Make a Simple AM Radio

Building a simple 2-transistor AM radio can be a fun and educational project. Here's a basic guide to help you create a basic AM radio using two transistors:

Supplies

Step 1:

How to prepare a pcb board

Step 2:

How to prepare an AM radio antenna

Creating a ferrite coil for an AM radio involves winding insulated wire around a ferrite core. This type of coil is commonly known as a ferrite rod antenna. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make a simple ferrite coil for an AM radio:

**Materials:**

1. Ferrite rod (approximately 10 to 12 CM)

2. Insulated wire (2MM)

3. Wire strippers

4. Soldering iron and solder

5. Small wooden or plastic base

6. Insulating tape or zip ties

**Instructions:**

1. **Prepare the Ferrite Rod:**

  If the ferrite rod is not already insulated, wrap it with a layer of insulating tape. This helps prevent short circuits when winding the wire.

2. **Strip the Wire:**

  Use wire strippers to remove about 1 inch of insulation from both ends of the wire.

3. **Start Winding:**

  Begin winding the wire tightly around one end of the ferrite rod. Wind the wire evenly and tightly, making each turn close to the previous one. Aim for about 70 turns, Start winding the wire again 6 turns

4. **Connect the Coil to the Radio:**

  Connect one end of the coil to the antenna input of your AM radio using alligator clips or binding posts. Connect the other end to the ground of the radio.

5. **Mount the Ferrite Coil:**

  Attach the ferrite coil to a small wooden or plastic base. This provides stability and makes it easier to position the coil for optimal reception.

6. **Position the Coil:**

  Position the ferrite coil for the best reception. Experiment with the orientation and placement to find the position that provides the strongest signal.

7. **Tune Your Radio:**

  Tune your AM radio to a station and adjust the position of the ferrite coil until you achieve the best reception.

Step 3:

Electronic Components

Step 4:

The full project. You can see more details by watching the video

Building a simple 2-transistor AM radio can be a fun and educational project. Here's a basic guide to help you create a basic AM radio using two transistors:

**Materials:**

1. Two NPN transistors (such as 2N2222 - BC547)

2. Ferrite rod or antenna coil

3. Variable capacitor 120-220PF (for tuning)

4. Diode (1N4148 or similar)

5. Resistors (2X-2k ohms - 2X-100k ohms - 220 ohms and 15k ohms )

6. Capacitors (around 2X-10nF and 3.3nF)

7. Audio amplifier

8. Breadboard and jumper wires

9. 3-4.5V battery 

**Circuit Diagram:**

Here's a basic schematic for a 2-transistor AM radio. Connect the components as shown:

**Instructions:**

1. **Connect Components:**

  Connect the components on the breadboard according to the circuit diagram. Pay attention to the orientation of the transistors and diode.

2. **Antenna Coil:**

  Connect the antenna (wire or coil) to the circuit. You may use a ferrite rod or a coil wound around a non-conductive tube.

3. **Power Supply:**

  Connect the positive lead of the power supply or 9V battery to the circuit, and connect the negative lead to the ground (GND).

4. **Tune the Radio:**

  Adjust the variable capacitor to tune in to different AM stations. This capacitor controls the frequency at which the radio receives signals.

5. **Experiment:**

  Experiment with the values of resistors, capacitors, and the antenna coil to optimize the performance of your radio.

6. **Connect the Speaker:**

  Connect the speaker to the circuit to hear the received radio signals. The speaker should be connected to the collector of the second transistor.

7. **Test and Troubleshoot:**

  Test the radio by tuning to different stations. If you encounter issues, check your connections, component values, and transistor orientations.