Have the freedom to walk

around on stage without

getting tangled up in knots,
With Val Thorens cordless
guitar transmitter.

reader wrote to Electronics in

Action to ask if the magazine
could do a cordless guitar
project. The good news is that it can be the power is concentrated in an theaerial willlnveanegligible effect on
done; the bad news is that this type of bandwidth of approximam the theoscillator,solhefrequencywill
project is not legal in the UK, due to deviation frequency plus the modulation remainthesamesstheguitaristleaps
DTI restrictions, though it is believed bandwidth. So. for an FM signal with about.
that it is acceptable in many parts of the 3kl-Iz deviation and 3kHz bandwidth,
world to which Electronics In Action is the majority of the power is within Oscillator Circuit
distributed. . lHz (don’t forget that the deviation is TRI works as an oscillator. It is
For other readers, this project can either side of the nominal carrier connected as a common base amplifier,
serve as an example of how a eordlms frequency). with feedback from collector to emitter.
design works (and there are many types Wideband FM uses a deviation The collector and emitter signals are in
of cordless design which are legal in the greater than the modulation bandwidth, phase, but a different impedanees, so the
UK). When I was a student I regularly which is hard to achieve with a crystal feedback network (C1 1, C12, C13) must
got down to reading projects I didn’t oscillator. To modulate a signal this match from the high collector
intend to build just to learn more about widely either requires a crystal oscillator impedance to the low emitter
how electronics works. (possibly as part of a synthesiser) with impedance. The stage provides _
There are two obvious approaches to complex circuitry, or a simple LC signific power gain, but, in effect, the
try to design a cordless sound system of oscillator. This latter is the approach emitter requires a high current low
any sort: infra red and radio. I ruled out chosen for this design. voltage signal, while the collector
infra red because it needs a line of sight provides a high voltage low current
signal path, which cannot be guaranteed Frequency Stability signal. The capacitive network shown
when a guitarist is moving about on Simple circuits I have seen published to worksinthesamewayasataponacoil
stage. transmit on the FM bands have used a (or an auto-transformer).
The simplest radio system uses the single modulated oscillator to provide The frequency of oscillation is set by
FM broadcasting band, with a standard the transmission. This works, but the L1 and the total capacitance to RF
radio as the receiver. Obviously this can oscillator normally needs an aerial to ground from the collector of TR]. From
only work in (the majority of) areas in give a useful range. The aerial inevitably the point of view of RF, the positive
which there is at least one channel not in forms part of the tuned circuit supply and ground are the Similar. The
use. determining the oscillation frequency. aim of the power supply decoupling is to
FM broadcasting uses wide—band This means that any variation of the keep the positive supply at zero RF
frequency modulation, rather than the capacitance of the aerial to surrounding potential.
narrow—band modulation used for objects alters the frequency. Clearly the The total capacitance to RF ground
amateur radio. What does this mean? guitarist moving around will affect the comprises C10 (chosen to set the
Without getting deep into maths (this is frequency and cause break-up of the frequency range), The series
probably not the place to digress into reception. combination of C 11, C12, and C13, plus
Bessel Functions) a frequency The circuit of Figure 1 avoids this the effect of the varicap diode, D1, in
modulated signal theoretically has an problem by using a separate oscillator series with C8.
infinite bandwidth, but the majority of and output stage. Capacitive loatfing on The operating frequency can be set by
 OUTPUT
adjusting L1, which is an
adjustable inductor available
from Cirkit. The frequency
range can be chosen (within limits) by
choosing the value of C10.
Frequency modulation is provided by

”PF
' — | es
cu the varying capacitance of D] as the
modulating signal is applied to it. It is
biassed to the supply voltage via R8,
because a varicap diode must be reverse
fl .
biassed to a significantly higher voltage
2: than its modulating signal amplitude to
provide approximately linear modulation.
N
Equally, if the rf signal is large compared
5%
to the reverse bias voltage the diode will
generate RF harmonics.
5%.
To digress briefly, a varactor
as frequency multiplier diode (widely used
5 as
in Amateur radio 70cm transmitters a
few years ago) is simply a high power
version of a varicap diode. The
2%
0
.. capacitively stored charge dumped when
II ' ‘5 the voltage across the diode changes
significantly generates harmonics.
4F,mt
4:m

