier circuit
which had an AC127 and an AC128 in
the output stage. These transistors are
both housed in TO -1 cans, and they
were running just a little warmer than
I liked. Once again my stock of old
parts came to the rescue and I unearthed a couple of valve top cap connector clips, which fit very nicely over
TO -1 transistor cases. I soldered a lin.
square piece of tinplate to each clip
and then passed the clips over the
transistor bodies. A rough and ready
form of heat sink, I'll agree, but it sufficed to keep those two transistors at a
safely low operating temperature.
Turning to components which are
rather more modern than the AC127
and AC128, I recently did some circuit
experiments with i.c. op -amps having
eight lead -outs disposed in a circle. I
am not too keen on these, as I find the
dual -in -line i.c.'s much more convenient to handle and wire up. So I
wired the i.c.'s to the tags of B9A

valveholders, the latter being mounted

with the tags uppermost. Obviously, no
connection was made to one of the

valveholder tags. The resulting

-

appearance was admittedly rather

non -technical. but the valveholders
adequately served their purpose in
providing what were effectively 9 -way
circular tagstrips.
I also keep scraps of O.lin.
Veroboard if these are not too small.
They are ideal as templates for marking out and even drilling the holes in a
printed board for d.i.l. integrated circuits or their holders.
And so it goes en. It is quite amazing
what uses one can find for odd parts,
particularly those which have hung

over from the old valve days. As for

things like bolts, nuts and similar
items, my collection goes back to the
early 1950's. But then, who heard
of a radio construction enthusiast
who ever threw away a single nut
or bolt?

A SOCIAL NOTE
Looking back over some of my jottings of 12 years or so ago, i detect a
welcome change which has been
brought about by the increasingly
large numbers of colour television

receivers installed throughout the

country. in those earlier days of black
and white TV's, one of the perils of being known as someone connected with
electronics was being approached by
acquaintances who wanted their
television sets repaired on the cheap.
It was surprising how many people, at
that time, were prepared to drop the
most outrageou. hints in order to cajole you into fixing some clapped -out
old monochrome receiver.

Not so nowadays, I'm happy to say.

Anyone who has a colour TV regards it
with the utmost veneration, and the
last thing he wants is someone who
doesn't wear a professional service
engineer's hat tinkering around with
its innards. And so you can relax in
company and chat about electronics as
much as you like, without being subject to the blandishments of those
television owners whose sets "have
only got a wire loose ".
A pleasant change indeed.

TRANSISTOR TYPE
NUMBERS
You would think that, if two tran-

sistors have the saine type number,

they should be identical regardless of
the manufacturer. This is not always
the case, however, and occasional
differences tend to creep in.
An example I bumped into recently
is concerned with the BFY50, BFY51
and BFY52 "family" of transistors.
These are n.p.n. silicon planar transistors intended for general purpose industrial applications. They are listed by
Mullard, in whose data they are
described as being housed in a TO -5
can. They are also listed by Texas
Instruments, who describe them as being in a TO -39 case!

The

Mullard and

Texas

Instruments data on the transistors

are virtually identical and each version of the transistor has the same

lead -out layout, with the collector connected to the can. In practice, there
isn't a great of difference between the
TO-5 and TO -39 encapsulations, both
of which have the usual locating lug.
Whereas the width of the TO -5 can is
8.20 to 8.50mm., the width of the TO39 can is 7.75 to 8.51mm., and other
dimensional discrepancies are of the
same minor order,
Still, it's a little disconcerting when
one first encounters two different encapsulations for the same transistor.
Another transistor which appears in
more than one guise is the n.p.n.
2N3404. This is listed by American
General Electric and appears also in
the old Brimar lists, and the lead -outs
appear in the order: hase, collector,
emitter. It is listed also by Sescosem,
however, who show the lead -out order
as: collector, base, emitter.
It is very rarely that incongruities of
this type crop up. I remember one
popular f.e.t. whose manufacturer.
some years ago, issued data sheets in
which the drain and source lead -out
identifications were transposed. In
this instance the difference between
the two sets of data didn't really
matter as, in practice, the f.e.t. seemed
to work quite happily connected either
way round!

BACK NUMBERS
For the benefit of new readers we would draw attention to our back number service.

We retain past issues for a period of two years and we can, occasionally, supply copies more than two
years old. The cost is 40p plus 11 p postage.
Before undertaking any constructional project described in a back issue, it must be borne in mind that
components readily available at the time of publication may no longer be so.
We regret that we are unable to supply photo copies of articles where an issue is not available.
Libraries and members of local radio clubs can often be very helpful where an issue is not available for
sale.

