Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver

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The communications between commercial aircraft and the ground can be interesting, amusing and sometimes even disturbing. However radios that receive the approximately 220MHz to 400MHz band commonly used for aircraft (both military and commercial) are not easily found. And scanners can be complicated, large and expensive. With an easy to build circuit such as this one, everyone can enjoy listening in on these conversations.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
R1, R3	2	47K 1/4W Resistor
R2	1	10K 1/4W Resistor
R4	1	4.7K 1/4W Resistor
R5	1	5K Linear Taper Pot
R6	1	2.2K 1/4W Resistor
C1, C2, C3, C6	4	0.001uF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
C4	1	2.2pF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
C5	1	1pF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
C7	1	15uF 15V Electrolytic Capacitor
C8	1	18pF Variable Capacitor
D1	1	1N82 Diode
Q1	1	2N918 NPN Transistor
L1	1	See Notes
L2	1	1.8uH Inductor
ANT1	1	Approx. 18 Inch Wire Antenna
MISC	1	PC Board, Wire, Knob For C8

Notes

The circuit originally appeared in the Think Tank column of the Sept. 1995 issue of Popular Electronics.

L1 is made by winding 2 turns of 22 AWG magnet wire on a 5/32 drill bit. This inductor can be modified to shift the frequency range of the circuit.

The antenna can also be placed at the anode of D1 if overload is a problem with it connected to the emitter of Q1

R5 adjusts regen and thus sensitivity.

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Comments

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Federico Colombo Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver Thursday, August 12, 2010 12:53:00 AM

I biuld this circuit but I receive no signal (yet)... I used a 2N5179 instead of 2N918. 1N34A instead of 1N82. And a C7 of 22uF (not 15uF). The other parts are same as needed. Do you have any comments about these replaces?. Thank you very much.

anonymous Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver Tuesday, April 27, 2010 12:34:35 PM

I built it and works! I replaced 2n918 with a 9018 with a frequency transition of 1100 mhz! I made L2 with 28 turns of 0,6 mm wire on 7mm drill bit , 1.6 cm long. Also a diode 1n34 works fine!

Don Hill Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:48:32 PM

My research indicates that the 1N82 is a germanium diode from the fifties. A 1N34 should work as a replacement. A normal silicon diode will not work well as a Germanium diode has a 0.3V forward drop and a silicon diode has a 0.7V forward drop.

anonymous Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver Wednesday, July 29, 2009 5:40:37 AM

does it work?

1s4 Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver Friday, July 17, 2009 9:24:00 PM

for air band i am using a 3.5 turn coil of wire on a 3/8 in. coil form the wire is 22ga.

mohammed shafeeq.p Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:07:34 AM

its really fantastic opertunity to see this circuit & to create it

Meysam Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver Friday, July 03, 2009 12:09:33 PM

How can we change the range of this radio to 118~137MHz?

Dark Fox Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver Wednesday, June 24, 2009 5:00:27 PM

Can I replace diode 1N82 for 1N60? If no, what diode can I replace 1N82?

1s4 Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver Friday, June 19, 2009 2:22:09 PM

you can obtain a 2N918 transistior from mouser electronics web site a MPS2222A transistor will only work on air band 117-137 mhz not 220-400mhz.

wparker1934 Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver Monday, May 04, 2009 9:52:23 PM

A more common subsistute for 2N918 would be nice.

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Federico Colombo	Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver	Thursday, August 12, 2010 12:53:00 AM
I biuld this circuit but I receive no signal (yet)... I used a 2N5179 instead of 2N918. 1N34A instead of 1N82. And a C7 of 22uF (not 15uF). The other parts are same as needed. Do you have any comments about these replaces?. Thank you very much.
anonymous	Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver	Tuesday, April 27, 2010 12:34:35 PM
I built it and works! I replaced 2n918 with a 9018 with a frequency transition of 1100 mhz! I made L2 with 28 turns of 0,6 mm wire on 7mm drill bit , 1.6 cm long. Also a diode 1n34 works fine!
Don Hill	Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver	Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:48:32 PM
My research indicates that the 1N82 is a germanium diode from the fifties. A 1N34 should work as a replacement. A normal silicon diode will not work well as a Germanium diode has a 0.3V forward drop and a silicon diode has a 0.7V forward drop.
anonymous	Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver	Wednesday, July 29, 2009 5:40:37 AM
does it work?
1s4	Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver	Friday, July 17, 2009 9:24:00 PM
for air band i am using a 3.5 turn coil of wire on a 3/8 in. coil form the wire is 22ga.
mohammed shafeeq.p	Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver	Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:07:34 AM
its really fantastic opertunity to see this circuit & to create it
Meysam	Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver	Friday, July 03, 2009 12:09:33 PM
How can we change the range of this radio to 118~137MHz?
Dark Fox	Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver	Wednesday, June 24, 2009 5:00:27 PM
Can I replace diode 1N82 for 1N60? If no, what diode can I replace 1N82?
1s4	Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver	Friday, June 19, 2009 2:22:09 PM
you can obtain a 2N918 transistior from mouser electronics web site a MPS2222A transistor will only work on air band 117-137 mhz not 220-400mhz.
wparker1934	Aircraft Radio Communications Receiver	Monday, May 04, 2009 9:52:23 PM
A more common subsistute for 2N918 would be nice.