{"id":1337,"date":"2015-12-30T16:30:10","date_gmt":"2015-12-30T15:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/?p=1337"},"modified":"2021-01-18T17:07:56","modified_gmt":"2021-01-18T16:07:56","slug":"neophyte-receiver-for-60-meter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/?p=1337","title":{"rendered":"Neophyte receiver for 60 meter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_144846.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1381\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_144846-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"[Image]\" class=\"wp-image-1381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_144846-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_144846-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_144846-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The receiver is ready, except the RX gain potmeter which is still in backorder&#8230;<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">The Neophyte receiver is an easy-to-build receiver, already built by lots of people. Many radio clubs used it as a project for starting builders. It was developed by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.qrz.com\/DB\/WA3RNC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John WA3RNC<\/a> and first published in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.arrl.org\/files\/file\/Technology\/tis\/info\/pdf\/28814.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">QST, February 1988<\/a>. The circuit can be used to create either a 80m or a 40m receiver, depending on a few capacitors. The 60m band is just in between, therefore I decided to find out the correct caps for this new amateur radio band (well&#8230; at least new in the Netherlands, from December 2015).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>Based on the given values for 40m and 80m and recommendations in the NE602 datasheet I determined proper values for C7, C8 and C9. I calculated the required values for C9-C11 to obtain a VFO tuning range from 5350 to 5450 kHz. Finally I found the correct value for C1 by simply trying. <em>Table 1<\/em> in the article would now look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Band<\/th><th>C1<\/th><th>C7, C8<\/th><th>C9<\/th><th>C10<\/th><th>C11<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>80m<\/td><td>330<\/td><td>1000<\/td><td>470<\/td><td>270<\/td><td>120<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>60m<\/td><td>100<\/td><td>560<\/td><td>220<\/td><td>22<\/td><td>100<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>40m<\/td><td>not used<\/td><td>330<\/td><td>120<\/td><td>68<\/td><td>150<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on the article you should be able to build the 60m version now. The VFO circuit for the 60m version is equal to the one in the 80m version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-circuit.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1346\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"518\" src=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-circuit-1024x518.png\" alt=\"[Image]\" class=\"wp-image-1346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-circuit-1024x518.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-circuit-300x152.png 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-circuit-768x389.png 768w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-circuit.png 1247w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Original circuit of the Neophyte receiver, as published in QST, February 1988.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">12 Volt power<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-12v-modification.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1351\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-12v-modification-300x169.png\" alt=\"[Image]\" class=\"wp-image-1351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-12v-modification-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-12v-modification-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-12v-modification-1024x576.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Voltage limitation for the NE602, using a 6V2 zener diode.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The receiver is originally powered by a 6 volt battery supply (e.g. 4 penlites). In most radioshacks 12 or 13.8 volt DC is plenty available and therefore the preferred voltage. To allow your receiver to run on these voltages there are two things to do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The NE602 mixer does not allow 12 volt, so add a zener diode (5V6 ~ 8V2) with anode to ground and cathode to pin 8 of the NE602. Also increase the value of resistor R2 to 220 ohm.<\/li><li>The maximum allowed voltage for your 386 audio amp depends on the subtype, e.g. the LM386N-1 has a 12 volt limit, while the LM386N-4 goes up to 18 volt (and gives a bit more LF power output). I recommend using the 18 volt version.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IF transformer alternatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-homebrew-if-transformer.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1349\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-homebrew-if-transformer-300x300.png\" alt=\"[Image]\" class=\"wp-image-1349\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-homebrew-if-transformer-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-homebrew-if-transformer-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-homebrew-if-transformer-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-homebrew-if-transformer-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-homebrew-if-transformer.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Testing my homebrew IF transformer (T1).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The circuit contains two IF-transformers (Mouser <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mouser.com\/catalog\/specsheets\/XC-600131.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">42IF123-RC<\/a>) which are outdated nowadays and probably hard to find. These are 1:7 transformers for 10.7 MHz (green core). There are several ways to replace them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>T1 is used as a real transformer. Compatible models include the KANK3334 (also outdated) and the A1210 (did I say it is outdated?). I made my own transformer; I put two windings (5 turns and 28 turns) on an adjustable 5mm core. Since the original transformer included a 47 pF parallel capacitor I used a 150 pF capacitor for C1, which is about the sum of the given 100 pF (see table above) and 47 pF. Yet another option is to put the windings on a toroid core, as described in the article <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gqrp.com\/making_a_toroidal_kank.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Making a toroidal KANK<\/a> by David G4COE, although you can&#8217;t tune the coil now so you have to add a trimmer (e.g. replace C1 with 120 pF and a parallel 50 pF trimmer).<\/li><li>T2 is used as a single coil of 4.5 uH, which can be easily made on a toroidal core. Again, don&#8217;t forget you&#8217;re missing 47 pF, so increase the value of C11 (e.g. use 150 pF instead of 100 pF for the 60 meter version). I would not use those resistor-look-alike coils, their Q is too low for a steady oscillator.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">VFO alternative (not tested)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-varicap-tuner.