APRIL 1977

577

WORKSHOP AIDS
TEST INSTRUMENT RANGE
C. E. Hammond & Co. Ltd., 105 Oyster Lane,
Byfleet, Surrey, announce the availability of the
following Leader Test Instruments: Model LDC -821
Digital Frequency Counter with the following
features: Automatic control of trigger level; Easy -toread display tubes, unlike 7- segment indicators; Four
gate times for good resolution; High sensitivity
only 50mVrms input required; Compact construction. Model LAG -120 Audio Generator with the
following features: Wide frequency range -10Hz to
1MHz with flat output response; Synchronizing with
an external frequency source is possible when required; Compact construction requires only a small
space on the bench. Model LMV -186A Stereo AC
Millivoltmeter which has been developed especially
for voltage measurement from two separate inputs at
similar levels. Model LEM75 Electronic Multimeter
with the following features: Battery operated for portability; Mirror -backed scales for accurate readout;
Measures both DC and AC currents to 300mA; Tilt
stand for easy viewing.

VERO WIRE KIT

Vero Electronics Ltd., have improved their

Verowire prototyping system by the addition of a

number of items.
The system itself is designed for the fast and easy
construction of prototype breadboards or short

production runs. Interconnections are made

by means of a polyurethane -insulated wire, dispassed through a wiring pen. This enables fine wiring
to be achieved quickly and in a single operation.
Soldering of the whole board can likewise be consolidated into a single task, since the heat of the
solder melts the wire insulation, which acts as a flux,

avoiding the repetitive and time- consuming cut strip- route -solder routine.
The Verowire kit now contains spools of wire in
four different colours to facilitate the identification of
wires. Each spool contains 40 metres of 0.15
mm.diameter wire, rated at 0.030 amps. A soldering
iron, Order Code 22- 0176E, is now available for use
with Verowire. This iron is fitted with 1.8 metres of
twin core mains cable, and is notable for its very low
current leakage.
Full details of the improved Verowire system are
available in a new leaflet from Vero Electronics, In-

dustrial Estate, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh,

Hampshire.
578

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

SMALL ADVERTISEMENTS
Rate: 8p per word. Minimum charge 1.00
Box No. 20p extra

THE Amateur Radio Event of Jubilee Year

RSGB INTERNATIONAL RADIO

COMMUNICATION EXHIBITION
AND CONVENTION

Advertisements must be prepaid and all copy must

be received by the 4th of the month for insertion in
the following month's issue. The Publishers cannot be held liable in any way for printing errors or
omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for
the bona fides of Advertisers. (Replies to Box
Numbers should be addressed to: Box No.
Radio and Electronics Constructor, 57 Maida
Vale, London, W9 1SN.

Alexandra Palace, London N22

6 -8 May 1977
LARGE TRADE EXHIBITION

-,

Equipment and components from leading

manufacturers by well-known suppliers

LECTURES

TREASURE HUNTERS! Construct

11- transistor metal

detector giving 300 performance. 10 page illustrated
plans, send 1. C. H. Lucas, 241 Upminster Road South,
Rainham, Essex.

WANTED TO PURCHASE: All early books on radio,

preferably before 1925. Box No. 282.
MAINS TRANSFORMERS. 240V Pri. Two separate
secondaries. 72V at 500mA each. 1 each plus 35p p &p.
NF Electronics, Church Lane, Flax Bourton, Bristol.

SERVICE SHEETS for Radios /TV's etc. 50p and' s.a.e.

Catalogue 20p and s.a.e. Hamilton Radio, 47 Bohemia
Road, St. Leonards-on -Sea, Sussex.

On Microwave, VHF /UHF, HF and SWL topics

(See Apri! Radio Communication for details)

MEMBERS' MART - Sunday May 8

DINNER/DANCE - Saturday May 7
FOR THE FAMILY - All the free facilities
and attractions of Alexandra Park
11 am -7pm

OPENING HOURS:
Friday; 11am -6pm Saturday;
11 am -5pm Sunday

ADMISSION:

Exhibition and lectures (at the door): Adults 40p; children

under 14, 20p
Dinner /Dance (tickets in advance): 5.50
Bookings for trade exhibition and members' mart space, and
applications for dinner/dance tickets, should be made to
J. Hitchins, RSGB, 35 Doughty Street, London WC7N 2AE

HOW TO BUILD a cheap set of good quality speakers.

