Thinking about getting back into crystal radio
- KD8DEY
- Site Admin
- Reactions:
- Posts: 2475
- Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:18 pm
- Location: Off Plumb
- Contact:
Thinking about getting back into crystal radio
Been a while since I fooled around with them. Still have a few spools of magnet wire from Radio Shack, A pair of old Magnetic Headphones,
And a Cats whisker detector. Still need to get a suitable cap.
RF Parts & Peebles Originals both have one that should be suitable. Might order one next month.
(Need to make a new contact wirefor the detector, anybody play a stringed instrument(Same type of wire))
And a Cats whisker detector. Still need to get a suitable cap.
RF Parts & Peebles Originals both have one that should be suitable. Might order one next month.
(Need to make a new contact wirefor the detector, anybody play a stringed instrument(Same type of wire))
Is it just me, or does "Googling Yourself" just not sound right?..
- KD8DEY
- Site Admin
- Reactions:
- Posts: 2475
- Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:18 pm
- Location: Off Plumb
- Contact:
Re: Thinking about getting back into crystal radio
Found a couple Crystal Radio groups on Facebook to check out.
Been a while since I've been on The Radio Board
Been a while since I've been on The Radio Board
Is it just me, or does "Googling Yourself" just not sound right?..
- KD8DEY
- Site Admin
- Reactions:
- Posts: 2475
- Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:18 pm
- Location: Off Plumb
- Contact:
Re: Thinking about getting back into crystal radio
Broke down, and ordered the Capacitor from RF Parts. It was a couple bucks cheaper than Peebles, Plus since I had to pad the bill to reach $20, I threw a few different Galenia diodes, Including a couple gold bonded 1N270 to play with. Still haven't figured out what type of coil I want to try first, BUT since I have some magnet wire shoved in a drawer....
I have one of those cheap inductance meters off E-Bay to check the impedance with....
I have one of those cheap inductance meters off E-Bay to check the impedance with....
Is it just me, or does "Googling Yourself" just not sound right?..
- K9ase
- Test Dummy
- Reactions:
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2018 3:04 pm
- Contact:
Re: Thinking about getting back into crystal radio
This sounds like it could turn into a fun group project.
"Life is hard;It's harder when you're stupid"
- KD8DEY
- Site Admin
- Reactions:
- Posts: 2475
- Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:18 pm
- Location: Off Plumb
- Contact:
Re: Thinking about getting back into crystal radio
Could be...Hu Knows..
Found some 18 AWG 100 foot spools of magnet wire on E-Bay, along with some cheap Ruskie D18 Diodes...
Capacitor & a few more diodes coming from RF Parts..
Should have just about all the parts coming. (Already have Magnetic Headphones & a Catswhisker)
still need to decide on the style of coil I wanna use, & what to mount it all on...
Maybe some of those old fashioned Fahenstock clips& a Vernier?....
Is it just me, or does "Googling Yourself" just not sound right?..
- W9FTV
- Site Admin
- Reactions:
- Posts: 801
- Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2018 3:14 pm
- Location: Conjuction Junction
- Contact:
Re: Thinking about getting back into crystal radio
I made various crystal radios as a kid, with galena, germanium and a double edge razor blade.
The most amazing one was the foxhole radio with a double edged safety razor blade and pencil lead as a detector. A toilet paper roll wrapped with magnet wire, razor blade, graphite pencil point and high impedance (crystal?) earphone. Hearing a local radio station for the first time on that pile of crap (I was a skeptic at the tender age of 8) just blew me away.
I'm in. Where do we start?
The most amazing one was the foxhole radio with a double edged safety razor blade and pencil lead as a detector. A toilet paper roll wrapped with magnet wire, razor blade, graphite pencil point and high impedance (crystal?) earphone. Hearing a local radio station for the first time on that pile of crap (I was a skeptic at the tender age of 8) just blew me away.
I'm in. Where do we start?
Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. --Winston Churchill
Endeavor to persevere -- Chief Dan George
Endeavor to persevere -- Chief Dan George
- KD8DEY
- Site Admin
- Reactions:
- Posts: 2475
- Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:18 pm
- Location: Off Plumb
- Contact:
Re: Thinking about getting back into crystal radio
Could start by posting ideas for your own design for a radio...W9FTV wrote: ↑Tue Jan 15, 2019 9:41 pm I made various crystal radios as a kid, with galena, germanium and a double edge razor blade.
The most amazing one was the foxhole radio with a double edged safety razor blade and pencil lead as a detector. A toilet paper roll wrapped with magnet wire, razor blade, graphite pencil point and high impedance (crystal?) earphone. Hearing a local radio station for the first time on that pile of crap (I was a skeptic at the tender age of 8) just blew me away.
I'm in. Where do we start?
I'm thinking of a 3 coil inductively coupled set, BUT havent decided...
Then there are all those different types of coils to consider.
The standard "Oatmeal/Salt box/TP Roll" etc cylindrical
Basket weave
spider weave
diamond weave
etc etc etc
Detector type... galena, germanium etc
with or without using a voltage doubler circuit...
Transformer coupled audio transformer, Magnetic/crystal headphones....
Band of Interest... (Prefer Floyd myself)
so many variations/possibilities, so little money...
Is it just me, or does "Googling Yourself" just not sound right?..
- W9FTV
- Site Admin
- Reactions:
- Posts: 801
- Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2018 3:14 pm
- Location: Conjuction Junction
- Contact:
Re: Thinking about getting back into crystal radio
At my stage of reintroduction into electronics, I need adult supervision. LOTS of adult supervision. I'd be less of a idea guy and more of a crash test dummy.
It's been 30+ years since I've done component level troubleshooting.
It's been 30+ years since I've done component level troubleshooting.
Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. --Winston Churchill
Endeavor to persevere -- Chief Dan George
Endeavor to persevere -- Chief Dan George
- KD8DEY
- Site Admin
- Reactions:
- Posts: 2475
- Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:18 pm
- Location: Off Plumb
- Contact:
Re: Thinking about getting back into crystal radio
back when steak knives were an important removal tool??!!
Is it just me, or does "Googling Yourself" just not sound right?..
- W9FTV
- Site Admin
- Reactions:
- Posts: 801
- Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2018 3:14 pm
- Location: Conjuction Junction
- Contact:
Re: Thinking about getting back into crystal radio
Steak knives were precision instruments we weren't allowed to touch. We got a hammer and chisel.Bubbathegimp wrote: ↑Tue Jan 15, 2019 10:05 pmback when steak knives were an important removal tool??!!
We did have some really cool tools though. Ever played with a "thumper" aka ballistic impulse generator? It generates a 25KV pulse used to blow apart high resistance cable faults in phone lines that'd otherwise be impossible to troubleshoot. Great for gopher problems, if you can catch the rotten little bastards noshing on the cable. Did some stuff with a Wheatstone bridge, too. I'd kill to have one of those to show off.
We also owned the base phone system and all datacomms. Make of that what you will.
Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. --Winston Churchill
Endeavor to persevere -- Chief Dan George
Endeavor to persevere -- Chief Dan George
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests