Radio Remote Control using DTMF

Here is a circuit of a remote control unit which makes use of the radio frequency signals to control various electrical appliances. This remote control unit has 4 channels which can be easily extended to 12. This circuit differs from similar circuits in view of its simplicity and a totally different concept of generating the control signals. Usually remote control circuits make use of infrared light to transmit control signals. Their use is thus limited to a very confined area and line-of-sight. However, this circuit makes use of radio frequency to transmit the control signals and hence it can be used for control from almost anywhere in the house. Here we make use of DTMF (dual-tone multi frequency) signals (used in telephones to dial the digits) as the control codes. The DTMF tones are used for frequency modulation of the carrier. At the receiver unit, these frequency modulated signals are intercepted to obtain DTMF tones at the speaker terminals. This DTMF signal is connected to a DTMF-to-BCD converter whose BCD output is used to switch-on and switch-off various electrical appliances (4 in this case).

Updated Circuit

The remote control transmitter consists of DTMF generator and an FM transmitter circuit. For generating the DTMF frequencies, a dedicated IC UM91214B (which is used as a dialer IC in telephone instruments) is used here. This IC requires 3 volts for its operation. This is provided by a simple zener diode voltage regulator which converts 9 volts into 3 volts for use by this IC. For its time base, it requires a quartz crystal of 3.58 MHz which is easily available from electronic component shops. Pins 1 and 2 are used as chip select and DTMF mode select pins respectively. When the row and column pins (12 and 15) are shorted to each other, DTMF tones corresponding to digit 1 are output from its pin 7. Similarly, pins 13, 16 and 17 are additionally required to dial digits 2, 4 and 8. Rest of the pins of this IC may be left as they are. The output of IC1 is given to the input of this transmitter circuit which effectively frequency modulates the carrier and transmits it in the air. The carrier frequency is determined by coil L1 and trimmer capacitor VC1 (which may be adjusted for around 100MHz operation). An antenna of 10 to 15 cms (4 to 6 inches) length will be sufficient to provide adequate range. The antenna is also necessary because the transmitter unit has to be housed in a metallic cabinet to protect the frequency drift caused due to stray EM fields. Four key switches (DPST push-to-on spring loaded) are required to transmit the desired DTMF tones. The switches when pressed generate the specific tone pairs as well as provide power to the transmitter circuit simultaneously. This way when the transmitter unit is not in use it consumes no power at all and the battery lasts much longer. Updated Circuit -(Bug Free)

The receiver unit consists of an FM receiver (these days simple and inexpensive FM kits are readily available in the market which work exceptionally well), a DTMF-to-BCD converter and a flip-flop toggling latch section. The frequency modulated DTMF signals are received by the FM receiver and the output (DTMF tones) are fed to the dedicated IC KT3170 which is a DTMF-to-BCD converter. This IC when fed with the DTMF tones gives corresponding BCD output; for example, when digit 1 is pressed, the output is 0001 and when digit 4 is pressed the output is 0100. This IC also requires a 3.58MHz crystal for its operation. The tone input is connected to its pin 2 and the BCD outputs are taken from pins 11 to 14 respectively. These outputs are fed to 4 individual ?D? flip-flop latches which have been converted into toggle flip-flops built around two CD4013B ICs. Whenever a digit is pressed, the receiver decodes it and gives a clock pulse which is used to toggle the corresponding flip-flop to the alternate state. The flip-flop output is used to drive a relay which in turn can latch or unlatch any electrical appliance. We can upgrade the circuit to control as many as 12 channels since IC UM91214B can generates 12 DTMF tones. For this purpose some modification has to be done in receiver unit and also in between IC2 and toggle flip-flop section in the receiver. A 4-to-16 lines demultiplexer (IC 74154) has to be used and the number of toggle flip-flops have also to be increased to 12 from the existing 4

Download PCB (EXPRESS PCB FORMAT)

1) Transmitter Section - download-it
2) Receiver Section - download-it
3) Front panel (for cabin) - download-it

4) Data flow Diagram (PPT) - download-it

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60W Linear amplifier

The 60 Watt linear amplifier is simple all solid state circuit using power mosfet IRF840. The IRF series of power transistors are available in various voltage and power ratings. A single IRF840 can handle maximum power output of 125 watts. Since these transistors are used in inverters and smps they are easily available for around Rs: 20/-.