Leaflet 20p plus s.a.e. Ex -TV speakers, 3 ohm, 50p plus
25p post /pkg. Circuit diagrams back to 1933, 25p each
plus s.a.e. Reply to: R.U.I., 19 Reginald Road, Eastney,
Portsmouth, Hants. PO4 9HL.
.

WANTED: Large and small quantities of transistors, I.C.'s,

displays, etc., etc., Call any Saturday to: 306 St. Paul's
Road, London N.1. Telephone:

01 -359 4224.

SIX 7- SEGMENT LED DISPLAYS 1. Ex- equipment

but guaranteed in arrays of 6, with data. Mr. Bobker, 29
Chadderton Drive, Unsworth, Bury, Lancs.

ANTIQUE RADIO BOOKS. Newnes "Television & Short

Wave Handbook" by F. J. Camm, 1935, 3.00. News
Chronicle "Wireless Constructor's Encyclopaedia" by F.

J. Camm, 3rd edition, circa 1930, 3.50. Prices include

postage and packing, Box No. G318.

60kHz MSF RUGBY RECEIVERS BCD time -of -day

output. High performance PLL 5V operation, pulsating
LED. Kit or assembled instrument available. Prices
14.08 -23.47. Details: Toolex, Sherborne, Dorset.

FOR SALE: Fuzz kit

1, AC128 10p, C60's 50p. All inclusive. Delos Electronics, 76 Ber Street, Norwich, Nor-

folk.

TV REPAIRS SIMPLIFIED. Full repair instructions individual British sets 4.50; request free circuit diagram.
Stamp brings details of unique TV publications. Auserec,
76 Churches, Larkhall, Lanarkshire.

Become_
a radio
amateur.
Learn how to become a radioamateur in contact with the whole

world We give skilled preparation

for the G.P.O. licence.
Brochure, without obligation to:

wAA
REK

47'

BRITISH NATIONAL RADIO

& ELECTRONICS SCHOOL,

GRIMSBY ELECTRONICS, LAMBERT ROAD,

GRIMSBY: For components, cases, Veroboard, surplus,

etc. by return. Lowest prices. Bargains list 9p. (Callers
Saturdays only).
(Continued on page 581)

APRIL 1977

P.O.Box 156, Jersey, Channel islands.

NAME
ADDRESS

(Block caps please)

579

Use the NEW

Strip -fix Plastic

PANEL SIGNS
* SET 3 - Wording WHITE
* SET 4 - Wording -

vagin

uvs,

BLACK

Over 1,000 words and symbols,

covering more than 300 terms, in
each set
Illustration of actual size = RADIO

* SET 5 - DIALS
6 sheets containing one Large and

two Medium scales, Large Horizontal

Tuning scale, Frequencies, 12 Control

Panels

Easy

to fix

Stapled in booklet form

Designed to hang above workbench
ip Pocket for loose cuttings
Professional finish

PRICE
SET 3: 75p
SET 4: 1.00
SET 5: 38p
(P. & P. 7p per set)

ALL PRICES INCLUDE V.A.T.

The Perfect Transfer

for the Home Constructor

To Data Publications Ltd., 57 Maida Vale, London, W.9 1 SN

Please supply Panel Signs as follows: Set 3

enclose cheque /crossed postal order for

Set 4

Set 5 ...,

(Tick which set is required)

NAME
ADDRESS
(BLOCK LETTERS PLEASE)

580

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

SMALL ADVERTISEMENTS
(Continued from page 579)

x
<`

COLLECTORS' ITEMS: Bound volumes of The Wireless

twG 4St

World (which was then published weekly) for 1931, 1932,

1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1939 (nine months
only for this year due to outbreak of war). Two volumes
per year, total of 18 volumes. All in very good condition.
Offers invited. Box No. G319.

Price incl. VAT

POSTAL ADVERTISING? This is the Holborn Service.

Mailing lists, addressing, enclosing, wrapping, facsimile

letters, automatic typing, copy service, campaign planning;
design and artwork, printing and stationery. Please ask for
price list. The Holborn Direct Mail Company Capacity
House, 2 -6 Rothsay Street, Tower Bridge Road, London
S.E.1. Telephone: 01 -407 6444.

FOR SALE: 108- 136MHZ Receiver. Size 5rn. x 3in. x 2in.

