I want to make a radio for the shop and the Cruiser.

[Golgo13]

Ok. I know. There are a thousand plus options for making an existing radio that fits in place of the stock unit. I also know there are some really cheap and simple solutions for having a radio in my garage.

I don't care.

I want to make a radio for the shop. Yes, MAKE A RADIO. When I was a little kid(maybe 10 years old), I bought a kit from Radio Shack for make a simple AM/FM radio. It worked, but not well. Now I'm a bigger kid and I want to make it better.

The case will be a .50 Cal Ammo can(for the garage). I want two knobs(1 to tune and 1 for volume). I want something to indicate what frequency I'm tuned to. I don't need AM(who does?). I want an aux input with RCA, USB or a phono jack. Power will be from a std 120VAC outlet with a rechargeable battery inside.

I have been driving myself crazy looking at preassembled components ts and figuring out how to make them work. Then I decided F it. I'll make it. Winter is a long season in MI and I'll have time to work on it and make it cool.

Anybody have suggestions where to start? I had a couple circuits classes in college and I understand what the components do. I am also competant enough to solder a board myself. I know this isn't difficult, but it will be a good experience.

Can anyone help point me in the right direction?

Again, I already know this is crazy. Shhh.

 

[george_tlc]

Yes, you are crazy.

"Can anyone help point me in the right direction?"

Yeah it's call google...


Google for DIY FM radio etc etc...

Yes, you are crazy.

cheers,
george.

 

[Golgo13]

come on now, George, I already admitted it is a goofy idea. And of course I already checked Google. I found a million different ways to do it. I just thought maybe someone on here might have some experience doing something similar...

 

[george_tlc]

No one has experience to do what you want to do - it's a crazy idea

Yes, there's many ways to do it, so pick one and have fun. I remember building a regen receiver many moons ago and also a superhet (with an IC), it was fun back then...

cheers,
george.

 

[Fast Eddy]

You could do some cool stuff with an Arduino board and Software Defined Radio.

 

[KLF]

Next you'll be buying a block of cast iron and whittling a 2F block out of it.

Too bad Heathkit isn't still around.

 

[Golgo13]

Next you'll be buying a block of cast iron and whittling a 2F block out of it.

Too bad Heathkit isn't still around.

Don't laugh, but I was considering designing my own head for my 3F-E. I even found a place that will custom mill from solid aluminum and another that can cast/machine the same...

Haven't had much time to search radio designs lately, maybe tonight?

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

go for it! they're right, your crazy to want to do it, but they're also a bit jelly that you are going to do it... were you going to use a cross flow design with your 3FE head like I was? hehehe...I'd really look at the Arduino for this-heck- ANY project that requires more than a switch and relay...Ammo can housing is classic- I love it. you gunna house some speakers in there too for an all in one thing, or just some terminals for the speaker wires? also, how bout using a 120-12 voltdc wall wart and just having a 2 pole dc female power jack on the stereo housing? then you can use the same device for the garage or the rig...keep posting up if you decide to carry on. don't forget to post your code!

 

[gray rider]

Ahh, yes. Heathkit. Those were the days.....

 

[Golgo13]

I ended up buying a Realistic STA-78 with some Yamaha speakers from a thrift shop. It works great, but I still want to build something. The need is less urgent now.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I'd start with simple crystal AM radios. There are many designs out there that can be built in a weekend. This will do two things it will give immediate gratification and it will give you a taste of home brew radio. Along the way you will learn about filters and simple demodulation.
Next I'd add an amplifier to one of your sets. Op amps are building blocks that can be used for many functions such as active filters, frequency to voltage conversion, and amplification.

In reality most low end radios today are built around a single IC.
I found this one in under 30 sec with google
http://electronics-diy.com/single-chip-fm-receiver-tda7012.php