Commercially made Fremodyne receivers were manufactured from late 1947 to around 1949. As such, the same procedure for restoration is required as with any similarly aged vintage electronic equipment.
Typically, carbon resistors can be assumed to have drifted high, paper condensers will be leaky, and electrolytics will have dried out or have excessive leakage.

More specifically, in the case of the Fremodyne, let's see what needs to be done.

Where the condensers are ceramic or mica, none of these has been found to be troublesome in any Fremodyne restored so far. The others may include paper types, and where this is so they will need replacement. Likewise, the 10uF electrolytic is not above suspicion. It should at least be tested if it is wished to retain it for reasons of originality. Some have been found to be faulty.
Turning now to the resistors, the 150k is critical, and is of high enough value to be suspect. The 100k similarly may have drifted high, but its value is not so critical, since it performs de-emphasis and quench filtering. It does not affect the super-regenerative operation.
The other resistors; 22k, 15k, and 1.5k, are low enough not to give trouble. Likewise, the 100R B+ decoupler for the local oscillator can be assumed to be OK.

Critical Components.
For the local oscillator, some variation in the 20pF and 22k grid leak components is acceptable, and indeed do vary with some manufacturers. The circuit is a very simple oscillator, and the components are not unduly critical in terms of reliable oscillation, and producing a suitable output level. Of course, if the 20pF is thermally sensitive, it may cause tuning drift.
The 2pf coupling between the local oscillator and input of the super-regenerator is important since it controls the amount of injection, and thus how effectively the superheterodyne frequency conversion occurs.  If the local oscillator injection is too low, receiver sensitivity is reduced. In some sets, this condenser is of the "gimmick" type; i.e. two insulated wires twisted together. It has been found in at least once instance the amount of capacitance was insufficient. Upon increasing it, normal sensitivity was obtained. The "Electronics Australia" circuit has unfortunately not included any coupling condenser, instead relying only on stray capacitance. If constructed to the design presented, it has poor sensitivity.

Turning now to the super-regenerator, anything that upsets the stabilisation or quench waveform circuits will have a marked effect on performance. It is important to note that the presence of the super-regenerative rushing sound does not automatically indicate the circuit is operating correctly.
The 150k resistor is part of the grid stabilising circuit. It also has some effect on quenching frequency. If it has drifted high, the quench frequency will be lower than normal, and if sufficiently low will become audible. The effect of this is a whistling sound always evident, even with the set not receiving a signal. In the modern day, the quench frequency is important because of the presence of the stereo pilot tone at 19kc/s. If, for example, the quench frequency is 20kc/s, a 1kc/s tone will always be heard when the set is tuned to a station transmitting stereo (which is most of them). Since a super-regenerative receiver is going in and out of oscillation at the rate of the quench frequency, it follows that any demodulated audio will be mixed with this, producing the usual sum and difference frequencies.
The 2500pf, two 5000pF's, 10uF, and 1.5k are also important since they control how the quenching circuit works. It is not sufficient merely to get the circuit quenching to make the receiver function. The quench waveform and frequency has considerable effect on receiver sensitivity, bandwidth, and sound quality. If the 2500pF has to be replaced note that it is not a preferred value. Initially, it should be replaced with .0022uF or .0027uF, the quench frequency checked, and further adjustment made if necessary. The 5000pF can be replaced with 4700pF.

Stereo Pilot Tone.
If the stereo pilot tone is making itself evident, it is necessary to raise the quench frequency slightly; usually to about 32-35k/cs. This is done simply by reducing the value of the 150k. The easiest way to do this is to simply connect a high value resistor in parallel with it. Do not reduce the 150k more than necessary, since it could affect the stabilisation, and also raising the quench frequency reduces sensitivity and output. Alternatively, the 2500pF can be altered, as explained previously.

Alignment.
Since the Fremodyne is an AM superhet, it is lined up in exactly the same way as any other conventional set. If no alignment instructions for the set in question are available, the following will suffice:
Feed an AM signal into the aerial terminal at the required IF, usually 21.75Mc/s. Typically, a level of 100uV and 40% modulation is a good starting point. Adjust the IF coil for maximum output which will also be coincident with minimum super-regenerative rush. As always, using the weakest possible input signal will make the tuning peak more obvious.

