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SUPERHETERODYNE AM RADIO RECEIVER TRAINER MODEL-RDM100S

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SIGMA TRAINERS AHMEDABAD (INDIA)

INTRODUCTION This trainer has been designed with a view to provide practical and experimental knowledge of a general circuit of Superheterodyne radio receiver on Single PCB of size 12"x 9.

SPECIFICATIONS

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Power supply Audio power output Frequency range Controls Instrument required Standard Accessories

: : : : : :

220V Ac, 50Hz 450mw maximum. MW - 520 - 1620 Khz. Volume and Tone controls. Standard signal generator with 1MHz carrier and 30% modulation index 1. A Training Manual. 2. Connecting Patch cords.

PRACTICAL-1 BLOCK DIAGRAM & WORKING PRINCIPLE OF SUPERHETRODYNE MW BAND RADIO RECEIVER The Superhetrodyne circuit is used in almost all the transistor radios (excepting a few used for receiving local stations). In this type of circuit the frequency of incoming signals is changed into a fixed frequency known as intermediate frequency IF. The main work of amplifying the signal and of selecting the desired station, is done in IF section. This permits higher amplification per stage and better selectivity. The block diagram of a Radio receiver is shown in Fig.1. It consists of following parts/stages. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Frequency converter (Mixer and Oscillator) I.F. amplifier Detector Audio preamplifier Driver Output Power supply.

Antenna (Areal)

Frequency Converter Mixer Oscillator Q1 BF194B

1st I.F. Amplifier

2nd I.F. Amplifier

Detector

Audio Preamplifier

Driver

Output

AGC Q2 BF195C Q3 BF195D D1 0A79 Q4 BC148A Q5 BC148B Q6, Q7 Ac128

Figure-1

(1) Frequency converter: It has two sections Mixer and Oscillator. Usually only one transistor is used for both sections. The Oscillator produces oscillations at a frequency, which is higher than the frequency of the station being received. The difference equals the intermediate frequency (I.F.) Out of the signals intercepted by the aerial, the signals from the desired stations are selected by a tuned circuit used at the input of the mixer stage. These signals and the oscillations from the oscillator are mixed by the mixer. The mixing of these signals results in the production of their sum (f1 + f2) and difference (f1 f2) frequencies. The difference is IF signal. It contains the same modulation as contained by the received signals. The IF signals are then given to the IF amplifier. (2) I.F. amplifier: It amplifies the I.F. signals. It provides a large part of the gain and selectivity. Two stages are used in this section to obtain the required amplification. Tuned transformers known as IFT are used as a collector load and for interstate coupling in the IF amplifier. The amplified If signals are given to the detector. (3) Detector: The detector separates the audio signal from the modulated carrier. A diode is generally used for detection. (4) Audio Preamplifier: The audio signals received from the detector are given to the audio preamplifier stage. This stage amplifies these signals and gives them to the driver stage. (5) Driver : The signals obtained from the preamplifier are not strong enough to drive the output stage. The driver stage further amplifies these signals and gives them to the output stage. (6) Output Stage: The output stage amplifies the audio signals obtained from the driver and develops sufficient power to drive the loudspeaker. To obtain maximum economy in battery consumption, push pull output stages using two transistors in Class B circuit are normally used. (7) Power Supply: Most of the transistor radios operates on a few cells/battery. The supply voltages from 3 to 9 volts are common. Some transistors radio can be operated from batteries as well as mains. In these transistor the mains voltage is converted into D.C. by diode rectifier.

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PRACTICAL-2 THEORY OF RECEIVER CHARACTERISTICS (1) SENSITIVITY The term sensitivity, as such, relates to the ability of the receiver to pick up and property receives weak signals. However, qualitatively it is defined as the amplitude of the input signal (with standard modulation as defined above) required producing a standard output. The standard output is taken to be 50 mw into a matched (but dummy) load when the receiver output is normally in the 100 mw to 1 w range. When the receiver output is capable of producing more than 1 w of audio power, the standard output is taken as 500 mW. The sensitivity of a receiver may be the same at all the input signal frequencies. It is usually measured at a number of spot frequencies and shown in the form of a curve as shown below.
SENSITIVITY

