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DTMF Receiver IC MT8870 Tester

Today, most telephone equipment use a DTMF receiver IC. One common DTMF receiver IC is the Motorola MT8870 that is widely used in electronic communications circuits. The MT8870 isan 18-pin IC. It is used in telephones and a variety of other applications. When a proper output is not obtained in projects using this IC, engineers or technicians need to test this IC separately. A quick testing of this IC could save a lot of time in research labs and manufacturing industries of communication instruments. Here’s a small and handy tester circuit for the DTMF IC. It can be assembled on a multipurpose PCB with an 18-pin IC base. One can also test the IC on a simple breadboard. For optimum working of telephone equipment, the DTMF receiver must be designed to recognise a valid tone pair greater than 40 ms in duration and to accept successive digit tone-pairs that are greater than 40 ms apart. However, for other applications like remote controls and radio communications, the tone duration may differ due to noise considerations. Therefore, by adding an extra resistor and steering diode the tone duration can be set to different values. The circuit is configured in balanced-line mode. To reject common-mode noise signals, a balanced differential amplifier input is used. The circuit also provides an excellent bridging interface across a properly terminated telephone line. Transient protection may be achieved by splitting the input resistors and inserting zener diodes (ZD1 and ZD2) to achieve voltage clamping. This allows the transient energy to be dissipated in the resistors and diodes, and limits the maximum voltage that may appear at the inputs. Whenever you press any key on your local telephone keypad, the delayed steering (Std) output of the IC goes high on receiving the tone-pair, causing LED5 (connected to pin 15 of IC via resistor R15) to glow. It will be high for a duration depending on the values of capacitor and resistors at pins 16 and 17.

The Status of LEDs on Pressing Keys
on the Telephone Keypad
Key No. LED4 LED3 LED2 LED1

(MSB) (LSB)

1 Off Off Off On

2 Off Off On Off

3 Off Off On On

4 Off On Off Off

5 Off On Off On

6 Off On On Off

7 Off On On On

8 On Off Off Off

9 On Off Off On

0 On Off On Off

A On On Off On

B On On On Off

C On On On On

D Off Off Off Off


Note. 1. LED5 blinks momentarily whenever any key is pressed.

2. On = 1, while Off = 0


The optional circuit shown within dotted line is used for guard time adjustment.
The LEDs connected via resistors R11 to R14 at pins 11 through 14, respectively, indicate the output of the IC. The tone-pair DTMF (dual-tone multi-frequency) generated by pressing the telephone button is converted into binary values internally in the IC. The binary values are indicated by glowing of LEDs at the output pins of the IC. LED1 represents the lowest significant bit (LSB) and LED4 represents the most significant bit (MSB). So, when you dial a number, say, 5, LED1 and LED3 will glow, which is equal to 0101. Similarly, for everyother number dialled on your telephone, the corresponding LEDs will glow. Thus, a non-defective IC should indicate proper binary values corresponding to the decimal number pressed on your telephone keypad. To test the DTMF IC 8870/KT3170, proceed as follows: 1. Connect local telephone and the circuit in parallel to the same telephone line. 2. Switch on S1. (Switch on auxiliary switch S2 only if keys A, B, C, and D are to be used.) 4. Now push key ‘*’ to generate DTMF tone. 5. Push any decimal key from the telephone keypad. 6. Observe the equivalent binary as shown in the table. 7. If the binary number implied by glowing of LED1 to LED4 is equivalent to the pressed key number (decimal/A, B, C, or D), the DTMF IC 8870 is correct. Keys A, B, C, and D on the telephone keypad are used for special signalling and are not available on standard pushbutton telephone keypads. Pin 5 of the IC is pulled down to ground through resistor R8. Switch on auxiliary switch S2. Now the high logic at pin 5 enables the detection of tones representing characters A, B, C, and D.

14 Responses to "DTMF Receiver IC MT8870 Tester"

  1. Hi,
    Nice Blog.

    Can we have link exchange

    http://extremecircuits.blogspot.com

    Thank You

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi,
    Can you also help me acquire a functional circuit diagram for a DTMF Transmitter of readily available shop parts, using FM for a distance about 50meters? I would love to build the requested circuit to control water tanks levels 50 meters away, no problem with Receiver, I have found one in the net, transmitter will use 3.58Khz, can I have the reply on my e-mail address also?
    edgardodiolola@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. errata:
    my error on my post= 3.58Khz = crystal

    ReplyDelete
  4. Permisi ikut link ya...
    semoga dengan blog seperti ini elektronika di Indonesia tambah maju.
    http://guratastaelectronicsdesign.blogspot.com
    Thank's.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Awesome instructions
    Good work
    A++

    ReplyDelete
  6. what is the difference between MV8870 & MV8870-1

    ReplyDelete
  7. MV8870 & MV8870-1 exactly the same only different in Power Dissipation, MV8870 MV8870 = 35 mW-1 = 37 MW

    ReplyDelete
  8. I want MV8870-1 which can drive LED Dot display HDSP-0762. I tried with all the MV8870BA and other make,but won't give 0-9 and ABCDEF characters. How to get this. Is it MV8870-1 special IC?

    ReplyDelete
  9. In telephone Key pad I don't use * and # keys,instead I want sequence 0 to 9 and A to F. How I can get.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I need a DTMF receiver circuit if anyone wants to sell me one! I don't have time to design one.

    Its for a cruise control using GPS.

    Would someone sell me one pretty please!
    gpscruise@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i make DTMF receiver circuits if you need it pl z call on my CONTACT me sardar_sokhmir@yahoo.com or 03442237210

      Delete
  11. hello
    Iam Priyatham
    Sir can we use a cell phone instead of an Telephone..help me sir..
    if possible can you tell me how to connect a cell phone
    Thanks..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. why not dude..surly you can use mobile

      Delete
  12. Hello sir...
    Iam Priyatham
    sir could you please suggest me a cell phone through which,i can be able to use all the keys to control the robot and including some extra features.
    can NOKIA 1100 be used to serve the purpose..
    HELP!
    Thanks in advance

    ReplyDelete