Next is to adjust the local oscillator. The turns of the oscillator coil are spread to increase frequency, or brought together to reduce it. This is done at the 88Mc/s end of the band. Since commercially made sets have a calibrated dial, the action of the pointer should be checked first to see it has equal overlap at both ends of the dial (unless there are markings to indicate otherwise). With the pointer at 88Mc/s, the oscillator coil is adjusted so that 88Mc/s is received at this point. Then increase the signal generator to 108Mc/s, and set the dial to this frequency. Set the trimmer capacitor so the signal generator is heard at this dial position. It will probably be found that going back to 88Mc/s, the calibration has now changed. It will be necessary to repeat this procedure several times. Be aware that given the cost cutting aspect of most Fremodynes, the dial calibrations are not always perfectly accurate. The important thing is to get it as best as possible, making sure the full 88-108Mc/s band is receivable.

The final adjustment is the aerial coil. Since the loading of this by any external aerial alters its resonant frequency, the most accurate results will be obtained by connecting the set to the aerial it will be used with. The procedure is similar to the local oscillator, in that spreading or contracting the coil affects the low end of the band, and the trimmer, the top end. Allow the signal generator to radiate into a piece of wire, for example, so that it can be heard with the aerial connected to the Fremodyne. At the 88Mc/s end of the band, adjust the aerial coil for maximum gain. Note that because of the coupling between the aerial and oscillator coils, any adjustment to the aerial circuit will cause a slight shift in local oscillator frequency. Therefore, the tuning control needs to be rocked back and forth while adjusting the aerial circuit. Again, use the minimum signal from the generator to make the peak obvious. Then, at the 108Mc/s end of the band, adjust the aerial trimmer for maximum gain, similarly rocking the tuning control back and forth to find where it peaks. As before, the procedure will need to be repeated a few times, but note that the peak is fairly broad.

While this sounds complicated, in actual fact the aerial circuit response is quite broad, and it is not as critical as the local oscillator. In fact, it is doubtful that perfect tracking will be obtained anyway since some Fremodynes don't include any local oscillator padding circuit.

In practice, the set shouldn't have to be aligned except unless it's been "got at", or parts affecting the tuned circuits have been replaced. Usually, the most that is required is the trimmer adjustments.

Local Oscillator.
As noted with the Howard 474, and Olympic sets, the Fremodyne is mounted on a sub chassis mechanically isolated from the main chassis with rubber grommets. A copper braid connects the two for the earth connection. Unfortunately, in all examples of these sets so far restored, this connection is sufficient to cause the local oscillator to drop out at the top end of the FM band. It has been necessary to add extra braid connected to different points. In this regard, a spectrum analyser is invaluable for observing the local oscillator performance - and the effect of adding the extra braid is clearly obvious.

Spectrum analyser shows local oscillator and super-regenerator activity.

However, the real problem is the local oscillator circuit used by some manufacturers. By design, it is barely able to oscillate, and anything not 'just so' will cause erratic behaviour. The earthing arrangements of live chassis sets using an isolated B+ busbar are not perfect, and any deficiency shows up by an already weak oscillator dropping out. Furthermore, the circuit is critical with the actual valves used. Some will oscillate perfectly while others refuse to, or do so erratically, despite being new examples of the same type number. One example of this is the Olympic only working with Sylvania 14F8's, and not GE or RCA.

Less than full oscillator coil reaches the grid with this arrangement.

The problem occurs with sets which have a padder capacitor in series with the tuning capacitor. If, as in the problem sets, the oscillator grid is fed from the junction of the padder and tuning capacitor, the grid receives reduced voltage because of the capacitive voltage divider action. A rough calculation, assuming a 20pF tuning/trimmer capacitance, would cause a 30% reduction in grid drive. This is discussed in greater detail in the Olympic article.
Another local oscillator design fault, found in the Olympic, is not only was the 14F8 heater not adequately bypassed to earth, it was deliberately decoupled from earth with a choke! The type of oscillator used, with a choke in the cathode circuit, is affected by heater earthing, or lack of, since there is capacitance between the heater and cathode.
Therefore, if restoring a Fremodyne of this nature, and FM reception drops out at certain parts of the band this is a likely cause.

It is worth noting that sets such as the Meck, with no padder circuit, are good performers. Similarly, the Perco, Sentinel, Heathkit, and Gilfillan sets have not had any problem.

Oscillator Injection.
Additionally, a weak local oscillator, even though not actually dropping out, will cause reduced sensitivity. In the same way, inadequate local oscillator injection will also cause reduced sensitivity. In this regard, the Electronics Australia design has poor sensitivity compared to most commercially made Fremodynes, since it has no actual coupling capacitor, relying on valve capacitance and stray radiation. Likewise, the Perco benefited with an increase in the value of its "gimmick" coupling capacitor.

