iTx Home Broadcast Tube AM Transmitter Kit

Contents About Construction

ITx AM Tube Transmitter Features .................................. 1 Work Area
About Construction ......................................................... 1
Work Area................................................................... 1 Kit construction requires a clean, smooth, and well-lit area
Tools .......................................................................... 1 where you can easily organize and handle small parts without
Common Problems...................................................... 1 losing them. Safety is always important! Be sure to use a
De-soldering Tips ........................................................ 1 suitable high-temperature stand for your soldering iron, and
About Components ......................................................... 2 keep the work area free of clutter.
Resistors..................................................................... 2 Tools
Resistor Colour Code .............................................. 2
Inductors ..................................................................... 2 Although your particular kit may require additional items for
Capacitors .................................................................. 2 completion, virtually all construction projects require a work
Ceramic Discs Capacitor examples .......................... 2 area outfitted with the following tools and supplies:
For Beginners ................................................................. 2 q Soldering iron (25 to 30 watts) with small tip
How It Works .............................................................. 2
q Soldering Iron Stand with Moist Cleaning Sponge
Operation .................................................................... 2
Setting up a Aerial and Earth ....................................... 2 q Rosin-core solder intended for electronics work
Assembly Instructions ..................................................... 2 q Small Wire cutters
Assemble the Main Board ............................................ 2
q Wire Strippers
Main Board Component Positions ................................ 3
Step-by-Step assembly instruction ............................... 3 q Small or medium Phillips and Flat screw driver
Testing ........................................................................... 3 q Long Nose Pliers
Warranty Information ................................................... 4 q Nut drivers M2.5 & M3 (or use the pliers!!!)
Quick Set Up .................................................................. 5
q Solder Sucker or De-soldering Braid
Power Requirements....................................................... 5
Power Switch .................................................................. 5 Common Problems
Effects of different HT voltage.......................................... 5
Range......................................................................... 5 Experience shows there are four common mistakes builders
Audio Quality .............................................................. 5 commonly make. Avoid these, and your kit will probably work on
How to Make a 27 Volt Battery ........................................ 5 the first try!
Installing the Wrong Part - It always pays to double-check
each step. A 1K and a 10K resistor may look almost the same,
iTx Kit based on an 1940’s design
but may act very differently in an electronic circuit! The same is
true for capacitors—a device marked 102 (or .001uF) may have
very different operating characteristics from one marked 103 (or
.01uF).
Installing Parts Backwards - Always check the polarity of
electrolytic capacitors to make sure the positive (+) lead goes in
the (+) hole on the circuit board. Transistors have a flat side or
emitter tab to help you identify the correct mounting position. ICs
have a notch or dot at one end indicating the correct direction of
insertion. Diodes have a banded end indicating correct polarity.
Faulty Solder Connections - Inspect for cold-solder joints and
solder bridges. Cold solder joints occur when you don’t fully heat
the connection or when metallic corrosion and oxide contaminate
a component lead or pad. Solder bridges form when a trail of
excess solder shorts pads or tracks together.
Omitting or Misreading a Part - This is easier to do than you
might think! Always double-check to make sure you completed
each step in an assembly sequence. Soldering Tips: Cleanliness
ITx AM Tube Transmitter Features and good heat distribution are the two secrets of professional
soldering. Before you install and solder each part, inspect leads
q Broadcast Band Tuning Range. or pins for oxidation. If the metal surface is dull, sand with fine
q Smooth 1:3 reduction tuning dial. emery paper until shiny. Also, clean the oxidation and excess
q Mono or Stereo input solder from the soldering iron tip to ensure maximum heat
transfer. Allow the tip of your iron to contact both the lead and
q No critical alignment requirements.
pad for about one second before feeding solder to the
q Runs of minimum of three or more standard PP3 9 connection. Surfaces must become hot enough for solder to flow
volt batteries and one D 1.5 volt cell. smoothly. Feed solder to the opposite side of the lead from your
q Safe Low Voltage HT, runs on minimum 27 volt iron tip.
HT.
De-soldering Tips
q For more power HT can be increased up to 90
volts. If you make a mistake and need to remove a part, follow these
instructions carefully! First, grasp the component with needle-
q Excellent transmission even with a short wire
nose pliers. Heat the pad beneath the lead you intend to extract,
antenna.
and pull gently. The lead should come out. Repeat for the other
lead. Solder may fill in behind the lead as you extract it, should

