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Index
Cover
Build Your Own Transistor Radios: A Hobbyist's Guide to High-Performance and Low-Powered Radio Circuits
Copyright Page
About the Author
Contents at a Glance
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
CHAPTER 1 Introduction
Tuned Radio-Frequency (TRF) Radios
Block Diagram of a TRF Radio
Circuit Description of a TRF Radio
Regenerative Radio
Block Diagram of a Regenerative Radio
Circuit Description of a Regenerative Radio
Reflex Radio
Block Diagram of a Reflex Radio
Circuit Description of a Reflex Radio
Superheterodyne Radio
Block Diagram of a Superheterodyne Radio
Circuit Description of a Superheterodyne Radio
Software-Defined Radio Front-End Circuits
Block Diagram of a Software-Defined Radio Front End
Description of Front-End Circuits for a Software-Defined Radio System
Comparison of the Types of Radios
CHAPTER 2 Calibration Tools and Generators for Testing
Alignment Tools
Test Generators
Inductance Meter
Capacitance Meter
Oscilloscopes
Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum Analyzers
Where to Buy the Tools and Test Equipment
CHAPTER 3 Components and Hacking/Modifying Parts for Radio Circuits
Antenna Coils
Variable Capacitors
Transistors
Earphones
Speakers
Passive Components
Vector and Perforated Boards
Hardware
Parts Suppliers
CHAPTER 4 Building Simple Test Oscillators and Modulators
The Continuous-Wave Signal
The Amplitude-Modulated Signal
First Project: A CW RF Test Oscillator
Modulator Circuit for the CW Generator
Parts List
Alternate Circuits
Parts List
CHAPTER 5 Low-Power Tuned Radio-Frequency Radios
Design Considerations for TRF Radios
Improving Sensitivity and/or Selectivity via Antenna Coils or Circuits
First Design of TRF Radio
Parts List
Circuit Description
Variation of the Design (Alternate Design of the TRF Radio)
Parts List
Author’s Earlier TRF Designs
CHAPTER 6 Transistor Reflex Radios
Motivation Behind Amplifying Both Radio-Frequency and Audio-Frequency Signals
One-Transistor TRF Reflex Radio
Parts List
Multiple-Transistor Reflex Radio Circuit
Parts List
CHAPTER 7 A Low-Power Regenerative Radio
Improving Sensitivity by Regeneration
Improving Selectivity by Q Multiplication via Regeneration
Design Considerations for a Regenerative Radio
Parts List
Parts List
Parts List
CHAPTER 8 Superheterodyne Radios
Commercially Made Transistorized Superheterodyne Radios
A Four-Transistor Radio Schematic
Parts List
An Eight-Transistor Radio
Parts List
Alternative Oscillator and Antenna Coil Circuit
An Item to Note
CHAPTER 9 Low-Power Superheterodyne Radios
Design Goals for Low Power
Low-Power Oscillator, Mixer, and Intermediate-Frequency Circuits
Low-Power Detector and Audio Circuits
“First” Design of a Low-Power Superheterodyne Radio
Parts List
Alternative Low-Power Superheterodyne Radio Design
Parts List
Photos of Low-Power AM Superheterodyne Radios
CHAPTER 10 Exotic or “Off the Wall” Superheterodyne Radios
A One-Transistor Superheterodyne Radio
Design Considerations for a One-Transistor Superheterodyne Radio
Parts List
A Two-Transistor Superheterodyne Radio
Parts List
CHAPTER 11 Inductor-less Circuits
Ceramic Filters
Parts List
Gyrators (aka Simulated or Active Inductors)
Inductor-less (aka Coil-less) Superheterodyne Radio
Parts List
CHAPTER 12 Introduction to Software-Defined Radios (SDRs)
SDR Front-End Circuits, Filters, and Mixers
Phasing Circuits for 0- and 90-Degree Outputs for I and Q Signals
Multipliers for Generating 0- and 90-Degree Phases
Example Radio Circuits for Software-Defined Radios
Parts List
Second SDR Front-End Circuit for the 40-Meter Amateur Radio Band
Parts List
CHAPTER 13 Oscillator Circuits
One-Transistor Oscillator
Differential Pair Oscillator
References
CHAPTER 14 Mixer Circuits and Harmonic Mixers
Adding Circuits Versus Mixing Circuits
Distortion Can Be a Good Thing (for Mixing)
Single-Bipolar-Transistor Distortion
Simple Transistor Mixer and Its Conversion Transconductance
Differential-Pair Mixer
Harmonic Mixer Circuits
Mixer Oscillator Circuits
Conversion Gain
References
CHAPTER 15 Sampling Theory and Sampling Mixers
Sampling Signals as a Form of Muliplication or Mixing
Finite Pulse-Width Signals
Aliasing Is a Mixing Effect
Multiplexer Circuits as Balanced Mixers
Tradeoffs in Performance of the Mixers
References
CHAPTER 16 In-phase and Quadrature (IQ) Signals
Introduction to Suppressed-Carrier Amplitude Modulation
How I and Q Signals Are Generated
Demodulating I and Q Signals
I and Q Signals Used in Software-Defined Radios (SDRs)
References
CHAPTER 17 Intermediate-Frequency Circuits
IF Amplifiers
Gain-Controlled IF Amplifiers
Considerations of Distortion Effects on IF Amplifiers
References
CHAPTER 18 Detector/Automatic Volume Control Circuits
Average Envelope Detectors
Power Detectors
Synchronous Detectors
IQ Detectors for AM Broadcast Signals
Measuring an Average Carrier or Providing Automatic Volume Control
References
CHAPTER 19 Amplifier Circuits
Introduction to Operational Amplifiers
Amplifier Characteristics
Connecting Multiple Amplifiers for an Amplifier System
Practical Considerations for Using Amplifiers
References
CHAPTER 20 Resonant Circuits
Simple Parallel and Series Resonant Circuits
Resonant Circuits in Oscillators
Examples of Band-Pass and Band-Reject Filters
References
CHAPTER 21 Image Rejection
What Is an Image Signal?
Methods to Reduce the Amplitude of the Image Signal
Analysis of an Image-Rejection Mixer Using I and Q Signals
Analysis of the Image-Reject Mixer
Consequences of an Imperfect 90-Degree Phase Shifter on Reducing the Image Signal
References
CHAPTER 22 Noise
Sources of Random Electronic Noise and Some Basic Noise Theory
Paralleling Transistors for Lower Noise
Differential-Pair Amplifier Noise
Cascode Amplifier Noise
Selecting Op Amps
References
CHAPTER 23 Learning by Doing
Update on the One-Transistor Superheterodyne Radio 41
Comments on SDR 40-Meter Front-End Circuit
Experimenting with Mixers and Using the Spectran Spectrum Analyzer Program
Conducting Experiments on Op Amps and Amplifiers
Experiments with a Resonant Circuit
Thevenin-Equivalent Circuit
Analyzing a Bridge Circuit
Some Final Thoughts on the Book
References
APPENDIX 1 Parts Suppliers
APPENDIX 2 Inductance Values of Oscillator Coils and Intermediate-Frequency (IF) Transformers
APPENDIX 3 Short Alignment Procedure for Superheterodyne Radios
Index
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