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1348\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" src=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-varicap-tuner-300x226.png\" alt=\"[Image]\" class=\"wp-image-1348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-varicap-tuner-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-varicap-tuner-768x578.png 768w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/neophyte-varicap-tuner-1024x771.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Varicap based tuning for the Neophyte, this circuit replaces C12. The * marked components are only needed when you use a 12V power supply.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The original circuit includes a 365 pF variable capacitor to set the receiver&#8217;s frequency, often found in old analog AM\/FM radios. I initially used a 200 pF capacitor, which I found in my junkbox. Both have the same issue: 100+ kHz tuning range on a half turn is not convenient. For a more precise tuning you may replace it with the circuit below, based on a BB112 varicap diode. The variable resistor turns about 270-300 degrees. You may even use a 10-turn potmeter for more comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151228_165112.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1353\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151228_165112-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"[Image]\" class=\"wp-image-1353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151228_165112-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151228_165112-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151228_165112-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>My experimental version of a 60m Neophyte receiver, testing 12 volt operation, homebrew transformers and capacitor values.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">My Neophyte-60<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Down here you see some pictures of my final Neophyte-60. This one is based on the original circuit, except for the different capacitors for 60m and the homebrew IF coils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3264\" height=\"1836\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151230_203845.jpg\" alt=\"[Image]\" data-id=\"1375\" class=\"wp-image-1375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151230_203845.jpg 3264w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151230_203845-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151230_203845-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151230_203845-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3264px) 100vw, 3264px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3264\" height=\"1836\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151230_203931.jpg\" alt=\"[Image]\" data-id=\"1376\" class=\"wp-image-1376\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151230_203931.jpg 3264w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151230_203931-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151230_203931-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20151230_203931-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3264px) 100vw, 3264px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3264\" height=\"1836\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_194317.jpg\" alt=\"[Image]\" data-id=\"1377\" class=\"wp-image-1377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_194317.jpg 3264w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_194317-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_194317-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_194317-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3264px) 100vw, 3264px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3264\" height=\"1836\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_194450.jpg\" alt=\"[Image]\" data-id=\"1378\" class=\"wp-image-1378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_194450.jpg 3264w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_194450-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_194450-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_194450-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3264px) 100vw, 3264px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3264\" height=\"1836\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_201244.jpg\" alt=\"[Image]\" data-id=\"1379\" class=\"wp-image-1379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_201244.jpg 3264w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_201244-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_201244-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160101_201244-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3264px) 100vw, 3264px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3264\" height=\"1836\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_143757.jpg\" alt=\"[Image]\" data-id=\"1380\" class=\"wp-image-1380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_143757.jpg 3264w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_143757-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_143757-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_143757-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3264px) 100vw, 3264px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_144846.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1381\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_144846-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"[Image]\" class=\"wp-image-1381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_144846-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_144846-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/20160102_144846-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The receiver is ready, except the RX gain potmeter which is still in backorder&#8230;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>This article was also published in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/downloads.dkars.nl\/DKARS%20Magazine%20201601.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DKARS Magazine, January 2016<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Neophyte receiver is an easy-to-build receiver, already built by lots of people. Many radio clubs used it as a project for starting builders. It was developed by John WA3RNC and first published in QST, February 1988. The circuit can be used to create either a 80m or a 40m receiver, depending on a few [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1381,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[36,92,25,27,93,79,57],"class_list":["post-1337","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transmitters_and_receivers","tag-40m","tag-60m","tag-80m","tag-beginners","tag-direct-conversion","tag-manhattan-style","tag-receiver"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":6}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1337","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1337"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1337\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1877,"href":"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1337\/revisions\/1877"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1337"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pa3hcm.nl\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}