Pocket size. Easily adjusted to tune over 144MHz band

services to members including Q.S.L. Bureau, Amateur

and Broadcast Translation, Technical and .Identification'
Dept.
both Broadcast and Fixed Stations, DX Cer
tificates, contests and activities for the SWL and transmitting members. Monthly magazine, Monitor, containing articles of general interest to Broadcast and Amateur SWLs,
Transmitter Section and League affairs, et. League,
supplies such as badges, headed notepaper and envejo es
QSL cards, etc., are available at reasonable cost. Send for
League particulars, Membership including monthly
magazines, etc., 3.75 per annum. (U.K. and British Commonwealth), overseas $10.00 or 4.00. Secretary ISWL, 1
Grove Road, Lydney, Glos., GL15 5JE.

include postage.

Box No. G329.

MULLARD COMPONENTS, Send s.a.e. for free list to

P.M.S. Dept REC6, PO Box
6LI:.

6,

Crawley, Sussex, RH10

(Continued on page 583)

APRIL 1977

Send cheque or P.O. today to:

HOME RADIO COMPONENTS LTD.
240 London Road, Mitcham,
Surrey, CR4 3HD
.

Any 5-64p, 10-1.20, 50-5.00.

JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL S.W. LEAGUE. Frog

4.75

& Postage

VALVE
BARGAINS

with good sensitivity. 16.50 post and packing paid.

Romak Engineering Ltd., Dept. RE, 10 Hibel Road,
Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 2AB.

ETCHING KIT

Chloride, Dish and Pen

- -

/...,,,...

Full instructions, Copper Clad Board, Ferric

FOR SALE: Heathkit DX60 Phone -CW Transmitter, with

HG10 80 -2M VFO Unit. Heathkit 5 -band receiver HR10
for AM, CW and SSB. 50.00. s.a.e. for details.
Box No.

BOOKS TO CLEAR: Admiralty Handbook of Wireless

Tele'raphy, Vol. I, 1938 H.M. Stationery Office, 1.50.
Radio Servicing
Theory & Practice, 1950, by Abraham
Marcus, 1.50. Introductory Radio
Theory and Servicing, 1948 (With Teacher's manual) by H. J. Hicks,
1.50. Klystron Tubes, by A. E. Harrison, 1947, 1.50. An
Approach to Audio Frequency Amplifier Design, 1957,
G.E.C. Publication, 1.25. Television Engineers' Pocket
Book, 1954, by Molloy & Hawker, 50p. Radio Servicing
Pocket Book, 1955, by Molloy & Hawker, 50p. All prices

PRINTED CIRCUITS

2. Cat. No, 802.

G328.

-.

All you need to make your own

WANTED: Plug for the 6 volt d.c. socket on the Bush TP60
Cassette Tape Recorder. Box No. G326.
Offers? Box No. G327.

4afP

THE RADIO AMATEUR INVALID & BEDFAST

CLUB is a well established Society providing facilities for
the physically handicapped to enjoy the hobby of
Amateur Radio. Please become a supporter of this worthy
cause. Details from the Hon. Secretary, Mrs. Rita
Shepherd, 59 Paintain Road, Loughborough, Leics., LE11

FOR SALE: Merit Chemistry Set No.

--

Your choice from the list

below.
ECC82, EF80, EF183, EF184,
EH90, PCF80, PCF802, PCL82,
PCL84, PCL85, PCL86, PCL805,
PL504, PY81/800, PY88, 30PL14, 6F28.

Colour
PL519,

Valves- PL508,
PY500 /A.

All

PL509,
tested.

35p each.

Splitters-2 way, 75
OHMS, Inside Type, 1.50.
Aerial

Press Button UHF

2.50 each..

Tuners-4

AERIAL

BOOSTERS
Aerial boosters
produce

can
remarkable improvements on
the picture and sound, in fringe
Or difficult areas.
B11 -For TH stereo and
standard VHF/FM radio.
For the older VHF
B12
television
Please state

- -

channel numbers.
B45 -For Mono or colour this

covers the complete

UHF

Television band.
All boosters are complete with
battery with Co -ax plugs &
sockets. Next to the set fitting.
Button Transistor

3.80
British made

60p BARGAIN PACKS

Parts- PK1- 40-C280 (Mullardr Axial Lead

Capacitor mixed values from OtuF to .47uF (250V/W). PK2 -30C281 (Mullard) Radial Lead Capacitors mixed values from .051uF to
1.5uF (250V/W). PK3 -6 Co -ax. plugs. PK4 -6 Co -ax connectors. PK58-5 m/m formers with slugs, PK6- 25-AC12d Transistors. P1(7-3
BF200 (VHF) Transistors. P1(8-2 BF182 (UHF) Transistors. PK9 Any 6
Transistors BC108, BC113, BC135, BC153, BC171, BC172, BF194,
BF195, BF196, BF197, P1(10 8-1 amp 400 volts rectifiers. PK11 4 -5
pin din plugs (180 ). PK12 -5 PP3 Battery Connectors.
All Packs Un-used

All prices include VAT. P&P 20p per order. Please send uncrossed P.O.
or Cheques for returning if we are out of stock of Bargain Packs or
older types of new valves.

