A Guide to Superhet Radio Technology

This book covers all the basic aspects of the superhet radio. The aim was to provide all the essential elements of the superheterodyne radio in one volume, explaining the background, the basic concepts and the function and operation of the different circuit blocks.

All the different areas of the superheterodyne radio are explained in an easy to understand style that enables even the more complicated concepts to be understood. 

All aspects of the operation of the radio are included from the overall block diagram to aspects including selectivity, sensitivity, strong signal performance, demodulation and like. 

Section of the book include:

Introduction and History
The Arrival of the Superhet Basic Principles
Mixing
The superhet radio
Tuning
Basic superhet
RF amplifier
RF mixer
Intermediate frequency amplifier
Demodulator
Automatic gain control
Other configurations
Digital signal processing
Advantages of the superhet

Sensitivity and Overload
Noise
Signal to noise ratio SINAD
Noise factor and noise figure
Large signal response
Distortion
Third-order intercept
Blocking
Cross Modulation
Dynamic range

Selectivity
IF selectivity
Filter operation and specifications
Required bandwidths
Types of filter
LC tuned circuits
Crystal filters
Monolithic filters
Ceramic filters
Mechanical filters
Roofing filters
Audio filters
Image response
IF breakthrough
Spurious signals

Local Oscillator
Requirements
Basic oscillator
Oscillator stability
Crystal mixer oscillator
Frequency synthesizers
Direct Digital Synthesis
Phase noise
Reciprocal mixing
Stability specifications

Demodulation
AM detector
SSB detection
FM detection
Digital signal detection

Abbreviations

This book is a useful reference for the superheterodyne radio as well as providing very many details of other forms of radio that can be used.