HOOGFREQUENT

poor man’s short-wave

radio small but effective

The design described

in this article is one of
those with immediate
appeal. It is easy to
build, very compact,
and offers exceed-
ingly good perfor-
mance. Even with
only a short whip
antenna, it
receives a myriad of
broadcasting stations
at good strength.

Some parameters
measuring 8.5×5 cm (3.4×2 in) and
 Frequency range approx. 5.5-12.5 MHz consists of only a handful of compo-
(25 m, 31 m, 41 m, and 49 m bands) nents, a whip antenna at the input and
 Sensitivity (6 dB signal-to-noise) approx. 1 µV a small loudspeaker at the output. Nev-
 AGC range 86 dB ertheless, it receives broadcasting sta-
 Intermediate frequency 455 kHz tions from all over the world: the Voice
 Audio power output 1 watt into 8 Ω of America; Radio Moscow; Radio
 Quiescent current drain about 50 mA Prague, not forgetting the BBC World
 Supply voltage 12–15 V Service when you’re on holiday. And
all that with a minimum of controls.

FOUR BANDS IN ONE

Anyone with only the slightest interest The receiver is designed for operation
in radio-frequency engineering will over a single range containing the
immediately be captivated by the tiny 25 m, 31 m, 41 m, and 49 m, short-wave
receiver described here. It is con- bands. There is therefore no need for a
Design by G Baars PE1GIC structed on a printed-circuit board band selector. It is tuned with the aid of

Elektor Electronics 10/99

42
 9V

1 L3
MF1
SFD455
R6

22Ω
C19 D3
L
100n 82µH 2V2
C20 M
R7
8V5 2k2
R9
L4 39p C21 100µA

9V

820k
A T2 P3
680µH 100n R8
C4
10k *
10k
100n C18
C3 P2

9V
BC550C NULL
2k5
150p 0V6
6p8 1 3 15 11 IC3
0V T1
4V6
4V0 9V 78L09 +12V 12V
10
C8 C22
17 IC1 9
1V5...8V4 BF TDA1572
245C 220p 12 100n C23 C24
C2
1V9

1V5...8V4 14 13 2 18 16 4 5 6 7 8 100µ 220µ

390p 16V 25V

1V7
C7 L2

1V0
4µH7
220p

2V1

0V7
4V2

4V0

2V2

1V0

1V9
IC2 1
C1 R1 L1 R2 R3
4V2

D1 D2 C15 C16
C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C17
470k

470Ω

470k

6V

22p 3p9 100n 100n 100n 220n 10n 1µ 10µ 3n3 0V

3µH9 16V 16V IN LS1
2 5
OUT1
BB509 BB509 9V
1V5...8V8
R4 3 OUT2 8
P1
220k 100k IN 8Ω
MT 1W
P4
100k 6V
C6 C5 log
R5 6 TDA7052
22k
1V5

