LONG RANGE FM TRANSMITTER
Hasifnoor_Attasheri
Several circuits for constructing FM transmitters have been published in EFY. The power output of most of these circuits were very low because no power amplifier stages were incorporated.
The transmitter circuit described here has an extra RF power amplifier stage, after the oscillator stage, to raise the power output to 200-250 milliwatts. With a good matching 50-ohm ground—plane antenna or multi-element Yagi antenna, this transmitter can provide reasonably good signal strength up to a distance of about 2 kilometres.
The circuit built around transistor T1 (BF494) is a basic low-power variable- frequency VHF oscillator. A varicap diode circuit is included to change the frequency of the transmitter and to provide frequency modulation by audio signals. The output of the oscillator is about 50 milliwatts. Transistor T2 (2N3866) forms a VHF-class A power amplifier. It boosts the oscillator signals’ power four to five times. Thus, 200-250 milliwatts of power is generated at the collector of transistor T2.
For better results, assemble the circuit on a good-quality glass epoxy board and house the transmitter inside an aluminium case. Shield the oscillator stage using an aluminium sheet Coil winding details are given below:
L1 – 4 turns of 20 SWG wire close wound over 8mm diameter plastic former.
L2 – 2 turns of 24 SWG wire near top end of L1.
(Note: No core (i.e. air core) is used for the above coils)
L3 – 7 turns of 24 SWG wire close wound with 3mm diameter air core.
L4 – 7 turns of 24 SWG wire-wound on a ferrite bead (as choke)
Potentiometer VR1 is used to set the centre frequency whereas potentiometer VR2 is used for power control. For hum free operation, operate the transmitter on a 12V rechargeable battery pack of 10 x 1.2-volt Ni-Cd cells. Transistor T2 must be mounted on a heat sink. Do not switch on the transmitter without a matching antenna. Adjust both trimmers (VC1 and VC2) for maximum transmission power. Adjust potentiometer VR1 to set the centre frequency near 100 MHz.
This transmitter should only be used for educational purposes. Regular transmission using such a transmitter without a licence is illegal in India.
L1 – 4 turns of 20 SWG wire close wound over 8mm diameter plastic former.
L2 – 2 turns of 24 SWG wire near top end of L1.
(Note: No core (i.e. air core) is used for the above coils)
L3 – 7 turns of 24 SWG wire close wound with 3mm diameter air core.
L4 – 7 turns of 24 SWG wire-wound on a ferrite bead (as choke)
Potentiometer VR1 is used to set the centre frequency whereas potentiometer VR2 is used for power control. For hum free operation, operate the transmitter on a 12V rechargeable battery pack of 10 x 1.2-volt Ni-Cd cells. Transistor T2 must be mounted on a heat sink. Do not switch on the transmitter without a matching antenna. Adjust both trimmers (VC1 and VC2) for maximum transmission power. Adjust potentiometer VR1 to set the centre frequency near 100 MHz.
This transmitter should only be used for educational purposes. Regular transmission using such a transmitter without a licence is illegal in India.
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