To avoid winding coils and permit easy band changing, Denco (Clacton) miniature plug in coils may be used. These are they “Blue” (Aerial) ranges, valve type. The most useful coils will be Range 3, 1.67-5.3MHz, or 580 to 194 metres; Range 4, 5-15MHz or 60 to 20 metres; and Range 5, 10.5-31.5MHz, or 28 to 9.5 metres. Exact coverage depends on the setting of the adjustable cores, and will also be modified if VC1 is of different value. The coils are inserted in a B9A type holder. If only single range is wanted, the coil can be mounted by its threaded end, and leads are then soldered directly to the pins.
VR1 is an adjustable aerial input control, as overloading may easily arise with strong signals. R1 and R2 provide the voltage for gate 2, and R3 is for source bias.
The drain circuit is arranged for capacitor coupling by C4 to the aerial socket of the receiver. This lead should not be unnecessarily long, as this may cause losses, as well as picking up signals which cause second channel interference. If the lead is screened, it must be no longer than necessary. A 2.6mH short wave sectionalised radio frequency choke will be satisfactory for the frequencies mentioned.
Construction is best in a metal case, which can have a hinged
lid if plug-in coils are to be fitted. (An alternative, for several bands,
is to use switching as shown for Figure 11.) No ganging difficulties
can arise with VC1, which is adjusted for best volume.
Second channel interference is caused by signals which are 2xIF frequency from the wanted signals. With a 470kHz intermediate frequency, these offending signals will be 940kHz from the
wanted transmission. As a result, interference from this cause is unlikely at low frequencies, but very probable at high frequencies. Such second channel interference is considerably reduced, or completely avoided, by using a tuned RF stage of this kind, actual results in this direction depending on the receiver IF, and frequencies tuned.
A 9v supply is adequate, and current may be drawn from the receiver if convenient. Only about 2mA to 3mA or so will be wanted. The MEM618, 40602, and 40673 will be found satisfactory here.
