[HBR] Simplex Super and Super Gainer

[Brian Burns]

Hello Ron and Bill,

At last a moment to answer your thoughtful replies to my question about the
regenerodyne as a practical station receiver.

~ By using a variation on the "regenerodyne" design, one CAN use a selective
bandpass filter, in front of the regenerative (2nd) detector.

 ~ This alternate scheme uses a tunable oscillator in the frequency
conversion (1st detector) stage. The regenerative 2nd detector stage
operates on a fixed frequency.

~ AFAIK, the original fixed IF frequency "super gainer" scheme was innovated
by Frank Jones, W6AJF, in the 30s. It used regeneration in both the 1st and
2nd detector stages. The 2nd detector was of the autodyne type.

The Super Gainer's allowing for added selectivity makes it seem the better
choice, so I got to looking at how far Frank Jones took the basic design.
His last article on it was in CQ November 1957. Grounded grid RF amplifier
and crystal filter no less! He did however say that the AM performance was
sub-par.

So, quite by coincidence, Dayle Edwards over on the regenerx list has come
up with a solution to the AM//CW//SSB problem in his fourth iteration of the
Super Gainer design. His work is very much in the practical style of Frank
Jones, and details are supposed to be coming soon.

 ~ Later, the ARRL handbook contained info on a basically similar design
(Simple-X Super, I believe it was called).

A few days before your post I got out the Simplex-Super article again, and
remembered why it doesn't quite make my "A list". A band imaging design
requires building a converter(s) for the higher bands. 

The stability of the extra conversion stage is attractive, just as it is
with the regenerodyne, but that is a good deal more complication. I'll see
if I can build a local oscillator that is stable enough to be useful on the
higher bands.

 ~ I have recently begun construction of a 3 tube superhet, but construction
has been put on the shelf, for now, for various reasons.
 
By all means keep us posted!

Cheers,

Brian


---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com