convert AM/FM home stereo to shortwave?

[wtp]

looks like it should be mated with an 8 track player..

 

[WB5ITT]

Nice!. Those buttons are in meters, so some sort of tuning chart must have come with it.

Uses the 1MHz or so bandwidth of the AM rcvr as a tunable IF......

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Uses the 1MHz or so bandwidth of the AM rcvr as a tunable IF......

True but how do you determine actual frequency as the Grundig bandwidth is smaller than the tuner. Some maths must be involved. There is a service manual on line with the operating frequencies and LO so it can be calculated. An operators manual I could not find.

The OP would be better served buying an older SW receiver that already has a slide rule "dial".

 

[wenzeslaus]

The OP would be better served buying an older SW receiver that already has a slide rule "dial".

such as...?

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

such as...?

HEATHKIT Model GR-78

 

[wenzeslaus]

View attachment 147877HEATHKIT Model GR-78

it has a slide tuner, but I highly doubt the action is anywhere as nice as a stereo receiver.

yep. I got one word for that radio. and that word is...

*thunk*

flywheel

 

[K7MEM]

it has a slide tuner, but I highly doubt the action is anywhere as nice as a stereo receiver.

The radio shown has a very nice slide action, just like your stereo receiver. Both the Main Tuning and the Band Spread have the same mechanism as your radio. I have a Lafayette HE-30 receiver, that I obtained around 1966, and it has tuning similar to the Heathkit above, and almost any stereo receiver. My Marantz SR 6010 DC Receiver/Amplifier also has the same kind of tuning. It receives FM stereo very nicely. I don't think I have ever used it on AM.

What your stereo receiver doesn't have is:

• A calibrator
• A mode switch (BFO for CW/SSB)
• The ability to turn off the AVC
• A automatic noise limiter
• A RF Gain
• A Band Spread for fine tuning.

All of which are pretty necessary for a usable short wave receiver.

If you really want to do some short wave listening, you might want to try the NA5B Web SDR Receiver, on your computer. It covers all bands, all modes, and it's free. I was just listening to W1AW on 7208 KHz (SSB). There are several other SDRs available on the internet. You can even buy a SRD Receiver (SDRPlay) for your compute that will give you everything you need in a short wave receiver.

 

[wenzeslaus]

it sure would be nice to have all those bells and whistles you listed. but necessary? no.

I am aware of the SDRPlay; if I wanted an actual ham radio I would have settled for one of those already. but I'm more of a DIY type of guy. I'm not in it for actually listening to stations. that's why I don't bother with web SDR's such what you find on websdr.org and kiwisdr.com either.

and that's why I want to turn a stereo into a shortwave receiver.

get it?

 

[belvdr]

it sure would be nice to have all those bells and whistles you listed. but necessary? no.

I am aware of the SDRPlay; if I wanted an actual ham radio I would have settled for one of those already. but I'm more of a DIY type of guy. I'm not in it for actually listening to stations. that's why I don't bother with web SDR's such what you find on websdr.org and kiwisdr.com either.

and that's why I want to turn a stereo into a shortwave receiver.

get it?

SDRPlay = ham radio? That's new.

If you want to convert your stereo into a SW receiver, then go for it. Let us know how it goes.

 

[K7MEM]

it sure would be nice to have all those bells and whistles you listed. but necessary? no.

I am aware of the SDRPlay; if I wanted an actual ham radio I would have settled for one of those already. but I'm more of a DIY type of guy. I'm not in it for actually listening to stations. that's why I don't bother with web SDR's such what you find on websdr.org and kiwisdr.com either.

and that's why I want to turn a stereo into a shortwave receiver.

get it?

No, I don't get it. SDRPlay is not a ham radio. It's just a receiver. And, if you are not actually doing it to listen to stations, why are you even bothering? Before you DIY, you might want to pick up an old copy of the ARRL Handbook ($5-$6 at a ham fest) and read the section on receivers. That might help you with your project. Well, have a party. QRU 73.

 

[wenzeslaus]

SDRPlay = ham radio? That's new.

If you want to convert your stereo into a SW receiver, then go for it. Let us know how it goes.

do you think it can be done? how would you do it?

 

[wenzeslaus]

No, I don't get it. SDRPlay is not a ham radio. It's just a receiver. And, if you are not actually doing it to listen to stations, why are you even bothering? Before you DIY, you might want to pick up an old copy of the ARRL Handbook ($5-$6 at a ham fest) and read the section on receivers. That might help you with your project. Well, have a party. QRU 73.

yep you don't get it. {shrug)

 

[N9JCQ]

I tell ya what. I have one of these in my garage that needs to be gone through. It "works" but it would be far easier to fix the ailments than to do what you want to do. Hallicrafters CR3000, Desktop HF/VHF Receiver | RigReference.com

 

[jwt873]

Run over to YouTube. Search for "convert am radio to shortwave", There are a whole bunch of vids covering the subject.

 

[AB4BF]

I tell ya what. I have one of these in my garage that needs to be gone through. It "works" but it would be far easier to fix the ailments than to do what you want to do. Hallicrafters CR3000, Desktop HF/VHF Receiver | RigReference.com

I'd like to have that! It would give me something to do these coming cold winter nights.

 

[N9JCQ]

Where are you? I am in the Chicago area.

 

[AB4BF]

Where are you? I am in the Chicago area.

I'm in South Carolina.