Ramsey Electronics Ramsey 220 MHZ FM RECEIVER KIT Owners Manual

							FR-220 • 11 
RAMSEY “Learn-As-You-Build” KIT ASSEMBLY:  
 
We have a twofold strategy for the order of the following kit assembly 
steps. First, we install parts in physical relationship to each other, so 
theres minimal chance of inserting wires into wrong holes. Second, 
whenever possible, we install in an order that fits our Learn-As-You 
Build Kit building philosophy.    
 
FOR EACH PART, OUR WORD INSTALL ALWAYS MEANS THESE 
STEPS:   
1.  Pick the CORRECT part value to start with.    
2.  Insert it into the CORRECT PC board location.    
3.  ORIENT it correctly, which means: PLEASE follow the PC board  
             drawing and the written directions for ALL parts  where theres a  
             right way AND a wrong way to solder it in. (Diode bands,  
             electrolytic capacitor polarity, transistor shapes, dotted or 
             notched ends of ICs, and so forth.)    
4.  Solder ALL connections unless directed otherwise. Use enough  heat  
             and solder flow for clean, shiny, completed connections. Dont 
             be  afraid of ANY pen-style soldering iron having enough heat to  
             damage a component.    
5.  Trim or nip excess wire lengths after soldering.    
 
NOTE: Save some of the longer wire scraps nipped from resistors and 
capacitors. These will be used to form wire jumpers (JMP1, etc.) to be 
soldered in just like parts during these construction steps.   
 
Now, lets start building!   
❒1.    Press S1 firmly into its six holes and solder all six pins. The 
       switch fits the board only one way. Ignore the other set of six 
       solder connectors on the switch.    
❒2.    Install J1, the RCA-style antenna jack. Solder all 4 points.  
❒3.    Install J2, the subminiature phone jack. Solder all three points. 
       Be gentle and patient in inserting, so as not to damage the 
       solder tabs. 
❒4.    Install controls R1, R2 and R3. Insert the three PC mounted 
       controls into their positions. Check that the controls are pressed 
       in firmly and straight against the top of the board. Solder the 
       three center pins and then the two larger mechanical mounting 
tabs. Use enough solder for a solid connection.  
						

							FR-220 • 12 
 
Also, if you plan to use an enclosure other than the custom Ramsey 
enclosure and knob kit, you may wish to locate the controls differently 
than provided by the PC board. In this case, the control lugs are wired to 
the PC board using your own insulated hookup wire, kept as short as 
possible for neat installation.    
 
FURTHER COMPONENT INSTALLATION   
 
All directions on the PC board (i.e.: right, left, above, below and so 
forth)  assume orientation of your board as shown in the parts layout 
diagram. Therefore the rear of the board (connectors) is the lower end, 
and the front (controls) is the upper end. 
 
1. ANTENNA INPUT AND TUNED RF PREAMPLIFIER     
❒5.    Install C1, 4.7 or 5 pf disc capacitor. 
❒6.    Install C2, 2 or 2.2 pf. 
❒7.    Install C3, 10 pf. 
❒8.    Install L1, a small 4 turn wire coil. Gently stretch the coil just 
enough so that its two wire leads fit firmly into the PC board holes. 
Solder both leads securely. This coil is designed to permit additional  
stretching or compressing as part of the alignment process. 
❒9.    Install C4, 10 pf. 
❒10. Install L2, the other 4 turn coil just like L1 above. 
❒11. Install C5, 4.7 or 5 pf. 
❒12. Clearly identify Q1, the 2SC2498 or 2SC2570A transistor. Do not 
confuse it with the other transistors supplied. 
❒13. Position Q1 as shown on the PC board layout, with the flat side 
facing to the right, toward the middle of the board. Press the 
transistor snugly into the PC board so that only a minimum amount 
of wire  lead is exposed above the board. In soldering, dont be 
afraid to use enough heat to make good clean connections. 
❒14. Install R4, 47K, just to the left of Q1 [yellow-violet-orange]. 
❒15. Install C6, 100 pf (marked 100 or 101).  
						

							FR-220 • 13 
❒16. Install R5, 470 ohms [yellow-violet-brown].    
 
2. SA602 OSCILLATOR-MIXER and VARACTOR TUNING
   
 
❒
17. Install R6, 270 ohms [red-violet-brown]. 
❒18. Install C7, a .001 uf bypass capacitor (marked .001 or 102). 
 