The IRF linear amplifier can be connected to the out put of popular VWN-QRP to get an output of 60 Watts. The circuit draws 700 ma at 60 Volt Vcc. Good heat sink is a must for the power transistor.

Alignment of the circuit is very easy. Connect a dummy load to the out put of the circuit. You can use some small bulb like 24V 6Watts as the dummy load. I have even used 230V 60Watts bulb as dummy load with my IRF840 power amplifier working at 120Volts. Adjust the 10K preset to get around 100 ma Drain current. I used gate voltage of 0.8V with my linear amplifier. A heigh gate voltage can make the power transistor get distroyed by self oscillation. So gate voltage must be below 2V and fixing at 1V will be safe.

Bifalar transformaer T1 is wound with 8 turns 26SWG on 1.4 x 1 balun core.

The coil on the drain of IRF is 3 turns 20 SWG wound on 4 number of T13.9 torroids (two torroids are stacked to form a balun core). The RFC at the Vcc line is 20 Turns 20 SWG wound on T20 torroid.

VHF UHF TV modulator

Simple TV Modulator that working on VHF UHF Band, the oscillator generates frequency is modulated with the video signal and the modulated carrier wave thus generated is fed into the TV set's aerial input via a cable. Then all that remains to do is tune the VHF UHF TV set to the correct frequency.

The harmonics generator converts the oscillator signal into a sort of frequency spectrum containing all the multiples of 27 MHz up to about 1800 MHz. The TV modulator's output signal is made up of a large number of little peaks, each of which is a complete transmitter signal. At least one of these will always be in band I (VHF channels 2. . . 4), one in band III (VHF channels S. . .12) and many of them will be in bands IV and V (UHF channels 21.. .69).

MC1374 TV RF Modulator

The MC1374 includes an FM audio modulator, sound carrier oscillator, RF oscillator, and RF dual input modulator. It is designed to generate a TV signal from audio and video inputs. This TV RF modulator based MC1374 IC from Motorola with wide dynamic range and low distortion audio make it particularly well suited for applications such as video tape recorders, video disc players, TV games and subscription decoders.
The IC features:

• Single Supply, 5.0 V to 12 V
• Channel 3 or 4 Operation
• Variable Gain TV RF Modulator
• Wide Dynamic Range
• Low Inter modulation Distortion
• Positive or Negative Sync
• Low Audio Distortion
• Few External Components

For more info about TV RF Modulator, please download
datasheet - http://www.ziddu.com/download.php?uid=a7OdlJWlbbCbluKnZqqhkZSoY6ucnJWo6
application note
http://www.ziddu.com/download.php?uid=bqqelZesaa2bnJSltayZlJyiZ62WlZep7

Audio Video RF Modulator With LM2889

The LM2889 is designed to interface audio video RF modulator signals to the antenna terminals of a TV receiver. It consists of a sound sub carrier oscillator and FM modulator, video clamp, and RF oscillators and modulators for two low-VHF channels.

Audio Video RF Modulator with LM2889 allows video information from VTRs, video disk systems, games, test equipment, or similar sources to be displayed on black and white or color TV receivers.

Features :

• Pin for pin compatible with LM1889 RF section
• Low distortion FM sound modulator (less than 1% THD)
• Video clamp for AC-coupled video
• Low sound oscillator harmonic levels
• 10V to 16V supply operation
• DC channel switching
• Excellent oscillator stability
• Low inter modulation products

For the detail about this audio video RF modulator, please follow this link for datasheet.
http://www.ziddu.com/download.php?uid=bKufnJynZa+emZqnsayZlJyiY62WlZur3
Application Note
http://www.ziddu.com/download.php?uid=a6yflJimZqqcluKnZKqhkZSoYaugnZqu4

TV RF Amplifier 5W With BLW98

This application circuit is a TV RF amplifier for driving small UHF TV transmitters, with gain is 7dB and can amplify a signal between 470-860 MHz. Drive input the circuit with 1 to 1,5 Watts signal. Better use double layer PCB with the second layer connected to earth.

