7R1015BB “All PNP on Breadboard” Receiver

Cosy MUTO, JH5ESM
11 April, 2009
Last modified: 17 May, 2009

Introduction

A direct conversion receiver for 7MHz only made of single kind of general purpose PNP transistor is presented. No other semiconductor devices (even diodes!) are used. The circuit is built on a solderless breadboard so that it is easy to build, repair and modify it. 

Circuit description

Fig.1  7R1015BB schematic (Click figure to enlarge, or click here to download PDF version).

Figure 1 shows entire schematic of the receiver. As you can see, it is a simple DC receiver configuration.

Input RF signal is converted into differential (balanced) mode by T₁ and then bandlimitted.

The mixer (Q1~4) is doubly balanced type, however, device matching between Q₁ through Q₄ and collector resistors (3.3[kΩ]) are not checked. In fact, I picked up 4 pieces of 2SA1015 from a baggage (qty.: 200) without any measurments.
The mixer load resistance is set to 820[Ω] so that the primary-secondary winding ratio at T₁ is given by 4. 
By connecting 0.1[µF] capacitor in parallel to mixer load, it acts as a first order LPF with 1.94[kHz] cut-off.

The mixer output is led to two stage differential amplifiers.
The most significant drawback in DC receiver is AM feedthrough due to mixer's second order distortion. Balanced mixer supress these feedthrough in normal (differential) mode, but still remains in common mode.
That's why I adopt differential amplifires to reduce remained AM feedthrough by their CMRR performance.

Audio amplifier is a classic SEPP circuit with CE division driver. It drives headphone or earphone. The total gain throughout receiver is approximately 70[dB] so that it requires additional amplifier to drive loud speaker.
It is important to make sure the phase compensation in high gain amplifiers. In this receiver, it is performed by collector load capacitors in each stages and supply line decoupling filter.

VFO is LC tuned type with coarse and fine knobs to avoid to use expensive (and less opportunity to obtain) ball-drive unit or vernier dial. It covers 6.940~7.270[MHz], where the fine knobs covers approx. 15[kHz] range.
VFO supply is stabilized by four series connection of diode connected transistors.

Implementation

The reciever is build onto a solderless breadboard (e.g. WBU-202) as shown in Fig.2, where alminum front and rear panels are placed on it for operation.

Front panel layout is: headphone jack, audio volume/power switch knob, fine tuning knob, coarse tuning knob and RF ATT knob (left to right).

Fig.2 Implementation onto a solderless breadboard (click picture to enlarge).

(a) Front view.	(b) Breadboard layout and routing.	(c) Rear view.

Specifications