3.15.2 The Simplest FM Receiver with Audio Amplifier
The radio-broadcast FM transmitters operate with output power that is much smaller than that of the AM transmitters. That is why the LF signal coming from the device on Pic.3.43 is rather small, urging the use of very sensitive headphones. They are much more expensive than the “ordinary” ones, making it better to use the cheap headphones in connection with audio amplifier. One such solution where TDA7050 IC is used is given on the Pic.3.44. The R3 resistor and capacitors C5 and C6 are to be added only if the operation of the device is unstable. There optimum values are to be found experimentally, starting with those shown in the picture.
For loudspeaker reproduction any of the previously described amplifiers can be used, e.g. that from Pic.3.21 (which we have been using, very successfully), or one of the devices described in P.E.4 and P.E.5. Since in these amplifiers a battery with voltage bigger than 3 V is used, using of R3 and C5 is obligatory. The R3 is counted from the formula
where UBAT is battery voltage, and 0.235 mA is the current through R1, that supplies T1 and T2. E.g. if UBAT=9 V, it is then and the nearest existing resistor is used.
Capacitors C5 and C6 comprise, together with R3, a pass-filter for very low frequencies, which is used to separate the HF and LF parts of the receiver.
The battery itself acts as a short-circuit for the AC currents. But when it ages its resistance increases and there is no more short-circuit. That is why C3 and C4 are added, to accomplish it.