SELECTIVITY

FREQUENCY

(2) SELECTIVITY The term selectivity refers to the ability of the receiver to select the signal to which it is tuned and reject all other signals. Quantitatively, It is expressed in the form of a curve that shows the relative amplitude of the required signal level to produce the standard test output as a function of the degree of detuning. A typical curve is shown below.
SELECTIVITY

Selectivity

FREQUENCY OFF RESPONSE

(3) FIDELITY The fidelity refers to the overall response of the receiver to the modulating signal frequencies. It is shown as the frequency response (output power in dB below the maximum power) when the input signal level remains constant, the modulating signal frequency varies over the desired range and the depth of modulation remind constant at 30 percent. A typical response is shown below
FIDELITY

RESPONSE

AUDIO FREQUENCY
(3) AGC The AGC refer to the ability of the receiver to maintain a constant output power when the input signal amplitude is changing. This test can be easily performed by measuring the output power while changing the input signal level (but without changing the modulating signals frequency and the depth of modulation). It is expressed in the form of a curve that shows the relative output power variation versus the relative input signal level variation.

PRACTICAL-3 SENSITIVITY MEASUREMENT Setup Set up the equipments as shown in fig.. Replace the speakers by an output meter and set the proper resistance on the meter. Set the receiver to the frequency at which the sensitivity is to be determined.

Sig. Gen

Dummy Antenna

Receiver Under test

Output Meter

No ext. Ant. No speaker

Procedure: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Or matched Termination With VTVM

Tune RF Signal Generator IE-900A to IF frequency of the Radio receiver i.e 455KHz. Set the counter Source selector switch to external, to prevent interference from counter pulses. Set the modulation switch to Internal at AM and 30% modulation index approx. Connect RF modulated signal at terminal T1 i.e at the base of frequency converter transistor and adjust the RF output leve1 with the help of attenuators so as to produce standard output from the receiver. Standard Output is i) 500 mw for receivers having rated output power more than one watt. ii) 50mW for receivers having rated output power of less than one watt. Here radio receiver output is less than 1Watt. Hence 50mW standard output is required at output of diode detector.

5.

Measure and note down the RF output of the signal generator. This is the IF sensitivity of the Radio Receiver. E.g. If 25 uv of IF signal is required to produce standard output from the receiver, than the IF sensitivity of the receiver is 25uv. Repeat the sensitivity measurement at a number of different frequencies FROM 445khZ TO 465 kHz and plot a sensitivity curve.
SENSITIVITY

6.

SELECTIVITY

FREQUENCY

PRACTICAL-4 SELECTIVITY MEASUREMENT Procedure: Ability of a radio receiver to reject unwanted signals is known as selectivity. Adjacent channel selectivity: Ability of radio receiver to reject unwanted signal on the adjacent Channel (neibouring station) is known as adjacent channel selectivity

To measure IF selectivity using IE-900A 1. 2. 3. 4. Tune RF Signal Generator IE-900A to IF frequency of the Radio receiver i.e 455KHz. Set the counter Source selector switch to external, to prevent interference from counter pulses. Set the modulation switch to Internal. Connect RF modulated signal at terminal T1 i.e at the base of frequency converter transistor and adjust the RF output leve1 with the help of attenuators so as to produce standard output 50mW at diode detector output from the receiver. 5. Measure and note down the RF output of the signal generator. This is the IF sensitivity of the Radio Receiver. 6. Decrease IF frequency by1 Khz below IF frequency i.e 454KHz. The output at diode detector will reduce. Increase RF output level, so as to produce standard output 50mw once again at diode detector. Note down the RF level. 7. Proceed in this manner, decreasing the IF frequency by 1 KHz in steps till the carrier is 10 KHz below IF i.e at 445KHz. Each time adjust RF output level so as to produce standard output from the receiver. Note down and tabulate the IF frequency and RF output level in each step. 8. 9. Repeat steps 6 and 7 by increasing IF frequency in 1 KHz in steps above IF frequency i.e upto 465KHz. From above readings plot the IF response curve as shown below.

