Chapter 6: Receivers

TRUE/FALSE

1. The first radio receiver was built in 1918.

ANS: F

2. Almost all modern receivers use the superheterodyne design.

ANS: T

3. A tuned circuit at the input increases receiver sensitivity.

ANS: F

4. Since both fo and Q increase with frequency, the bandwidth of a resonant LC circuit remains
constant as it is tuned to higher frequencies.

ANS: F

5. The resistance of a coil is a function of frequency.

ANS: T

6. The superhet was invented by Heinrich Hertz.

ANS: F

7. In a receiver, the first RF amplifier is largely responsible for overall noise performance.

ANS: T

8. In a superhet, the local oscillator must be set to the transmitter's carrier frequency.

ANS: F

9. In a superhet, the output of the mixer is the IF.

ANS: T

10. In a superhet, most of the gain comes from the IF amplifiers.

ANS: T

11. In a superhet, most of the selectivity comes from the IF amplifiers.

ANS: T

12. All superhets use a separate local oscillator.

ANS: F
13. In high-side injection, the incoming RF is at a higher frequency than the local oscillator.

ANS: F

14. The mixer and the local oscillator can use the same transistor.

ANS: T

15. The IF frequency is constant as a receiver is tuned to various frequencies.

ANS: T

16. There can be only one mixer and one IF in a superhet receiver.

ANS: F

17. In AM receivers, the antenna and the inductor of the tuner circuit can be the same thing.

ANS: T

18. Bandwidth and signal-to-noise-ratio are not related in a superhet.

ANS: F

19. Shape-factor is a measure of selectivity.

ANS: T

20. Phase distortion should be minimized for reliable voice communications.

ANS: F

21. A receiver's response to weak signals is limited by the noise generated inside the receiver.

ANS: T

22. The AGC in a receiver can cause "blocking".

ANS: T

23. Careful design can eliminate all spurious responses.

ANS: F

24. Image frequencies are eliminated by the IF.

ANS: F

25. "Software radios" use a DSP to replace all hardware up to and including the detector.

ANS: F
26. It is possible that a transmitter on one frequency can appear at two spots on a receiver's dial.

ANS: T

27. A detector is the same as a demodulator.

ANS: T

28. Envelope detectors are typically used in FM receivers.

ANS: F

29. Envelope detectors are complicated, but extremely linear.

ANS: F

30. There is a way to use a diode to demodulate a SSB signal.

ANS: T

31. A SSB signal requires a ratio detector.

ANS: F

32. In a SSB receiver, the BFO injects the carrier into the detector.

ANS: T

33. In a SSB receiver, it is relatively easy for the injected carrier to match the frequency and phase of
the transmitter's carrier.

ANS: F

34. If the BFO in a SSB receiver is 100 hertz low, what comes out of the speaker may sound like
Donald Duck, but it will be understandable.

ANS: T

35. DSBSC transmitters often use a pilot carrier to allow coherent detection.

ANS: T

36. FM receivers are similar to AM receivers in basic design.

ANS: T

37. There is no way to demodulate an FM signal with an AM receiver.

ANS: F

38. Modern FM receivers commonly use Foster-Seeley discriminators.

ANS: F
39. Both PLLs and quadrature detectors can be used to demodulate FM.

ANS: T

40. Quadrature detectors are sensitive to variations in carrier amplitude.

ANS: T

41. Squelch is the same as muting.

ANS: T

42. A bipolar transistor can be used as a mixer, but a FET cannot.

ANS: F

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. The two basic specifications for a receiver are:

a. the sensitivity and the selectivity
b. the number of converters and the number of IFs
c. the spurious response and the tracking
d. the signal and the noise
ANS: A

2. The superheterodyne receiver was invented by:

a. Foster c. Armstrong
b. Seeley d. Hertz
ANS: C

3. Trimmers and padders are:

a. two types of adjusting tools c. small adjustable inductors
b. small adjustable resistors d. small adjustable capacitors
ANS: D

4. "Skin effect" refers to:

a. the way radio signals travel across a flat surface
b. the tissue-burning effect of a strong RF signal
c. the increase of wire resistance with frequency
d. none of the above
ANS: C

5. The "front end" of a receiver can include:

a. the tuner c. the mixer
b. the RF amplifier d. all of the above
ANS: D

6. "IF" stands for:

a. intermediate frequency c. indeterminate frequency
 b. intermodulation frequency d. image frequency
ANS: A

7. AGC stands for:

a. Audio Gain Control c. Active Gain Control
b. Automatic Gain Control d. Active Gain Conversion
ANS: B

8. The frequency of the local oscillator:

a. is above the RF frequency
b. is below the RF frequency
c. can be either above of below the RF frequency
d. is fixed, typically at 455 kHz.
ANS: C

9. The local oscillator and mixer are combined in one device because:
a. it gives a greater reduction of spurious responses
b. it increases sensitivity
c. it increases selectivity
d. it is cheaper
ANS: D

