1944 Two Tube Receiver

Screenshot 2024-09-11 11.28.40 AMEighty years ago this month, the October 1944 issue of QST showed how to build this two-tube regenerative receiver. The set was a good performer. The pentode detector provided great sensitivity, and the pentode audio amp was enough to drive a small speaker, or headphones. It even featured a volume control that, while not absolutely necessary, would prove helpful if you wanted to listen with headphones.

Plug-in coils covered the broadcast band up to 32 MHz, and the article boasted that, unlike many similar designs, a single coil would cover the entire broadcast band.

The magazine cover boasted that you could laugh at wartime parts shortages. The articles was a little unclear as to exactly how, but it was probably due to the fact that you could substitute various tubes. The set could be built for use on AC power, or with a 90 volt B battery.

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