In this paper, we discuss fundamentals for the design of a source of chaotic signals based on a blocking oscillator circuit. We study a modification of a well-known circuit of blocking oscillator which leads to the onset of chaotic oscillations. The output signal of such chaotic oscillator is a series of short term pulses characterized by chaotic fluctuations of time intervals between pulses. Such chaotic pulse signals posses a broad-band continuous power spectrum and short correlation length. We discuss the results of theoretical and experimental studies of nonlinear dynamics of the chaotic blocking oscillator.