Use a stabilized power supply 24 volts and at least 5 Amps. The transistor case is the SOT-122A and be careful because the transistor is very toxic for your health. Tuning of this tv rf amplifier can be achieved turning the two variable capacitors. Do not forget to use heat sink for both transistors, specially for the BLW98 and it would be better if you place a small fan as well.

For more details for constructing this tv rf amplifier, please download datasheet

( http://www.ziddu.com/download.php?uid=ZbCcnJamZq6ampenr6yZlJyiYa2Wl5Wn1 )

20 dB VHF RF Amplifier

This RF amplifier is to strengthen a small signal in the region of VHF or FM, or it is we lead a body, or a receptor. The preamplifier that to you we propose offers 20dB in all the region of VHF and it still can reach also their 500MHZ.

The amplifier is a circuit of high frequency RF with distinguishable materials. The amplifier as circuit strengthens the tendency of signal with concrete aid, depending on the frequency of signal. If the frequency of signal is included in the limits of spectrum of frequencies of amplifier, then it is strengthened, otherwise it is downgraded. Each amplifier of this category, accordingly with his designing, strengthens a concrete region of frequencies and obeys in same characteristics. The one that to you we present today concerns the regions of VHF where they exist and the corresponding television stations for channels 5 until 12. His circuit he is enough simple, so that it is made easily with materials that exist in the trade. It is based on transistors with aid until the 500MHZ. The type of transistor can be BF197 or some other.

It appears the theoretical circuit of amplifier. As we see it is constituted from two similar circuits (rungs). In this circuits are not included in joint action circuits. With that way is covered a wide spectrum of frequencies, without is differentiated abruptly the aid as for the frequency. With this provision we have smaller gain but big breadth of frequencies. The two rungs are same, with the same prices of materials and each rung offer aid roughly 10dB. The transistors and the remainder materials, because the industrial manufacture, have almost the same characteristics. Associates the particular characteristics of demagogues are altered mainly the aid of rung. Each rung uses a transistor of type npn in provision of common emitter that functions in order A. his rungs works in provision of common emitter with null resistance in emitter. In each rung a network of resistances between the collectors and the bases polarize the transistors and ensures the operation of circuit. The junction between the rungs becomes via ceramic capacitors of small capacity from 0,1nF until 0,22nF (at preference ceramic). In the place of two rungs we can try various transistors of independent company or even different between them. The circuit of course cannot work with all of them. The tendency of catering should emanate from stabilised power supply with tendency 12V. Depending on the tendency of catering and the type of transistor, in each rung of amplifier it needs enter also different resistances. Force of expense, under conditions of high excitation it can exceed the 1 mW.

MOSFET-BASED PREAMPLIFIER FOR FM RADIO DXing

FM transmissions can be received within a range of 40 km. If you are in fringe areas, you may get a very weak signal. FM DXing refers to hearing distant stations (1500 km or more) on the FM band (88-108 MHz). The term ‘DX’ is borrowed from amateur radio operators. It means ‘distance unknown’; ‘D’ stands for ‘distance’ and ‘X’ stands for ‘unknown.’ For an FM receiver lacking gain, or having a poor signal-to-noise ratio, using an external preamplifier improves the signal level.

The dual-gate MOSFET preamplifier circuit shown in Fig. 1 gives an excellent gain of about 18 dB. It costs less and is simple to design. Field-effect transistors (FETs) are superior to bipolar transistors in many applications as these have a much higher gain—approaching that of a vacuum tube. These are classified into junction FETs and MOSFETs. On comparing the FETs with a vacuum tube, the gate implies the grid, the source implies the cathode, and the drain implies the plate.

