A radio receiver is a device comprised of a circuit and an antenna. The circuit processes the signal received by the antenna before sending to be amplified. Many radio receivers are capable of handling a range of radio signals, including AM, FM and digital signals. A dedicated FM receivers handles only FM signals. Building your own dedicated FM receiver is a rewarding way of learning about basic electronics. The do-it-yourself approach allows for greater customization potential.

Things You'll Need

    * Chassis enclosure
    * Blank circuit board
    * Diodes
    * Transistors
    * Resistors
    * Capacitors
    * Potentiometers
    * Relay coils
    * Power supply socket
    * Dials
    * RCA jacks
    * Antenna wire
    * Soldering iron
    * Solder
    * Phillips screwdriver
    * 44-0 gauge screws

Instructions

1.Source the parts. You can do this in one of two ways. Purchase all of the parts separately or purchase them as part of a set. The former approach may save you money, but there are no guarantees that all of the parts will fit together or be compatible. The latter approach slightly limits the potential for customization but the parts will be made to measure and compatible.

2.Study the schematic. This document illustrates the circuit, including the connection methods, values and characteristics of each circuit-mounted component. Typical circuit-mounted components in a dedicated FM receiver include diodes, capacitors, transistors, resistors, relay coils and potentiometers. A potentiometer is a type of variable resistor, the position of the potentiometer pole governs the amount of resistance applied to the current. These are very important in a radio receivers as they enable you to adjust volume and select frequency. The potentiometer poles protrude through the front of the chassis when it is enclosed.

3.Assemble the circuit on the blank circuit board. Push each component into its turret on the blank circuit board. Once fully populated, place the board face-down so that the connector pins are exposed.

4.Connect the circuit. Push the connector pins flat and solder them to the metal conductor strip that runs along the base of the circuit board.

5.Connect the antenna. Solder one end of the antenna wire to the solder pole next to the capacitor marked "C1". Refer to the schematic to ensure you have located the right capacitor.

6.Mount the circuit in the chassis enclosure. Screw the board into the base of the chassis and feed the antenna wire out of the pre-drilled hole in the side of the chassis.

7.Fit the chassis-mount parts. Screw the power supply socket and jacks into the pre-drilled mounting holes on the chassis. Solder a piece of power wire between the output terminal of the input jack to the eyelet directly in front of the nearest resistor. Solder a piece of power between the output terminal of the output jack and the eyelet directly behind the nearest resistor. Solder power supply socket wire to the positive eyelet on the board. Solder a piece of ground wire to the power supply ground terminal and connect it to the grounding pin on the chassis.

8.Screw down the chassis lid to enclose the circuit. Slot the dials onto the exposed potentiometer poles, ensuring the zero on the dial lines up with the notch on the potentiometer pole.

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