Home › Magazines › 2005 › February › VHF FM Antenna Booster

VHF FM Antenna Booster

New horizons in 3-metre band DXing

Published in issue 340, February 2005

VHF FM Antenna Booster

Together with a good directional antenna this high performance two-stage antenna amplifier for the VHF FM broadcast band will enable you to capture far removed (DX) stations. Alternatively, it will drastically improve reception of FM signals you’ve come to accept as marginal and noisy in your area. FM broadcast transmitters are normally meant to have a useful range of 30-100 km. Fine, but if you are in a fringe area, all you may get is a very weak signal, possibly even blotted out by a powerful station around the corner.

Components

Resistors:

R1 = 10kOhm
R2 = 150kOhm
R3 = 1MOhm
R4 = 220Ohm
R5 = 100kOhm
R6 = 3Ohm3
R7 = 1kOhm
R8 = 1kOhm2*
P1 = 47kOhm preset H
P2 = 10kOhm linear potentiometer
Capacitors:
C1, C6 = 22pF ceramic
C2, C5, C14 = 22pF trimmer
C3, C7, C17, C18 = 1nF ceramic
C4, C9, C13, C15 = 100nF ceramic
C8, C10 = 10nF ceramic
C11, C16 = 100µF 25V radial
C12 = 3pF9 ceramic
C19 = 12pF ceramic
Semiconductors:
D1,D3 = 1N4007
D2 = LED
T1,T2 = BF965 or BF966S
Inductors:
FB1,FB2,FB3 = 5 turns 0.15 mm (38SWG) enamelled copper wire on ferrite bead
L1 = 7 turns 0.9 mm dia. (20SWG) enamelled copper wire; internal dia. 5mm; length 10mm; tap at 5 turns from ground
L2,L3 = 7 turns 0.9 mm dia. (20SWG), internal dia. 5mm; closewound
L4 = 30 turns 0.15mm dia (38SWG) enamelled copper wire on a 1MOhm 0.5W resistor
Miscellaneous:
K1-K4 = F socket, PCB mount
S1 = on/off switch, 1 contact
PCB, ref. 040145-1

Click below to download a PDF copy of this article from Elektor magazine.

 

Downloads 

PDF Article (U050246.pdf)
10 Elektor Credits
PCB layout (040145-PCB.pdf)
10 Elektor Credits
 

Order from Elektor 

PCB
040145-1
 

Order from Eurocircuits 

PCB

Please note. In view of the complexity of international markets, Elektor cannot guarantee the availability of components for this project.

Subscribe now

Subscribe to our free
E-weekly Newsletter!

Enter your Email address:

Follow Elektor

      

Act now!

Sponsored

FAQ

Before submitting questions, review our FAQ section!

Bestseller

Controller Area Network Projects

The aim of this book is to teach you the basic principles of CAN networks and in addition the development of microcontroller based projects using the CAN bus.

Package Deals

Elektor Bundles

Check our Package Deals and save money! Discounts up to 19% now available!

Price Slashed

Elektor OSPV

This Open Source People Vehicle is perfect for factory halls, warehouses, hospitals, colleges, schools etc.