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Analog AM Radio Receiver Without Chip - UL1111 Replacement with BC847CW Transistors

piotr_go 13056 47

TL;DR

  • A retro analog AM receiver for long-wave reception of Polish Radio Program I at 225 kHz replaces the UL1111 chip with discrete BC847CW transistors.
  • The circuit uses SOT323 and 0402 parts, a 1.5V cell, and headphones that can be switched in parallel or series with underside jumpers.
  • One ferrite version uses a 5mm x 50mm core, L1 wound with 20mm of 0.1mm wire and L2 with 17 turns of 0.15mm wire.
  • It receives loudly enough, and it also picks up interference from computer converters, light bulbs, and other electronics unless you keep your distance.
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Treść została przetłumaczona polish » english Zobacz oryginalną wersję tematu
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  • #31 20235808
    Mlody_Zdolny
    Level 31  
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    I would try to reduce R6 to a value from 5k1 to 9k1.
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  • #32 20235850
    piotr_go
    DIY electronics designer
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    Mlody_Zdolny wrote:
    reduce R6 to a value from 5k1 to 9k1.

    Louder but not better.
  • #33 20237399
    PiotrPitucha
    Level 34  
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    Hello
    Young_Zdolny wrote
    Quote:
    Why a divider for a base?

    Such a divider is very important, because we need to provide the signal without changing the DC parameters of the stage at T3, note that the signal with positive polarity charges through the base resistance (single Ohms) and discharges only through R5, i.e. 2M. The capacitor will pre-charge and will not be able to send a signal to the T3 base. The divider is so that the signals with negative polarization (exactly the ones whose amplitude drops over time) do not cause changes on the T3 collector, and the signals with positive polarization cause the voltage drop on the T3 collector. For this purpose, the base voltage should be less than the voltage that will cause the current to flow through the base (slightly below 0.7V).

    As for the divider, one resistor instead of R5 (2M) should be reduced to a 22k resistor, and the second resistor from the T3 base to ground, with the power supply also of 22k.

    I am interested in the value of R3, this resistor, in addition to the polarization, also does the feedback by setting the gain below 2. If the first stage ensures the correct polarity at 100K, then instead of the unfortunate 10K I would give 100K or even more, for me the limit would be 0.85V on the T2 collector.

    As for the lack of C9 in the original diagram, I consider it a mistake, it does not change anything in the signal wave, but without this capacitor, we get Darlington and force a large direct current on the headphones, which does not serve them and reduces the battery life.

    Generally, this is my favorite receiver, only in my detector it was in the form of a voltage doubler on two diodes, now there is a problem with germaniums, and at this voltage the silicon ones are problematic.
    There were "zero voltage drop diodes" on Aliexpress, only the price was knocking down :( on them the detector on such a radio would be perfect.
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  • #34 20237827
    piotr_go
    DIY electronics designer
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    PiotrPitucha wrote:
    As for the divider, one resistor instead of R5 (2M) should be reduced to a 22k resistor, and the second resistor from the T3 base to ground, with the power supply also of 22k.

    It won't work (at least not entirely), I checked.
    I connected the potentiometer as a divider (10k, that's the only one I have). I set it up so that it could be heard well, I guess it's better, it's hard to say because it was too loud in the headphones. I heard nothing after changing the battery to the rechargeable battery. You had to turn the potentiometer anew.
    So I desoldered the potentiometer and changed 2M to 10M. A similar effect, only no bass compared to the potentiometer.
    Bass appears when 1uF is added to C5. I will test it yet.

    PiotrPitucha wrote:
    If the first stage provides the correct polarity at 100K, then instead of the unfortunate 10K I would give 100K or even more

    100k is not suitable. With the "first program" it was waking up, let alone with a close transmitter.
    Now 10k and one less than a coil of L2, and the headphones are too loud.

    PiotrPitucha wrote:
    There were "zero voltage drop diodes" on Aliexpress,

    There are probably no such. Well, unless it is about mosfet protection against reverse polarity of the power supply. You can call it that from bida.
  • #35 20242097
    PiotrPitucha
    Level 34  
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    Hello
    Of course, there are such detectors, it is enough to connect the drain with a Mosfet gate with zero Vth and we get an ideal diode with an almost linear characteristic. In circles of little yellow friends, such constructions are used, but they are quite fleeting because these mosfets do not have gate protection and in addition there are some reservations as to the temperature and length of soldering.

    Quote:
    In recent years crystal radio hobbyists discovered that some "zero-voltage-threshold" MOSFET such as ALD110800 or ALD110900 can substitute the diodes in crystal radio without using a battery. You only need to add an extra coil between the source and the ground to pick up sufficient current induced from the resonant circuit (aka the tank or the LC circuit) to drive the headphone.
    However, ALD110900 or ALD110800 are quite fragile and can be easily damaged by static electricity or extra strong signals. They are mostly used in weak signal detection only. The output volume is also a bit low.


