[Hackaday] Work The World On A 555

[Hackaday via rec.radio.amateur.moderated Admin]

amateur radio - Hackaday

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Work The World On A 555

Posted: 13 Jan 2022 01:00 AM PST
https://hackaday.com/2022/01/13/work-the-world-on-a-555/


Over the years the humble 555 timer has been used in so many unexpected
places, but theres a project from [Frank Latos] which we think may be a
first. On a piece of stripboard sit a pair of 555s, and instead of the
usual passives there are a set of LC circuits. This is no timer, instead
its a CW (Morse) transmitter for the 80 metre amateur radio band.

One 555 is configured as a feedback oscillator through a toroidal
transformer with a tuned circuit to set the frequency of oscillation. The
other takes an inverted input from the oscillator to produce complimentary
push-pull outputs from both 555s, which are fed to another transformer that
in turn feeds a low-pass filter and thus the antenna.

Free-running squarewave oscillators of this type are not unusual for the
lower HF bands, but we think this is the first 555 design weve seen. As
shown it doesnt produce much in the way of RF power, but remembering
half-decent motor drivers using a 556 dual timer we think that selection of
one of the more powerful 555 variants might deliver some more punch. We
commend his creativity though, and hope he can get that all-important entry
in the log to prove it works.

If youre curious about low-power radio operation, its something weve
explored before.