BFO Kit for SSB / CW Shortwave Radios

Beat Frequency Oscillator (BFO) 455 KHz Ten-Tec kit module board allows SSB-CW reception on AM-mode only shortwave receivers. Video shows sample reception of 40 meter amateur radio SSB (single side band) and CW (continuous wave / Morse code) signals. Ten-Tec kit number 1050.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• ham
• radio
• kit
• Beat
• Frequency
• Oscillator
• (BFO)
• 455
• KHz
• Ten-Tec
• module
• board
• 1050
• SSB-CW
• Radio-Shack
• DX-397
• shortwave
• receiver
• sample
• reception
• 40
• meter
• amateur
• SSB
• single
• side
• band
• CW
• continuous
• wave
• Morse
• code
• signals

[timeanagain]

Are special tools needed for this kit build?

Could a beginner build it?

I passed the Novice license exam about 25 years ago, but never got started in Ham radio. Would love to practice receiving morse code again.

I can't seem to find and inexpensive radio with BFO on it. Any suggestions for that route? Thanks

[NG9D]

For great CW practice I think the TenTec T1056 Receiver Kit would be ideal.

I am making one now for 40m -- in my opinion, 40 m is one of the most reliable bands for CW/Morse code reception.

I have made T1056 boards for 20 and 160m, and they both work great!

A 25W soldering iron, diagonal cutters, small screwdriver and needle nose pliers are about the only tools needed to build the receiver kit.

Practicing CW on a radio you made yourself is a lot of fun!

73 de NG9D . .

[Shortwave68]

Very interesting video!

Good job!

Greetings from Germany!!

[NG9D]

Vielen Dank

Radio macht Spaß

73 de Lynn

NG9D

[voningraham]

very cool KE4PNA.will it work on a 1937 zenith radio.

[frankie7200]

how to installation of sangean SG-721



[chrisfreitas]

Wow! That receiver brings back fond memories. Aside from an old Sears multiband I got from a friend, the RadioShack DX-397 was my very first shortwave radio. On my 15th birthday, my Dad and a family friend took me to my hometown's RadioShack and picked it up for $40. I loved that radio. Unfortunately, it wasn't able to pick up many stations over the years, but it was great when it worked. My dad still has that radio along with a Grundig Mini World 300 that I gave him 3 years ago.

[956jbjurt8g]

@956jbjurt8g I found an old Sony 8 transistor portable AM Radio and am using it to beat a note to my ShortWave Radio. Still a tad on the mickey mouse side of things but overall works pretty good especially for CW. Main Tuning capacitor is air variable which allows me to find a Note no matter the Band. Hate to say it, but I do prefer this to this BFO Kit- results vary of course. This last weekend copyed a lot of CW with it.

[956jbjurt8g]

I built one years ago for use with Radio Shack DX-396. Worked, served the purpose- high output. Did allow me to copy CW and SSB signals; however, would only track over a limited range of frequencies before I would have to adjust I believe it was an variable inductor. As described, it is a fun kit and easy to build. If serious about SSB and CW get good RCVR. I used it to listen to my first Number Station Cuban V2 in + SSB. Allows you to Tune in between steps of incremental tuning. 1 -10 ABT +6

[F4EPU]

Nice realisation!

73s David F4EPU

[KC8YOQ]

How does it hook up to the radio? Unclear BUT looks like fun!!!

[sparkdetect]

I built one of these...I had to re-tune the ferrite slug often as I tuned across a ham band, and worse, the drift was unacceptable; I had to constantly adjust the tuning knob. Would be nice if they brought out a new kit with better stability.

[OH2FFY]

Dang :-D