    These inventions even make VHF FM receivers with passive power supply. Occasionally you find these pages because they are written in bushes, but the translator is quite good at converting to Polish.
    A small sample in English Link

    The second method of making a perfect detector is simple, we take an op-amp and make on it perfect rectifier , in the past, you could be accused of heresy, but the medium band ends around 1.6 MHz and operational amplifiers operating up to 100 MHz are nothing strange.
    We take such an 8-terminal double amplifier, the first stage is an ideal rectifier with high gain, the second stage is a low frequency amplifier. to the loudspeaker, an antenna with a capacitor and we play :)
    I was hooked on the topic, but the nearby transmitters turned off, the closest medium-wave I have in Slovakia beyond the mountains :( , I will probably try long waves, but our new 225 KHz transmitter is probably not very powerful and I do not know if it reaches Poland B.
  • #36 20242863
    piotr_go
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    Hah, then I guessed it with that MOSFET, though I didn't know it. So far I have been avoiding energy harvesting.

    Is it possible to listen to something like this without a long (> 2m) antenna?

    PiotrPitucha wrote:
    The second method of making a perfect detector is simple, we take an op-amp and make a perfect rectifier on it

    Unfortunately, I set myself a 1.5V power limit.
    Maybe if I want the version with a loudspeaker and 18650.

    Yesterday there was no electricity and I had the opportunity to test the reception of "Jedynka". Zero distortion, just a slight background noise. :)
    The local radio went out too, so I didn't test it.
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  • #37 20243680
    PiotrPitucha
    Level 34  
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    Hello
    I'm like google pro :D
    I recommend LMV951, 1V power supply, 2.7MHz band.
    Already 15 years ago, the Americans at some symposium discussed a new one
    product, amplifier with one 0.9V supply and 132 MHz band,
    they integrated it with a surface filter :) .

    Ps I haven't checked with LMV951 availability, anyway Mouser does.
  • #38 20243749
    piotr_go
    DIY electronics designer
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    I rarely shop in Mousera.
    In those which I usually order, they did not have stock or not at all.
  • #39 20252081
    krzysiozak
    Level 40  
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    I built an FM radio on the UL1496 chip with a young technician.
    At school, they admired how tiny it was. It answered on a regular W66 telephone insert.
  • #40 20943244
    TechEkspert
    Editor
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    Today I came across a Chinese integrated circuit CD7642CP and I remembered this matchbox AM radio project. Here in the project we have an AM radio without an integrated circuit, while the CD7642CP is a Shaoxing Silicore Technology chip, it is a single-chip AM receiver.
    You may say that it is nothing extraordinary, but the manufacturer insisted and enclosed its system in a housing TO-92!
    You can make a mistake and think that it is, for example, a transistor :)


    Schematic of the CD7642CP AM radio integrated circuit.
  • #41 20959925
    robert123
    Level 16  
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    Some time ago I built a radio for my first PR program. Solar or mini USB charging. It serves as a bathroom radio. The diagram is only hand-drawn.



    It is built using ul1211 tda7050 MCP73831 integrated circuits as a charge controller
  • #42 20959965
    Mlody_Zdolny
    Level 31  
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    robert123 wrote:
    Solar or mini USB charging. It serves as a bathroom radio

    Just envy the quality of the radio signal. Very nice casing.
  • #43 20960315
    TechEkspert
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    Is the housing 3D printing?
    This is amazing, no interference from SMPS, good conditions for a shortwave radio operator/listener :)
  • #44 20960376
    robert123
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    Yes, the housing is made from a 3D printer. Behind the detector, I placed the ANL interference reduction system on a diode, it eliminates some interference, especially impulse interference, e.g. from a hair dryer. After connecting the charger, the radio only receives the charger.
    My signal for 1 is quite weak (Podlaskie Voivodeship). A radio made for difficult times, especially the lack of electricity.
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  • #45 20960390
    Mlody_Zdolny
    Level 31  
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    robert123 wrote:
    My signal for 1 is quite weak (Podlaskie Voivodeship). A radio made for difficult times, especially the lack of electricity.

