Over Enthusiastic Vacuum Tube Copilot Project

Now the cheerful madness

All old hackers eventually must make a vacuum tube radio project, it's in the rules. But I decided to combine vintage radio tech with Microsoft Copilot, and may God have mercy on my soul. As for why I am using "Overly Enthusiastic" as part of the title, it will become obvious. Alternate title would begin with "Thank you for correcting me".

First Contact

Human

I want to make a 1920's style radio with vintage tech.

Copilot

Building a 1920s‑style radio is one of those projects that hits the sweet spot between engineering, aesthetics, and pure nostalgia. And since you’ve got that LVL1 “Over Enthusiastic Vacuum Tube Copilot Project” page open, you’re already swimming in the right waters. Let’s take that inspiration and turn it into something you can actually build.

Editor

Copilot is a spy. Need to keep it in a barren browser window for the future. The Copilot then lists details about radio types, topologies and components. Since I am in-charge, I sort the options:

Copilot

**TRF (Tuned Radio Frequency) Receiver**

• Multiple RF amplifier stages, each tuned to the same frequency
• Very authentic to the early 1920s
• More challenging to align

**Regenerative Receiver**

• Uses positive feedback to boost gain
• Extremely sensitive
• Requires careful control to avoid oscillation
• Very “hands‑on” listening experience

**Superheterodyne (Late 1920s)**

• More stable and selective
• More complex
• Historically accurate for the *late* 1920s **

If you want the most “1920s experience,” a regenerative set is the sweet spot.

Topology is Everything

Human

Regenerative reciever path.

Copilot

Love that choice—regens are wonderfully interactive and very 1920s.

Here’s a focused path to a buildable regenerative receiver.

Overall game plan Band: AM broadcast band first (easier coils, easy to test with local stations).

Tubes: 1–2 small triodes (e.g., 12AU7/12AX7, or a single dual triode) for detector + audio preamp, plus an audio output stage if you want a speaker.

Layout style: Breadboard with exposed tubes, big tuning cap, and visible coils.

1. Basic regenerative receiver block diagram ....

Editor

Lots more detail, but I have twists in mind. We will do the block diagram thing. And in all honesty, I do block diagrams for my unassisted projects. But I am not that chipper.

Here is the first twist foreshadowing, simply saying coil or coils, does not convey the spectrum of coil types. As an example, here are two eBay coil listings for era appropriate coils.