100n 100n

990068 - 11

Figure 1. The circuit is

based essentially on a
Type TDA1572 inte-
grated AM receiver.
varactors (also called voltage-con- that the mixer is a dual- by IC3, via multi-turn
trolled capacitors or voltage-variable balanced type and that potentiometer P1.
capacitors – see inset) and a multi-turn in the design of the RF amplifier and Note that inductors L1 and L2 are
potentiometer. The latter ensures that demodulator great attention is paid to readily available small chokes.
in spite of the very wide range, tuning obtaining a large dynamic range and The whip antenna is coupled to the
is accurate and comfortable. The tun- low distortion. hot end of the input circuit via capacitor
ing indicator may be a light-emitting The oscillator is a voltage-controlled C3. Although the input circuit could
diode (LED) or moving-coil µA-meter. (VCO) type which is provided with have been linked directly to the input
The receiver is designed for the temperature compensation. It works pin (17) of IC1, this is not done deliber-
reception of amplitude-modulated very well with a single inductor and is ately, since the network connected to
(AM) signals only, since that is the uni- designed specially for use with varac- this pin inside the IC is low impedance,
versal mode of operation by broad- tors. which would cause excessive damping
casting stations in the short-wave Finally, note that the TDA1572 has a of the input circuit. There is therefore
bands. The intermediate frequency (IF) dedicated output for a field-strength a buffer in the shape of source follower
bandwidth is 6 kHz, which ensures indicator. T1 between the input circuit and pin 17
good audio reproduction. The receiver is a single-conversion of IC1. The high input impedance of
superheterodyne with an intermediate the buffer ensures a negligible load on
TWO INTEGRATED frequency (IF) of 455 kHz. From an the input circuit as well as on the
CIRCUITS operational point of view, this fre- (high-impedance) whip or telescopic
The receiver is based on just two inte- quency should preferably have been antenna. This arrangement has a ben-
grated circuits (ICs). One of these, IC2 somewhat higher to avoid the problem eficial effect on the sensitivity as well as
in the circuit diagram in Figure 1, is a of image frequencies (see inset), but on the selectivity of the receiver.
tiny audio-frequency (AF) amplifier this is more than compensated by the The ceramic IF filter, MF1, is a bal-
that boosts the demodulated signal to simplicity of construction, the ready anced type, both resonators of which
an output power of about one watt. availability, and the low price of the are interlinked by external capacitor
The other, IC1, a Philips Type TDA1572, 455 kHz filter used. C20. Inductors L3 and L4 match the
is the circuit on which the radio-fre- There are two tuned circuits: one impedance of the filter to that of the
quency (RF) operation is based. In fact, for the input (L1-C2-D1-C2) and one mixer. These inductors are also readily
it is a complete integrated AM receiver, for the oscillator (L2-D2-C7-C9). These available small chokes.
containing an RF amplifier, mixer, oscil- circuits are tuned in synchrony with The demodulated and pre-ampli-
lator, IF amplifier, automatic gain con- varactors D1 and D2, bearing in mind, fied audio-frequency signal is available
trol (AGC) and an AM demodulator. of course, that the frequency of the at pin 8 of IC1, from where it is applied
Space in this article is insufficient to local oscillator circuit is at all times to integrated AF amplifier IC2 via vol-
give a detailed description of the 455 kHz higher than that of the input ume control P4. Note that IC2 needs no
TDA1572, but much of this may be circuit. external components whatever — its
found on the Datasheet elsewhere in The control voltage for the varactors balanced output makes even an output
this issue. All that will be said here is is provided by a 9-V supply, regulated capacitor unnecessary.

Elektor Electronics 10/99 43

 COMPONENTS LIST
2 Resistors:
P1
R1,R3 = 470kΩ
990068-1 1-860099
ROTKELE )C(
R2 = 470Ω
P4 LS1
C24 R4 = 220kΩ
0
R5 = 22kΩ

R6
C22

IC2
C17 R6 = 22Ω
R4
R5
C15 R7 = 2.2kΩ
C16
P2 +12 R8 = 10kΩ

IC1
R3 L2 C23
R9 = 820kΩ

IC3
C5 C10 C14
D2 P1 = 100kΩ, 10-turn potentiometer
C4 C7
C9 C13 T2 P2 = 2.5kΩ preset H
P3
C1 C21 C12 P3 = 10kΩ preset H
C11 C20
R8
P4 = 100kΩ log. potentiometer
T1
L1 C8 MF1 R9
C6
R2
C19
R7
Capacitors:
D1
R1 C2 C3 C18
L4
L3 L M C1 = 22pF or 40pF trimmer
A + - C2 = 390pF
C4,C5,C6,C10,C11,C12,C19,C21,
C22 = 100nF
C7,C8 = 220pF
C9 = 3.9pF
C13 = 220nF
C14 = 10nF
C15 = 1µF 16V radial
C16 = 10µF 16V radial
C17 = 3.3nF
C18 = 150pF
C20 = 39pF
C23 = 100µF 10V radial
C24 = 220µF 25V radial

