[HomeBrew] Which IC mixer is better?

[Philip B Atchley]

Hi all,
I am preparing to build a VLF/LF converter to upconvert 20KC to 520KC to
the 4000-4520 KC range so that I can use a General Coverage receiver for
LF.  Cost is a BIG consideration.

Towards this end I have a couple different active mixer IC's in my
junkbox to choose from and I'm wondering which might give the better
performance, especially from an overload standpoint as it may get
"hammered" by some nearby beacons or LORAN on 100KC.

Here is what I have.

MC1596G: Apparently the premium version of the venerable MC1496G.  I have
the schematic of the Heathkit HD-1420 using this IC and it appears that
it'd be fairly easy to homebrew. The circuit is a 2N3904 Wideband RF
amplifier followed by a LPF and the mixer. I may precede the RF amp with
another simple LPF.

NE602N:  I still have 3 of these critters and they have LONG been my
favorite for simple homebrewed  projects.  While they have good
conversion gain, they "seem" to overload fairly easily, possibly
requiring me to put a tuned circuit in a preceding Buffer to prevent them
from being "hammered" too hard by off frequency signals.  Apparently the
popular Palomar VLF converter uses this same IC. 

What say?  Anybody have opinions on one of these mixers vs the other. 

73 from the "Beaconeers Lair".
Phil, KO6BB

Where DX begins at the noise floor!
Merced, Central California, 37.3N  120.48W  CM97sh

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