Jerry's Sproutie: A Short Wave Receiver (and a Limerick) by Jerry KI4IO

Jerry KI4IO is a really talented homebrewer;  I've called him the Wizard of Warrenton:  

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-wizard-of-warrenton-jerry-ki4io.html

and 

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2019/05/fdim-interview-with-ki4io-homebrew.html

Warrenton Va. is not far from me (and is the birthplace of Cappucio the Wonder Dog).  Once we are done with the pandemic I hope that Jerry and I can get together to talk about homebrew radio.  

Like me, Jerry recently turned his attention to the shortwave broadcast bands. He too went the homebrew route, but his receiver is a regen.  It is based on the Sproutie by Dave AA7EE. 

Here is Jerry's article detailing the project and the results: 

http://soldersmoke.com/KI4IORX2.pdf

Jerry had been scheduled to talk about antenna tuners at FDIM this year, but the pandemic caused the event to be canceled.  He shared with me a Limerick that he was going to include in the presentation.  Obviously we have similar feelings about automatic antenna tuners. 

In days of old

when hams we bold

and BALUNs weren't invented

We adjusted our C

and fiddled with L

and reflected power was prevented

KI4IO in his shack Feb 2020

KI4IO in India and Nepal, and Discrete Homebrew Gilbert Cells

Jerry KI4IO is such an amazing homebrewer that he has been dubbed "The Wizard of Warrenton." The picture above shows Jerry during the early 1980s in the shack of Father Moran 9N1MM in Nepal. Jerry was also in India.  (I previously posted the info on Jerry's time in India and Nepal, but I didn't have this picture.  The picture makes it worthwhile to post the story again.)  From Jerry's QRZ.com page: 

-------------------------------

While in India I was licensed at VU2LHO and worked a lot of US hams with a 135' flat-top and open-wire feed. I had the antenna strung between two bamboo towers atop the embassy housing 2nd-story roof-top. I also put up a 3/8 wave vertical on the roof for 10 meters. That little antenna had 110 radials stapled into the roof screen and worked very well! The rig was a HW-101. I was in Kathmandu, Nepal from early 1980 to late 1982. I could not obtain a license there, but became good friends with Father Moran, 9N1MM, and would often spend time up at his place putting his Drake station on CW. Pretty cool being real DX! Back in the states in late 1982.

Here I am at one of my many visits to Father Moran's shack. 

---------------------------------

Check out Jerry's QRZ.com page: https://www.qrz.com/db/KI4IO

I got in touch with Jerry because Pete Eaton reminded me that Jerry had homebrewed a discrete transistor version of the NE602 Gilbert Cell Mixer, a device that I am very interested in. Nick G8INE also built one. 

FDIM Interview with KI4IO -- Homebrew Direct Conversion Transceiver

I've been a big fan of Jerry's for several years.  He is the homebrew wizard of Warrenton, Va.  Warrention is just about 25 miles west of us.  Cappuccio the wonder-dog was born on a farm in Warrenton.  

I'm really glad that our ace correspondent Bob Crane W8SX caught up with Jerry at FDIM.  I liked his description of the joy of using a homebrew rig, and of the advantages of direct conversion.   Inspiring stuff!   Listen to the interview here:  

http://soldersmoke.com/KI4IO FDIM 2019.m4a

Be sure to check out the KI4IO page on QRZ.com

The Wizard of Warrenton: Jerry KI4IO

 

That's Jerry KI4IO of Warrenton Virginia sitting in front of truly impressive collection of homebrew gear.  The cream-colored box above the Vibroplex is Jerry's new 7 MHz phasing transceiver.   He has a wonderful write-up of this rig in the qrp-tech group files section:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/qrp-tech/files/KI4IO/

You may have to join the yahoo group to access it, but believe me, it is worth it.  Jerry took a very eclectic approach to circuit selection and came up with a very cool rig.  Lots of soul in that new machine!  Here it is in breadboard form:

 

 

Jerry worked in U.S. Embassies as a communications officer and is obviously a member of the International Brotherhood of Electronic Wizards.  From his QRZ page:

 

While in India I was licensed at VU2LHO and worked a lot of US hams with a 135' flat-top and open-wire feed. I had the antenna strung between two bamboo towers atop the embassy housing 2ND-story roof-top. I also put up a 3/8 wave vertical on the roof for 10 meters. That little antenna had 110 radials stapled into the roof scree and worked very well! The rig was a HW-101. I was in Kathmandu, Nepal from early 1980 to late 1982. I could not obtain a license there, but became good friends with Father Moran, 9N1MM, and would often spend time up at his place putting his Drake station on CW. Pretty cool being real DX!

 

Warrenton, Virginia is not far from my QTH (it is the birthplace of Cappuccio the wonder-dog). 

 

FB Jerry. 

