Tweakers' Asylum

• new Philips device - sam9 11:50:02 07/02/03 (1)
  In Reply to: Easy DIY FM tuner on a chip wanted - ideas anyone? posted by Morse on July 01, 2003 at 12:58:56:

  D0 a web search for TEA5767/68. See if anything comes up. This is FM stereo on a single chip recently announced by Philips. Don't be surprised if it is not available to hobbyists, but if you have the right approach (little white lies) you might be able to get a sample with app notes
  
  

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  • Re: new Philips device - Morse 12:21:09 07/02/03 (0)
    In Reply to: new Philips device posted by sam9 on July 02, 2003 at 11:50:02:

    Thanks sam9;

    That's the sort of chip I was looking for.

    Thanks again and all the best,
    Morse
    
    

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• may I humbly suggest... - mrh (Mark Hardy) 04:50:57 07/02/03 (1)
  In Reply to: Easy DIY FM tuner on a chip wanted - ideas anyone? posted by Morse on July 01, 2003 at 12:58:56:

  ... that you start with an AM receiver? As has already been noted, RF circuit design and construction is a in a way different league than AF. The amps and preamps we play with can be almost trivially simple circuits (must be, if I can even sort of understand them!). Plus, after you build a radio, you need to align it, which is a) not trivial for a neophyte and b) requires somewhat esoteric equipment (RF/sweep generator and oscilloscope).

  Now an AM radio, even a superheterodyne receiver, is reasonably easy to understand, and there are complete circuits, with description, in places like the RC-19 receiving tube manual from RCA. All parts (or reasonable facsimilies thereof) including coils and transformers should be available from Antique Electronic Supply (link below).

  I'll also second the suggestion of considering a crystal/diode set. AES has a number of books and kits (including a book on making an FM crystal radio), including a "two stage, hi-fi" AM crystal tuner! If you've NEVER built a crystal set, do yourself a favor and try one... it's a fascinating experience. Only problem is that wavelengths for AM (MW) are LONG, so you'll really need a LONG antenna (or a powerful local station) to get decent reception.

  Keep us posted on your adventures!

  
  all the best,
  mrh
  

  • Antique Electronics Supply

  
  

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  • Re: may I humbly suggest... - Morse 12:39:16 07/02/03 (0)
    In Reply to: may I humbly suggest... posted by mrh (Mark Hardy) on July 02, 2003 at 04:50:57:

    Thanks Mark;

    That's exactly the approach I'm pursuing re: valve radios. Already have and have been reading RC16 and RC30, as well as Terman's Radio Engineer's Handbook and a stack of books on DIY radios from the '40's. Before I start on a valve FM stereo set I'll definitely bang together a superheterodyne AM set and maybe a super-regenerative one just to give it a try. For one thing, RF circuits are apparently very unforgiving of sloppy layout and lead dressing, so I need to get into good habits before progressing to something more serious.

    I'll definitely second your opinion on crystal sets - they really are remarkably fun.

    In this case though, I was looking for something cheap and easy that would give me an audio signal that I could bump up to line levels with something like a 6021. A receiver on a chip like the TDA7000 (haven't found a source or app notes yet) would probably be about ideal, given budget constraints.

    Thanks again - the suggestion is appreciated!
    All the best,
    Morse
    
    

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• Wotcher, inspector? - Poindexter 19:42:14 07/01/03 (6)
  In Reply to: Easy DIY FM tuner on a chip wanted - ideas anyone? posted by Morse on July 01, 2003 at 12:58:56:

  Try over here:

  A cool FM tuner group run by me auld mate Bob Fitzgerald.

  These guys are sharp; especially BFitz (I think he's 'newaag' over there. There's also a tuner info site he has a lot to do with; fmtunerinfo.com; and now, for something completely different:

  A page about very simple tuner circuits.

  You think I should call myself 'Tinker' over there?

  Poinz
  
  

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  • Re: Wotcher, inspector? - Morse 20:16:55 07/01/03 (5)
    In Reply to: Wotcher, inspector? posted by Poindexter on July 01, 2003 at 19:42:14:

    Hi Poinz!

    Thanks for the links - cool looking sites! I can tell I'll be lurking there doing some real research.....

