80 METER (3.0 MHZ)
ALL MODE RECEIVER KIT
Ramsey Electronics Model No. HR-80
• Add our case and knob set for a finished ‘Pro’ look. Cases match all
Ramsey products.
Small in size but BIG in features:
• Easily tunes SSB, CW, RTTY and AM
• Smooth varactor tuning of any desired 250KHz segment of the 80 meter
band, easily retuned
• Uses the popular Signetics NE-602 IC chip for outstanding sensitivity and
efficient operation
• Front panel RF Gain, Tuning and Volume controls
• Efficient LM-386 Audio amplifier drives speaker or earphones with a clean,
crisp audio
• Informative manual answers questions on receivers, hookups and uses -
enhances resale value, too!
• Ideal companion to the Ramsey QRP-80 CW Transmitter
• Runs on a standard 9-volt battery
• Clear, concise assembly instructions lead you to a finished product that
works FIRST time!
HR-80• 1
RAMSEY TRANSMITTER KITS
• FM-10 FM Stereo Transmitter
• FM-1,2,3,4 FM Wireless Microphones
• PB-1 Telephone Transmitter
RAMSEY RECEIVER KITS
• FR-1 FM Broadcast Receiver
• AR-1 Aircraft Band Receiver
• SR-1 Shortwave Receiver
• AA-7 Active Antenna
• SC-1 Shortwave Converter
RAMSEY HOBBY KITS
• SG-7 Personal Speed Radar
• SS-70 Speech Scrambler
• SP-1 Speakerphone
• MD-3 Microwave Motion Detector
• PH-10 Peak hold Meter
• LC-1 Inductance-Capacitance Meter
RAMSEY AMATEUR RADIO KITS
• FX Series VHF and UHF Transceivers
• HR Series HF All Mode Receivers
• QRP Series HF CW Transmitters
• CW-700 Micro Memory CW Keyer
• PA Series VHF and UHF Power Amplifiers
• Packet Computer Interfaces
• QRP Power Amplifiers
RAMSEY MINI-KITS
Many other kits are available for hobby, school, Scouts and just plain FUN.
New kits are always under development. Write or call for our free Ramsey
catalog.
HR-80 AMATEUR RECAIVER KIT INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Ramsey Electronics publication No. MHR-80 Revision C
First printing: January 1995
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COPYRIGHT 1994 by Ramsey Electronics, Inc. 793 Canning Parkway, Victor, New York
14564. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be copied or duplicated without the
written permission of Ramsey Electronics, Inc. Printed in the United States of America.
HR-80• 2
Ramsey Publication No. MHR-80
Price $5.00
KIT ASSEMBLY
AND INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR
HR-80 AMATEUR
RECEIVER KIT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction to the HR-80 ............... 4
About Direct Conversion ................ 5
Circuit description ........................... 6
Parts list ......................................... 7
Schematic diagram ........................ 9
Parts layout .................................. 10
Assembly instructions .................. 11
Initial testing ................................. 14
Alignment ..................................... 15
Using your HR-80 ......................... 16
Troubleshooting guide .................. 19
Notes for experienced users ........ 20
Warranty ....................................... 26
RAMSEY ELECTRONICS, INC.
793 Canning Parkway
Victor, New York 14564
Phone (716) 924-4560
Fax (716) 924-4555
HR-80• 3
INTRODUCTION:
Our HR-40 and HR-80 models are thought of as “best for beginners”
because Hams with a Novice or Technician license can operate CW in
the 40 and 80 meter bands. If you like plenty of action and DX (long
distance) communications, the 40 meter ham band is the place to be.
Almost 24 hours a day there’s something interesting happening on 80
meters.
These are several groups of people who will enjoy this Ramsey HR-80
Receiver:
• Experienced Ham operators who want a simple extra receiver for
keeping one ear on 80 meters while doing something else.
• Beginners who would like to start by listening in on one of Ham
radios most active bands.
• QRP builders who want a quick, easy and reliable NE602 board kit
for 80 meter projects.