 

Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

Jerry KI4IO (Wizard of Warrenton) Describes His ALL ANALOG Phasing Transceiver -- Bob Crane FDIM interview #3 (audio)

Wow, this one really resonated with me.  Jerry had me won over when, early in the interview, he described his decision to dispense with the Si5351/Arduino combo:  "I said the hell with this digital stuff!"  I hear you Jerry.  I feel your pain OM.  

Jerry then goes on to describe a rig with bits of circuitry from some legendary sources:  The Ugly Weekender transmitter.  SSDRA and EMRFD.  W7ZOI's 1968 Direct Conversion receiver.  

Jerry discusses the "presence" of the direct conversion receiver.  And he decries the pernicious effects of AGC.  (Indeed, real hams MANUALLY control the gain.) 

The Wizard of Warrenton then shares some important tribal wisdom:  After building that new piece of gear, leave it on the bench for a couple of weeks.  Beware of "radio infatuation" (what a great term -- we will have to include this in the lexicon).    Jerry points out that while at first, the new rig will seem just perfect, with time time the need for improvements and modifications will become apparent. 

Jerry also has connections to India and Nepal (where he helped Father Moran).  See: https://www.qrz.com/db/KI4IO

Here is W8SX's interview with Jerry: 

http://soldersmoke.com/KI4IO23.mp3

Thanks Jerry!  Thanks Bob! 

Some Direct Conversion Receiver History

Here is the article by Wes Hayward and Dick Bingham that started it all:  

https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-DX/QST/60s/QST-1968-11.pdf

page 15 

Here's a discussion by Wes of the original project: 

https://www.n5dux.com/ham/files/pdf/Direct%20Conversion%20Receivers%20History%20-%20W7ZOI.pdf

Here is an article about DC receiver in phasing rigs by Gary Breed K9AY: 

https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-DX/QST/80s/QST-1988-01.pdf

page 16

Roy Lewallen W7EL's Optimized transceiver (with a direct conversion receiver): 

https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-DX/QST/80s/QST-1980-08.pdf

page 14

Jerry KI4IO on Building a DC Receiver

https://groups.io/g/qrptech/message/17

Michael Black wrote on March 5, 2014 at 3:54 PM

Isn't it a bit dated?

When "direct conversion" receivers came along in 1968 (the concept existed before, just not the name), it was to build simple receivers. They took over from regens (which of course for the purpose of CW and SSB, were "direct conversion"), and kind of bumped simple superheterodyne receivers out of the magazines.

And they were easy to build, so long as the meaning of the dots were standard, but good performance was elusive. Endless articles about better mixers or more front end selectivity, and still the same basic results The Heathkit HW-7 comes along, and endless mods to that, but still no perfection.

Slowly the move was back to simple superhets, especially with some of the early seventies ICs intended for radio, and then ladder filters came along (actually they came early at least by 1974 from the UK and/or France, but while they got mention in North America early-ish, it took some years before the KVG filters were pushed aside and ladder filters got the spotlight).

And then wham, in the mid-eighties someone caught on. The problem with direct conversion receivers wasn't the mixer (well not once it was a balanced mixer) or lack of front-end selectivity, it was the matter of properly terminating the mixer. The problems that had been there all along were gone. And direct conversion receivers started their climb to being complicated receivers.

I guess it was that receiver by Gary Breed in QST circa 1986 with diode balanced mixers and termination that changed things. A new concept, but not really, I remember an article in QST in 1974 where a DBM diode mixer for VHF was properly terminated, and yet the concept went no further until a decade later.

Actually, I think there is a tiny bit about mixer termination in "Solid State Design for the Radio Amateur" but it never went so far as to say "this is what we need".

Or perhaps that tiny transceiver by Roy Llewellyn in QST was the first, I cant' remember. It certainly used a diode mixer with termination for the receiver.

And that set the stage for Rick Campbell's various receivers, all counting on termination of the mixer.

The ideas can often be there, but not applied because technology doesn't allow it yet, or just not looking that far beyond this month's construction article.

Michael

SolderSmoke Podcast #223 Field Day, Club Talks, Patreon, NanoVNA, Farhan Video, SPRAT, BIG MAILBAG

SolderSmoke Podcast 223 is available: 

http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke223.mp3

27 June 2020

Quarantine Field Day!   

Ironically, THIS YEAR we are both participating

Pete's FD Plan, Bill's FD plan 

Talking to Clubs: 

Pete's talk to the Cedar Valley Iowa Club

Bill's talk to the Vienna Wireless Society

Pete's Bench

DDC SDR

Ideas from the Summer SPRAT

Mean Well Voltage Regulator

SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION: PATREON.   SS is an  SV DELOS WANA-BE!

We got our very first Patreon Patron!  Jonathan Magee from the UK!  Upper Left on the blog.

