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Super Hetrodyne Radio Receiver Explanation - End To End!

🕑 Added 2024-10-16 23:41:22 +0000 UTC

Comments

Larry W Jones Jr

Hi Paul, can you tell us why the IF transformers are in metal cans? I presume they're acting as Faraday cages to keep external rf from "contaminating" the IF signal? Also, I've seen IF transformers that have clips to hold them against the chassis. I presume this is just for physical stability so that the can doesn't fall off?

Ricardo SP

Thanks for another great video. I would appreciate a new video explaining each component in detail. I don't know if you have considered a series of videos in which a receiver is built from scratch, where the whole process is detailed, from design, selection of components, checks, etc. This would help a lot to understand and consolidate all the concepts.

Terry

Hi Paul, great detailed explanation. I would also like to see the entire radio described in detail. Thank you so much. G1XDA

Joey A. Ferguson

Great explanation Paul. I would benefit from your explanations of component function on the entire underside of that receiver...and a little more expansion on why/how loop antennas on the German cars were the choice to hear the oscillators weak signal. Did they incorporate some kind of received signal amplification in that loop configuration? Was there any way that the listener of that radio could have blocked, shielded, or otherwise prevented the oscillators RF from escaping the receiver (to avoid detection)? Thanks, Joe

Jared Kusner

Looking forward to the class on resistors and caps.

Scott Pitman

More explanations? Yes please !

TR

Very effective teaching method to show the IF output in real time with and without modulation. Bravo.

420 honolulu

thank you Ragner . I replaced the transistor and it works. thank you for your reply and information regarding this matter. take care . 73s

Ragnar Elstad

I would also add, yes check all components around the culprit area and stages before and after it. Lots of things can result in an avalanche of faults.... And when u find new culprits, same procedure again. If you are lucky, is only the transistors thats faulty.

Ragnar Elstad

Thank you very much Paul for this detailed explanation. I am a radio amateur myself, LA7DSA :), so i would very much like a detailed explanation of the whole radio and and how every stage of it works and interacts on each other, mixers, modulators and demodulators, of the different mods as well. My dream is to be able to make my own multiband, multimod, transceiver one day, but i'm far from there yet :) Even if i have it all in print how it all works, to have it explained and visualized like you do, would have a big impact of my understanding of it all. Reading and learning all this complex stuff is really hard to keep it all together as a whole in my head, i wonder if its to small.... :D I do not have the tubes like you do, so even if it may be easier to understand the practical side of it all, i think modern circuits is easier to read. But that might be just me :)

Andy Reynolds

Great explanation, very intuitive! Id also very much love to see a video with a further breakdown of what each component, Cap, resistor and inductor contributes to the function of a radio. Thanks Mr. C!

Paul Walker

Great explanation video. Please do more videos showing the other components. Thank you.

Skip A Apple

Query Sir. Why was 455/456 Freq chosen? Also I have many vintage receivers, and vintage transmitters. I would like to donate a couple to you as a gift????

James E Bowen

Yes, I would like to know more about how and what each component does

Scott Gilbert

Thank you Paul.. this is a great video. Please make a series on the passive components in the receiver. Would love to learn more as well!

Anthony Ryder

Yes please Paul, would love to see further videos on the components. Thanks.

Kiara Cay Brandt

I would very much like to learn more about the additional components. Thanks this is wonderful!

Ben Lindvall

Individual component function within a circuit is very much something that I’d be interested to learn more about, I feel like there’s a shortage of that, even in Books.

Al French

Yes please Paul, go through all components and please show the signal path end to end. thank you

Richard Page

Great explanation, Paul. So would I be correct in saying that the IF frequency is the resulting ‘beat’ frequency produced in the mixer tube from combining the tuned antenna frequency and the oscillator frequency?

John E Barron III

Yes go through all components and please show the signal wire routes for the signals from antenna to speaker please

Jason Bryant

More Please! This was GREAT!

Timothy Gregerson

Hi Paul, I enjoyed your radio receiver explanation but was left wondering where the terms “super” and “hetrodyne” come from

Ron M

Yes, please provide a component by component explanation. Also, if possible, what aspect of the circuit design determines the frequency range being received? For example, what change would be required to make this receiver a 160 meter ham band receiver instead of a MW broadcast band receiver? Thank you.

Jacques

Please go thru everything. Thanks Paul!