In installing the SA602 IC, you may wish to use an 8-pin DIP socket 
rather than soldering the IC directly to the board. Reasons for doing this 
might include the peace of mind of beginners afraid of damaging the IC, 
or experienced builders testing the merits of the SA602s cousin, the 
SE602. However, please be aware that we have seen more service 
problems with improper socket insertion than from soldering heat 
damage to ICs. Even if this is your first IC, dont be afraid to use enough 
heat to make 8 clean connections, but DO be sure to orient the end 
marked by a band or dot IC correctly. Before soldering, make sure that 
the IC or socket is perfectly flat against the top of the PC board. 
❒19. Install U1, the SA602 in accord with the preceding directions. 
❒20. Install the FL1 ceramic filter. This component is a brown, molded  
blob  with 3 leads and may be installed either way. 
❒21. Install jumper wire JMP4. Use a scrap component lead wire bent 
into a small loop that connects the two PC board holes. Jumpers act  
as bridges over PC board traces underneath. 
❒22. Install C8, .001 uf (marked .001 or 102). 
❒23. Install C10, 4.7 or 5 pf. 
❒24. Install R7, 10K [brown-black-orange]. 
❒25. Install C9, 4.7 or 5 pf. 
❒26. Install C11, 27 pf. 
❒27. Installation of L3. It is important that the body of this coil be snug  
against the PC board for mechanical stability, which directly affects 
the frequency stability of the receiver. Make good, solid solder 
connections! 
❒28. Install C12, 2 or 2.2 pf.  
						

							FR-220 • 14  
						

							FR-220 • 15  
						

							FR-220 • 16 
❒29. Install varactor diode D1, it has a small black body with white 
and green bands. The white banded end signifies the cathode side. 
It is important that you have correctly identified D1 as type BB405  
and have not confused it with the common signal diode D2. 
❒30. Install R8, 47K ohms [yellow-violet-orange]. 
❒31. Install R9, 270 ohms [red-violet-brown]. 
❒32. Install C13, .01 uf (marked .01 or 103 or 10nf). 
❒33. Installation of C14. This is the first the electrolytic or polarized  
capacitors that you will install. This means these capacitors have a 
positive (+) and negative (-) side and therefore a right way and 
wrong way of installation. Ordinarily, only the negative side is 
marked on the capacitor body, a dark band with the (-) sign clearly 
shown. The value of C14 is not critical and may be any value from 
100 to 220 uf. 
❒34. Install C14, 100 to 220 uf, observing correct polarity. 
❒35. Install C15, 4.7 or 10 uf, observing correct polarity. 
❒36. Install jumper JMP1. 
❒37. Install jumper JMP3.     
 
 
PROGRESS SUMMARY
 
  
So far, you have wired the tuned input from the antenna, the RF 
preamplifier, and the SA602 mixer-oscillator, including the varactor 
tuning circuit. The work you have done has actually formed a simple 
receiver capable of tuning in VHF signals of all kinds and converting 
them to a low-level 10.7 MHz output to be amplified by Q2. This is a 
good time to review the steps completed so far before proceeding. Due 
to the many functions of the MC3359 FM receiver IC, further assembly 
steps will be in the order of easiest parts installation.     
						

							FR-220 • 17 
3. TRANSISTOR COUPLING & AFC CIRCUITS, VOLUME & 
SQUELCH CONTROLS   
❒38. Install Q2, a 2N3904 transistor. Observe correct positioning of 
the flat side. 
❒39. Install R13, 47K ohms (yellow-violet-orange). 
❒40. Install C20, .001 uf (marked .001 or 102). 
❒41. Install R12, 1K ohms (brown-black-red). 
❒42. Install Q3, 2N3904 transistor. 
❒43. Install R10, 1 megohm (brown--black-green). 
❒44. Install R11, 1K ohms (brown-black-red). 
❒45. Install R22, 2 ohms (red-black-gold). 
❒46. Install C29, .01 uf (marked .01 or 103 or 10nf). 
❒47. Install C30, 4.7 or 10 uf electrolytic, observe correct polarity. 
❒48. Install R18, 18K ohms [brown-gray-orange]. 
❒49. Install C28, .01 uf (marked .01 or 103 or 10nf). 
❒50. Install R19, 10K ohms [brown-black-orange]. 
❒51. Install jumper wire, JMP2. 
❒52. Install C34, .1 uf (marked .1 or 104). 
❒53. Install R21, 47K ohms (yellow-violet-orange). 
❒54. Install C35, 100 to 220 uf electrolytic, observe polarity. 
❒55. Install R20, 270 ohms (red-violet-brown). 
❒56. Install Q4, 2N3904 transistor.   
 
I4. MC3359 FM IC and ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS   
❒57. Install R17, 10K ohms [brown-black-orange]. 
❒58. Install R14, 33K ohms [orange-orange-orange]. 
❒59. Install C24, .001 uf (marked .001 or 102).  
						