    > > > ...You think I should call myself 'Tinker' over there?... < < <

    Tinker is a good name; also a fun character. Just curious, have they already got a "Lovejoy" over there? OT, I wish A&E would bring that one back - darn' little that's watchable on the telly these days.....

    Thanks again and all the best,
    Morse
    
    

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    • Tinker. - Poindexter 21:00:26 07/01/03 (4)
      In Reply to: Re: Wotcher, inspector? posted by Morse on July 01, 2003 at 20:16:55:

      Having come from musical instrument making and cabinet making (and wooden aeroplane making and sailboat making), I would really like to make a console or large table radio; possibly hardwired to a single station for simplicity/purity (we have no jazz station and exactly one classical station in my section of the bushes). My one-lung (well, two-lung) little amp circuit lends itself to this purpose, so the sticking point is radjo reception. I'll see you over there, probably.

      Lovejoy gets way more whoopee, even unintentionally, than I do; and in my encroaching fartitude Tink is a sympathetic character. The good doctor's description of him shaking the dust off the ancient pub's rafters with his coughing fit is also one of the fine moments of pop fiction description.

      Presbyterially yours,

      Poinz
      
      

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      • Re: Tinker. - Morse 21:43:54 07/01/03 (3)
        In Reply to: Tinker. posted by Poindexter on July 01, 2003 at 21:00:26:

        Hi Poinz;

        We're definitely on the same page here. I'd love to scratchbuild a cathedral radio using nothing but valve technology, but for now I want to ease into it (also I want a tuner that's got more class than just hooking in a pocket radio!).

        Oho, model aeroplane making! I spent most of my youth building (and crashing) the balsa wood ones; mostly kits but towards the end of those years I did design a handful from scratch. One of these days I'd like to get back into it, but for now I've no where to keep things that are large and delicate..... So, what was your preference in model aeroplanes? Large RC gliders, historical models, or something else?

        All the best,
        Morse
        
        

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        • Hooking in a pocket radio. - Poindexter 22:59:24 07/01/03 (2)
          In Reply to: Re: Tinker. posted by Morse on July 01, 2003 at 21:43:54:

          I'd love to tell you I hadn't thought of that. Lust, actually.

          Don't worry; with Bob's help, we'll figure it out.

          Ta, mate,

          Poinz
          
          

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          • Oh, - Poindexter 23:12:24 07/01/03 (1)
            In Reply to: Hooking in a pocket radio. posted by Poindexter on July 01, 2003 at 22:59:24:

            Gentle Lady. Embed 30g in the nosecone (I used a 450gr muzzle-loader bullet), use all spruce leading edges and sheet all the way out (1/16" to the joint, 1/32" out to the tip), reinforce the fuselage everywhere you handle it for a forceful hand launch. Reduce dihedral to 1" (25mm), reduce cathedral to 3" (75mm commie), increase chord of rudder 1/2" (12mm), balance as specified. This thing will fly on a breath of God, and will turn with absolute coordination.

            Poor old Carl; went in for a bypass, and got a transfusion full of HIV. Most conservative and unlucky guy that ever trusted the system. Post me privately for aerodynamic details.

            Poinz
            
            

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            • You've got mail (nt). - Morse 20:46:21 07/02/03 (0)
              In Reply to: Oh, posted by Poindexter on July 01, 2003 at 23:12:24:

              You've got mail (nt).
              Morse
              
              

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• Re: Easy DIY FM tuner on a chip wanted - ideas anyone? - sam9 19:12:00 07/01/03 (1)
  In Reply to: Easy DIY FM tuner on a chip wanted - ideas anyone? posted by Morse on July 01, 2003 at 12:58:56:

  That's because DIY radio is require gear an knowlege way beyond the average. You probably won't find much help in the audio arena. You might get some help in from ham radio types (try searching for ARRL)although they are as much concerned with transmitting as recieving.
  
  

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  • Re: Easy DIY FM tuner on a chip wanted - ideas anyone? - Morse 20:06:50 07/01/03 (0)
    In Reply to: Re: Easy DIY FM tuner on a chip wanted - ideas anyone? posted by sam9 on July 01, 2003 at 19:12:00:

    Thanks sam9;

    Okay, I'll start hitting the ham sites to find info.

    All the best,
    Morse
    
    

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