Aircraft Band ReceiverWritten By: Steve Hobley

TOOLS:Small phillips and flat bladedscrewdriver (1)

PARTS:Analog AM/FM receiver (1)from RadioShack. Make sure to getyourself a receiver with an analog dial,not an LCD tuning display.

SUMMARYThe FM radio band (88-108 MHz) lies just below the Civil Aviation Band (108-138 MHz),which is used for air traffic control, air shows, and other ground-to-air communications. Thismeans that it's easy to modify an ordinary analog AM/FM radio to receive thesetransmissions.Check out more Weekend Projects.

Aircraft Band Receiver

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Step 1 Get Yourself an Analog Portable Radio

Pick an older style AM/FM radiowith a traditional tuning dial, notone with a synthesized tuner.For our project here we'reusing the venerableRadioShack AM/FM Pocket Radio.(As of 11/9/12 the RadioShackPocket Radio no longer usesanalog tuning, It has the tradionaldial, but now uses digital tuning.The copper loops referenced in therest of the project no longer apply.)

Step 2 Remove the Back Panel

Remove the screws from the backof your radio and gently pry openthe casing.Case screws to consumerelectronics can frequentlybe found inside of the batterycompartment, so make sure to lookthere if your case isn't comingapart when you think you'veremoved all of the screws.

Aircraft Band Receiver

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Step 3 Locate the Coils

Identify the three copper-coloredcoils (circled here in red) and thetwo tuning transformers (shown inthe blue boxes).FYI: That clear plastic boxto the left of the coils is theradio's tuning capacitor. Move thedial around on the front of the radioand you'll see its parts move insidethe clear case.

Step 4 Adjust the coils

Switch the radio on and set it to FMreception. Tune to a station high onthe dial, as close as you can to 108MHz.Using a flat screwdriver, slowlyexpand the coil windings on allthree coils.You should notice the tuned radiostation is moving slowly down thedial. This is good, as we areexpanding the reception range ofthe radio in the band above 108MHz.

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This document was last generated on 2012-11-12 11:13:18 PM.

Step 5 Test it Out

Retune the radio and check that theoriginal station is still available, butlower down on the dial.In the picture you can see that thestation around 108 MHz has nowmoved down to the location marked101 MHz on the dial.The final step is to turn the radiodial in-between stations, so that allyou hear is hiss. Now adjust thetuning transformers so that thishiss is at the loudest possiblelevel.Congratulations! The modificationsare complete. Put the case back onand let's pay a visit to the localairport to try it out.Get as close to the tower as youcan, and tune the dial in the newextended region you just created.When planes are in the area, youshould be able to pick up theircommunications!

Aircraft Band Receiver

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Aircraft Band ReceiverWritten By: Steve Hobley

TOOLS:PARTS:SUMMARYStep 1 Get Yourself an Analog Portable RadioStep 2 Remove the Back PanelStep 3 Locate the CoilsStep 4 Adjust the coilsStep 5 Test it Out