10. Basically, sensitivity measures:

a. the weakest signal that can be usefully received
b. the highest-frequency signal that can be usefully received
c. the dynamic range of the audio amplifier
d. none of the above
ANS: A

11. Basically, selectivity measures:

a. the range of frequencies that the receiver can select
b. with two signals close in frequency, the ability to receive one and reject the other
c. how well adjacent frequencies are separated by the demodulator
d. how well the adjacent frequencies are separated in the mixer
ANS: B

12. When comparing values for shape factor:

a. a value of 1.414 dB is ideal c. a value of 1.0 is ideal
b. a value of 0.707 is ideal d. there is no ideal value
ANS: C

13. When comparing values for shape factor:

a. a value of 2 is better than a value of 4 c. both values are basically equivalent
b. a value of 4 is better than a value of 2 d. none of the above
ANS: A

14. Distortion in a receiver can occur in:

a. the mixer c. the IF amplifiers
 b. the detector d. all of the above
ANS: D

15. Phase distortion is important in:

a. voice communications systems c. monochrome video receivers
b. color video receivers d. all of the above
ANS: B

16. The response of a receiver to weak signals is usually limited by:

a. the AGC c. the dynamic range of the receiver
b. noise generated in the receiver d. the type of detector circuit being used
ANS: B

17. Image frequencies occur when two signals:

a. are transmitted on the same frequency
b. enter the mixer, with one being a reflected signal equal to the IF frequency
c. enter the mixer, one below and one above the local oscillator by a difference equal to the
IF
d. enter the mixer, and the difference between the two signals is equal to twice the IF
ANS: C

18. An image must be rejected:

a. prior to mixing c. prior to detection
b. prior to IF amplification d. images cannot be rejected
ANS: A

19. Image frequency problems would be reduced by:

a. having an IF amplifier with the proper shape factor
b. having a wideband RF amplifier after the mixer
c. having a narrowband RF amplifier before the mixer
d. none of the above
ANS: C

20. A common AM detector is the:

a. PLL c. ratio detector
b. envelope detector d. all of the above
ANS: B

21. An FM detector is the:

a. PLL c. quadrature detector
b. ratio detector d. all of the above
ANS: D

22. Germanium diodes are used in AM detectors because:

a. they are faster than silicon diodes
b. they are cheaper than silicon diodes
c. they minimize distortion from nonlinearity
d. all of the above
 ANS: C

23. A common SSB detector is:

a. a PLL c. a BFO
b. a diode d. a product detector
ANS: D

24. BFO stands for:

a. Beat Frequency Oscillator c. Bipolar Frequency Oscillator
b. Barrier Frequency Oscillator d. Bistable Frequency Oscillator
ANS: A

25. To demodulate both SSB and DSBSC, you need to:

a. use a Foster-Seeley discriminator
b. reinject the carrier
c. use double conversion
d. use one diode for SSB and two diodes for DSBSC
ANS: B

26. Which would be best for DSBSC:

a. carrier detection c. envelope detection
b. coherent detection d. ratio detection
ANS: B

27. An FM detector that is not sensitive to amplitude variations is:

a. Foster-Seeley detector c. a PLL detector
b. a quadrature detector d. all of the above
ANS: C

28. The function of a limiter is:

a. to remove amplitude variations c. to limit dynamic range
b. to limit spurious responses d. to limit noise response
ANS: A

29. Suppressing the audio when no signal is present is called:

a. AGC c. AFC
b. squelch d. limiting
ANS: B

30. LNA stands for:

a. Limited-Noise Amplifier c. Low-Noise Audio
b. Low-Noise Amplifier d. Logarithmic Noise Amplification
ANS: B

31. AFC stands for:

a. Audio Frequency Compensator c. Automatic Frequency Control
b. Autodyne Frequency Compensation d. Autonomous Frequency Control
ANS: C
32. The function of AFC is:
a. maintain a constant IF frequency
b. match the local oscillator to the received signal
c. lock the discriminator to the IF frequency
d. none of the above
ANS: B

33. SAW stands for:

a. Symmetrical Audio Wave c. Silicon-Activated Wafer
b. Surface Acoustic Wave d. Software-Activated Wave
ANS: B

34. The important property of a SAW is:

a. it stabilizes the audio in a receiver c. it is a stable bandpass filter
b. it allows software radios to be built d. none of the above
ANS: C

35. The main function of the AGC is to:

a. keep the gain of the receiver constant
b. keep the gain of the IF amplifiers constant
c. keep the input to the detector at a constant amplitude
d. all of the above
ANS: C

36. DSP stands for:

a. Dynamic Signal Properties c. Distorted Signal Packet
b. Direct Signal Phase d. Digital Signal Processor
ANS: D

37. SINAD stands for:

a. Sinusoidal Amplitude Distortion
b. Signal and Noise Amplitude Distortion
c. Signal-plus-Noise-to-Noise Ratio
d. Signal-plus-Noise and Distortion-to-Noise and Distortion Ratio
ANS: D

38. TRF stands for:

a. Tuned Radio Frequency c. Transmitted Radio Frequency
b. Tracking Radio Frequency d. Tuned Receiver Function
ANS: A

COMPLETION

1. Almost all modern receivers use the _________________________ principle.

ANS: superheterodyne
 2. The first radio receiver of any kind was built in the year ____________________.