IF RESPONSE CURVE

100

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Input Signal Voltage (Required to Produce Standard Output) IN mV

446 448 450 452 454 456 458 460 462 464
FREQUENCY IN Khz

466

PRACTICAL-5 FIDELITY MEASUREMENT Procedure: 1. 2. Setup for conducting this test is identical with that of sensitivity test. The difference is that keep modulation switch at external and connect external audio generator at audio input of RF signal generator. Keep the modulation depth at 30 percent and a constant carrier level. 3. 4. Connect RF modulated signal at terminal T1 and measure output at diode detector. Vary modulating signal frequency of audio generator over the audio frequency range keeping the modulation depth at 30 percent and a constant RF carrier level. 5. 6. Measure different power output level at the diode detector. Calculate ratio of output power to the maximum power output, expressed in decibels for different audio modulating signal frequencies. 7. Plot the ratio of the output power to the maximum power output, expressed in decibels, against the modulating signal frequency. A typical plot is shown in below. This is shows fidelity of Receiver.

FIDELITY

RESPONSE

AUDIO FREQUENCY

PRACTICAL-6 AGC EXPERIMENT Procedure: 1. Setup for conducting this test is identical with that of sensitivity test. The difference is that the AGC is now ON. 2. 3. 4. 5. Keep modulation switch at internal. Keep the modulation depth at 30 percent and a constant carrier level. Connect RF modulated signal at terminal T1 and measure output at diode detector. Plot the output voltage against the input carrier level. You will observe a variation as shown below.

AGC

OUTPUT VOLTAGE

NO

AG

AGC YED DELA

AGC SIMPLE

CARRIER LEVEL

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PRACTICAL-7 ALIGNMENT OF RADIO RECEIVER

The alignment method of radio receiver consists of two Processes i.e. (1) IF Alignment (2) RF Alignment. (1) IF Alignment The IF alignment means to set or tune all the I.F. transformer at 455 KHz or on particular intermediate Frequency of the receiver, so that the beat frequency signal from the converter stage can pass through all the IF Stages. The output lead of signal generator should not be connected directly to the base of IF transistor as it may disturb the base bias voltage. The output of the signal generator is fed through a loop coil of 15 or 20 turns of No. 16 SWG enameled copper wire and keep this loop near the I.F. transistors at the time of IF alignment. 1. Switch on the transistor receiver and signal generator. 2. Set the signal generator at modulated 455 KHz by rotating the tuning knob and band selector switch. 3. Connect the AC voltmeter across the terminals of speaker. 4. Set the volume control fully clockwise. 5. Set the attenuator of the signal generator to maintain the output of about 0.25 volt on the AC voltmeter, this will prevent over loading of the receiver. 6. Set the gang capacitor of transistor receiver to maximum capacity or set the pointer of the receiver at 500 KHz on the dial. 7. Adjust the core of IFT3 for maximum response at the LS. 8. Adjust the core of IFT2 for maximum response. 9. After that adjust the core of IFT1 for maximum response. 10. Repeat the step No. 7, 8 and 9 until for maximum output obtained in the AC voltmeter. 11. Seal cores with wax.

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(2). RF Alignment RF alignment means to tune or adjust the trimmers or ferrite cores of the tuning coils and oscillator coils of all the bands for getting the maximum gain of RF signal at proper position on the dial. MW Band Alignment 1. Rotate the tuning control of the transistor receiver and set the point at 500 KHz. 2. Set the signal generator to 500 KHz and place the loop, which is connected with the output terminals near the coil section. 3. Adjust the core of MW osc coil for maximum response. 4. Rotate the tuning control and set the pointer to 1500KHz. 5. Reset the signal generator to 1500KHz. 6. Adjust the trimmer of MW Osc coil for maximum response. 7. Set the signal generator to 550KHz. 8. Tune the transistor receiver also at this 550 KHz and adjust the position of MW ant coil on ferrite rod for maximum response. 9. Set the signal generator to 1600 KHz. 10. Tune the transistor receiver to this same frequency (1600 KHz) and adjust the trimmer of MW ant coil for maximum response. 11. Repeat step No. 7 to No. 10 until no further improvement is made.

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PRACTICAL-8 RECEPTION OF AM SIGNALS 1. Keep AM radio receiver near AM transmitter with transmitting frequency 800KHz and modulating voice audio signal. 2. Speak to mike and hear voice signal in AM receiver.

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