RECEIVER (AM) RADIO B RODCASTING

In the radio communication systems, the transmitted signal is very weak when it reaches the
receiver, if it has traveled any distance further, the signal has badly, to share the free space
media with than sand of other radio signals various kind of noise also gets added to the
signal. To share the free space media with than sand of other radio signals various kind of
noise also gets added to the signal. The job of the radio receiver is to have the sensitivity and
selectivity to fully reproduce the modulating signal at its output.
Two factors must be taking care, when manipulate any communication receiver these are:
1- Selectivity
2- Sensitivity
1- Selectivity:
The first requirement for any communication receiver is that have the ability to select the
desired signal from among thousands other present.
Selectivity refers to ability of the receiver to select a signal of a desired frequency, while
rejectivy those on closely adjacent frequency.
The receiver with good selectivity will isolate the desired signal and eliminated all other
signal.
Selectivity in a receiver is obtained by using a tuned circuit (Tuning Circuit) or resonant
circuit, as shown in figure (A); and it is response on figure (B).

The tune circuit is an (LC) circuit to resonant frequency at a desired signal frequency. A
factor, which a (Q) factor used, determines the selectivity, of the tuned circuit.
The bandwidth (BW) is the different the upper (F2) and the lower (F1) cut-off frequency
which are located at (3 dB), down or (0.707) point on the selectivity curve as shown in
figure B.
This is bandwidth (BW) is determined by the resonant frequency (fc), and the (Q) factor
According to the relationship:-

X L 2f C L ,

fC

1
2 LC

BW

fC
Q

XL
R

The higher the (Q), the narrow the bandwidth and hence better the selectivity. High (Q)
tuned circuits are used to keep the bandwidth narrow to ensure that only the desired signal
is passed with no additional noise signal.
Although very high (Q) circuit can be obtained, keep in mind that the bandwidth of the
receiver must be such as it will pass not, only the carrier frequency but, also the sidebands
frequency that contain the transmitted in formation signal.

To improve selectivity we cascading several tuned circuit or we use a (Crystal or

mechanical Filter) both method are widely used in Communication Receivers.

How cascading of tuned Circuit Improve Selectivity?

2- Sensitivity:
It is the ability of a receiver to pick up weak signals, sensitivity of a communication
receiver is a function of the over all receiver Gain, the higher the gain of a receiver, the
better it is sensitivity a receiver.
The more gain that a receiver has, the ability of a receiver to pick up weak signals, the
smaller the input signal necessary to produce a desired level of output signal. High gain
communication receiver is obtained by using multiple stages of Amplification the
sensitivity of communication receiver is usually express by a signal to noise ratio, (S/N)
for a good receiver (S/N), must be greater than (20 dB) to get the value usually used.
The first amplifier is a receiver is a low noise amplifier (LNA). Tuned circuit can also
improve sensitivity in addition to selectivity the tuned circuit if it has high (Q) can select a
desired frequency when it is tuned to resonant frequency, when the resonant frequency
step-up voltage across the capacitor provider, some gain. It is the high (Q) of the tuned
circuit that will permit good selectivity and sensitivity.

The simplest Radio Receiver used in (AM) is called Tuned Radio Frequency (TRF)
Figure Block Diagram of Tuned Radio Frequency (TRF) Receiver (AM)

TRF receiver (AM) in it is simplest form consisting of an (RF) Amplifier which is a tuned
circuit, a Diode Detector and Audio Amplifier which feed loud speaker.
The Antenna picks up the signal in very small power level the (RF) Amplifier select only
the desired (AM) signal and amplified it, the (RF) amplifier must be a low noise amplifier
to get high (S/N), and improve sensitivity.
The Detector, function is to separate the modulating signal from the carrier to get original
signal, in (AM) receiver the detectors a diode detector followed by lower pass filter(LPF).
Audio Amplifier is used to further amplification the signal to be able to arrive the loud
speaker.
Disadvantage of (TRF) Receiver:
As we mention before that the reaction between (Q), (BW) and (fc) is.

