Regenerative receivers offer sensitive selective reception to rival a superhet, with far less components. They are cheap and easy to make, good for experimenting. While they started with tube (Brit "valve") designs, many builders like semiconductors instead now, but the early design principles can be borrowed. Ok, superhets may be easier to tune.
Super regens, strictly those gennies with quenching extend into the microwaves.
Not surprising that these receivers continue to interest, even inspire...
Same as a Gennie? Pretty much, but their design hstory has much to do with their history:
The reflex receiver uses the same transistors to amplify the RF and the audio independently, effectively doubling the transistor count! Reflex designs were born in an era when transistors cost several dollars each and pressing them into "double duty" was worth some effort. Tax laws categorizing radios with two or fewer transistors as "toys" added to the motivation. Today, excellent transistors can be had for a few pennies each, not to mention ICs filled with them and "Boys Radios" with only two transistors are collectibles! But it is still interesting to push for more performance from simple circuits and the reflex receiver is not disappointing.
There's a fine account of some, including how to put one inside an unwanted computer speaker.
