Signal Injector
A simple signal injector for troubleshooting radio receivers
A signal injector is a low power oscillator that generates a signal containing lots of harmonics in the audio and low frequency RF spectrum. This allows you to test both the audio and RF stages of a radio receiver. They are very simple to build and every workbench should have one.
The circuit
The basic circuit for for signal injector is an Astable Oscillator - two transistors configured to alternately switch the state of the other transistor.
The oscillator’s operating frequency is set by R2, R3 and C1 & C2.
where…
- f is frequency in hertz.
- R2 and R3 are resistor values in ohms.
- C1 and C2 are capacitor values in farads.
- T is the period.
The output approximates a square wave with the duty cycle controlled by the values of R2 and R3. In the case where R2 = R3, the duty cycle is very close to 50% and the circuit produces a reasonable square wave - this is not really what we want. A square wave is comprised only of odd harmonics, ideally we’d like both the odd and even harmonics so that there is a signal close to wherever the radio is tuned.
Simulation
Some experimentation with the QUCS circuit simulator suggests reasonable values for the resistors and capacitors
Part Number | Value |
---|---|
R1 & R4 | 22k Ohm |
R2 | 470k Ohm |
R3 | 100k Ohm |
C1 | 10n F |
C2 | 10 nF |
You can see from the simulated data that the oscillator output is full
of nice fast rising edges (good for harmonic generation) and does indeed
contain harmonics out to beyond 20 kHz (that’s as far as I plotted, the
spectrum continues, but levels are too low to show on this plot). The
low levels at higher frequencies are a good thing, as typically the
circuit you’ll be testing with this generator will be sensitive to
tens-to-hundereds of micro-volts; you don’t need big signals to test
these circuits.
You can easily prove the circuit generates higher harmonics by building it and connecting the output to the antenna of an AM radio - you’ll hear a buzzing noise repeating as you tune across the AM band.
Building the signal injector
The circuit is easily built on a scrap of veroboard.
The yellow Xs are where the copper strips are cut on the backside.
Using the signal injector
This circuit is only to be used on battery powered devices, NOT anything mains powered. There’s no isolation from the mains provided by this equipment.
The ground clip is connected to ground on the radio receiver, and the output probe touched to the various stages’ inputs, usually working back towards the antenna from the speaker / headphones. When you stop hearing a sound, you’ve found the non-working stage. From there it’s a matter of faultfinding in the stage (usually a duff transistor or capacitor or broken wire).