• QRP builders not interested in our warranty or following our step-by-
step assembly and use directions, but who want to get their hands
on our most versatile receiver PC-board and parts kit for their own
projects.
The Ramsey HR-80 has something fun and easy for each of them.
Note To Beginners: Building the HR-80 is really no harder than any
other of our receivers in this series. Just follow the directions carefully.
All you need to know to successfully complete this receiver is contained
in this detailed manual. Enjoy your HR-80 receiver.
RAMSEY HR-SERIES AMATEUR RECEIVERS:
All Ramsey Direct Conversion receiver Kits share the same basic PCboards and most components which are not frequency critical. However,
there are enough differences among the band characteristics, desirable
operating features for each band, and differences among the people
who would most typically choose a particular band, that a separate
instruction manual is published for each receiver.
Other circuit details which vary from band to band include the tuning
range provided by the varactor circuit. “Bandspread” for favorite band
segments is easy on 160 or 80 meters but requires other considerations
on higher frequencies. Also, some bands appeal to QRP operators more
than others, and some are better suited for portable and travel use.
HR-80• 4
Therefore, we are pleased to assure you that your manual for the HR-80
receiver and the receiver circuit itself have been designed with an
understanding of typical operating needs and expectations for the 80
meter band.
This receiver circuit is ideal for discovering just how simple a true
“Communications Receiver” can be . That’s right- there is a BIG
difference between the Ramsey HR-80 and other simple short wave
radio circuits we can try to build.
Yet it is very easy to build. Our HR-series are by far the easiest to build
of all the Ramsey kit receivers and therefore very nice for radio
newcomers. Consequently, our manuals for the 40 and 80 meter
receivers are written with beginners in mind, since both of these bands
offer Novice and Technician privileges. The manuals for the 30 and 20
meter versions assume the general Ham radio know-how that should
accompany a General Class or higher license.
ABOUT DIRECT CONVERSION RECEIVERS:
The HR-80 is a “Direct Conversion” receiving circuit. There is no need
for IF(intermediate frequency) circuitry. The receiver “processes” the
incoming signal right at its own frequency, with no need to mix or
transform it with additional internal oscillators and amplifiers running at
intermediate frequencies such as 455 KHz.
The advantage of this type of receiver is that it permits tuning of CW,
AM and SSB signals with no need for a separate BFO. (A BFO or “beat
frequency signal oscillator” is an entirely separate oscillator circuit used
in the IF “intermediate frequency” section of a superhetrodyne receiving
circuit). Since this frequency is designed specifically for SSB and CW,
you will also hear the carrier signal of any AM shortwave broadcast
station.
The most elementary “DC” receiver consists of just an oscillator and an
antenna connected to the inputs of a “Product Detector” whose tiny
audio output is then amplified for listening. A product detector can be
made from simple diodes, or a pair of transistors, or a dual gate FET
transistor, or various IC’s. The Ramsey HR-80 efficiently utilizes the
Signetics NE602 IC for both the tunable oscillator and the product
detector circuits, giving the equivalent of seven transistors in the mixeroscillator stages.
HR-80• 5
Advantages of any Direct Conversion receiver include:
• It is simple, and therefore economical and easy to build
• It is quite sensitive even with a simple antenna
• Its tuning oscillator could even be set up to serve directly
as a transmitter VFO in a simple transceiver setup.
A common problem with DC receivers is that they are easily
overwhelmed by strong AM broadcast stations from almost anywhere,
whether it’s your local rock and roll broadcaster, Radio Moscow or the
Voice of America. Even popular classics like Heath Kit’s HW-8 QRP
transceiver exhibit this characteristic to a frustrating degree. Another
problem with DC receivers is called “microphonics” which is a
phenomenon where almost anything in the physical circuitry of the
receiver can act as a sort of microphone or audio sound pickup. Touch
or bump such radios and you will hear a thump or ring in the speaker or
earphones. Still another problem is that of AC line hum whenever an
unregulated power supply is used rather than batteries.
