Introduction
Listening to airplanes is and has always been a fascinating hobby. To do so, you need a good receiver. I decided to design and build a high performance and dedicated VHF-AM receiver.
Note: we are talking 1994!!
Note: I do not have ready to build kits, pcb’s or Eproms available. This page just shows how you can build such a receiver. This project was more then 25 years ago.
When I was working as a professional engineer at one of the biggest telecom companies in the world, I had the opportunity to design an build several synthesised receivers covering 118 to 136 MHz with an AM de-modulation method. Using the possibility to measure the design with high standard equipment and playing with several VCO and PLL circuitry, I ended up in with this design of a high performance AM receiver with an excellent dynamic range needed for ‘near by’ operations (listening at the field) and outstanding sensitivity to receive far away ground stations. (when listening at home)
Design
The receiver is build around a TDA 1072 AM Receiver Circuit and the used frequency synthesiser is a NJ8820 CMOS Controller. All components are general available on the market. The design is from 1994 and has not been taken further in designing a PCB or Kit to reproduce.
The conserve power, during portable operations, this receiver has no digital display. In stead ‘avaialble’ BCD switches are used. Thes switches act as adress lines for the EPROM. During switching (or actually some milliseconds after the adress is stable) the corresponding data is latched into the PLL. Thereafter the EPROM circuitry is switched again to conserve power and to lower the risk of internal interference with the RF circuitry.
3235 means that the receiver is tuned to 132.350 MHz
The EPROM does contain also 80 adresses with preset frequencies. In that case the first and last digit are 0 (zero).
Furtermore, only 0, 2, 5 and 7 are valid for the 4th digit as they represent 00, 25, 50 and 75 kHz.
For example: ‘0340‘ means memory channel 34 and ‘1832‘ stands for 118.325 Mhz.
Hereunder you find the list with memory channels as they are programmed into the EPROM and used in the Netherlands in 1994.
Specifications
Frequency range | 118 – 136 Mhz |
Channel steps | 25 KHz |
Memories | in EPROM (fixed) |
Mode | A3 |
Circuit type | Double Conversion |
Intermediate freq. | 21.4 MHz and 455 KHz |
Sensitivity | 1uV @ 10dB S/N |
Squelch sensitivity | .7uV |
Selectivity(-6/-60dB) | 6 KHz/20KHz |
Image Rejection | 40 dB |
Supply Voltage | 13.8 Volt (9.0 – 16.0 V) |
Accu | NiCad 8x AAA Cells |
Current Consumption | 250mA (Approx.) |
Size (w,h,d) | 100 x 43 x 130 mm |
Housing | Metal |
Antenna receptor | BNC |
The circuitry is build on a versatile PCB used for experimenting with RF grounding grid toplayer. The antenna is a VHF helical and the casing a modified ‘everywhere’ to buy casing. (I made it a little smaller)
The 8 ‘AAA’ NiCad cells are underneath the PCB. The EEPROM holds the data for the PLL and is controlled by the BCD switches.
To finish off the description a last picture of the receiver detailing out the frontpanel connections and components build up.
Block Diagram
As already outlined, I have never brought the design to maturity and to transform it into a re-buildable design or kit. Nevertheless you are free off course to use the design and create yours. The block diagram and schematics can help you in choosing the right components.
Band-pass filter HF Amplifier Mixer SCM1 or SBL1 type MF Amplifier 21.4 MHz MF stage 455 KHz and De-modulation Squelch circuit LF amplifier VCO, Synthesiser and LPF ROM and BCD switches Power supply |
Schematics
Download the complete schematic by clicking here.
EPROM content
We finally found a partner to read and copy the content of the EPROM. The 27512 EPROM contains the devider setting for the PLL. The data is now available in HEX or Motorola S1F format.
You can download it by clicking one of the links: hex s1f
Future
Flying this airplane?
hi there
can you email me the eprom program for the airband receiver i want to build one
thanks
john
Hallo.
My name is Robert Bogacz.
I am 46 years old.
I live in Poznań in Poland.
Can You made for me your excelent air band receiver?
Of cource if You want it.
My hobby is receivers for all professional frequences.
Many greetings from Poland.
73!
Bob
Thank you Sir,
I am a Ham call 4S5JC Sri Lanka. I have been tiring to build an air band
Rx .Now I have all the pieces of the project.
James.
Hello.
I will be very glad if you can find some time and send to me the eprom
to build this project
Thanks
panos
Hello dear Sir,
Really good job and congrats for this excellent receiver!
Could you please send me the file for the EPROM?
Thanks a lot and best regards,
Jens
Hello,
Thanks you for the contents of eprom.
because i have all the parts to begin construction
please if you have little time to give us some details about the construction of Coils
Thanks a lot and best regards
Panos
Hi all !!
What I am trying to do is to “resurrect” the project using currently available components (TSA6057 as PLL, SA602 as mixer). The receiver could be fully controlled by MCU this way.
This would be extremely useful to receive ACARS, NOAA, which are very close to the originally designed receive frequency.
I am VERY SERIOUSLY.
Regards
Dear sear
I am the leader of a rescue team in Thessaliniki Greece and we are interest for air band reciver estimasion cost, way to pay and delivery time cif in Thessaloniki. The reasone is to hear the air canader in cace of fire
Best regards
Lambros Pseftakis
waar kan je dit soort behuizing krijgen??welke winkel heeft dit?
Hello
Congratulations on your receiver.
You could send me information on how it works, how do you do to convert the frequency in the eprom. I want to add and change frequently in the eprom, thanks.
Hy my name is Mario from bahia blanca Argentina and Y have one question,How you connect the digit select number to the am2716??
Thanks Mario
Hello Mario,
The BCD (select switches) are common connected to + 5Volt. That is not in the schematic.
Regards,
Johan, PA3ANG