Files | High Schoolers Build a Radio Receiver

SolderSmoke DCR Challenge - 2 - PTO.pdf

Introduction to building the PTO

Adobe Portable Document Format - 1.28 MB - 01/20/2025 at 02:04

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Schematic - Oscillator and Buffer.png

Schematic of the oscillator and buffer stage

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 71.34 kB - 01/14/2025 at 14:52

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Schematic - Mixer and Diplexer.png

Schematic of the mixer and diplexer stage

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 50.14 kB - 01/14/2025 at 14:50

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Schematic - Band Pass Filter.png

Schematic of the 40M band pass filter

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 38.68 kB - 01/14/2025 at 14:50

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Schematic - Audio Amplifier.png

Schematic of the three stage audio amplifier

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 83.25 kB - 01/14/2025 at 14:50

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SolderSmoke DCR Challenge - 1 - Overview.pdf

Introducttion to the SolderSmoke DCR Challenge, discussion of architecture, construction techniques and component sourcing and selection.

Adobe Portable Document Format - 2.44 MB - 01/13/2025 at 21:49

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SolderSmoke DCR Full Schematic 01132025.pdf

Full Schematic Revised 1/13/2025
This is the reference schematic for the SolderSmoke Challenge build

Adobe Portable Document Format - 209.92 kB - 01/13/2025 at 17:11

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PTO Former - print at 110 pct.stl

This is the STL for the PTO former. Print it at 110% scale for a standard 1/4 x 20 brass nut. You will also need a 2 - 3" 1/4 x 20 brass screw which is the tuning mechanism.

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 674.50 kB - 12/09/2024 at 15:30

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Design Decisions in the High School Direct Conversion Receiver.docx

Design Decisions in the High School Receiver Project.
Why we did it this way.

document - 15.29 kB - 05/29/2023 at 13:10

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TJ DCR PO Worksheet - BOM.xlsx

DCR Bill of Materials - quantities for 15 complete receivers with spares

sheet - 19.19 kB - 04/25/2023 at 11:41

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TJ DCR Mixer Build Instructions.docx

Building the Mixer - Step by Step

document - 1.17 MB - 04/25/2023 at 11:36

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TJ DCR BPF Instructions.docx

Building the Band Pass Filter - Step by Step

document - 707.71 kB - 04/25/2023 at 11:36

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TJ DCR Audio Amp Instructions.docx

Building the Audio Amplifier - Step by Step

document - 1002.77 kB - 04/25/2023 at 11:35

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TJ VWS Building the Oscillator Instructions.docx

Building the Oscillator - Step by Step

document - 604.36 kB - 04/25/2023 at 11:26

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Winding a Toroidal Transformer (Video).docx

Winding a toroid is often a "show stopper" for many prospective builders. But we wanted the students to have the experience. So we had them wind their own. This video shows them how. They did very well, and will no longer fear toroidal transformers!

document - 12.07 kB - 04/25/2023 at 10:36

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N3FJZ Build of Receiver.docx

At our request, many hams around the world built and tested the receiver. Rick N3FJZ was one of them. Rick did an especially great job of testing the circuit.

document - 12.29 kB - 04/25/2023 at 10:34

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TJ DC RX in a Simulator.docx

During our preparation, we built the entire receiver in the LTSpice simulator. To our surprise, the ENTIRE RECEIVER (including the oscillator) fired up in the simulator. This allowed for some really robust testing. And it was great fun to see our creation working both in the simulator and in the real world.

document - 12.71 kB - 04/25/2023 at 10:31

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Atoms to Amperes.docx

We recommended some outside reading. Many of the concepts (like "hole flow" in a transistor) could not be covered in the short lecture period we had. So we recommended two books.

document - 134.43 kB - 04/25/2023 at 10:30

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Instructor's Lessons Learned.docx

As is usually the case, the instructors learned too! Here are some notes on lessons learned by the instructors.

document - 16.29 kB - 04/25/2023 at 10:28

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My receiver doesn't work.docx

The students must learn that new electronic projects don't always work the first time they are powered up. Here we anticipate problems that the students may face when trying to get their new homebrew receivers working.