    I hope we don`t have the opportunity to check it, but realistically looking at the consequences of difficult times, facilities such as the transmitter in Solec Kujawski are going to be the first to go.
    But even if these difficult times do not come, the PR situation is still in great doubt - currently, due to the "brilliant" moves of politicians, it is in a state of liquidation.
  • #46 20961554
    TechEkspert
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    How does ANL noise reduction work on a diode?
  • #47 20962042
    robert123
    Level 16  
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    The MC signal from the receiver`s MC output enters the cathode of the 1N4148 diode, which is forward-biased with ARW voltage filtered by a 1uF capacitance. When interference pins appear, they cause the diode to stop conducting. Similar solutions are available in CB radios under the name ANL.
  • #48 20962089
    Mlody_Zdolny
    Level 31  
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    The solution is used in domestic former unitry equipment.
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around the construction of an analog AM radio receiver using BC847CW transistors as a replacement for the UL1111 chip, based on a design from the 1980s. The project aims to receive "Polish Radio Program I" on long wave at 225kHz, utilizing small SOT323 and 0402 components. Users share experiences regarding the receiver's performance, impedance issues with headphones, and modifications to improve reception. Various circuit diagrams and historical references to similar projects are provided, along with discussions on the future of AM broadcasting in Poland and the challenges faced by older radio technologies. Suggestions for improving reception and component selection are also discussed, including the use of different resistors and capacitors.
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FAQ

TL;DR: A 100 W medium-wave transmitter 1 km away caused audible distortion; “desoldering R6 improves reception” [Elektroda, piotr_go, post #20227305] Replacing a UL1111 IC with six BC847CW SOT-323 transistors keeps the 1.5 V pocket-radio spirit alive. Why it matters: the FAQ shows how to revive long-wave/medium-wave listening with easily sourced parts.

Quick Facts

• Supply voltage: single 1.5 V AA/AAA cell [Elektroda, piotr_go, post #20218554] • Headphone load options: 32 Ω–400 Ω; series wiring gives 64 Ω, parallel 16 Ω [Elektroda, piotr_go, post #20218731] • Long-wave coil (225 kHz): L1 ≈20 mm wide, 0.1 mm wire on 5×50 mm rod; L2 = 17 turns, 0.15 mm wire [Elektroda, piotr_go, post #20218554] • Medium-wave retune: ~60 turns, tuning cap 30-220 pF [Elektroda, PiotrPitucha, post #20234649] • BC847C hFE: 110-800 (typical) [NXP, 2021]

1. Why replace the UL1111 with discrete BC847CW transistors?

UL1111 chips are scarce; six BC847CW transistors recreate its four-stage topology, fit SOT-323 pads, and cost < €0.10 each [Elektroda, piotr_go, post #20218554] Discretes also let you tweak bias resistors and gain for LW or MW use.

2. Does the receiver work with modern 32 Ω earbuds?

Yes, but in parallel the load is 16 Ω, drawing ≈46 mA at 1.5 V—near the 50 mA Ic-max of one UL1111 stage [Elektroda, Mlody_Zdolny, post #20221744] Series wiring (64 Ω) halves current and reduces distortion.

3. How do I wind and tune the long-wave coil?

  1. Wrap L1 on loose paper so it slides on the rod.
  2. Add extra turns; slide until signal peaks.
  3. If peak occurs off-center, remove or add turns until it peaks midway [Elektroda, piotr_go, post #20218554]

4. What changes are needed for medium-wave (530-1600 kHz)?

Use a 5×50 mm rod with ~60 turns of 0.1-0.15 mm wire and a 30-220 pF tuning capacitor; reduce C5/C6 values accordingly [Elektroda, PiotrPitucha, post #20234649]

6. Where can I source small ferrite rods today?

Salvage 5-8 mm rods from old DCF77 clocks, chokes, or 1990s portable AM radios; shorten with a Dremel groove then snap [Elektroda, Mlody_Zdolny, post #20220152]

7. Are TA7642 or CD7642CP drop-in IC alternatives?

Yes. TA7642 and its clone CD7642CP in TO-92 house an entire AM receiver needing only an LC tank and audio amp [Elektroda, TechEkspert, post #20943244] They run from 1.1-1.6 V and draw ≈0.3 mA (datasheet).

8. How does the ANL diode noise reducer work?

The audio from the detector feeds a 1N4148 biased by the AGC line. Impulse spikes reverse-bias the diode, clipping noise while leaving speech intact—tech used in CB sets [Elektroda, robert123, post #20962042]

9. Can I build a zero-voltage-drop detector?

Use a depletion MOSFET (e.g., ALD110900) with gate tied to drain; it acts as an ideal diode but is ESD-sensitive and costly [Elektroda, PiotrPitucha, post #20242097]

10. What battery life should I expect?

With 64 Ω load the radio draws ~20 mA. An alkaline AA (2000 mAh) yields ≈100 h. At 16 Ω load current doubles, cutting life to ~50 h. Add an LED low-battery indicator if critical.

11. Edge case: What happens if R6 is removed entirely?

Audio volume drops because T3 no longer biases T4; C6 current becomes unidirectional, reducing gain by >12 dB [Elektroda, Mlody_Zdolny, post #20227442]

12. How can I reduce part count further?

Replace T3-T5 with a single rail-to-rail op-amp like LMV951; at 1 V supply and 2.7 MHz GBW it rectifies and amplifies audio with three passive parts [Elektroda, PiotrPitucha, post #20243680]
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