Listen to UHF and SHF (GHz) Bands with this Simple Circuit

This simple two IC circuit can be used for capturing and listening to frequencies in the GHz range.

Receivers designed to cover frequencies as high as several gigahertz (which is many thousand MHz!) are generally difficult to find, specifically for anyone who is looking for cheap versions of these gadgets.

However, it may be possible to develop a GHz receiver which is effective at tuning this kind of high frequencies ranges easily and at low cost.

What is Super High frequency

Super high frequency (SHF) is the ITU certification for radio frequencies (RF) which come in the range of 3 and 30 gigahertz (GHz). This specific band of frequencies is usually called the centimetre band or centimetre wave since their frequencies include wavelengths in the range from one to ten centimetres.

The SHF range of frequency is applied for almost all radar transmitters, wireless LANs, satellite transmission, microwave radio relay links, and various short range terrestrial data links.

Construction Hints

Even when you might have never constructed an electronic circuit earlier, this specific venture should simply present no significant problem to you.

The components could be procured from any online source, or a retail spare parts store near your home.

Even there isn't a need to solder while building the circuit, either a solderless circuit breadboard (for example the versions obtainable from Radio Shack, Vishay, Mouser, Jameco, etc. can be used just as good. That said, soldering the parts over a small veroboard is always the recommended way of building any electronic prototype.

The important thing to keep in mind is to maintain all interconnecting hook up wires across the different components as tiny as possible.

Circuit Description

The working of the GHz receiver circuit is simple, the detected signals are captured by the loop antenna. The detector diode demodulates and extracts the audio content from the high frequency carrier waves. The extracted audio signals are fed to the non-inverting input of the IC 741 amplifier circuit. Since its inverting input is grounded, any signal in few mV is enough for the op amp to amplify it to higher levels. The amplified SHF audio signals are applied to a high gain LM386 audio amplifier circuit which finally converts the received GHz range signals into audible sound frequency.

All resistors can be 1/4 -watt types, the tolerance is not really important. The two ICs are normal types, the 741 and LM386.

About the Antenna and Reception

The loop antenna could be a UHF loop antenna (the one which plugs in instantly to the UHF sockets on the backside of a television) .

For most effective final results, test out a number of different varieties of diodes. Some of those you can try are 1N21, 1N34, 1N54, and 1N78.

As you could envision, this straightforward circuit comes with its own downsides. The fundamental one is that there is absolutely no way for you to figure out the frequency of a signal you may receive.

Additionally, it is pretty much entirely non-selective.

Probably the most strong signal within the detecting range may simply "overwhelm" the receiver.

Nevertheless, the suggested loop antenna is to some degree directional and may help you to reduce many interfering channels, so that you focus on a specific GHz channel of your choice.

Listening to Satellite and Radar Communication

You may think, what exactly is there to listen to over 1000 MHz? The answer is, different types of radar transmitter signals from ships and airplanes would be the most typical channels, together with radio direction finders, beacons, data and telemetry broadcasts to and from satellites, and HAM radio enthusiasts.

It might be most probably that several different transmission devices unidentified to the DXing community could also be functioning in the specified range of frequency and could hit your receiver speakers.

Why not try your odds at constructing this circuit to check out? Wish you a great snooping in the GHz frequency range, and make sure to review the outcome of your listening to these confidential communications and report them here with your comments.