Inductors:
L1 = 3.9µH
(C) ELEKTOR L2 = 4.7µH
990068-1 L3 = 82µH
L4 = 680µH

Semiconductors:
Figure 2. The PCB for D1,D2 = BB509
the short-wave IC1 = TDA1572 (DIL18 case)
TUNING INDICATOR receiver including IC2 = TDA5072 (DIL8 case)
As mentioned earlier, there are two audio amplifier is IC3 = 78L09
possible tuning indicators. A mov- notably small. L = high-efficiency LED
ing-coil µA-meter (100 µA full-scale T1 = BF245C or BF256C
deflection — FSD) may be con- T2 = BC550C or BC549C
nected between the wipers of P2 and
Miscellaneous:
P3 via series resistor R7. Resistors R8 constructed on the printed-circuit
MF1 = SFD455 (Murata)
and R9 must then be replaced by wire board (PCB) in Figure 2, it should be M = moving-coil meter, 50-200 µA
bridges and T2 may be omitted. The possible to build it in about an hour LS1 = 8 Ω, 1 W miniature loud-
FSD of the meter is set with P2 and its and a half. Pay good attention to the speaker
zero deflection with P3. correct polarity of the electrolytic Enclosure: see text
If space or another reason precludes capacitors and ICs, and particularly to PCB Order no. 990068 (see Readers
the use of a µA-meter, a high-efficiency the colour code of chokes L1–L4. If Services section towards the end
light-emitting diode (LED) may be only two of these chokes are placed of this issue)
used. This must be connected between wrongly, the receiver will definitely not
resistor R7 and the 9-V supply line. work properly.
Potentiometer P3 is then not needed, Potentiometers P1 and P4 may be
but T2, R8 and R9 are. mounted directly on the board.
If an LED tuning indicator is used, carefully check the completed board.
POWER S U P P LY solder its cathode (short terminal) to Also, the voltages at certain points
Voltage regulator IC3 ensures an accu- the solder pin marked ‘L’ and its anode should be compared with those indi-
rate, stable 9 V supply for IC1 and the to the + pin. cated on the circuit diagram. Note that
varactors. Audio amplifier IC2 may be If a µA-meter is used as tuning indi- these voltages refer to a board without
supplied directly from the unregu- cator, connect it to the pins marked ‘M’ antenna and without reception of any
lated voltage(12-15 V), which may be with its – terminal to the – pin. station.
provided by batteries but, since this When the board is completed (see Once the receiver works correctly, it
requires 8-10 cells, and the quiescent the finished prototype in Figure 3), should be assembled in a suitable
current is about 50 mA, it is highly connect a whip antenna (or a 50 cm enclosure. The prototype is enclosed in
advisable to use a suitable mains length of wire) to pin A, a small loud- a die-cast metal case from Hammond,
adaptor. speaker to pins LS1, and a mains adap- but there are many other suitable cases.
tor to pins 0 and +12. At this stage, An ABS (plastic) enclosure may also be
CONSTRUCTION there should be some noise emanating used, but this increases the risk of body
Building the receiver should not pre- from the loudspeaker, and when P1 is effects and spurious radiation affecting
sent even relatively inexperienced hob- turned, there may even be some music the proper performance of the receiver.
byists any problems. If the receiver is or speech heard. If nothing is heard,

44 Elektor Electronics 10/99

 Figure 3. Completed
prototype receiver
board.
3

SETTING UP
The setting up of the receiver is
straightforward, since it contains only
a single calibration element: trimmer
capacitor C1. This is set to its optimum
position as follows. Set potentiometer
P1 to the centre of its travel, switch on
the receiver and open volume control
P4 slightly. Turn C1 until the noise
emanating from the loudspeaker is a
maximum. Then connect a whip
antenna or a 50 cm — 20 in — length
of wire to the input, turn P1 slowly
anticlockwise (that is, from high to low
frequencies) and tune to the first heard
station that gives a reasonable strong
signal. Readjust capacitor C1 for maxi-
mum audio output. Image frequencies
When an LED indicator is used,
adjust P2 until the indicator just lights at In superheterodyne frequency converters or receivers, an image frequency
the reception of weak stations and is an undesired input frequency capable of producing the selected fre-
much more brightly with strong sig- quency by selecting one of the two sidebands produced by beating. The
nals. word ‘image’ implies the mirror-like symmetry of signal and image frequen-
When a µA-meter tuning indicator cies around the beating oscillator frequency or intermediate frequency,
is used, adjust P3 until the meter whichever is higher.
shows zero in the absence of a signal. Consider, for instance, Figure A. Here, the receiver is tuned to a station
Follow this by adjusting P2 for full- at 6 MHz. Since the IF is 0.455 MHz, the oscillator is tuned to
scale deflection when a strong station 6.000+0.455=6.455 MHz. In Figure B, the same receiver is tuned to a
is being received. It is advisable to station at 5.090 MHz, so that the oscillator runs at
repeat these adjustments a couple of 5.090+0.455=5.545 MHz.
times.
[990068-1]
a b

6MHz

IF: 455kHz IF: 455kHz

6MHz 5.090MHz

Varactors OSC.
6.455MHz
OSC.
5.545MHz

A varactor or voltage-controlled
capacitor is a two-terminal solid- 990068-12

state device that uses the voltage-

variable capacitance of a p-n Although the receiver in the second case is tuned to 5.090 MHz, the
junction. In the design of a normal image frequency of the 6 MHz station is also received, since this station
also produces an IF of 6.000–5.545=0.455 MHz.
semiconductor diode, steps are
Image frequencies are precluded by the use of a high IF, since this
taken to minimize inherent capac- makes the difference between the original and image frequencies so large
itance, whereas in a varactor this that the image is rejected by the input filter circuit. A further remedy con-
is emphasized. Since this capac- sists of increasing the selectivity of the circuits preceding the mixer. In a
itance varies with the applied volt- simple receiver as the present, these remedies are not easily imple-
age, varactors may be used as mented: the most effective remedy against image frequencies here is the
voltage-variable capacitors. use of a short antenna.

Elektor Electronics 10/99 45