ELECTRONIC MAILORDER LTD.

62 BRIDGE ST., RAMSBOTTOM, BURY, LANCS.
TEL. RAMS. (070 682) 3036.

581

1,_!ZI111.

TO QUALITY

4th ISSUE INCLUDES NEW METERS AND SWITCHES

well as items from advanced opto- electronic components to humble (but essential) washers. Many things
listed are very difficult to obtain elsewhere. The company's
own computer is programmed to expedite delivery and
maintain customer satisfaction. Attractive discounts continue on many purchases, Access and Barclaycard orders
are accepted.
as

AGUE

All branded BC147, BC148, 8C149,

BC157, BC158. BC159, BF194, BF195, BF196, BF197,
10p each or 100 for 8.50.
Please note all prices include UK Postage and
appropriate VAT @ 8% or 12 %

306 ST. PAUL'S ROAD, f-IIGHBURY CORNER, LONDON

Tel: 01-226 1489

N1

A CAREER IN RADIO

Start training today and make sure you are qualified to take
advantage of the many opportunities open to the trained
person. ICS can further your technical knowledge' and
provide the specialist training so essential to success.
ICS, the world's most experienced home study college,
has helped thousands of ambitious men to move up into
they can do the same for you.
higher paid jobs
Fill in the coupon below and find out howl
There is a wide range of courses to choose from, ineluding:

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ICS offer

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POST THIS COUPON OR TELEPHONE FOR FREE PROSPECTUS

1.1

am interested in

IName

Age

Address

582

Occupation

Accredited
by CACC

Member of
ARCC

To:

International Correspondence Schools,

Dept
House, LONDON
SWS 4UJ or phone 01 -622 9977 (all hours)

tittlm

voucher

, LTD

ROAD, ENGLEFIELD GREEN, EGHAM, SURREY TW20 OHB.

Phone Egham 3603 Telex 284475. Hours 9 -5.30 daily: 1 pm Sets.
NORTHERN BRANCH: 680 Burnage Lane, Burnage, Manchester
M19 1NA. Phone 061 -432 4945. Hours 9- 5.30.pm, 1 pm Sets

'Management Information
Systems'
An instruction Manual for Business Students
Deals with the underlying principles of systems
and is a companion volume to "Data Processing"
by Oliver & Chapman.
45 pages.

Price 75p

including postage

From:
D. P. PUBLICATIONS, 4 AMPORT CLOSE

XEROZA RADIO

Radio TV Electronics Technicians'

inc. refund

40p

MULLARD FERRITE CORES

LA3 100 to 500 kHz,
75p; LA5 30 to 100 kHz, 100p; LA7 10 kHz, 100p
LA13 for W.W. Oscilloscope, 2.00.
SPECIAL OFFER - Metallised Polyester Capacitors by Erie,
Mullard, etc. Values include: .01/160V, .01/250V,
015 /160V,. 022/ 160V ,.033/160V,-047/160V,.068/160V,
.1/160-250v, .22/160V, etc. This is a bargain not to be
missed. 100 for 3.00.
1N4148 SWITCHING DIODES, 10 for 30p; 50 for 1.25;
100 for 1.50; 1,000 for 12.50.

CITY & GUILDS CERTIFICATES

Telecommunications Technicians'

40p
Post paid

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ELECTRO AL

TRANSISTORS

144 pages

WINCHESTER, HANTS.

For the Radio Amateur

HAM RADIO
A Practical Guide and
Handbook
KENNETH ULLYETT

26 illustrations 4.50
Without the use of mathematics, circuit diagrams or
scientific formulae, the author
initiates the amateur in setting
up a communications receiver
which can, in perfect conditions, span the globe for
shortwave listening. Exchange
QSL (message -received) cards,
technical examinations, setting
up transmitters and handling
morse and continuous wave
codes are also included.