Eric Fox

Thank you. Very helpful. Please go through the radio component by component. The repetition and increased detail really helps with understanding.

bubba miller

I second that..

bubba miller

I second that...

Edward Przychodzki

Paul you briefly mentioned FM. That I would be interested in Thanks.

Mitchell Tyson

Explain the detector.

Stuart Morris

A great video and it would be very interesting to go through what each component actually does.

Bart H

yes, please explain the parts and their function... Thanks so much!

tim hamilton

absolutely explain the discrete components and there functions, and the effects if they were changed to a higher or lower value !!!

Dennis Ochterski

Hi, Paul. Enjoyed this video and your explanation of how AM works. FM is great for stereo, but I grew up with AM stations and if memory serves, back in the day, AM had what I would consider an embellished sound that I don't hear today. It wasn't stereo, but had an "earthy" sound when music was played by the DJ's. Anyhow, I like the way you present your videos but if I had one wish it would be where you sourced your parts to put together you projects and inventions because we don't have Heathkit anymore and folks like me don't know where to begin to look for the parts we need to complete the projects you so graciously shared with us but if we know where to look, we could get the parts and build, Anyhow, thanks for your videos and the time you put into making them. What you have to say, is worth learning.

420 honolulu

thank you Brent Horn . will check it out . take care 73s

Brent Horn

420 Honolulu, Mr. Carlson’s Lab has an electronics forum, if you Google it. There’s a very good chance your question will get more views, and an answer there, as it will probably get buried in the comments of an unrelated video here. Hope that helps, and you get an answer soon!

Manuel Herrera

Nice explanation but I'd love to see it represented on one of those dual time base old TEK scopes!

Craig

I would love to see videos of what each component is doing also!

Leonardo

Me too would like to see a video about the components and also I would like to know about Single Side Band.🤗

Gordon Beevers

Would love to see a video of what each and every component is doing!

Brendan White

If you have time, a series on how the parts of the het receiver work would be great. You certainly explain it in a way that no one else can.

Martin Siebert

A self-built probe on a real-time frequency analyzer provides clear insights into the function of the signal path of several projects. I was almost shocked by the clear real-time spectrum that this device showed me during the restoration of historical measurement technology. Hence my special request: Would you publish this video with spectra of real-time frequency analyzers? I use similar measurement technology as in this video and can confirm what you have shown.

Helmut Heller

Part by part explanation would be nice! Maybe when you come back to this, you could also show reception of the mirror frequency? And: what is the reason why most receivers use a *higher* oscillator frequency? You said Hammarlund uses a lower oscillator frequency. I would think a lower frequency might be easier to handle, especially for the short wave bands. For the AM broadcast band I could imagine that it might be a problem if the oscillator runs lower and then at the IF frequency.

Ian Thomson

Very useful - I'm currently studying for my full UK Ham Radio licence. I would like to see a video or videos covering what each component does please. Thanks Mr Carlson!

JL Riley

I love it Paul! Each time you make one of these videos, I get a little firmer grip on all of this radio magic! Please make more!

Michael Brookes

Hi Paul - a really great explanation! If I may make a small suggestion - perhaps a block diagram of the circuit stages to explain how the radio works at the beginning may simplify it even more, before going on to the details? Another awesome video though! 👍

420 honolulu

hello . I have a mega watt power supply that went dead. I checked the transistors 2sc2239 and one is bad . should I just replace that one and see what happens . or do I need to check other things ?

Glenn Kingdon

Great video, I look forward to another video explaining the roll of the other various components.

Chad Dumas

Great video, Paul. What a great way to simplify beat frequency.

Donald Stevenson

Very educational, I would welcome additional presentations on a radio's inner working.

Stanley Benoit

Yes please explain the components. Thanks Paul

Graham Brown

What a fantastic explanation Paul, thanks. Yes please for a further explanation of what's going on in the radio.

Leonard Peters

Now this is going to sound goofy. But one of the things they taught us in Tech school was how to "guestimate" the voltages you would expect on each element of each tube in the radio. Such as, if the grid of the oscillator is not negative, it probably isn't working. I like the full up component function idea. Neat Idea.

TERENCE SWEENEY

Thanks Paul, would love to see full explanation of components

David Gierke

Splendid explanation of the super het receiver, Paul! Yes, I would like to see the whole presentation.

George Spatta

Great video Paul! Excellent easy to understand explanations of Heterodyne & IF concepts. Would love to see a more end to end in-depth video explaining the functions of the circuit components of the different stages.