Choice of IF.
The choice of IF used by particular manufacturers is not problematic except where a harmonic falls in the FM band. The super-regenerative IF channel of the Fremodyne radiates at its own frequency, as well as those of its harmonics. If one of these should fall in the FM band, it will be impossible to receive anything on this frequency. Hazeltine recommended 21.75Mc/s, and most sets use this frequency. Here, the fourth harmonic occurs at 87Mc/s, and the fifth at 108.75Mc/s; both just outside the FM band.
28Mc/s is another suitable IF, with the third harmonic at 84Mc/s, and the fourth at 112Mc/s.

Spectrum analyser shows how the super-regenerative IF creates harmonics which fall just outside the FM band. Obviously, an IF which creates harmonics that fall within the band is unsuitable.

However, if you find yourself with an Audar FMC-12, you'll find reception at 93Mc/s impossible. This is because the IF is 23.25Mc/s, and the fourth harmonic is 93Mc/s. This interesting choice of IF must have gone unnoticed in the Audar design laboratories, with no local station on this frequency. It also shows the operation of the Fremodyne was not fully understood. Obviously, such a set should have the IF retuned to 21.75Mc/s. This will entail having to re-align the local oscillator slightly, of course.

Power Supply.
A minor problem with the Perco FM tuner is the dial light circuit. As the set is designed, dial light brilliance is nowhere near what it should be. This is because the dial lamp is fed partly from a tapping on the the 35W4 heater, and partly from the set's B+ current flowing through it.  Since the Fremodyne tuner on its own draws only a few milliamps, there is not enough current to give anything like normal brilliance for the dial lamp. There is a mistake on the published circuit diagram concerning the pin connections and dial light tapping for the 35W4.

Magazine projects are not without out their faults either. The simplified Fremodyne has the valve heaters over-run since the heater string adds up to 104V, somewhat less than the quoted 117V. There is no surge resistor in series with the rectifier, which could shorten its life due to excessive peak charging current of the first filter capacitor.
The Electronics Australia design runs the Fremodyne circuit at 180V which will reduce sensitivity, since the stabilising circuits were designed for 100V. B+ voltage is important, and the effects of changing it can clearly be shown with a working Fremodyne.

While the Meck design is a very good performer, some versions have the mains directly connected to the chassis. This is dangerous since it can be touched from outside the cabinet, and to further increase the danger, in one version, one of the terminals on the back is connected to the mains through a 100R resistor. These sets should only be used with an isolating transformer.
Similarly, the Perco has a non-isolated chassis. While its aerial is isolated, the audio output is not, and one side is connected directly to the mains. It is rather horrifying to see recommendations of using headphones with both these sets.
Certainly for 240V operation, all sets should only be used through an isolated step down transformer, not an auto-transformer. What mains isolation does exist in these sets is not up to withstanding 240V. The exception is the Heathkit FM-1 which is fully transformer isolated.

Cathode Poisoning.
When a valve is operated with the heater at normal temperature but without any cathode current being drawn, the cathode may eventually be "poisoned" and emission will suffer. This is a particular problem with AM/FM Fremodynes, since when the set is used on AM, the 12AT7/7F8/14F8 receives no B+. After some time, FM reception becomes difficult and may stop altogether, as the valve loses emission. Conversely, when the set is used mainly on FM, the valves in the AM section could suffer.
The way to prevent this is to ensure a small amount of current flows when the relevant stage is not in use. By choosing a very low current, the stage will not be active enough to risk causing audio breakthrough. All that is required is a high value resistor between the AM and FM sections of the B+ switching. 100k to 150k is typically suitable. Since the AM section has sometimes been found to oscillate, since it is being fed from a high resistance source, some RF bypassing is necessary; typically 0.01uF to 0.1uF will do.

Installed in AM/FM sets, this will prevent cathode poisoning of the valves not in use.

The IF stage and Quench Frequency.
Generally, most manufacturers have kept to the component values and circuit design as specified by Hazeltine, except for the modified two choke version, and a variation in IF coil damping resistor. No design faults have been encountered. However, it has been found that individual valves can have considerable effect on the operation, despite the stabilising circuits.
With the components specified, the quench frequency should be around 30Kc/s. In practice this usually needs to be increased to 32-35Kc/s to remove the pilot tone beat. If the quench frequency is found to be up around 50Kc/s or even higher, other valves should be tried.
Such a high quench frequency actually gives the best sound quality - but at much reduced sensitivity! Therefore, if one only listens to strong stations, an excessive quench frequency will probably go unnoticed. However, someone might assume the Fremodyne is an insensitive design, when they try to listen to weak stations, should such a set be their only experience of the circuit.

Home