I intended to use the sewing machine bobbins sourced by my wife in a layout following that proposed by Harry sm0vpo and others (on Harrys website, look under "Data Technique" for the page "DIY IF Cans" - I won't give a direct link 'cos Harry's going to be moving stuff around, judging by his current problems with Telia).
The first task was knocking up some end pieces - I decided to etch some PCBs as it would be easier in the long run - here's the board layout...
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and here is the first batch of PCBs (made using my standard "toner transfer" process)...
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The coils, wound on the sewing machine bobbins, were going to sit on 1/4 inch fibre-glass rod - here's a dry assembly...
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Glass-fibre rod (and PCB material) is a pig to "machine" - I've got itchy hands from the little splinters!
The coils were wound onto the bobbins - Harry's words and music suggest that you should "wind 335 turns of 32 SWG wire for both the primary and secondary" - I knew (from yesterday's fun and games) that the bobbins hold about 300 turns of #30 wire - so that will have to do.
The resulting assembly starts to take shape...
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I fitted a 100pF capacitor to each coil and measured the response with an RF generator and 'scope - the devices peak at about 550 kHz so, once I add the trimmers, everything should be fine. Here are the finished IFTs (sans trimmers - which I'll have to mail-order)...
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I got an old tin out of the dustbin - no, credit where credit's due, my WIFE got a tin for me - and I roughed out a screening can - easier than I expected (although it is still a work-in-progress)...
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Now we're all set to build the IF stage and the rest of the receiver... guess what I'll be doing next weekend!
...-.- de m0xpd
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