Regen receivers

 Regen receivers are simple, but effective. I have designed and built several. See my website. One of the classics was by Charles Kitchen N1TEV. It appeared in QEX.

See also Kitchin Regen is Revealed #soldersmoke #vintageradio #retro #regen - YouTube

Simple regen RXs

There is always a challenge getting the most from very little. Great fun can be had from simple regenerative receivers. 

This simple circuit works really well and has been a great surprise. I made an 80m transceiver version and I was surprised by how uncritical it was and by what it copied. 

The video shows the transceiver version and the first link takes you to a very simple RX schematic. The second link takes you to the FETer 80m transceiver.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-or-40m-regen-rx .

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-feter-transceiver .

Simple regen RX

 There is little to beat the sheer thrill of copying stations on a very simple homebrew RX. 

The one on my website is one example, but there are plenty on the net. I was surprised just how well something so simple works. Yes, SDRs and complex rigs may be better, but you too may be surprised how well such simple circuits can work.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-or-40m-regen-rx .

I even made mine into a simple 80m transceiver!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/feter-80m-qrpp-cw-transceiver .

Simple regen RX

On my main website is the circuit of a very simple regen RX. I think mine was on 40m, but the same idea would work on most LF and MF bands. At higher frequencies the drift might be excessive. It is hard to make something simpler that will hear as much.

I seem to recall the late G3RJV (SK) referring to this in a PW magazine column some years ago.

There is a bigger schematic on the website. Click it and the image is bigger.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/regen

See also https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/feter-80m-qrpp-cw-transceiver

Simple Regen RXs and Transceivers

You may be wondering just how simple you can make an effective HF receiver. You may like to try this.  It works remarkably well.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/regen

If you want an ultra-simple transceiver, try this:

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/feter-80m-qrpp-cw-transceiver

Regen RX PCB

Yesterday, I received this email. I had no idea that Andy had made a PCB of my little regen RX.

"Hi Roger,

I saw your blog post a couple of days ago which reminded me that I had produced a little PCB of your design to test it out.

It works very well for the small number of parts used. The tuning was quite broad with the polyvaricon used but I was still able to resolve cw fairly easily down on the 40m band.

I am quite sure I still have one or two of the unpopulated PCBs knocking around in the shack should anyone want to try and build this regen.

These single evening projects that result in a useful working radio really give 100pct enjoyment factor.

Keep those designs coming !

73's

De Andy"

New 40m kit

See http://4sqrp.com/kits/Bayou%20Jumper/bjmanual11-4-16.pdf

There is a new kit coming out that is designed as a modern replacement for the famous WW2 "Paraset" spy transceiver. It uses a crystal controlled 5W TX and a regen RX. This is an American design. I have no idea how it would hold up in Europe. I have used regen receivers, but the biggest issue was knowing the frequency you were listening on precisely. I guess it would be OK for nets but I would not want to call CQ unless I was sure the frequency was really clear. QRP signals can often be weak.

40m regen receiver kit from OK land

OK1CDJ's version of my simple 40m regen receiver

Ondra OK1CDJ has been in touch again recently and he mentioned that he had built a version of my 40m regenerative receiver and is now supplying a kit of parts in the Czech Republic via www.hamshop.cz. There are some nice photos of Ondra's version built into a small tin box.  My original circuit is at https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/regen although I admit I was inspired by W2UW who used this circuit before me in his amazing FET-1 transceiver.