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 iTx Home Broadcast Tube AM Transmitter Kit
this happen, try heating the pad again and inserting a multiplier (same as resistors). The value is in pF; thus a
common pin into the hole. Solder won’t stick to the pin’s capacitor marked “104” is 100,000 pF, or .1 uF. Electrolytic
chromium plating. When the pad cools, remove the pin and capacitors are always marked in uF.
insert the correct component. Electrolytic capacitors are polarized devices and must be
oriented correctly during installation. If you become confused by
About Components markings on the case, remember the uncut negative lead is
Resistors slightly shorter than the positive lead.

The electrical value of resistors is indicated by a colour For Beginners

code (shown below). You don’t have to memorize this
code to work with resistors, but you do need to understand You're about to construct a valve (vacuum tube) radio
how it works: transmitter, based on an original circuit from the late 1940's. The
transmitter is designed to let you broadcast on the AM broadcast
Resistor Colour Code band. Even if you have never worked with electronic parts
Black = 0 (tens) before, you can successfully build this transmitter by carefully
following all the instructions in this guide. Step by step, we'll
Brown = 1 (hundreds) show you how to build your receiver.
Red = 2 (K)
How It Works
Orange = 3 (10K)
Picture the transmitter in two basic sections:
Yellow = 4 (100K)
q AF (Audio Frequency) Amplifier (V1) - the AF amplifier
Green = 5 (1Meg)
serves two purposes. It converts the audio signals from
Blue = 6 the microphone or other audio source (e.g. iPod, CD or
Violet = 7 MP3 player), and provides the correct level of
Gray = 8 modulation to the grid of the RF oscillator stage.
White = 9 q RF (Radio Frequency) Oscillator (V2) – the RF
Oscillator is tuned to a frequency in the AM broadcast
Silver = 10% Tolerance band by L2 & VC1. The signal is modulated by the
Gold = 5% Tolerance output of V1, which is coupled to the grid on V2.
When you look at a resistor, check its multiplier code first. Operation
Any resistor with a black multiplier band falls between 10
and 99 ohms in value. Brown designates a value between Setting up a Aerial and Earth
100 and 999 ohms. Red indicates a value from 1000 to
Ten feet of wire strung indoors will provide adequate
9999 ohms, which is also expressed as 1.0K to 9.9K. An
transmission of transmission around the house.
orange multiplier band designates 10K to 99K, etc.
A good Ground (or Earth) connection will make your transmitter
Inductors work much better. Run a wire to a metal cold water, or central
The kit contains moulded inductors (chokes), which heating pipe or to a stake in the ground.
appear, at first glance, similar to resistors in both shape
and band marking. However, a closer look will enable you
Assembly Instructions
to differentiate between the two, inductors (chokes) are Before assembling your kit, please take time to read and
generally larger in diameter and fatter at the ends than understand the kit warranty. Read through the assembly
resistors. instructions to make sure the kit does not exceed your skill
When checking your parts, separate out any inductors level.
(chokes) and consult the parts list for specific colour-code You are now ready to start construction of the kit.
information.
The components are inserted on the silk-screen side of the
Capacitors board.
Unlike resistors, capacitors do not use a colour code for Begin assembly by following the Step-by-Step assembly
value identification. Instead, the value, or a 3 digit number instruction, you will begin by installing all the fixed resistors.
code, is printed on the body. Because these are all 5% percent tolerance ending with a fourth
gold colour band, you need only read the first three bands of the
Ceramic Discs Capacitor examples colour code during the following steps. All resistor leads should
be pre-formed and solder resistors at the locations indicated.
10pF = 100 (10pf X 0)
All capacitors should be installed with their bodies as close to
100pF = 101 (10pf X 10)
the PC board as possible; this is very important in RF circuits.
1000pF = 102 (10pf X 100) (1n or 0.001uF)
Assemble the Main Board
10n = 103 (10pf X 1000) (10n or 0.01uf)
100n = 104 (10pf X 10000) (100n or 0.1uf) The first task is to assemble the main board, refer to the
assembly drawing at each stage.
Small-value capacitors are characterized in pF (or pico-
Farads), while larger values are labelled in uF (or micro- We will start by soldering all the smaller components on the
Farads). The transition from pF to uF occurs at 1000 pF printed circuit board and finish with the largest, soldering these
(or .001 uF). Today, while most monolithic (multilayer) and at each stage.
disc-ceramic capacitors are marked with a three- number
code, you may still find a 0.1 uF capacitor marked either
“104” or “0.1”. For three digit codes, the first two digits
indicate a numerical value, while the last digit indicates a

