Building a good DIY FM tuner is a formidable DIY project. Radio-Electronics magazine (USA) had some tuner projects in the 1970s. These were simple tuners that had a single RF stage and used ceramic IF filters so you didn't have to align the IF. With only one RF stage the performance is not going to be any better that a typical consumer product. A good FM tuner needs two RF stages for adequate RF filtering and this presents alignment difficulties. Circuit layout and shielding are also critical in RF and IF stages to prevent oscillation.
I wouldn't attempt this as a DIY FM tuner, but there is a schematic of a very good FM tuner at http://rfdesign.com/mag/radio_highperformance_fm_receiver/index.html .
Regards,
Ray
I wouldn't attempt this as a DIY FM tuner, but there is a schematic of a very good FM tuner at http://rfdesign.com/mag/radio_highperformance_fm_receiver/index.html .
Regards,
Ray
I second Ray's points.
RF requires a slightly different mind-set from audio. 5mm of wire at 100MHz will make the difference between stability and uncontrollable instability. Even silver plated wire makes a measurable improvement! Ground planes are obligatory.
If you want to experiment for experiment's sake, go ahead, don't be put off, it can be a lot of fun. Just don't expect too much to begin with, because the learning curve is steep.
RF requires a slightly different mind-set from audio. 5mm of wire at 100MHz will make the difference between stability and uncontrollable instability. Even silver plated wire makes a measurable improvement! Ground planes are obligatory.
If you want to experiment for experiment's sake, go ahead, don't be put off, it can be a lot of fun. Just don't expect too much to begin with, because the learning curve is steep.
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