Television tuners use varicap diodes for

4D

tuning, and people are surprised when

they multiply the frequency of every
taxi, CB, radio amateur transmission
p

into the TV frequency range, generating

their own interference. Luckily the
fl

signal level in this project is low enough

to minimise the generation of
harmonics, and most of what are
z

generated are filtered out.

Output
-

The output from the oscillator is fed to

an output stage, with extra matching
provided by the ratio of C12 and C13. In
s

fact the impedance at the emitter of TR]

is less than that at the base of TR2, but
t

the aim of this design is the disturb the

oscillator as little as possible while
providing only just enough output for
I

the required range.

TR2 is operated in class AB, which
generates some harmonics. These are
largely removed by the tank circuit, L2
and C14, and by the output filter C15
and L3. This is a series tuned circuit,
which has a low impedance at
resonance, and a high impedance at
frequencies far from resonance. The
overall effect of this is that, if the range
at the wanted frequency is 30M, the
harmonics are unlikely to be detectable
at over 3M, too short a range to cause
anyone any interference.
The output power from the
transmitter can be adjusted by varying
the bias to TR2, or by changing the ratio
o f C l 2 and C13 (to vary the drive
signal). The values of C12 and C13 have
been chosen to provide the most likely
suitable range, but these values may be
 changed while keeping the same total
series value to vary the drive to the
output stage. If the drive is set to the
lower end of the suitable range, the bias
JK1
to TRZ will be correspondingly greater
to achieve the same output power, and
because the stage will be operating Antenna
closer to class A than to class B in this
circumstance, there will be less
harmonics generated in the first place.

Audio Gain
The output signal from the guitar is not
sufficient to modulate the transmitter
fully, so an audio preamplifier is needed.

