[sdiy] voltage-controlled AM radio tuning

[Donald Tillman]

[Talk of varactors and tuning AM radios...]

Okay guys, here's how you do it.

Screw the varactor...  Get a servo motor and controller, attach a
large plastic hand and arm to it, like from a store manikin, but
you'll want something with fingers that can grip a knob.

Set it up on stage; An actual AM, FM or shortwave Radio, the fake arm
and hand, and the servo motor.  It'll look great, and the audience
will enjoy watching the detatched hands move and be able to relate to
where the noises are coming from.

Have a second servo hand turn the band select switch between AM, FM
and the various shortwave bands.  Add more radios and more servo
hands.

Add a TV set; an old style one with a channel tuning knob.  And just
for effect you'll want an additional servo hand on the horizontal hold
or tint knobs.  Or solenoids operating a remote control.

That's so much more fun than a varactor.


  -- Don

-- 
Don Tillman
Palo Alto, California
don at till.com
http://www.till.com