My version of Kitchen's Regenerative Receiver Part Two

As you can see, this one has a few more "bell's and whistles" then my first one. Far Circuits provides a PCB for the project, and I highly suggest it. Regen's can be sensitive beasts, and the pre-configured PCB really helps. The radio uses two 10-365pF variable capacitors, one for the main tune and one for the regen controller. I tried to find a smaller one for the main tuner, which would have given me better control of the tuning, but no joy. A smaller one would allow more use of the capacitor instead of just a part of it, and would also give me slightly better bandspread. As it is, I figure I can only use maybe 1/3 of the cap, but yet the band spread goes from 4.5mHz to at least 10mHz. it tunes FAST! The fine control is really helpful here, I can tune really well with it. The bigger knob on the main tuner helps too.

I used an old JPEG of a compass rose for the tuner. If 0 degrees is my starting point, I can only go to like 90 degrees before it won't tune further.

The SSW/CW switch gives me a better control of some band shaping, makes code sound a bit better when I switch it in.

The case is a Radio Shack large project case, plastic, to reduce hand capacitance. Charles uses plywood, but I like the streamlined look of the black plastic. It really works much better than the first one that was mostly copper.

I used RU-174 shielded coax for all runs that carried RF, and I think that helped a lot too. I asked Charles about the attenuator for the rig, mine is just a 1K micro potentiometer. The attenuator allows you to "control" overly strong stations that may interfere with your ability to pick up weaker ones. He says he uses an attenuator that is consisted of several mica caps in series. I will check on that one.

This rig was a lot of fun to make, and its really sensitive. Very clear reception, I use my 400 foot giant loop antenna with excellent results. I have also used a 20 foot antenna with good results.

After I built this radio, I let Sammi use my first regen rig; he just thought it was cool to get Radio China and even Radio Moscow on his radio.