Diy amateur radio, and possibly some advice for a stupid person?
Ghillieman asked:
i have seen alot of websites with schematics on how to build simple versions of this radio……..i am sort of electronically oriented, but looking at this mess of diagrams and soldering directions……its tooo much!!!!! now i really wanted to find a video or VERY simple schematics to build one……..or even better modify an existing radio (cb, frs or am/fm), that would be better……i have been messing with am/fm radios so they receive (not transmit, that would be illegal) aircraft and hi- uhf bands, but i cant figure out how to modify one so it picks up lower bands……i would rather modify an existing radio so it can recieve this stuff, than go to radio shack and pick up breadboards and transistors……and if no one has any ideas, then can you recomend me a good and cheap (under 200$) that receives ham frequencys (8 meter or whatever is the most used bandwith)…….i am 14 so i am new to ham radio, and if all these requirements are demanding i am sorry, i am stooopid……i also dont want to do soldering unless its really easy, and whether i buy or make any radio it is receiving purposes only (i know transeiver circuits are a little more complicated)……i also was looking to do the same for a shortwave radio, so any ideas would be great……
i have seen alot of websites with schematics on how to build simple versions of this radio……..i am sort of electronically oriented, but looking at this mess of diagrams and soldering directions……its tooo much!!!!! now i really wanted to find a video or VERY simple schematics to build one……..or even better modify an existing radio (cb, frs or am/fm), that would be better……i have been messing with am/fm radios so they receive (not transmit, that would be illegal) aircraft and hi- uhf bands, but i cant figure out how to modify one so it picks up lower bands……i would rather modify an existing radio so it can recieve this stuff, than go to radio shack and pick up breadboards and transistors……and if no one has any ideas, then can you recomend me a good and cheap (under 200$) that receives ham frequencys (8 meter or whatever is the most used bandwith)…….i am 14 so i am new to ham radio, and if all these requirements are demanding i am sorry, i am stooopid……i also dont want to do soldering unless its really easy, and whether i buy or make any radio it is receiving purposes only (i know transeiver circuits are a little more complicated)……i also was looking to do the same for a shortwave radio, so any ideas would be great……
Hi ghillieman
Modifying a radio away from its original band is often VERY involved.
If it has a PLL synthesizer it must be altered from the original frequency limitations.
Assuming that you get over that hurdle (not likely) then you will have to wind coils.
This is not easy even when you have the right test equipment to check them.
If you don’t have an inductance meter (as a minimum) then you will be fighting a losing battle in the dark.
The easiest type of conversion would be to get an transistor (not digitally tuned) FM radio to the 2 meter ham band.
Another possibility is to get an AM transistor radio (not digitally tuned) to cover some of the lower shortwave bands.
Ham transmissions are narrow banded and weak by comparison to normal radio signals so they are a challenge to hear , especially with marginal radio equipment.
My suggestion is to buy a used Yaesu FRG-100 SW radio and set up a REAL antenna.
You will then be able to listen to ham activity on the HF bands from around the world.
See my ham videos on youtube –search for OH2FFY