Continue to use our site for your Amazon purchases. 

Bill's Bench

NanoVNA

Understanding L Networks

+/- 6kHz Ceramic filter for Q-31

Lobes, Nulls and WSPR

Miscellaneous: 

Farhan's feedback Amplifier Video

British Antarctic Broadcast heard (sort of)

MAILBAG:

Mauro VA6BRO liked the SolderSmoke book.  Thanks Mauro

Tryg in Galway Ireland is listening.  Hope to get you the signed books Tryg. 

Michael N4MJR suggested that I use N2 Corona Quarantine Radio as my phonetics.  I dunno... 

Ed DD5LP has been helping us get SS rebroadcast on a German SW broadcast station. Stay tuned! 

Rogier PA1ZZ in California sent an e-mail about the Don Lee Broadcast System.  Thanks Rogier!

Rick KE3IJ  Silver Skirt on his 2B also. W3GOO did it.  Rick traded his Commodore 64 for the 2B.  Yea! 

Walter KA4KXX has a simplified circuit for the MMM!  From UK

Peter VE1BZI thank us for the tribal knowledge.  Dipolo Crilolo

Peter VK2EMU Wee need someone to make the Constructor Crusader badge. 

Scott KA9P sent us the Amateur Wireless cover from 1934 with the Constructor Crusader thing. 

John GM4OOU Built lockdown rig.  we want pictures! 

Jerry KI4IO  His version of the Sproutie by AA7EE   FB 

Adam N0ZIB built a MMM

Wouter ZS1KE in South Africa -- comparing notes on Drake 2-Bs

Randall KD5RC wants to get started in HB. 

SolderSmoke Podcast #222 Antennas, Phasing, VFOs, 2-Bs, 6 years of N6QW, MAILBAG

After 46 years, finally a dial skirt

SolderSmoke Podcast #222 is available:  

http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke222.mp3

No travelogue but… SolderSmoke Almanac!

Memorial Day in U.S.

End of Ramadan so Eid Mubarak! 

#222 marks SIX YEARS of Julian-ismo.  He started on SS 161.  Thanks Pete. 

Thanks to all who sent good wishes on Billy's graduation.  He heads to Boston and the lab in a week or so.  Very proud. 

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Bill was on Ham Radio WorkBench Podcast  

 ----------------------------------------- 

PETE'S WORKBENCH

-- Antenna Ideas -- Don't Buy that $165 dollar dipole!  It is just wire!   

-- THE PHASING RIG. Does this point to a need for meditation?  Or at least some temporary disengagement? Tribal wisdom from Pete. 

-- DEAN KK4DAS's rig.  The Furlough 40.  Troubleshoot.  Tribal knowledge. 

-------------------------------------------

-- SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION:   AMAZON BOX -- SEARCH FOR ANYTHING OU WANT THERE.  

-- PLEASE PUT COMMENTS ON THE SOLDERSMOKE BLOG POSTS. 

-- PLEASE CHECK OUT THE SolderSmoke YOUTUBE VIDEOS. 

------------------------------------------

BILL's WORKBENCH

n  Shortwave dials and exotic locations.  Java!  

n  Galaxy V VFO Project. Series-tuned Colpitts.  

n  DRAKE 2-B.  Hayseed Recap. Put the skirt back on the old rig.  Reduction drives?   

SHOPPING BAG: 

I got a replacement for the Xtronics 4000 soldering station.  Yaogong worked! 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078WB9Z2R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1  

Ordered screws and stuff from McMaster -- Came very fast! 

Working on a resistor kit from Mouser. 

MAILBAG: 

VK2BLQ's Phasing RX with an HRO dial.  Cool Retro.  

Adam N0ZIB -- Cool station.  TFT screen Aluminum welded box. FB. 

Karl G7AFT    BITX 40 doing USB and LSB by changing the VFO freq.  Pete's trick! 

Jerry KI4IO  out in nearby Warrenton.   Hope to be able to meet up soon. 

Keith N6ORS's Hot Mustard Phasing Board. 

Mike N5GTF'd FULLY INDOOR Quarantine Receiver.  Need a slogan for the antenna!

Nick M0NTV's Bread Bin 80 Quarantine rig

Bruce KC1FSZ   Quarantine 10 -- Brave man in solar minimum. But I hear 10 is opening.

Talking to Grayson Evans KJ7UM  TA2ZGE about Collins 9.9 MHz transformers.

Talking to Alan Wolke W2AEW about Drake 2-B stuff  Was there a reduction drive?

Paul VK3HN about Ceramic filter spurs.

Peter VK2EMU notes no animals were harmed in the making of my videos.  But many electrons were agitated. 

N6QW Phase Shift Success -- It aint over 'till the fat lady sings