[KYHAM] Radio Theory and Construction Workshop

[Bill Fuqua]

The Radio Theory and Construction Workshop will meet Saturday, November 22, 
2003 in the basement of the Red Cross Building at 1450 Newtown Pike, 
Lexington, KY. The Workshop will begin at 1:00PM and continue until 3:00PM.

This workshop is for anyone interested in the subject of radio theory or 
construction. Anyone may join the workshop at any time. This workshop does 
not really have a beginning or an end. It is a continuing effort to help 
those that are interested in knowing more about the internal workings of 
radios (receivers, transmitters and antennas) and/or building them. A ham 
license is not required and there are no age restrictions. I encourage 
young students to participate.
Participants will have to obtain their own tools and they will need to 
purchase a beginner's radio kit (AM-550K).

I have some kits in stock just now so you will not have to wait. Just pay 
me for the kit and I'll order another to replace it in stock. That way we 
will have some always available for new participants.

The Bluegrass Amateur Radio Society's Youth Education Program (Y.E.P.) can 
provide "Now Your Talking" books for students up thru the 12th grade 
participating in our "Introduction to Amateur Radio" and books, kits, tools 
and parts for those in the "Radio Theory and Construction Workshop" at no 
cost.

This kit cost about $20 and it is perfect for learning soldering, component 
identification and basic radio theory. Sources for these kits are:
Edlie Electronics http://www.edlieelectronics.com/
Electronics express http://www.elexp.com/.
There are two styles of kits. One has an integrated circuit audio amplifier 
(AM-550K) and the other has a transistor audio amplifier (AM-550KT). We 
prefer the one with the integrated circuit Amplifier but you can use the 
other if you like or if the preferred one is not available. Also, a very 
basic portable cassette tape player will be needed. These are less than $10 
at many department stores or can be found in garage sales for a $1 or so. 
It has been reported that WalMart has them for about $5. The cassette 
player will be modified to become a sensitive audio amplifier for future 
experiments and trouble shooting. I try to encourage participants to be 
resourceful and use common items found around the home. The tape player is 
a good example.
If you wish to join our workshop please e-mail me so that I can add you to 
our list. I have a short questionnaire to get some information about your 
interest, experience and knowledge level. If you cannot be contacted by 
e-mail call me in the evening at (859) 272-9523 and I will add you to a 
phone list. This is necessary because we do not hold the workshop every 
weekend due to other obligations, vacation, hamfest and license exam sessions.
Please let me know if you are coming and what you have to bring or would 
like to discuss at the workshop so I can have some time to prepare and 
gather any materials that will be helpful. Even if you are not coming to 
the workshop I would appreciate an email. I like to stay informed of your 
project's progress and I am always happy to answer any questions you may 
have. If anyone is interested in starting the beginning basic workshop or 
if you know of someone please contact me.

I have some advanced kits for the participants to look at and consider.
1. 6 and 2 meter FM receiver kit
2. Direct conversion SSB and CW kit for any HF ham band by Ten Tec
3. Active antenna kit
4. Universal BFO kit ( this one will be used with the AM receiver kit in 
some new experiments that I am adding.)
It will be used as a BFO on the AM broadcast band to demonstrate frequency 
mixing to audio "direct conversion".
And as an 455 KHz IF BFO for the kit as well.
5. We have also discovered some CW code practice receiver kits still in 
storage. These are direct conversion crystal controlled W1AW receiver kits.

I expanding the lab manual that comes with the AM550 receiver kit.
After building the audio amplifier has been completed a crystal receiver 
can be constructed using the amplifier to improve sensitivity.
I am also adding a few extra parts in the kit to build a simple RF test 
generator to allow comparative sensitivity and selectivity measurements 
between the crystal detector, direct conversion receiver and 
superheterodyne receiver. A beat frequency oscillator is also being added 
to the kit to illustrate how direct conversion receivers work and diode 
mixers.
I will also be changing the procedures so that expensive electronic 
instruments ( RF oscillators and oscilloscopes) will not be necessary. One 
option would be using a computer's sound card as signal generator , 
oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer and AC voltmeter.

I have added one more part to the kit so that the student can do even more 
experiments. That is a crystal (ceramic) high impedance earphone. With the 
earphone we can construct a simple, no battery required, crystal set 
receiver the first day with very little assembly. Also, after building the 
audio amplifier the earphone can be used as a microphone to demonstrate 
voice amplification. Or how an intercom works.

A new outline of the class will be sent out soon. I have redesigned the 
class quite a bit.

73
Bill wa4lav

William L. Fuqua III P.E.
Electrical Engineer
CP 177 Chemistry Physics Building
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Kentucky
Lexington,KY 40506-0055
Phone: 1-859-257-4155
e-mail: wlfuqu00@uky.edu


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