BW

fC
Q

Consider a standard (AM) broadcast band receiver (BW) of (10 KHz). If the carrier
frequency (fc) is (1000 KHz), we find that the desired (Q) of this receiver is.

fC
1000KHz

100
BW
10KHz

Some designed a tuned circuit receiver with a (Q) factor. This value is remaining constant, if
the frequency is changed by changing the capacitor to (1550 KHZ).

fC
f
1550KHz
BW C
15.5KHz
BW
Q
100

The receiver (BW) is too large, and it will suffer from adjacent station interface and
increase noise on the other band.

If the frequency a tuned circuit reduces by changing the capacitor to (550 KHz).

BW

f C 550KHz

5.5KHz
Q
100

This is small bandwidth (BW), less than (10 KHZ), if will cause an information loss to
this rezone (TRF). This type of a (TRF) receiver is rarely used in radio broadcasting and
other type of a receiver called super-heterodyne receiver is used today. The (TRF)
receivers used for special application and unused in receiver (AM) for broadcasting.

Frequency Conversion:
To solve the problem of variable selectivity (TRF) receiver we use a techniques
called frequency conversion, the idea it to convert the frequency of the input signal to
a constant frequency, called the (Intermediate Frequency) (IF) different between by
perform the incoming signal frequency and local oscillator frequency.

The (IF) frequency for standard (AM) radio broadcasting receiver value is (455
KHz), this means the local oscillator should always be at a frequency (455 KHz)
above the incoming carrier frequency.

A device called Mixer is used to perform the frequency conversion processor.

If the frequency of Incoming signal or Desired signal (Fc) is (1000 KHz) and the
(BW = 1 KHz), so the local frequency (FLO) must be (1445 KHz).
FLO = Fc + FIF
FLO = (Fc) 1000 KHz + (FIF) 455 KHz = 1455 KHz

The output of the mixer will be as shown (AM) signal

Frequency Conversion Process:

The output of the mixer will consist of Sum or Difference component of all the input.
1- Difference frequency of all the original input (999, 1000, 1001 KHz) with the
frequency local oscillator which are (1454, 1455, 1456 KHz) the output, Mixer is,
when Receive position Difference component of all the input with frequency local
oscillator and the output, from the mixer is (454, 455, 456 KHz) to input (IF)
amplifier.
2- Sum component of all the input (999, 1000, 1001 KHz) with the frequency local
oscillator which is (1454, 1455, 1456 KHz) the output, Mixer is, when Transmitted

position Sum component of all the input with frequency local oscillator and the
output, from the mixer is (2454, 2455, 2456 KHz) to the in put up converter (UC)
which give us radio frequency (RF) and to the output (RF) amplifier.
Example:
Let's Look at an example Assume a Desired signal frequency (Fc) of (20 MHz) and
the (IF) (500 KHz or 0.5 MHz) the frequency local oscillator (L.O) is adjusted to
frequency above the incoming signal.
FLO = Fc + FIF = 20 MHz + 0.5 MHz = 20.5 MHz
Hence the frequency local oscillator (L.O) and the Desired signal frequency are
mixed, the difference of course is (0.5 MHz) required.
FIF = Fc + FLO = 20 MHz + 20.5 MHz = 0.5 MHz

The Image frequency (Fimg):

It is a signal frequency that differ from the Desired signal frequency by Towis (2IF)
frequency. Image signal is an (RF) signal that is spaced from the dived incoming
signal by frequency that is two times the (IF = 2IF), above or below the incoming
frequency. The image frequency (Fimg) can be computed by:
Fimg = Fc + 2FIF = 20 + 2 0.5 = 21 MHz
The signal local oscillator (L.O) and Image frequency (Fimg) are as shown.
now assume the tuned circuit a head the mixer has a (Q = 10), so the (BW) of the
Incoming signal.