document - 13.71 kB - 04/24/2023 at 23:38

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Mods for TJ DC RX.docx

Here we encourage further experimentation and modification, going stage-by-stage.

document - 15.96 kB - 04/24/2023 at 23:36

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Possible mods to TJ DC RX oscillator..docx

A possible modification to improve the tuning of the receiver. Students are encouraged to experiment and modify the receiver.

document - 15.20 kB - 04/24/2023 at 22:14

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TJ DC RX Final Assembly.pptx

Here the students are shown how to integrate the four boards they have built, and how to connect a simple antenna. The students are encouraged to FINISH their project and to avoid having it end up unfinished on the dreaded SHELF OF SHAME.

presentation - 2.23 MB - 04/24/2023 at 22:07

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TJ 4 AF Amplifier.pptx

The audio amplifier was the most complex board and was built last. Three common emitter AF amps. By this point students were just grabbing schematics and were quickly building the circuits using Manhattan board techniques.

presentation - 4.13 MB - 04/24/2023 at 22:01

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TJ 3 Mixers.pptx

The mixer is at the heart of a direct conversion receiver. Students built their own diode rings and used transformers produced in Hyderabad India by our friend Farhan VU2ESE. This added soul to the new machine! We added a diplexer.

presentation - 2.97 MB - 04/24/2023 at 17:20

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TJDCRX Board 3 BP FILTER.pptx

Students build a bandpass filter, and then tested and adjusted using a NanoVNA.

presentation - 1.42 MB - 04/24/2023 at 17:16

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TJ DC RX 4 VFO Buffer.pptx

After the oscillator, students added a buffer using a Field Effect Transistor.

presentation - 424.36 kB - 04/24/2023 at 17:15

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TJ VWS Class 1 Oscillator.pptx

Presentation for the Oscillator Build. This was the first stage that the students built. This provided very early gratification -- when the students powered up the boards, the signals could be heard in a shortwave receiver (they were LOUD!) Woo hoo -- they had made radio frequency signals.

presentation - 2.51 MB - 04/21/2023 at 10:39

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SolderSmoke DCR Challenge - 2 - PTO.pdf Introduction to building the PTO Adobe Portable Document Format - 1.28 MB - 01/20/2025 at 02:04		Preview

Schematic - Oscillator and Buffer.png Schematic of the oscillator and buffer stage Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 71.34 kB - 01/14/2025 at 14:52		Preview

Schematic - Mixer and Diplexer.png Schematic of the mixer and diplexer stage Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 50.14 kB - 01/14/2025 at 14:50		Preview

Schematic - Band Pass Filter.png Schematic of the 40M band pass filter Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 38.68 kB - 01/14/2025 at 14:50		Preview

Schematic - Audio Amplifier.png Schematic of the three stage audio amplifier Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 83.25 kB - 01/14/2025 at 14:50		Preview

SolderSmoke DCR Challenge - 1 - Overview.pdf Introducttion to the SolderSmoke DCR Challenge, discussion of architecture, construction techniques and component sourcing and selection. Adobe Portable Document Format - 2.44 MB - 01/13/2025 at 21:49		Preview

SolderSmoke DCR Full Schematic 01132025.pdf Full Schematic Revised 1/13/2025 This is the reference schematic for the SolderSmoke Challenge build Adobe Portable Document Format - 209.92 kB - 01/13/2025 at 17:11		Preview