Rob

Really a great video! Please expand detail for all components.

Circuitmike

I would love to see the full explanation!

Richard Dupree

Yes I would like to know how the other components work in the circuit.

gregory carolan

Great continuation video. If you could ever find some extra time, a breakdown of the capacitors and resistors would be awesome. Thanks for all the hard work.

Dave Bowersox

Definite Yes for the full explanation on the caps and resistors. thanks

Eric Tinsley

Component explanations would be fantastic Paul!

Steven

Another great video! I, too, would love to see video(s) explaining each component of this radio. Thanks!

Avi Shaouat

Thank you Paul for all of your time you are spending teaching us from your knowledge. I really like to your videos and really enjoyed them. I appreciate it.

Dave Smith

Full explanation please! Thanks for what you do.

Shawn Sauerwine

Paul this was a great high level summary for me! I too would love to see the component by component explanation! Though I come from a space where I'm not even sure whether hetrodyne / super hetrodyne designs are still in use, (to exemplify my very novice level of electronics theory,) I was able to pretty fully understand all of what you touched on in this video. The way you explained mixing and IF REALLY took care of what was before both a mystery and incorrect understanding on my part!

Dave Smith

Another yes on what each component does in each section of the radio. Thans!

Clint Allsopp

Thank you so much Paul as always. Yes, I would love to see your detailed video as well.

Ronald Cobet

That was the first time in my (70) life I really got to understand what is happening in a radio, thank you so much. Saw it 2 times now and yes, my mind is hungry to more. I always tried to turn the small adjustable small boxes in a transistor radio ( no idea what they are....) to improve the reception. No clue what I was doing, but it always helps to get a better signal. Would love to see and know what I was doing, haha.

Mr Carlson's Lab

I will try to remember to answer this in a future video.

Dale Trotter

I would love to know in more detail how these radios work. The more knowledge you can pass on the better. Much appreciated.

Bob Sheldon Sr - KC9ITB

A full explanation of all the caps and resistors and such would be awesome to see as I think it would benefit a lot of us! Thank You Paul!

Tomáš Hrabě

Detailed explanation please. I like how you explain it, and maybe you could add some “differences” between tube and transistor radio? Thank you very much for your work!

Doug Leber

I’d appreciate a detailed explanation, stage by stage, from RX to TX— a series of videos

Bill Hanks

I would love to see a detailed explanation of each component in this circuit! Excellent video as always.

William coleson

Good video, i am still looking for a video showing where one section of a radio starts and ends

Bill Hall

I do have a question. The mixer signal is connected to which grid (screen or suppressor)? Also how does connecting an oscillator signal to a screen or suppressor grid, cause it to be added/subtracted to the signal from the cathode whose output is being is being controlled by the control grid? I guess in short, how dose the control grid and the mixer grid (ie screen or suppressor grid) play with each other?

Jason

I would love to know what each cap, resistor & inductor does in that radio, this was a fantastic introduction so thank you. I’d like to track down the schematic to follow along too. Signal tracing for a radio & what voltages to look for & where would be most helpful and appreciated!

Gerald Parker

I would enjoy further explanations of ALL of the elements of a superheterodyne receiver!

Bill Hall

Please do a video on the purpose of each resistor and capacitor!!!! That would be a video one would not be able to find anywhere else and would be bonification for understanding repairing these radios!

Roy D Mercer

I would enjoy a full explanation.

Allen Levin

Great video!!!! I would like to see more finer detail as you suggested. I would also like to see you follow the audio out. How does the rectifier remove the carrier?

Sheldon Butler

Nice concise explanation. I would benefit by a future discussion of each component and its function. The many layers of description makes everything more clear. Thanks Paul.

Mr Carlson's Lab

Im thinking, since I pulled the receiver out of the cabinet, I may make that eye tube into a true dual sensitivity meter, the upper shadow for weak signals and the lower shadow for strong signals, "or vice versa." Thanks for your comment Kenny.

Gloria Jill Sydor

Absolutely want to see more

RS Electron

I think that would be very interesting to see the purpose of all the components in the radio receiver chain.

Kenny Fidler

I liked the original video you did on this radio On YouTube, that was cool when you added the tube for the signal indicator I’m excited about the grand receiver restoration A total explanation video would be a great idea I enjoyed the video ! Thanks Mr. Carlson!