{"id":9763,"date":"2025-01-26T15:22:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-26T04:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/2025\/01\/26\/soldersmoke-direct-conversion-challenge-the-mixer-and-diplexer\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T18:00:59","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T08:00:59","slug":"soldersmoke-direct-conversion-challenge-the-mixer-and-diplexer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/2025\/01\/26\/soldersmoke-direct-conversion-challenge-the-mixer-and-diplexer\/","title":{"rendered":"SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Challenge   The Mixer and Diplexer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"247\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EjdQphdXGgE?si=Rk2TwW0LuezEUezT?rel=0\" title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"440\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b>SolderSmoke Challenge \u2013 Direct Conversion Receiver \u2013 the Mixer<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b><u><\/u> <u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b>The mixer is the heart of the direct conversion receiver. It\u2019s the circuit that makes a receiver a receiver. It takes the RF from the antenna and mixes it with the local oscillator to extract the audio. In this video, Dean, KK4DAS walks us through the design, build and testing of the double balanced diode ring mixer we chose for the SolderSmoke Challenge DCR. He also explores some of the myths, legends, and lore around mixer design. If you are not yet convinced, we can make an effective receiver with just four simple boards you definitely want to watch this vido to the end. Mixers have been a passion (some say obsession) of mine for a long time. If you search for \u201cmixer\u201d on the SolderSmoke blog you will find many postings over the years. Whenever I want to learn more about some RF circuit or other I always turn to Alan Wolke, W2AEW\u2019s excellent YouTube video series. In the video linked below Alan does an excellent job of explaining mixer theory and demonstrating how the switching action of the diodes produces the sum and difference frequencies.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b><u><\/u> <u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b>Related links:<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b><u><\/u> <u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b>Alan Wolke, W2AEW &#8211; YouTube Video #167:<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b>How a Diode Ring Mixer works | Mixer operation theory and measurement<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b><a data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/youtu.be\/junuEwmQVQ8?si%3Dzinwuz9FcBDbUXM&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1737986042816000&#038;usg=AOvVaw3rVqJM5JsUjRX2h2xtL9nJ\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/junuEwmQVQ8?si=zinwuz9FcBDbUXM\" style=\"color: #1155cc;\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/junuEwmQVQ8?<wbr><\/wbr>si=zinwuz9FcBDbUXM<\/a>6<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b><u><\/u> <u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b>SolderSmoke Blog on Mixers:<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b><a data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/soldersmoke.blogspot.com\/2022\/10\/how-diode-ring-multiplies-by-1-and-1.html&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1737986042816000&#038;usg=AOvVaw1Xvd8IOdriMngnGQtdeC_D\" href=\"https:\/\/soldersmoke.blogspot.com\/2022\/10\/how-diode-ring-multiplies-by-1-and-1.html\" style=\"color: #1155cc;\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/soldersmoke.blogspot.<wbr><\/wbr>com\/2022\/10\/how-diode-ring-<wbr><\/wbr>multiplies-by-1-and-1.html<\/a><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b><u><\/u> <u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b>Join the discussion &#8211; SolderSmoke Discord Server:<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/Fu6B7yGxx2\">https:\/\/discord.gg\/Fu6B7yGxx2<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b> <u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b>Documentation on Hackaday:<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b><a data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/hackaday.io\/project\/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1737986042816000&#038;usg=AOvVaw359U-1ofBUtFWvSEQ-Lm7P\" href=\"https:\/\/hackaday.io\/project\/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver\" style=\"color: #1155cc;\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/hackaday.io\/project\/<wbr><\/wbr>190327-high-schoolers-build-a-<wbr><\/wbr>radio-receiver<\/a><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b> <u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b>SolderSmoke YouTube channel:<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b><a data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@soldersmoke&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1737986042816000&#038;usg=AOvVaw1ckY8VNVVBcploVRKKJ-XW\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@soldersmoke\" style=\"color: #1155cc;\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@<wbr><\/wbr>soldersmoke<\/a><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b><u><\/u> <u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><b>SolderSmoke blog DCR posts:<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><a data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/soldersmoke.blogspot.com\/search\/label\/TJ%2520DC%2520RX&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1737986042816000&#038;usg=AOvVaw18OKo9Z2WJ0Fbmpf8Mu6Gn\" href=\"https:\/\/soldersmoke.blogspot.com\/search\/label\/TJ%20DC%20RX\" style=\"color: #1155cc;\" target=\"_blank\"><b>https:\/\/soldersmoke.blogspot.<wbr><\/wbr>com\/search\/label\/TJ%20DC%20RX<\/b><\/a><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;\"><u><\/u> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SolderSmoke Challenge \u2013 Direct Conversion Receiver \u2013 the Mixer The mixer is the heart of the direct conversion receiver. It\u2019s the circuit that makes a receiver a receiver. It takes the RF from the antenna and mixes it with the local oscillator to extract the audio. In this video, Dean, KK4DAS walks us through the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/2025\/01\/26\/soldersmoke-direct-conversion-challenge-the-mixer-and-diplexer\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Challenge   The Mixer and Diplexer&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[248,34,334,90,12,161],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-direct-conversion-challenge","category-mixer-theory","category-mixers","category-souleles-dean","category-tj-dc-rx","category-wolke-alan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9763","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9763"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9763\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11164,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9763\/revisions\/11164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}