AM Transmitter
It is illegal to operate a radio
transmitter without a license in most countries. This ircuit is deliberately
limited in power output but will provide amplitude modulation (AM) of voice over
the medium wave band.
The circuit is in two halfs, an audio amplifier and an
RF oscillator. The oscillator is built around Q1 and associated components. The
tank circuit L1 and VC1 is tunable from about 500kHz to 1600KHz. These
components can be used from an old MW radio, if available. Q1 needs regenerative
feedback to oscillate and this is achieved by connecting the base and collector
of Q1 to opposite ends of the tank circuit. The 1nF capacitor C7, couples
signals from the base to the top of L1, and C2, 100pF ensures that the
oscillation is passed from collector, to the emitter, and via the internal base
emitter resistance of the transistor, back to the base again. Resistor R2 has an
important role in this circuit. It ensures that the oscillation will not be
shunted to ground via the very low internal emitter resistance, re of
Q1, and also increases the input impedance so that the modulation signal will
not be shunted. Oscillation frequency is adjusted with VC1.
Q2 is wired as a
common emitter amplifier, C5 decoupling the emitter resistor and realising full
gain of this stage. The microphone is an electret condenser mic and the amount
of AM modulation is adjusted with the 4.7k preset resistor P1.
An antenna is
not needed, but 30cm of wire may be used at the collector to increase
transmitter range.
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