In a transistor, the base implies the grid, the emitter implies the source, and the collector implies the drain. In dual-gate FETs, gate 1 is the signal gate and gate 2 is the control gate. The gates are effectively in series, making it easy to control the dynamic range of the device by varying the bias on gate 2. The MOSFET is more flexible because it can be controlled by a positive or negative voltage at gate 2. The resistance between the gate and rest of the device is extremely high because these are separated by a thin dielectric layer. Thus the MOSFET has an extremely high input impedance. Dual-gate MOSFETs (DG MOSFETs) are very popular among radio amateurs. These are being used in IF amplifiers, mixers, and preamplifiers in HF-VHF transceivers.
The isolation between the gates (G1 and G2) is relatively high in mixer applications. This reduces oscillator pulling and radiation. The oscillator pulling is troublesome particularly in shortwave communications. It is a characteristic in many unsophisticated frequency-changer stages, where the incoming signal, if large, pulls the oscillator frequency slightly off the frequency set by the tuning knob and towards a frequency favourable to the (large) incoming signal. A DG MOSFET can also be used for automatic gain control in RF amplifiers. DG MOSFET BF966S is an n-channel depletion-type MOSFET that is used for general-purpose FM and VHF applications.

In this configuration, it is used for FM radio band. The quadratic input characteristic of the FET input stage gives better results than the exponential characteristic of a bipolar transistor. Gate 1 is meant for input and gate 2 is for gain control. The input from the antenna is fed to gate G1 via C1 and L1. Trimmer VC1 is used to tune and select the input frequencies. Capacitor C4 (100 kpF) at the gain control electrode (gate 2) decouples any variation in G2 voltage at radio frequencies to maintain constant gain. Set preset VR (47k) to adjust the gain or connect a fixed resistor for fixed gain. The output of the circuit is obtained via capacitor C5 and fed to the FM receiver amplifier.

For indoor use, connect a ¼- wavelength whip antenna, ½-wavelength 1.5m wire antenna, or any other indoor antenna set-up with this circuit. You may use a 9V battery without the transformer and diode 1N4007, or any 6V-12V power supply to power the circuit (refer Fig. 1). The RF output can be taken directly through capacitor C5. For an improved input and output impedance, change C1 from 1 kpF to 22 pF and C5 from 1 kpF to 100 kpF. For outdoor use at top mast, like a TV booster, connect the C5 output to the power supply unit (PSU) line. Use RG58U/ RG11 or RG174 cable for feeding the power supply to the receiver amplifier. The PSU

for the circuit is the same as that of a TV booster. For TV boosters, two types of mountings are employed: The fixed tuned booster is mounted on the mast of the antenna. The tunable booster consisting of the PSU is placed near the TV set for gain control of various TV channels. (For details, refer ‘High-Gain 4-Stage TV Booster’ on page 72 of Electronics Projects Vol. 8.) Mount the DG MOSFET BF966S at the solder side of the PCB to keep parasitic capacitance as small as possible. Use an epoxy PCB. After soldering, clean the PCB with isopropyl alcohol. Use a suitable
enclosure for the circuit. All component leads must be small. Avoid shambled wiring to prevent poor gain or self oscillations. Connecting a single-element cubical quad antenna to the circuit results in ‘Open Sesam’ for DXing.

You can use a folded dipole or any other antenna. However, an excellent performance is obtained with a cubical quad antenna (refer Fig. 2) and Sangean ATS- 803 world-band receiver. In an amplifier, FET is immune to strong signal overloading. It produces less cross-modulation than a conventional transistor having negative temperature coefficient, doesn’t succumb to thermal runaway at high frequencies, and decreases noise. In VHF and UHF, the MOSFET produces less noise and is comparable with JFETs. DG FETs reduce the feedback capacitance as well as the noise power coupled to the gate from the channel, giving stable unneutralised power gain for wide-band applications. This circuit can be used for other frequency bands by changing the input
and the output LC networks. The table here gives details of the network components for DXing of stations at various frequency bands.

Simple RF Power Meter

Simple RF Power Meter

Here is a simple set up which will enable them to measure the out put power of their transmitter. All that they require is a good multimeter which has a sensitivity of 20k ohms/4 Watts which is adequate for low power transmitters. Many beginners trying out their skill with QRP TX, for the first time have to overcome many problems before they are able to come on the air. On usual complaint is that, every thing is working fine but the signal is not going out.

The 8k resistor should be kept close to the out put terminal of the transmitter. Switch on the transmitter in the CW mode and measure the DC voltage with the multimeter. If the voltage is V then the out put power is given by Power = V^2/50