The Ramsey HR-80’s use of the NE602 integrated circuit chip offers a
circuit configuration that is as immune as any simple superhetrodyne to
the classic problems with Direct Conversion receivers. The receiver is
not as easily overloaded by the VOA or Radio Moscow broadcasts, and
there are few annoying ”microphonics” or incurable AC hum.
Circuit Description:
U1 combines a double-balanced active mixer and oscillator in a single
8-pin IC chip. L1 peaks the RF input to pins 1 and 2 of U1. L2, with
varactor diode D1 and R2, C1, C2, and C4, control the resonant
frequency of U1’s internal oscillator. Rotating R2 gives about a 250 KHz
tuning range. The audio output is fed from pins 4 and 5 through R3
(volume control) directly to the LM 386 audio amplifier. R1 controls RF
gain. C9 boosts the gain figure of the LM 386 from 20 to 50.
HR-80• 6
PARTS SUPPLIED WITH THE HR-30 KIT:
CAPACITORS:
2 150pF disc capacitor [marked 150 or 151] (C1,C2)
5 .01µF disc capacitor [marked 103 , .01 or 1nF] (C3,C4,C5,C6,C7)
1 2.2µF electrolytic (C8)
1 4.7 to 10µF electrolytic capacitor (C9)
3 100-220µF electrolytic capacitor (C10,C11,C12)
RESISTORS:
3 10K ohm potentiometers (R1,R2,R3)
1 270 ohm resistor [red-violet-brown] (R4)
2 10K resistors [brown-black orange] (R5,R6)
INDUCTORS:
2 Shielded Coils [5015-015] (L1,L2)
SEMICONDUCTORS:
2 1N4002 Diode [black epoxy style] (D1,D3)
1 NE602 IC (U1)
1 LM386 IC (U2)
1 6.2 volt Zener Diode [small glass body] (D2)
HARDWARE AND MISC:
1 Drilled printed-circuit board
1 9-volt battery hold-down bracket
1 9-volt battery connector
1 RCA-style jack [antenna connector] (J1)
1 subminiature earphone jack (J2)
1 PC mount pushbutton switch (S1)
REQUIRED, NOT SUPPLIED:
9-volt battery (alkaline or heavy duty type)
Earphone, or small speaker
Antenna and suitable cable
OPTIONAL:
Ramsey Electronics Case and Knob Kit, Model CHR or;
Your own choice of enclosure and hardware
HR-80• 7
"LEARN-AS-YOU-BUILD" ASSEMBLY STRATEGY:
To help you learn just what exactly is going on we'll discuss the purpose
of most of the components or groups of components as we go along.
Since we are trying to keep assembly of the board simple, we will not be
able to fully describe each individual component’s function as you build,
but Ramsey's "Learn-As-You-Build" kit assembly philosophy still
stands.
Check off each step as understood and completed. Examine the
schematic diagram and PC-board X-ray illustration as you proceed. In
all steps, “install” means to insert into the correct PC-board holes, solder
properly, and trim all excess component leads.
Use good soldering skills - let your soldering iron heat each connection
wire so that the wire itself and the foil trace both become hot enough
together to melt the applied solder so that it flows smoothly around the
wire lead and on to the PC board trace.
Mount all electrical parts on the top side of the board provided. This is
the side that has no traces or pads on it. When parts are installed, they
are placed flat on the board, and the leads are bent on the backside of
the board to prevent the part from falling out before soldering. The part
is then soldered securely to the board, and the remaining lead length is
then clipped off. The clipped off leads should be saved for later use as
jumper wires.
As you can see in examining the circuit board and parts there are many
tall components such as the potentiometer, capacitors, and switches
along with a lot of small parts. First you will install the larger components
so they can be used as markers. So that you don't spend extra time
"troubleshooting" we strongly recommend that you follow the assembly
strategy and step-by-step procedures we have provided.
HR-80• 8
Parts Layout:
HR-80• 9
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