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 iTx Home Broadcast Tube AM Transmitter Kit
Main Board Component Positions Inductors
Make sure that both L1 and L2 are fitted the same way round with the
gold band nearest the edge of the printed circuit board. L1 & L2 must be
fitted 5mm proud of the printed circuit board to allow them to be adjusted
by altering the gap between then. To start with L1 & L2 should be tightly
touching each other, i.e. no gap between them . (see drawing of how to
fit L1 & L2)
q L1 = 180uh ¢¢¢ ¢
q L2 = 180uh ¢¢¢ ¢

L3 = 22uh or 56uh ¢¢¢ ¢ or ¢¢¢ ¢

Switches
q SW1 = SPDT Slide Switch
Sockets
q V1 (SKT1) = 7 Pin Socket
q V2 (SKT2) = 7 Pin Socket
Connectors (PCB)
q J1 = Audio Left Phono Socket
q J2 = Audio Right Phono Socket
q J3 = Aerial Phono Socket
Step-by-Step assembly instruction
q J4/5 = HT 2 Way Term Block
Resistors q J6/J7 = LT 2 Way Term Block
q R1 = 680R ¢¢¢ ¢ q Ground Screw Kit
q R2 = 680R ¢¢¢ ¢
q R3 = none not fitted
q R4 = 4M7 ¢¢¢ ¢
q R5 = 1M5 ¢¢¢ ¢ Tuning Capacitor
q R6 = 4M7 ¢¢¢ ¢ q VC1 & VC2 = 380/320pf Variable Capacitor
q R7 = 2M2 ¢¢¢ ¢
Final Assembly (PCB)
q R8 = 100K ¢¢¢ ¢
q Attach the tuning knobs The tuning knob has a plastic insert
Capacitors to fit the 4mm shaft on the tuning capacitor.
Make sure to observe polarity of the leads for Electrolytic q Fit feet 4 x M3 screws and nuts to mounting holes
capacitors, there is a white band on the capacitor body to identify q Very carefully insert the valves, try not to bend or stress the
the negative lead
pins as you do this.
q C1 = 104n (0.1uf) Mylar Capacitor 104 q V1 = 1T4, V2 = 1R5
q C2 = 104n (0.1uf) Mylar Capacitor 104
q C3 = 100pf Ceramic Disc Capacitor 101
Testing
q C4 = 104n (0.1uf) Mylar Capacitor 104 q Connect the batteries (or Mains Adapter)
q C5/C7 = 471pf Ceramic (see note below) 471 q Attach your audio source (iPop, MP3, CD Player)
q Attach 10 to 20 foot of wire to the antenna terminal.
q Switch the on/off switch to on
No capacitors are fitted in positions
C5 and C7. However a single 470pf q Using a AM radio select a frequency that is clear of other
capacitor (C5 on circuit dia) is fitted stations (suggest mid band about 800 to 1000KHz)
as shown in the picture to the left, q Turn the tuning control until the signal is heard, and adjust
using two of the pads previously volume on audio source to so signal is not distorted (to
used by C5 & C7. This is a much modulation).
modification. q In practice almost all kits work best when L1 & L2 are tight
up against each other. You might like to try adjusting the
gap between L1 & L2 between 0 to 2mm to get maximum
q C6 = 220pf Ceramic Disc Capacitor 221 volume / best quality signal.
q C8 = none not fitted q Your transmitter is now ready to use…!
q C9 = 1uf or 4.7uf Electrolytic Capacitor 4.7uf

