FM TRANSMITTER WITHOUT A TRIMMER CAPACITOR

[Metor]

Good day genius. Please I have been working on a project now but had being handicapped because there is no trimmer capacitor (variable capacitor: 5pf-100pf) at my end. All attempt to secure some had failed. Please how can I build the FM transmitter with trimmer capacitors. Thanks

 

[ronsimpson]

You can put a fixed capacitor in.
47pF will be about center. Do you have some small capacitors like 33p and 51p? Put one in and see what frequency you are on.
I can not see you coil or inductor. What does it look like? Can you change it?

 

[Metor]

I have 47pf, 22pf but not 33pf or 51pf. Do you have a working circuit of this. Thanks in anticipation

 

[audioguru]

The trimmer capacitor probably sets the output radio frequency. My FM transmitter uses its 5pF-35pF trimmer capacitor C6 to adjust the radio frequency anywhere on the 88MHz to 108MHz FM broadcast band. Your trimmer goes as high as 100pF to go down to the 76MHz low frequency limit of the Japanese FM broadcast band. My trimmer C13 peaks the RF strength at the radio frequency you are using.

Why didn't you post the schematic of the circuit you are building? Here is mine that is built on stripboard and has a 5V low dropout voltage regulator so that the radio frequency does not change as the 9V battery voltage runs down:

 

[Metor]

Waow. This is a wonderful design. Like I said, I couldn't get the trimmer capacitor at my end. So I'm completely stranded.

 

[Metor]

However, I appreciate your sharing

 

[ronsimpson]

completely stranded

Use any fixed cap you have and see what frequency you get.

If you need to move the frequency a little make a "gimmick capacitor" and add it in parallel with your capacitor. Search on the internet, it is made by two pieces of insulated wire.

 

[atferrari]

By twisting a pair of wires, obviously keeping the plastic jacket in place, you could build quite quickly capacitors in the pF range.

Build one, measure it and try with a similar again. You get nice repeatability. You need a little less? just trim it but cutting the top end.

 

[Metor]

Use any fixed cap you have and see what frequency you get.

If you need to move the frequency a little make a "gimmick capacitor" and add it in parallel with your capacitor. Search on the internet, it is made by two pieces of insulated wire.

Thanks. I will give it a try

 

[Metor]

By twisting a pair of wires, obviously keeping the plastic jacket in place, you could build quite quickly capacitors in the pF range.

Build one, measure it and try with a similar again. You get nice repeatability. You need a little less? just trim it but cutting the top end.

Genius. Thanks

 

[ronsimpson]

gimmick capacitor

GIMMIC CAPCITOR <----link

You can also change the frequency by changing the coil. This kind has a "slug" that turns and moves in/out to change the value.

Another way to change the frequency is to separate the wires a little in the coil. In the picture I tried to show pulling one turn out a little. If you bend one turn 90 degrees it is almost like removing it.

 

[Metor]

GIMMIC CAPCITOR <----link
View attachment 117667
You can also change the frequency by changing the coil. This kind has a "slug" that turns and moves in/out to change the value.
View attachment 117668
Another way to change the frequency is to separate the wires a little in the coil. In the picture I tried to show pulling one turn out a little. If you bend one turn 90 degrees it is almost like removing it.
View attachment 117669

Waow. Here is home. I'm learning a lot. Thanks

 

[audioguru]

It is against the law to transmit a radio signal on public broadcast bands without a licence. If anybody complains of interference then the RF cops will arrest you and you will be in big trouble. My large city has many FM radio stations and other cities nearby have more so a vacant frequency is not available. I tested my FM transmitter for less than one hour using the frequency of a low power foreign language station and I was not caught.

 

[Metor]

Well noted. Will take that into consideration. Please take a look at this circuit for me. Thanks in anticipation

 

[audioguru]

Your new circuit has problems:
1) It is missing pre-emphasis (high audio frequencies boost) like all FM radio stations have so the sound received will be very muffled since all FM radios have de-emphasis (high audio frequencies cut).
2) Its RF oscillator is missing a voltage regulator so its radio frequency will change as the battery voltage runs down.
3) Its output coil is not tuned so it will transmit harmonics which will interfere with many other communications like ambulance and police radios use.

My FM transmitter circuit fixed these problems.

 

[Metor]

Your new circuit has problems:
1) It is missing pre-emphasis (high audio frequencies boost) like all FM radio stations have so the sound received will be very muffled since all FM radios have de-emphasis (high audio frequencies cut).
2) Its RF oscillator is missing a voltage regulator so its radio frequency will change as the battery voltage runs down.
3) Its output coil is not tuned so it will transmit harmonics which will interfere with many other communications like ambulance and police radios use.

My FM transmitter circuit fixed these problems.

Thanks for checking it. Can you modify it for me?

 

[ronsimpson]

Can you modify it for me?

He did. See post #4.

 

[Metor]

Great. Will implement it then. I appreciate the assistance. Thanks

 

[hesam_m]

You can try this:

https://www.electro-tech-online.com...rds-rbds-data-transmission-capability.156533/

 

[davenn]

You can try this:

https://www.electro-tech-online.com...rds-rbds-data-transmission-capability.156533/

link doesn't work