Simple Solid State TRF with Selectivity

Post subject: Simple Solid State TRF with Selectivity

fifties Posted: Jan Sun 06, 2013 5:20 am
Member I know, I know, Transistors and Solid State in general are treated like second-class citizens
around here, but, oh well, lol.

Some time back (about 24 years ago), I ordered some ZN-414 IC's, from Circuit Specialists, in
Arizona. A year ago or so, I obtained a PC Board for a TRF circuit. I went ahead recently and
scrounged the rest of the parts from my ample supply of junked Transistor radios, and proceeded
to build the unit.

Joined: Jan Thu 01, The performance floored me. This circuit with the antenna Ferrite bar and coil I used operates as
1970 1:00 am well as any 5 Transistor Superhet, and in fact seems to not be as receptive to spurious noise as
Posts: 25281 most Superhets are.
Location: SoCal,
91387 It tracks stations from 540 to 1650 Kilocycles, and discriminates between closely spaced
transmissions as well. Swamping the dial by blowtorches is almost non-existent.

One very important aspect I discovered is the particular coil used, especially the oscillator
winding (which is employed to provide feedback). I experimented with quite a few before
finding one that caused excessive oscillation until I shortened it's lead going to the PC board.
Using as long a Ferrite bar with it, as I could fit in the case, was also helpful in increasing the
gain.

I used the front half of a Transistor radio cabinet backwards, and cut a piece of Acrylic plastic to
fit, drilling the circular pattern of holes for the speaker. I know I'm not as proficient as some of
you are AFA cosmetics go, but I'm happy with the result.

I used a piece of counter laminate for the sub chassis. I had originally placed the battery supply
vertically between the speaker and the PC board, but found that it diminished signal reception, so
re-oriented it along the bottom.

The PC board in the second scan is larger than actual size. I can post an actual size of it if anyone
wants to make a copy.

In the third scan, the TRF IC is the black Transistor looking unit in between the tuner on it's left,
and the E-Cap and resistor, to the right. Although the Ferranti made ZN-414 is no longer made,
identical units are available (MK-484, and one or two other designations as well).

Attachments:
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finished 1.jpg [ 79.84 KiB | Viewed 2820 times ]

Inside case.jpg [ 144.78 KiB | Viewed 2820 times ]
 component side.jpg [ 101.16 KiB | Viewed 2820 times ]

PC board.jpg [ 63.67 KiB | Viewed 2820 times ]

Schematic.jpg [ 127.23 KiB | Viewed 2820 times ]

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\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\He Who Dies With The Most Radios Wins//////////////////

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RepairTech Post subject: Re: Simple Solid State TRF with Selectivity
Posted: Jan Sun 06, 2013 7:19 am
Member I've seen the ZN414 circuit on the net, and I'm glad you had good results with it.
 I always wondered what it would do.
It's cute, actually.

Now the $64,000 question, fitzies...

How many times during the making of this creation did you shun off the wife and husbandly
Joined: Jan Sun 24, duties?
2010 7:59 am HAHAHAHA!
Posts: 6171
Location: Pro Tech, _________________
Philadelphia Pa. "Accept the fact that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue."

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fifties Post subject: Re: Simple Solid State TRF with Selectivity
Posted: Jan Sun 06, 2013 10:24 am
Member RepairTech wrote:

Now the $64,000 question, fitzies...

How many times during the making of this creation did you shun off the wife and husbandly
duties?
HAHAHAHA!

Joined: Jan Thu 01, Nothing that an offer for dinner out didn't cure! (I know my woman by now! Only took
1970 1:00 am most of 40+ years.)
Posts: 25281
Location: SoCal, _________________
91387 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\He Who Dies With The Most Radios Wins//////////////////

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Peter Bertini Post subject: Re: Simple Solid State TRF with Selectivity
Posted: Jan Sun 06, 2013 6:18 pm
Moderator Normally the tuned circuit would be between points C and D. That is a novel circuit, since it
minimizes loading on the tuned RF stage, giving higher Q and better selectivity. I like that
approach!

Pete

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Joined: Jan Thu 01, Just because it can be done doesn't mean it should be done.
1970 1:00 am
Posts: 22039
Location: Somers, CT
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Rich, W3HWJ Post subject: Re: Simple Solid State TRF with Selectivity
Posted: Jan Mon 07, 2013 8:45 am
Member It also gets around the problem of having to "float" the variable capacitor frame, as in typical
ZN414 configurations:
Joined: May Tue 30,
2006 4:46 pm
Posts: 9096
Location: Santa Rosa,
Rich
CA

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Tube Radio Post subject: Re: Simple Solid State TRF with Selectivity
Posted: Jan Tue 15, 2013 4:24 am
Member Another way not to float the cap frame is to ground the cap then insert the 10nF cap between
the cap frame and coil as seen in my MK-484 circuit.
Joined: Jan Thu 01,
1970 1:00 am
Posts: 17768
Location: Warner
Robins, GA
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Frank512 Post subject: Re: Simple Solid State TRF with Selectivity
Posted: Jul Sat 29, 2017 3:09 pm
Member Hi Everyone,

Joined: May Tue 05, I found a very interesting article about the history of the many different versions of the simple
2009 10:21 pm AM one chip radios.
Posts: 229
Location: West From the mid 1970's onwards, if you wanted to build a simple AM radio, chances are the
Windsor, NJ 08540 circuit you would use was based around the ZN414.

n the 1980's, two more versions of the IC appeared in an 8pin DIL package. These were the
ZN415 and ZN416 and were simply a ZN414 with an audio stage capable of driving low
impedance headphones.

Eventually, Ferranti went the way of many semiconductor companies, and the
ZN414/ZN415/ZN416 were no longer being produced. However, all was not lost as the Asian
manufacturers had cloned it under a number of different types. First was the YS414 and then
came the MK484, LMF501T, TA7642, and various other xx7642 types. The MK484 and
TA7642 are the most common types these days.
It would be interesting to know the development of the ZN414. It is possible the concept came
from one of two places. In the U.S, National Semiconductor had their LM372 in the late 60's.
Functionally, this is a very similar IC. However, it has a low input impedance, requiring a
tapping on the aerial coil when used for a TRF receiver, and runs off a higher supply voltage.
The LM372 has a gain of about 60dB (slightly less than the ZN414), is in a different package,
and has more of its internal circuitry available to the outside world. It was intended to be used
as an IF amplifier/detector, but Electronics Australia published a TRF circuit with it operating
in the broadcast band, fed from a ferrite rod aerial, as one would with a ZN414. A later project
saw it used in a 27Mc/s superhet remote control receiver.

The complete article with many schematics is located at:

http://members.iinet.net.au/~cool386/zn414/zn414.html