Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 18 replies
  • Subscribers 526 subscribers
  • Views 3447 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

Air Band Receiver High Sensitivity Aviation Radio 118-136MHz AM DIY Kit

scottiebabe

A 30 year-old electronics hobby kit still lives on to this day.

I came across a superhet airband receiver kit that peaked my interests. It’s based on a few venerable but not extinct radio ICs, namely the NE602 and the MC1350. I don’t know where the kit producer is sourcing these ICs, but for $20 it was worth taking a chance on it being more than a pack a of bubblegum. Fingers crossed I receive at least functional equivalent ICs, if not new/salvaged old stock.

image

 imageimage

You can find the kit at the usual places searching “Air Band Receiver High Sensitivity Aviation Radio 118-136MHz AM DIY Kit”

The schematic is to clean and logical to be a typical noname solder kit. After some digging around on the internet, I found the origin of the kit. This project was originally designed by Fred Blechman and published in the spring 1994 issue of "Electronics Hobbyist Handbook" by Gernsback Publications.

A pdf of the publication is available here:

image

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/Experimenters-Handbook/Electronic-Hobbyist-Handbook-1994-Spring.pdf (Page 82)

Tony van Roon also shares their experience and analysis of the project kit here:

https://www.learningelectronics.net/VA3AVR/circ/aviarx/aviarx.html

Parents

  • I started my electronics career in the aviation RF space in 1981.

    Look like one adjustable inductor for frequency tuning. I'm curious about the response across the band. Do you plan on doing any sensitivity checks? 

    Are you on any flight paths/ airdromes? I've attached an old Canadian flight supplement. Find something similar for your area. The documents are regularly updated to let pilots know the  communication and navigation details of the area. I'm thirty minutes south of Winnipeg. This lists the known communication frequencies, COMM and the air traffic control center WINNIPEG CENTER. 

    Antenna might be a bit tricky. Know any ham radio people, They might be able to help.

    Curious where you found the relic?

Reply

  • I started my electronics career in the aviation RF space in 1981.

    Look like one adjustable inductor for frequency tuning. I'm curious about the response across the band. Do you plan on doing any sensitivity checks? 

    Are you on any flight paths/ airdromes? I've attached an old Canadian flight supplement. Find something similar for your area. The documents are regularly updated to let pilots know the  communication and navigation details of the area. I'm thirty minutes south of Winnipeg. This lists the known communication frequencies, COMM and the air traffic control center WINNIPEG CENTER. 

    Antenna might be a bit tricky. Know any ham radio people, They might be able to help.

    Curious where you found the relic?

Children