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Loop Antenna with RF Bricks

Part 1: A DIY Shortwave Antenna with Adjustable Directivity

Loop Antenna with RF Bricks
Loop Antenna with RF Bricks
Anyone interested in receiving shortwave signals must first choose a suitable receiver or software-defined radio (SDR) module. It is easy to overlook the importance of the antenna. However, a small whip antenna or simply a short piece of wire connected to the antenna input will readily pick up interference from the household mains. To prevent newcomers from quickly losing interest in shortwave reception, this article describes how to build an effective loop antenna.
EUR

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Materials

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Bill of Materials

Component List: Amplifier

Resistors

(All SMD 1206)

R1, R2, R19, R20, R46, R47 = 220 Ω

R3, R4, R21, R22, R48, R49 = 1.3 kΩ

R5, R6, R23, R24, R50, R51 = 4.7 kΩ

R7, R10, R25, R28, R52, R55 = 180 Ω

R8, R9, R26, R27, R53, R54 = 51 Ω

R11, R12, R29, R30, R56, R57 = 12 Ω

R13, R16, R31, R34, R58, R61 = 20 Ω

R14, R15, R32, R33, R59, R60 = 100 Ω

R17, R18, R35, R36, R62, R63 = 220 Ω

R37, R38, R42, R43 = 1.6 kΩ

R39, R40, R44 = 240 Ω

R41 = 15 Ω

 

Capacitors

C1, C2, C11, C12, C31, C32 = 100 pF, X7R, SMD 0805

C3, C6…C10, C13, C16…C20, C25, C26, C33, C36…C41, C47, C48 = 100 nF, X7R, SMD 0805

C4, C5, C14, C15, C21…C24, C27…C30, C34, C35, C42 = 1 µF, X7R, SMD 0805

C43…C46 = 220 µF / 35 V, radial, Ø 10 mm, 3.8 mm lead spacing

 

Inductors

L1…L4, L9, L10 = 300 nH, 6 turns on Amidon T50-6

L5…L7 = 100 µH, SMD 2010

 

Semiconductors

D2 = P6KE15A, 15 V TVS diode, DO-41

Q1…Q12 = 2N2222

U1…U3 = LM317

 

Miscellaneous

Tr1…Tr3 = Primary: 2 × 4 turns bifilar; Secondary: 2 × 2 turns bifilar; BN73-202

J1, J2, J8 = 2-pin screw terminal blocks, 5 mm pitch

J3 = RJ45 PCB-mount jack with LEDs, vertical, shielded

PCB 2508921-1

Component List: Phantom Power Supply

Resistor

R2 = 1.6 kΩ, SMD 1206

 

Capacitors

C1, C2 = 1 µF, X7R, SMD 0805

C3, C4 = 100 nF, SMD 0805

 

Miscellaneous

F1 = 1 A slow-blow fuse, SMD 15 × 5 mm, Littelfuse Nano2

J1 = 2 × 5 pin header, 0.1-inch pitch

J5 = RJ45 PCB-mount jack with LEDs, vertical, shielded

T1…T3 = Primary: 2 × 6 turns; Secondary: 8 turns; BN73-202

Z1…Z3 = Vertical PCB-mount SMA jack

PCB 250891-2

Component List: Demodulator

Resistors

(All SMD 1206)

R1, R2 = 100 Ω

R5, R6 = 240 Ω

R7, R10, R15, R18, R23…R26 = 10 kΩ

R8, R9, R11…R14, R16, R17 = 1 kΩ

R19, R22 = 330 Ω

 

Capacitors

C1, C26, C27 = 1 µF, SMD 0805

C2, C3 = 10 nF, SMD 0805

C4, C5, C20, C21, C28, C35, C36 = 100 nF, SMD 0805

C6…C13 = 47 nF, SMD 1206, film

C14…C17, C31…C34 = 100 pF, SMD 0805

C18, C19, C29, C30 = 1 µF, SMD 0805

C22…C25 = 10 µF, SMD 1210, film

 

Inductors

L1…L4 = 100 µH, SMD 1206

 

Semiconductors

D1, D2 = 5.1 V Zener diode, SOD-80 (MiniMELF)

D3 = P6KE15A, 15 V TVS diode, DO-41

U1 = SN74CBT3253, SOIC-16

U2, U3 = LT6231, SO-8

U4 = Si5351A-B-GT, MSOP-10

U5 = MCP1754S-3302xCB, SOT-23

U6 = MCP1754S-5002xCB, SOT-23

U7 = LM317_SOT-223, SOT-223-3

 

Miscellaneous

J1 = 2 × 5 pin header, 0.1-inch pitch

X1…X3, Y1, Y3, Z1…Z3 = Vertical PCB-mount SMA jacks

Y2 = 27.000 MHz crystal, HC49-U

PCB 250891-3

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