PTO Former - print at 110 pct.stl This is the STL for the PTO former. Print it at 110% scale for a standard 1/4 x 20 brass nut. You will also need a 2 - 3" 1/4 x 20 brass screw which is the tuning mechanism. Standard Tesselated Geometry - 674.50 kB - 12/09/2024 at 15:30		Download
Design Decisions in the High School Direct Conversion Receiver.docx Design Decisions in the High School Receiver Project. Why we did it this way. document - 15.29 kB - 05/29/2023 at 13:10		Download
TJ DCR PO Worksheet - BOM.xlsx DCR Bill of Materials - quantities for 15 complete receivers with spares sheet - 19.19 kB - 04/25/2023 at 11:41		Download
TJ DCR Mixer Build Instructions.docx Building the Mixer - Step by Step document - 1.17 MB - 04/25/2023 at 11:36		Download
TJ DCR BPF Instructions.docx Building the Band Pass Filter - Step by Step document - 707.71 kB - 04/25/2023 at 11:36		Download
TJ DCR Audio Amp Instructions.docx Building the Audio Amplifier - Step by Step document - 1002.77 kB - 04/25/2023 at 11:35		Download
TJ VWS Building the Oscillator Instructions.docx Building the Oscillator - Step by Step document - 604.36 kB - 04/25/2023 at 11:26		Download
Winding a Toroidal Transformer (Video).docx Winding a toroid is often a "show stopper" for many prospective builders. But we wanted the students to have the experience. So we had them wind their own. This video shows them how. They did very well, and will no longer fear toroidal transformers! document - 12.07 kB - 04/25/2023 at 10:36		Download
N3FJZ Build of Receiver.docx At our request, many hams around the world built and tested the receiver. Rick N3FJZ was one of them. Rick did an especially great job of testing the circuit. document - 12.29 kB - 04/25/2023 at 10:34		Download
TJ DC RX in a Simulator.docx During our preparation, we built the entire receiver in the LTSpice simulator. To our surprise, the ENTIRE RECEIVER (including the oscillator) fired up in the simulator. This allowed for some really robust testing. And it was great fun to see our creation working both in the simulator and in the real world. document - 12.71 kB - 04/25/2023 at 10:31		Download
Atoms to Amperes.docx We recommended some outside reading. Many of the concepts (like "hole flow" in a transistor) could not be covered in the short lecture period we had. So we recommended two books. document - 134.43 kB - 04/25/2023 at 10:30		Download
Instructor's Lessons Learned.docx As is usually the case, the instructors learned too! Here are some notes on lessons learned by the instructors. document - 16.29 kB - 04/25/2023 at 10:28		Download
My receiver doesn't work.docx The students must learn that new electronic projects don't always work the first time they are powered up. Here we anticipate problems that the students may face when trying to get their new homebrew receivers working. document - 13.71 kB - 04/24/2023 at 23:38		Download
Mods for TJ DC RX.docx Here we encourage further experimentation and modification, going stage-by-stage. document - 15.96 kB - 04/24/2023 at 23:36		Download
Possible mods to TJ DC RX oscillator..docx A possible modification to improve the tuning of the receiver. Students are encouraged to experiment and modify the receiver. document - 15.20 kB - 04/24/2023 at 22:14		Download
TJ DC RX Final Assembly.pptx Here the students are shown how to integrate the four boards they have built, and how to connect a simple antenna. The students are encouraged to FINISH their project and to avoid having it end up unfinished on the dreaded SHELF OF SHAME. presentation - 2.23 MB - 04/24/2023 at 22:07		Download
TJ 4 AF Amplifier.pptx The audio amplifier was the most complex board and was built last. Three common emitter AF amps. By this point students were just grabbing schematics and were quickly building the circuits using Manhattan board techniques. presentation - 4.13 MB - 04/24/2023 at 22:01		Download
TJ 3 Mixers.pptx The mixer is at the heart of a direct conversion receiver. Students built their own diode rings and used transformers produced in Hyderabad India by our friend Farhan VU2ESE. This added soul to the new machine! We added a diplexer. presentation - 2.97 MB - 04/24/2023 at 17:20		Download
TJDCRX Board 3 BP FILTER.pptx Students build a bandpass filter, and then tested and adjusted using a NanoVNA. presentation - 1.42 MB - 04/24/2023 at 17:16		Download
TJ DC RX 4 VFO Buffer.pptx After the oscillator, students added a buffer using a Field Effect Transistor. presentation - 424.36 kB - 04/24/2023 at 17:15		Download
TJ VWS Class 1 Oscillator.pptx Presentation for the Oscillator Build. This was the first stage that the students built. This provided very early gratification -- when the students powered up the boards, the signals could be heard in a shortwave receiver (they were LOUD!) Woo hoo -- they had made radio frequency signals. presentation - 2.51 MB - 04/21/2023 at 10:39		Download