BW

f C 20KHz

2 KHz
Q
10

As you see the bandwidth (BW) of the circuit is relatively large and the upper cut-off
frequency (21 MHz) is equal to the image frequency which means that the image
frequency will pass by a tuned circuit and upper at input of mixer.

If the image signal is mixed with the frequency local oscillator (L.O) signal the output
is, also the difference at the (IF) frequency (21 MHz 20.5 MHz = 0.5 MHz).

This is illustrate graphical as shown above only one of this Images will accrue
depending upon whether the frequency local oscillator frequency (FLO) is above or
below the desired frequency signal now what happens, (IF) and Image signal.
(Fimg = Fc + 2FIF) appears at the input of the mixer? The mixer will have course the
sum or the difference frequency regard less of the input. When this occur the Image
signal will interfere with the desired signal.

To solve this problem one of two solution on perform Improve the selectivity by
using a high (Q) tuned circuit or using (RF) amplifier a head of the mixer, this can be
to get a high (Q), converter less frequency to a higher (IF) frequency, IF we assume
that (IF) (FIF = 5 MHz), instead so which will be out of the (BW) range.
Fimg = 20 + 2 (5) = 30 MHz,

Intermediate Frequency (IF) selection:

The choice of the (IF) is usually a design problem the main objective is:
1- Required bandwidth, which depends on the type of the receiver for (AM)
broadcasting receiver it is about (10 KHz) and rise to (200 KHz) for (FM) receiver.
2- Required Gain or Sensitivity, Selectivity and Stability.
3- Interference signal.

For a low (IF) value, the design is simplex and less trouble some and higher gain can
be easily achieved at higher value of (IF) the design will be more complex but it will
better reject the image signal .

The selectivity of an (IF) is usually a compromise the (IF) is made as high possible to
eliminate the Image problem, while at the same time it is made a show as possible to
simple to the design.

In the radio broadcasting system a value of (455 KHz) is a standard for an (AM) radio
broadcast receiver.

For (FM) receiver at typical value of radio (IF) is about (10.7 MHz) in a (TV)
receiver (IF) is in the range (70 MHz).

For a Radar Receiver the (IF) value is (60 MHz) range and so, satellite
communication we use (70 MHz).

Example:
Determine the image frequency for a standard broadcast band receiver using (455
kHz) IF and tuned to station at (620 kHz)?

Solution:
The first is determine the frequency local oscillator (LO) signal
The local oscillator (LO) frequency minus the desired stations frequency of
(620 kHz) should equal the (IF) of (455 KHz)
FLO = Fc + FIF
Fimg = Fc + 2FIF
Hence,
Fc = 620 kHz
FIF = 455 kHz
FLO 620 KHz = 455 kHz
FLO = 620 kHz + 455 kHz
FLO = 1075 kHz
Now determine what other frequency, when mixed with (1075 kHz), yields an output
component at (455 kHz)
X 1075 kHz = 455 kHz
X = 1075 kHz + 455 kHz
X = 1530 kHz
Thus, (1530 kHz) is the image frequency in this situation. To solve the problem
associated with image frequency, sometimes a technique known as double conversion is
employed.

Example:

High (Q) tuned circuits are used to keep the bandwidth (BW) narrow to ensure that only
desired signal is passed. Assumed that (10 H) coil with resistance of (20 ) is connected
in parallel with (101.4 pF) variable capacitor.
1- The circuit resonates at what frequency?
2- What is the inductive reactance?
3- What is the selectivity of the tuned circuits?
4- The bandwidth of the tuned circuits tuned?
5- Find the upper and lower cutoff frequencies?

Solution:

1- f C

1
2 LC

1
2 10 106 .101.4 1012

5MHz

One half on each side of center frequency

of (5 MHz) is (318.47/2 = 0.159 MHz).
2- X L 2fC L 2. .5 106.10 106 314
3- Q

X L 314

15.7
R
20

4- BW

5-

f C 5MHz

318.47KHz
Q
15.7

Upper, f 2 5 0.159 5.159MHz

Lower, f1 5 0.159 4.841MHz