How much AF amplification needed between diode ring and a sound card?

Progress continues on my WSPR direct conversion receiver. The Colpitts oscillator is working nicely and is very stable. Yesterday I glued an SBL-3 diode ring to the board and hooked it up. With my ‘scope and sig generator I can see it turning 30 meter RF into audio. So far so good.

Now it is time to build the AF amp. Here’s my question: How many db do I need? The standard 100 db DC RX AF Amp seems like a bit of overkill — this thing won’t drive a speaker or a headphone, but instead, a computer soundcard. What do you guys think? How many db?

SolderSmoke Podcast #123

Listen at: http://www.soldersmoke.com

SolderSmoke #123
4/1/2010
Spring! Equinox! Sap in Vermont! Aurora in Norway! Birds singing in Rome!

SolderSmoke on Oprah. Program Schedule:http://www.soldersmoke.com/oprah.html

Special Report from MASSCON QRP Convention by Mark, NX1K

Propagation improvingWSPR as a personal sunspot detector
Building the W3PM WSPR rig
Colpitts oscillators
Polyakov’s “Russian Mixer”
BANDSWEEP: A low-frequency sweep by Chris, KD4PBJ
EMRFD on Direct Conversion and Direct Aversion

Faraday’s toroid diagram
NA5N’s ISBN
MAILBAG

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