							FR-220 • 18 
❒60. Install C25, .001 uf (marked .001 or 102). 
❒61. Install C26, .01 uf (marked .01 or 103 or 10nf). 
❒62. Install L4, the 455 KHz quadrature coil, soldering the two pins 
and the two mounting tabs. 
❒63. Install U2,  MC3359 IC. As in the case of the SA602 IC, you 
could choose to install an 18-pin IC socket rather than soldering the 
IC directly. Re-read the previous discussion of IC sockets offered for 
the installation of U1. Larger ICs such as the MC3359 require 
considerably more care in socket insertion. Notice that the end of the 
IC marked by a band or dot and must be oriented correctly as shown 
on the PC parts layout diagram. Solder each of the 18 connections 
carefully. Make sure you have good lighting as well as good 
technique to make sure that no  solder bridges flow between the 
connections. 
❒64. Install C22, 100 pf (marked 100 or 101). 
❒65. Install C16, .01 uf (marked .01 or 103 or 10nf). 
❒66. Install C17, .01 uf (marked .01 or 103 or 10nf). 
❒67. Install C21, .01 uf (marked .01 or 103 or 10nf). 
❒68. Install C18, 220 pf (marked 220 or 221). 
❒69. Install C19, 22 pf. 
❒70. Install Y1, the 10.245 MHz. crystal. No special procedure is 
required. Simply press the crystal firmly into its holes as far as it will 
go, and make good solder connections. 
❒71. Install FL2, the 455 KHz filter. Its three leads are delicate, and fit 
in only one way. 
❒72. Install C23, .001 uf (marked .001 or 102). 
❒73. Install C27, 1 uf electrolytic, observe correct polarity. 
❒74. Install D2, the 1N914/1N4148 signal diode, observe correct 
orientation of the banded cathode end. Be sure you correctly 
identified D2 and did not confuse it with the varactor diode already 
installed. 
❒75. Install R16, 100K ohms (brown-black-yellow).  
						

							FR-220 • 19 
❒76. Install R15, 470K ohms (yellow-violet-yellow).   
 
5. FINAL CONNECTIONS: THE LM386 AUDIO IC STAGE   
 
You now have a working FM receiver ready for adjustment. The output of 
the MC3359 FM IC simply needs to be boosted to listening level. A few 
more connections, and your receiver will be ready for adjustment and 
testing! Now  would be a good time to review some of your previous work 
and also to make sure you have on hand what youll need for testing: 
antenna, fresh battery, earphone or speaker with correct plug or adapter.   
 
❒77. Review the instructions for installing U1 and U2. Insert the LM386 
IC  with the band or dot oriented correctly. Solder the 8 connections. 
❒78. Install C32, a 100 to 220 uf electrolytic, observe correct polarity.    
❒79. Install C31, .01 uf (marked .01 or 103 or 10nf). 
❒80. Install C36, 4.7 or 10 uf electrolytic, observe polarity. 
❒81. Install C33, 100 to 220 uf electrolytic, observe polarity. 
❒82. Install the battery snap terminal in the two holes below S1, 
making sure that the positive (red) lead is inserted into the (+) hole on 
the PC board. 
❒83. The battery bracket may be attached in a variety of ways. A wire  
jumper can be passed through the two holes on the PC board, then 
both ends soldered on the underside of the board. You may prefer to 
use very small screws or even a double-sided mounting adhesive 
strip or glue. In using such methods, make sure that the battery will 
not block the PC boards mounting hole in its vicinity. 
 
Wiring of the PC board is now complete. If you have the the patience, we 
suggest a short break. Then, take a magnifying lens and a bright light 
and examine all your solder joints, touching up any connection which 
appears less than perfect. Make sure all excess leads have been 
trimmed, and that theres not one bent back flat against the board, 
probably causing a short. Brush the solder side of the board with a stiff 
brush to make sure that no loose wire trimmings or solder drippings (tsk 
tsk) are lodged between connections.       
  
						

							FR-220 • 20 
TESTING, ALIGNMENT AND ADJUSTMENT   
 
To prepare the FR220 FM VHF Receiver for reliable monitoring 
operation, you will need these basic tools:    
 
❒1. A useful 220 MHz VHF signal source. 
❒2. Hexagonal, non-metallic coil slug alignment tool for L3. 
❒3. Small screwdriver to adjust L4. 
 
1. Signal source:
 This signal can be from your test bench equipment or 
from a live source such as a local repeater. The live signals are best 
for fine-tuning, but they also have that VHF communications character of 
being fast and to the point. Good test bench signal sources include your 
own 220 MHz transceiver, if you are licensed to use it, a signal 
generator or grid-dip oscillator. 
 
2. L3 Alignment Tool:
 If you do not already have a set of plastic or 
nylon coil  alignment tools and do expect to try further Ham radio or 
electronic hobby  projects, such tools are worth having and can be 
found inexpensively at any electronics store including Radio Shack. 
While a metal Hex key wrench can fit  the coil slug, the metal itself 
would damage the coil inductance drastically and therefore should not 
be used. With patience and sandpaper, a useable tool might be formed 
from a wood or plastic rod.    
 
ALIGNMENT PROCEDURE    
 
❒1. Make sure the power switch is off. 
❒2. Connect the antenna, earphone or speaker and battery. 
❒3. Turn the slug of L3 until it is even with the top of coil the form. 
❒4. Now, turn the slug of L3 clockwise 7 turns back into the form. 
❒5. Turn the slug of L4 until it is flush with the top of the coil and then  
turn it 2 turns back into the coil. 
❒6. Turn all three controls to the left, fully counterclockwise.