Beginning RF

[Dan Moos]

I would like to start learning rf electronics, mostly because it is a branch of the hobby I haven't yet explored.

Currently, I am reading the often recommended "RF circuit design", by Chris Bowick. I am enjoying it, and I'm pretty sure from a standpoint of acquiring knowledge on the matter, it has most of what I need.

I also have "Build your own Transistor Radios" by Ronald Quan. It also seems like it will be useful, but doesn't start you off very simply.

I'm looking for something that maybe starts with building simple crystal radios, explains the deficiencies, and slowly expands your knowledge, rather than springing fully functional super heterodyne receivers at you on chapter 2.

My immediate goals in the field are simple. I'd be pleased as punch if I could understand the subject enough to build a set of walkie talkies similar to what I played with as a kid in the eighties. Or an AM receiver with which I could listen to the Seahawks on!.

It seems in this world of Arduino, there is less interest in fundamental analog electronics, because I can't seem to find a good web resource for learning basic transistor radio design.

Any resources to point to?

[danadak]

Google "RF training", there is some free stuff out there. There are tons of
ap notes, motorola early ones back in 70's/80's very good.

The Radio Amateur Handbook has some receiver design training. The older
versions of handbook, 1990's would be less IC and more Transistor focused.

Google "amateur radio handbook download", there are some free copies out there.

https://archive.org/search.php?query=motorola%20rf


Regards, Dana.

[jonovid]

lots of radio projects here from 1970s to the 1990s ETI Magazine  free pdf files.
http://www.americanradiohistory.com/ETI_Magazine.htm

talking electronics has many radio projects too.   see FM Bugs.
http://www.talkingelectronics.com/te_interactive_index.html

for a cheap RF signal generator.  be for starting receiving circuits 
one transistor rf oscillator circuit then modulate it with audio from a greeting card Musical Box circuit 
if you live in a populated area. an old microwave oven case makes a good faraday cage for RF experiments.

[danadak]

If you use Firefox and DownThemAll addon you can download all links on the page
with essentially one click, eg. download all the magazine shown on the page.


https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/downthemall/


Also go to the home page, there are many more magazines for experimenters, etc..


http://www.americanradiohistory.com/


Regards, Dana.