‘1. 01
To achieve good low noise low
distortion amplification a 5532 op-amp

I
is used. This is one of the lowest noise
op-amps available (though the LT1088
is better but costs 10 times as much) and
it does not suffer from phase reversal if
its input is overloaded. What is phase
reversal? Well, if you exceed the
common mode range of some op-amps,
and increasing negative input signal on
the positive input of an op-amp can
ii!
cause an increasing positive output
signal on the output.
The gain is spread over two stages to
minimise the distortion which results
from asking relatively modest op-amps to
provide high gain. FM broadcasts use
increased treble on the transmission
(called pro-emphasis) with a matching
treble reduction in the receiver to cut the
noise level. The first op-amp has an consist of strips of double sided copper negative terminal of the battery via the
appropriate pie-emphasis (751.15) provides 'clad board (matched pcb) soldered to the first signal input to ground in a stereo
by C18. with R13 limiting the rise of gain top tracks provided for the purpose. The jack socket. This will disconnect the
as frequency increases to within the audio prototype used extra-thin board, of the battery if the guitar is not plugged in,
range. Without this, the gain would rise type used to make multilayer PCBs. and is probably a more certain way to
with increase of frequency until the op- However, the standard thicknese type will prevent the battery being left switched
amp ran out of gain. work just as well, but it is more difficult on by accident. This is illustrated in
C17 reduces any tendency for to cut. The screens on the prototype are Figure 2.
interference from, for example, the local only 10mm high, which allows for a
taxi firm to affect the sound. better photograph. This height of screen Adjustment
worked well on the prototype, but it Several adjustments must be carried out
Construction would probably be better to increase the before the cordless guitar attachment is
This project is best built on the printed screen height to 15mm. ready to use. The first thing to do is to
circuit board designed for the purpose. The output from the unit is fed to a find a free channel on the FM hand. If
The layout is critical to the proper short length of wire acting as an aerial. there is not any free channel in your
functioning of the unit, and although Approximately 12 inches of wire should area, there is no point in building the
experienced rf constructors may be able be connected to the “output” pad on the project. [fthere is a vacant frequency,
to achieve a good result with their own pcb, and fed out of the metal case via a the oscillator must be tuned to this
layout, there is a danger that the small hole. frequency. This should be possible by
oscillator will not remain stable if the The case chosen for the unit is a die- adjusting L1 (using a non-inductive
layout is altered. cast box available from Cirkit. Space has trimming tool if available). Should the
Check the pin connections of the been allowed to the left of the output available tuning range be inadequate, the
transistors. The 2N2369s on the stage screen to fit a standard jack socket value of C10 may need to be changed. If
prototype had the collector and emitter when the unit is in its case. There is only you do this, do not forget that the
connections the reverse way round just sufficient room, and some makes of varicap diode and the series chain of
compared with standard BC1825 socket may not fit. It is worth checking C l 1, C12, C13 all add to the total
Screenn is also needed to keep the the space for any unusual type of socket capacitance of the tuned circuit.
oscillator stable and any harmonics inside before trying to fit it. When the frequency has been
the case. The PCB overlay shows where The power switching can be done adjusted, reduce the power using RV2
the screens should be fitted. The screens either with a switch, or by linking the until the. signal on the test receiver is
 noisy. then adjust C14 for maximum
output, with the core of L2 about half in
to the windings. If C14 is at one or other
end of its adjustment range, then adjust
the core in L2 to achieve maximum
output. Take care to use to correct
trimmer tool and not to apply much
pressure to the cores or else they will
break.
The output filter does not need
adjustment. It is there to reduce any
harmonies, which are probably not
severe enough to be antisocial. to a
slightly lower level to make sure that no
interference is caused.
Then move the receiver to the
operating range required and increase
the power (using RV2) until the signal is
no longer noisy.
Finally, plug in a guitar and play at
the maximum volume to be used. Adjust
RVl so that the sound output from the
radio is similar to that from an ordinary
broadcast station. The unit is now ready
to use, and need only be readjusted if it
is to be used in an area where the blank
channel is different from the one
originally chosen, or if it is to be used
with a guitar having a (fifferent audio
output.

m e m e - ” m a s s 1050-1115 minnow-n wmformd'leri £3.95 IJATROiiiiitit slammntsmm ,,,,,, ____£1151i

[:11m 0260-285 m. 95 m 0 Gallium W i l l y model V12P5 12V WE H A V E T H E W I D E S T CHOICE O F MTRONINEHUMEIEQIWEE ......mten
LEDeanInorSnImIedorgreen meson hsvmnmamvinputtcoutputlseiatton U S E D OSCELLOSCOPES IN THE COUNTRY HEMETIFMJWWW ilidsrsm’ m m

