SolderSmoke DCR Mixer / Diplexer Module Completed

I have completed the SolderSmoke-DCR Mixer / Diplexer Recently module. In this video I demonstrate it working with the help of some non-SolderSmoke-DCR modules I had available from earlier projects. Background: Bill N2CQR of the SolderSmoke podcast and blog, has been working on a Direct Conversion receiver project with Dean KK4DAS to be used as a High School Direct Conversion Receiver Project (here: soldersmoke.blo... ). Bill asked for others to build the DC receiver to help in testing; so as a result, I have begun reproducing the receiver. So far the only modules I have completed are the PTO (Permeability Tuned Oscillator) a.k.a. VFO and/or L.O. and the Diode Ring Mixer / Diplexer. My build of the project is modular, and I have not made any changes to Bill and Dean's published design other than some very minor component value changes to match what I had in my junk-box, and the addition of an extra bypass capacitor here and there to support my modular layouts.
Schematic:
www.remmepark.c...
Project page:
www.remmepark.c...
73 - Rick - N3FJZ.

[@RogierYou]

Great audio!

[@M0NTVHomebrewing]

Sounds great Rick. I'm interested in your fine-tuning 'varactor' circuit. I've thought about doing something similar with my glue-stick PTOs. They are amazingly stable but a bit fiddly to tune. Your diode idea might be just the thing! Thanks very much. Keep up the great work. 73 Nick M0NTV

[@paultomlinson528]

nice audio and very stable

[@Circuit6040]

Thanks Paul. At first it drifted all over the place, I couldn't understand why because I had built a few other PTO's a few years ago and they were relatively stable, then I realized that the capacitors I used were from my junk-box and were probably from old TV sets I disassembled in the early and mid 70's as a kid. I found some mica caps and problem solved - not only that, the output level of the PTO also increased, so not only were the caps drifty, they were also lossey (low Q?).

[@paultomlinson528]

@@Circuit6040 haha brilliant, it is a thrill making a drift free osc playing with red or black caps and coil types...

[@muhammadrafique3903]

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