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 iTx Home Broadcast Tube AM Transmitter Kit
Warranty Information Missing or Defective Parts After You Begin Assembly - Parts and
materials lost or damaged after construction begins are not covered
Your kit may be returned to us in its pre-assembled condition only. under the terms of this warranty. However, most parts supplied with kits
The reason for this is, once you begin installing and soldering are relatively inexpensive and we can replace them for a reasonable
parts, you essentially take over the role of the manufacturer. If you charge.
are a new or inexperienced kit builder, we urge you to read the Factory Repair After You Begin Assembly - Kits-in progress and
manual carefully and determine whether or not you're ready to completed kits are specifically excluded from coverage by the warranty.
take on the job. If you wish to change your mind and return your However, as a service to customers, we are available to evaluate and
kit, you may, but you must do it before you begin construction, and repair malfunctioning kits for a minimum service fee of £20.00 (½ hour
within ten working days of the time it arrives. rate) plus £5.00 (UK) shipping and handling (prices subject to change).
Missing Parts - If you determine, that any part is missing, please Returns should be shipped prepaid to:
contact us and we'll send the missing item to you free of charge.
The 6V6 Company, 70 Endlesham Road, London SW12 8JL, UK
However, before you contact us, please look carefully to confirm
you haven't misread the marking on one or other of the parts When shipping, pack your kit well and include the minimum payment
provided. Also, make certain an alternative part hasn't been plus shipping and handling charges (£25.00 total). No work can be
substituted for the item you're missing. performed without pre-payment. Also, provide a valid return address and
a day time phone number and email details where you may be reached.
Defective Parts - Electronic parts are physically and electrically
resilient, and defective components are rare. However, if you We hope your kit gives you many hours of enjoyment, should
discover an item that's broken or unserviceable, we'll replace it. you require any assistance please email [email protected]
Just return the part to us at the address below accompanied with
an explanation. Upon receipt, we'll test it. If it's defective and
appears unused, we'll ship you a new one right away at no
charge.

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 iTx Home Broadcast Tube AM Transmitter Kit
Quick Set Up Audio Quality

The following are notes on the use and operation of the iTx Audio quality, is effected by two factors, HT voltage and Audio
transmitter. input level (volume)
q Connect the batteries (or Mains Adapter) 1. HT Voltage
q Attach your audio source (iPop, MP3, CD Player) 27 volts – Fair for Speech
q Attach 10 to 20 foot of wire to the antenna terminal. 36 volts – Good for Speech and Music
q Switch the on/off switch to on 45-90 volts – Excellent
q Using a AM radio select a frequency that is clear of 2. Audio Input Level
other stations (suggest mid band about 800 to
The transmitter is designed to take a Mono or Stereo signal from
1000KHz)
the headphone output of most audio equipment.
q Turn the tuning control until the signal is heard, and
It is important to set the audio input level (volume) of the audio
adjust volume on audio source to so signal is not
distorted (to much modulation). source (e.g. iPod, MP3 player etc) to a level that will not over
modulate the signal. To much volume and the transmitted signal
q In practice almost all kits work best when L1 & L2 are will be distorted. So adjust the input level to get the best quality.
tight up against each other. You might like to try
adjusting the gap between L1 & L2 between 0 to 2mm How to Make a 27 Volt Battery
to get maximum volume / best quality signal.
The picture below shows how to connect 3 standard PP3 9 volt
q Enjoy….Your transmitter is now ready to use…!
batteries in series to get a 27 volt battery.
Power Requirements The same principle can be used to make higher voltage batteries
by adding one or more extra batteries, each new battery adds 9
For safety reasons, the unit is designed to run on an LT volts to the total battery voltage.
voltage of between 1.4 to 1.5 volts (e.g. a standard D cell
battery) and an HT voltage as low as 27 volts (e.g. 3 x PP3
9 volt batteries connected in series).
+ 27 volts
It should be noted however the unit is capable of running
on an HT voltage up to 90 volts. +
Power Switch +
Note, only the LT line is switched, as once the filament
current is removed from the tubes, no HT current can flow
as there is no DC path when the tubes are powered down.
+
Effects of Different HT voltage
Range - 0 volts
Basically this is a function of the length of the Aerial or
Antenna and the HT voltage. For around the house
operation 10 feet (3 meters) of wire should be adequate. A
good Ground (or Earth) connection will also improve
Please note for safety
transmitter range.
Our in-house testing used a 3 meter aerial, a ground
reasons 27 volts is the
connection and a iPod for the audio source. The receiver
used was a Sony AM portable receiver. This gave good
coverage around an average house.
only recommended
Range is also depending on the sensitivity of the radio
used to receive the transmissions, and the surrounding
operating voltage for the
environmental conditions (i.e. steel frame building).
Lastly, remember that vintage radios from the 1930 are not HT supply.
as sensitive as modern day solid-state receivers.

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