ELECTRONICSin ACTION
Him "pooch Miriam “Emorpackoftm £39.50 TEKTHONIX 7000 SERIES OSCILLOSCOPES
m t m m m m m m u r i n w HE
Higninteneityledaleenoryelemfirrenaopeectr Homeownerlmd7dgn24WA050Hz £1.45 AVAILABLE FROM £200 MARCHIIDghiFtM 10108011111
eehlettee 1peletIorfil5.96per1w0m.50w10.0w mm keyboard ssmouaun smmm 55.00 PLUG-INS SOLD SEPARATELY WIMmmMM-m
m stepping "Inlet" phlee 121! 7.5“ lip Airport Amos-c large slapping motor 141/ moilummmrmrtc- 2mm... ...—2 75
sees 15' step 27am 68mm die bow 8.3mm shalt £3.95 TEKTHONIX msa M m 100MHz 21m WWEMIWHMMN- m . . ............
soohms
SMtoersisppingmoIoreriorenip £4.95 012200.“)lorebdx0130
I'll-guilty photo resist copperded epoxy glen boerde Potyeeter eepecitore box type flfimm load pitch
Dimensions single sided double sided osut asovne tap seen 14p 100+ en 1000-.
31:4 Wile 90.96 £1.07 1u1350VDG 209 eaeh.15p100+,10p10m+ WLTEIEHSWWWM. 00101001”
mm £2.40 mes 22m ascvuc aopsscnmp ioo+.ispiooo+ Hill
m a m €5.37 — 3.3IIf100VDC ”amnion 100+ 15p1m0+
121(12indiee £10.50 -— 10150Vhbotar eleclromlcaxtelleem 1 5 p m
h e l l - m Blltertee 7.5p 1000+ 0.22uF 250V polyester axial lends 159 eedI m urmmwmmnm
AMHF'HSWHAH men 7.5p100+ MEAL/DAM HF PM! M 910‘..........
M500mAHMt1|etltlartlas €1.56 Phllhl 123 eerie- aolidalum'l‘iu'nexlalleads m nmmuwmmmwni
M Wit £1.95 33uF 10V & 2.2uF 40V 40;) um. 259101»
C(HPH) LEAH mm Phllbe 100wtee22uF63Vexial m m 1 b t m
£3.61) Muiflayar .w ceramic espeeitnrs all Siren pent-I 10W 'I'EKTFIDNIXIIGG Dusiirene 100MHz Delay sweep Slow. £450
C 2m with solder tags
100pF.150pF.220pF.Io.ooOpFlImi 109mm HP 174“! Dul Trace iDDMHz Delay'aoaeolneiog storage..9150
DIji-IPZJ 1.2m seen THIS IS JUST! SAMPLE. MANY OTHERS AVAILABLE
Dmmwloernan £4.95 spromaeptoom W W W eon
m s.4v 110mAH 24.95 q amvrlc mm: mm «museum type PHIJPSM I P W synttledzlen‘FqtInn Geog-5133mm
PM 5139
II1IMHz new..........................................
immuoldertnge £1.55 eorttei'iitgnopobs) fimfiorflsfifllorto
Subcluiiheoteer £2.50 Wmmmimwmmfllw MAFIODNI 2010 Symon“ AWFM 5943” “141404094"! E2000
MAIHHO) 13mm £1.15 eeo ohm 2w m l film reeietor4p100+2p1000+ m 9081 3 9 M Sig Gun 1 . 5-5213”
£1.95 Solideemon remveryiawlnduetnmefleelfor EIPIDANA 3 1 m i n m m m ~ t s m o . . .2950
15MwithtegelPtriipeCTV)
mmm4ueellsln5houre firemenmmzwssmzwzspeem 159 100+ WI. 9921 Frequeno/ Counter”
moment 1991 Neuneeoond Universal unlit... sew
oHOeorDei'l 12-14PIouS+1xPF3l1.2.30r-I Wehmarertgeal025w05w1w emailed” m m Mllllvolmrruu MIMI-1.5911: €450 W Q M W W I M M 1610M...
dale mey Damaged at Mime] £535 canton resistors please send SE for list. museum HF Millivuimuter Tme HMS Irish-1.5GHz. £300
High pewerelI-uer es shove but charges the Intelligent 4 digit alphanumeric [51:7 dot 0.145'ired LED m m m m Mod. New 111MHz-1.SGH: maul-nu .....122so FAHNELL Isolating Transit:
GU500 240V SOOVA . unused
CeanslnStuesMsCsensmba disphmplnoelmhwidepsckageSiernonstype LYONS Pars" Pulse Gen. PHF IN: 20t £150
