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  • Author Author: shabaz
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ZX2051 AM/FM Radio Receiver Kit Documentation

Introduction

The ZX2051 is a low-cost kit to build an AM/FM radio receiver. I thought it could be fun for kids to assemble. The instructions are in Chinese, so the purpose of this blog post was to document any information needed in English (or other languages) to successfully build it.

Any translations, or advice, is welcome, since I cannot do this entirely on my own : )

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Original Documentation

Since I don't have the copyright to it, I've saved high-res scans of the ZX2051 documentation on a third party server during the time that collaboration is needed, but will remove the link after it is no longer required to act as the only documentation.

There are low-res copies of it here (might not be readable), which I believe is fair use.

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Translation Attempt #1

Google Lens was attempted, with some success and some amusement. It didn't get the translation entirely right I think : )

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Another attempt was only slightly better:

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One more time..

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PCB Layout and Notes

The scan here shows the copper side PCB layout, with some of the important bits highlighted in red.

From what I can tell using Google Lens to do the translation, the quadruple tuning/variable capacitor needs the end with the two wires to be inserted in the red highlighted hole, because one side of it contains the FM capacitors (lower capacitance) but the side with the two wires that insert in one hole, is the AM side (higher capacitance).

Also, T2 is highlighted with a red square. T2 is the metal can with the core that is painted red.

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For the electrolytic capacitors, the hatched/shaded side of the circles in the diagram above is the negative end.

 

To be continued..

More info to follow after this kit has been soldered!

Parents

  • Construction was smoother than expected! The kids finished the PCB assembly during their second session, and even got to try it out. They were quite stunned to hear the audio I think. Anyway, final assembly into the enclosure will be next weekend. I'm thinking of making a cut-out and a transparent plastic panel at the back, so they can see the insides.

    Here's a 10-minute video of some of the assembly, and a short demo at the end (AM, and not tuned to a station, it happened to be almost on a station at random, so there's some noise too). We have not done any testing yet beyond that first initial power-up.

     

     

    The kids did all the soldering except the wires of the AM ferrite coil/antenna. That needed the enamel scraped off with a knife too.

    The PCB layout and component references were easy to follow, just a few minor points which I'll document in a follow-up comment later, concerning the orientation of the ceramic filters, and mounting of the ferrite coil/antenna.

     

    Also, one component in the kit was incorrect, it called for a 4.7uF capacitor, but a 47uF capacitor was mistakenly supplied, so we replaced that with a correct value one.

  • in reply to shabaz

    Hi Shabaz,

     

    Very nice image   and quite impressive. I must do this with my grandchildren.  I would not have guessed a 6 year old would take to it quickly.  Is the iron one of those USB powered ones?   It seems small enough to fit their hands well and the cord flexible. 

     

    Frank

  • in reply to fmilburn

    Hi Frank!

     

    I was very surprised too : ) The 6-year-old was fine with the through-hole, although we didn't get a chance to let him try the surface-mount. The 8-year old (actually he's almost 9 - in one months time) had no issue with the chip, not one solder bridge, which was surprising.

    The soldering station is a JBC model (an obsolete model that I got from ebay) but the handle I got new, it is model T210 (it fits lots of their stations, and some open source ones/clone too). The T210 is a really small handle, it's great for through-hole and SMD. There is a larger handle, T245, that I only rarely use, for things like very large connectors, I think I've got a 3mm tip on it.  The T210 covers 95% of work, and I've never found the need to swap its tip to a different size. It is a 1mm tip, really universal. The cord is really flexible and light.

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  • in reply to fmilburn

    Hi Frank!

     

    I was very surprised too : ) The 6-year-old was fine with the through-hole, although we didn't get a chance to let him try the surface-mount. The 8-year old (actually he's almost 9 - in one months time) had no issue with the chip, not one solder bridge, which was surprising.

    The soldering station is a JBC model (an obsolete model that I got from ebay) but the handle I got new, it is model T210 (it fits lots of their stations, and some open source ones/clone too). The T210 is a really small handle, it's great for through-hole and SMD. There is a larger handle, T245, that I only rarely use, for things like very large connectors, I think I've got a 3mm tip on it.  The T210 covers 95% of work, and I've never found the need to swap its tip to a different size. It is a 1mm tip, really universal. The cord is really flexible and light.

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