ANS: 1887

3. When two tuned circuits ____________________ each other, it means that when the frequency
of one is adjusted, the other changes with it.

ANS: track

4. The ____________________ effect causes the resistance of wire to increase with frequency.

ANS: skin

5. The superhet was invented in the year ____________________.

ANS: 1918

6. In a receiver, the ____________________ refers to the input filter and RF stage.

ANS: front end

7. In a superhet, the output of the ____________________ goes to the IF amplifiers.

ANS: mixer

8. In a superhet, the ____________________ frequency is the difference between the local

oscillator frequency and the received signal frequency.

ANS:
intermediate
IF

9. The ____________________ circuit adjusts the gain of the IF amplifiers in response to signal
strength.

ANS: AGC

10. An ____________________ converter uses the same transistor for both the local oscillator and
the mixer.

ANS: autodyne

11. In low-side injection, the local oscillator is ____________________ than the received signal
frequency.

ANS: lower

12. ____________________ is the ability of a receiver to separate two signals that are close to each
other in frequency.

ANS: Selectivity
13. ____________________ is the ability of a receiver to receive and successfully demodulate a very
weak signal.

ANS: Sensitivity

14. A receiver with two different IF frequencies is called a double-____________________ receiver.

ANS: conversion

15. A multiple-conversion receiver will have better rejection of ____________________ frequencies.

ANS: image

16. A demodulator is also called a ____________________.

ANS: detector

17. An ____________________ detector uses a diode to half-wave rectify an AM signal.

ANS: envelope

18. A ____________________ detector is used for SSB signals.

ANS: product

19. A BFO produces a locally generated ____________________.

ANS: carrier

20. A DSBSC signal requires a ____________________ detection circuit.

ANS: coherent

21. FM detectors have a characteristic ____________________-shaped curve.

ANS: S

22. While still commonly found, the Foster-Seeley and ratio detectors are ____________________.

ANS: obsolescent

23. Unlike the PLL detector, the quadrature detector is sensitive to changes in
____________________ of the input signal.

ANS: amplitude

24. A dual-____________________ MOSFET is useful for AGC.

ANS: gate

25. Diode mixers are too ____________________ to be practical in most applications.

ANS: noisy
26. The IF amplifiers in an AM receiver must be Class ____________________.

ANS: A

27. A double-tuned IF transformer is usually ____________________ coupled for the response to

have a flat top and steep sides.

ANS: over

28. Multiple IF stages can be ____________________-tuned to increase the bandwidth.

ANS: stagger

29. Compared to tuned circuits, ceramic and crystal IF filters do not require
____________________.

ANS: adjustment

30. Up-conversion is when the output of the mixer is a ____________________ frequency than the
incoming signal.

ANS: higher

31. In a block converter, the frequency of the first local oscillator is ____________________.

ANS:
fixed
constant

32. Typically, AGC reduces the gain of the ____________________ amplifiers.

ANS: IF

33. An ____________________-meter is designed to indicate signal strength in many

communications receivers.

ANS: S

34. The effectiveness of FM ____________________ is measured by a receiver’s quieting

sensitivity.

ANS: limiting

35. A ____________________ refers to any kind of FM or PM detector.

ANS: discriminator

SHORT ANSWER

1. Suppose the bandwidth of a tuned circuit is 10 kHz at 1 MHz. Approximately what bandwidth
would you expect it to have at 4 MHz?
 ANS:
20 kHz

2. Using high-side injection for a 1-MHz IF, what is the frequency of the local oscillator when the
receiver is tuned to 5 MHz?

ANS:
6 MHz

3. An IF filter has a –60 dB bandwidth of 25 kHz and a –6 dB bandwidth of 20 kHz. What is the
shape factor value?

ANS:
1.25

4. Suppose a receiver uses a 5-MHz IF frequency. Assuming high-side injection, what would be the
image frequency if the receiver was tuned to 50 MHz?

ANS:
60 MHz

5. Suppose a SSB receiver requires an injected frequency of 1.5 MHz. What would be the
acceptable frequency range of the BFO if the maximum acceptable baseband shift is 100 hertz?

ANS:
1.5 MHz ± 100 hertz

6. The transformer of a double-tuned IF amplifier has a Q of 25 for both primary and secondary.
What value of kc do you need to achieve optimal coupling?

ANS:
0.06

7. What value of transformer coupling would a double-tuned 10-MHz IF amplifier with optimal
coupling need to get a bandwidth of 100 kHz?

ANS:
0.01