Winner“ £10.95 DLR1414I£J each 22.00% datafliaets £1.00 ooum Bram-lion Ksoooo Logo Arnlyse..............................
m m m
F cells 32‘” x 87m
MIG ulllfilllly
€3.95
AMD 27256-3 EFROM: £2.00 elm 21.2511!»
DIP swim aPOO 12 pin (EFIG 50134023)
qsLL PssszuH Mun-ed Sig mu m Imnsztmlzrm
PHILIPS P116309 Distortion Meter 001K... ...”... ......2300
NEW EQUIPMENT
Feeliwitneoiderteoetzv £430 Boneaen 40mm.» EHUEL 5 KJOER Vibration Elmer System
museum» WIMTI'pIeTIsIa tummm_mr
42x18rrlndie12’il £1.45 DiskdriveboxoetoriZSdiekdnvevfithmomlor'apower Gutsifimg OI Exdlei Denim! 1047; Power C W 2706 in smaller moxmmsmmrmmwm........Jo:
ever at 4171mm161fln an with red n his? supply iem grey elastic arxzsexzmnm 2-3.9 In 1 7 m - 4001 bl]
Oths rEIl. equipment available
ma:oscuosmPE man:on Tram 201M: Calpeiietl 7mm
leads 4. 81! £7.95 or £49.50 for 10 -mEmzli§30m|Tm2nMHt WWW
40611 mmmaiimmyeem Hand held anaemic remote control £3.95 Almliermndsearltetis- dmdlmnmmwflmm
M m m m fi m m w s crime gas relaySOxtUlnmdawitt-Iaw‘retemiinals
will alsowolkasaneenlmtztipeadiorfijowrtoc
: SPECTRUM ANALYSERS BLAL‘IC [TM EDUIPIEIT INF II lilil 5i
WMFZOV £9.50 8 W 101! £1.95
W F 151! 22.951001!!! 1 “ £1.50 M6121! bettery [or our alarms oriiattlers 75p each HP 141T with 1355!. 5 IF Plug-in IOMHz-iBGl-Iz.
£50 on per too H P 1 4 1 T W M 8543 5. 85525 MHZ-1250M”!
55100015 001! “.95 H P IMIT with 855“. & 5552A MHZ-1250M
hegment eon-non and. M y 1%!!! £0.45 All promote advertised are new and unused H P 1 4 1 T with 3555A 3 85523 MHz-MHZ
maritime law drop out 5v repeater ureessonisrwise stated Wide range of H P 140T MM 8553!. II 6552A 1 K H z - I 1 0 M H
roan n e w film OM05 ‘I'I'L 74HC 74F L'eIeer Trensistors lute M fl m l TF2370 301-12-110MHZ...
7812anfl791212v1ktogidms Bump-ion Rochargable batteries capacitors H P 1820 Willi 85553 ‘WKHZ-‘IWDM
LMaa7k T06 use Variable regulmr £1.” tools one always in stock. HP 3592.! 0.02Hz-25.5KH:1 m x i l i u ........................21!
£1.10 1110' Please add £1.95 towards PEP
GM! FET low ieokage wrent $8873 £12K um Used Equipment - GUARANTEED. Manuals supplied it possibie
£95 10+ 7.95 100+ VAT included in all prices
38250 P WNW MOSFEI’ £0.45 This is a VERY SMALL SAMPLE OF STOCK, SAE or telephom Ior lists. Piease dleck availability heiore ordering
30550 transistor ”.95 per 100 JPG ELECTRONICS CARRIAGE all units £16. VAT to beedded to total at Goods and Carriage
74L505 he: inverter £10.on per 100
used 8748 W i l d e £3.50 276-278 Chatswonh Road
Chesterti Id S40 23"
STEWART of READING
SL952 UHF Uniting amplifier LC t o endure
mmti'lg package with date sheet £1. 95
AccossNisa Orders
110 WYKEHAM ROAD, READING BERKS seam.
”£27932 £1.25 each
emrw 109 100» (0246) 21 1202
TELEPHONE m4268041Fax:l1734 1696
(H m m
Sinclair Ight gun termineted with died: plug and PPB
div oiveee sign-I Mien polmed natldzfiehering Callers w e l c o m e