RadioBanter - View Single Post - Good reading on radio modifications/building

Edward Feustel · January 24th 08, 12:06 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.homebrew

On Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:10:01 -0800 (PST), wrote:

I'm curious about how I might modify say my Aviation Radio (my hand
held spare I keep in case of lost electric in an aircraft). To pick up
amateur bands as well as the Aviation bands.

I'm not interested in the slightest as to whether or not this is
legal, I'm simply looking for educational purposes.
I wanted to get one and then I became curious ... as to how difficult
it would be or how it would be done, what kind of reading I would do
if I wanted to build/modify any radio etc.

As I understand it, aviation radios use frequency modulation.
If you are interested in the vhf or uhf amateur transmissions,
then you can build a simple converter in which the portions of
the bands you are interested can be converted to be presented
in the aviation bands.

Your best bets for dealing with other modulation modes such as cw and
ssb is to either buy an older transceiver or shortwave receiver with
beat frequency oscillator (or ssb reception). Alternatively you can
get a receiver kit or build a simple regenerative receiver.

In both cases, an investment in the ARRL's Amateur Radio Handbook
is advisable. An edition after about 1990 (they are done yearly)
would be appropriate.
73,
Ed, N5EI