This project came about simply as an improvement
to my Improved
One Tube Tuner.
While that circuit was about the simplest
one could build for FM reception, it does suffer from less than optimimun
aerial coupling.
So, this circuit was designed as a compromise
between the 6C4 design and the exisiting
12AT7 circuit.
The audio quality and output level is
the same as the Improved 6C4 design, but with the RF performance of the
original 12AT7 circuit.
As it turned out, performance was very
good. It seems the simplified quench filter of this circuit (the 150K and
470uuF) is quite adequate.
I won't launch into a discussion of circuit
operation as that has been covered in the other articles.
I used modern power transformers for the
power supply. The heaters are in series and powered from the 15V secondary
of the first transformer, via a 10 ohm resistor.
This 15V AC supply is then stepped up
by another transformer, which after rectification and filtering, provides
the 140V supply.
Like the later versions of the 6C4 and
12AT7 tuners, I've used variable cathode bias for the regeneration control.
This eliminates the need for the 30V negative supply as used in the original
battery operated receiver.
Sensitivity is good. For noise free reception
- 30uV FM
10uV AM
Readable signal - 10uV FM
3uV AM
Detectable - 1uV AM
Like the other super regenerative receivers I've described, reception is possible with no aerial in areas with good signal strength. Audio output is meant to be fed into a high impedance two valve amplifier of typically Rin >500K.
email me: cablehack at yahoo dot com