Ham Radio
Ham Radio
Ham Radio
Radio
Ham
and lfardook
a,.tkel
AR

Guide

Ham Radio'

MAKE YOUR OWN ELECTRICITY

TERENCE McLAUGHLIN
33 illustrations 3.95
Learn to make and control your own power supply
with simple, economical generating equipment. Full
construction details and circuit diagrams are provided
for efficient harnessing of the wind, sun and water as
well as oil and other available sources.

DAVID & CHARLES

Brunel House Newton Abbot Devon
RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

SMALL ADVERTISEMENTS

PLAIN- BACKED

(Continued from page 581)

MULLARD HI -SPEED Valve tester with cards and

manual, 25. Old Avo Valve tester with manual, 10.
Newnes Radio & TV Servicing, Vols. I to V plus '57 -58
and '59 -60, 8. Wireless World 1939 to 1965. Offers?
Priest, 21 Levens Grove, Blackpool, Lancs., FY1 5LA.

SHALL BE PLEASED TO SUPPLY your components

for projects in this magazine. State your requirements for
a quotation. Barras Electronics, 11 North Street; Coven-

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try, Warwickshire.

WANTED: Radio Constructor for August, September &

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FREQUENCY LIST TRANSFERS. We have a limited

supply of sheets of Dial Frequency Transfers in black.
Short Wave frequencies 1.8Mc /s to 32Mc /s and 144Mc /s
and 146Mc /s. Includes Amateur band marker frequencies
at 100kc/s points and other short wave frequencies from 2
to 32 Mc /s at every 500Kc /s points. Each frequency is
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0C28, 0C29, BD181 BDY20, BD116, RCA40411, 50p
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PERSONAL
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Details free. Stamp to: Jane Scott, 3 /Con North St.
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SPONSORS required for exciting scientific project.

Norwich Astronomical Society are building a 30"

telescope to be housed in a 20' dome of novel design. All

labour being given by volunteers. Already supported by
Industry and Commerce in Norfolk. Recreational.
Educational. You can be involved. Write to: NAS
Secretary, The Manse, Back Lane, Wymondham, Nor-

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folk.

COLOURS: MAROON OR GREEN

IF YOU HAVE ENJOYED A HOLIDAY

on the Norfolk

Broads, why not help to preserve these beautiful

waterways. Join the Broads Society and play your part in
determining Broadlands future. Further details from:
The Hon. Membership Secretary, The Broads Society,
"Icknield," Hilly Plantation, Thorpe St. Andrew,

(If choice not stated, colour available will he sent)

Norwich, NOR 85S.

H.M. ELECTRONICS

275a Fulwood Road, Broomhill

SHEFFIELD S10 3BD
Tel: 0742-669676
BEC CABINETS (Book End Chassis)

GB2 14 " x 7- x 3"

Standard Cabinet
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GB3 14" x 9" x 4"
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A 9" x 6" x 2"
15p
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Send
A beautifully designed modern cabinet with simulated black leatherette top
(PVC bonded to metal) solid wooden end cheeks, with room at the beck for
y,%

GB1
GB1

Output Sockets etc, felt pads are fitted on bottom of cheeks for non -scratch.

APRIL 1977

PRICE

1.15

P.

& P. 30p

Owing to heavy demand please allow

27 days for delivery

Available only

from:-

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57 Maida Vale London W9

SN
583

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

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DATA BOOK SERIES

DB5
DB6

TV Fault Finding, 132 pages

Radio Amateur Operator's Handbook,
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DB17 Understanding Television, 504 pages
DB19 Simple Short Wave Receivers
140 pages

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Price
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Price

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STRIP -FIX PLASTIC PANEL SIGNS

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PLEASE MENTION THIS MAGAZINE WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS

584

RADIO & ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR

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The new Maplin Catalogue

is no ordinary catalogue...
TOn'c

pp1.lES

The book
section

contains
150 titles
of books about over
electronics radio,
N, Hi -fi etc.
Browse through
the pages

choose from
and
titles around some of the best
set of books including a superb
that
will teach you
electronics by

(Foot of

experimentation!

catalogue

Page 142)

Catalogue includes a very wide range of

components: hundreds of different capacitors;
resistors; transistors; I.C:s; diodes; wires and
cables; discotheque equipment; organ components;
musical effects units; microphones; turntables;
cartridges; styli; test equipment; boxes and
instrument cases; knobs, plugs and sockets;
audio leads; switches; loudspeakers; books; tools -AND MANY MANY MORE.

r
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