Does anybody have a copy of Funway 2 they could send me a couple of pages from? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: synoptica
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2016, 03:52:06 am
content: Hi guys,I'm chasing up, if anybody has a copy, the pages from the IC shortwave radio kit from the Funway 2 book.I've been playing with a scanner I picked up at the DSE sales which I've been having fun with, so I thought I'd dig out the old Funway shortwave for a laugh, but most wires are broken off and I don't recall how the antenna was hooked up (I think just a long wire loop?)Anyway - if someone's got a copy and could snap a couple photos of the corresponding pages, I'll put it together and report back what I get out of it!

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2016, 05:02:11 am
content: Could never bring myself to toss it

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2016, 08:50:03 am
content: I built one. Even with a very good antenna you will likely only get 2 or 3 stations at once at best. But I liked the audio amplifier circuit.I can't recall the frequency coverage of it (might have been 11 - 35 MHz) but it's not necessarily the optimum coverage for strong signals. Remember that the Funway kits were conceived when sunspot numbers were high (1979 - 1982) and there was a lot of activity on 27 MHz CB. That's not the case anymore. But there are still plenty of signals on shortwave that a simple receiver can hear on slightly lower frequencies.I would suggest changing the coil to something a bit bigger. I used to use 35mm film containers but 20 - 40mm pipe would be suitable. 4 - 12 MHz will cover some frequencies used by Radio Australia, the ABC NT and Radio New Zealand which are the strongest around here. I'd start off with 15 to 30 turns on the abovementioned pipe. Make several coils and see what you get on each. The antenna needs to be at least 20 metres of wire as high as you can get it. It' s also helpful to have an earth - eg a stake in the ground, wire along the ground or even a cold water tap.I would also suggest a bigger coil (maybe 50 to 100 turns) to cover the AM broadcast band. Then make another one which is smaller so that the stations around 1500 kHz are at the bottom of the tuning range. That will give coverage over say 1.5 - 3 MHz. You may hear narrowcasters around 1.6 - 1.7 MHz, amateurs on 1.8 MHz AM (if any in your area) and ABC NT around 2.4 MHz.You always get a kick when you bring a project like this to life and receive stations. But be mindful that you won't hear a huge number of stations at once as selectivity and sensitivity are poor. But there are modifications you can do to hear a lot more stations. One approach is to convert it to a direct conversion receiver. Do this by adding a local RF oscillator (covering the segment you wish to tune) and converting the diode detector to a mixer. This only receives amateur bands at 3.5 or 7 MHz so you won't receive broadcast stations. But it hears a lot better and you can pick up stations all over the world (if on 7 MHz). The photos are my modified kit.Another thing you can do is use the audio amplifier and make some other changes to convert the receiver into a regenerative receiver. You might need a small outboard board to accommodate the extra parts. But when you do you will receive 10 to 100 times as many stations from all around the world. The video below is an example of a simple but good HF regenerative receiver.

author: synoptica
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2016, 09:53:55 am
content: Fantastic guys - thanks so much! I figured it all our bar the volume pot; seems I'd butchered that for another project at some stage!@rt - that's exactly what I was after, thanks for taking the time to post it!vk3yedotcom - I recall getting BBC back when I built it (probably 20 years ago now!) but don't remember what else, if anything, I was able to get. I'm definitely keen to try different coils though; is the length of the non-coiled wire a consideration?Off to find a pot and string some wire, will report back if I can find something!

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2016, 10:05:21 am
content: Quote from: synoptica on November 20, 2016, 09:53:55 amBBC transmits a lot less now so may be harder to get. But Radio Australia & Radio New Zealand puts in good signals. You might also hear China.The length of the non-coiled wire affects inductance and thus frequency coverage but if you keep it to under 5 or 6cm for each side you should be right.

author: synoptica
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2016, 10:51:46 am
content: Yeah, while looking for a Ku-band FTA service for BBC I read that they've ceased shortwave transmissions in this part of the world500k pot has been sourced, currently waiting for the iron to heat up! I've only got 10m of wire to spare, but hopefully I can make do with that!

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2016, 11:39:32 am
content: 3YE, It does claim 11-35 MHz with the 18 turns on the coil, 80 turns for 6-11 MHz.I made this, and every other Funway 2 kit except for the 7 seg counter, and the very first flashing LED circuit in the bookNot any of Funway 1 or 3 though. Now I don’t allow myself to build any kits at all.

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2016, 11:42:59 am
content: Actually, if you have more of these kits and could use the book I’ll send it for free.That way I can be rid of it without tossing it outOffer goes for anyone, but OP has priority.

author: synoptica
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2016, 12:43:09 pm
content: Quote from: @rt on November 20, 2016, 11:42:59 amCheers mate, but honestly this is the first time I've wanted to refer to one in probs 15 years and it's unlikely I'll need to again!So I've managed to pick up a couple of Chinese language (I'm assuming) stations, maybe 2 or 3 but otherwise not a whole lot. I might play with different coils during the week and see what I can come up with!

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2016, 01:43:54 pm
content: Great that you hear something, if it doesn’t receive Voice of North Korea, it’s not a SW radio

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2016, 09:20:38 am
content: internet killed the radio star