Crystal Radio Set
Crystal Radio Set:
1) What is it, describe how to build, what is needed
2) Explain it, what makes it work, what is it that is working
Use? Useage?
Links discouraged as sole contibution, they may be broken, but copying something from them is ok, where link is given for anyone wanting more.
This should be a couple easy questions, we'll see. I've an idea from experience, I just do not want to devote time to remember well or to look it up myself. The objective centers around a device that does not plug into wall for power source, or to use batteries either.
1) What is it, describe how to build, what is needed
2) Explain it, what makes it work, what is it that is working
Use? Useage?
Links discouraged as sole contibution, they may be broken, but copying something from them is ok, where link is given for anyone wanting more.
This should be a couple easy questions, we'll see. I've an idea from experience, I just do not want to devote time to remember well or to look it up myself. The objective centers around a device that does not plug into wall for power source, or to use batteries either.
SOLUTION
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SOLUTION
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SOLUTION
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SOLUTION
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ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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SOLUTION
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I still haven't been to the library, but I have been hunting on line:
Here is a 1960 article from Popular Electronics about a crystal set that can power a small speaker:
http://hibp.ecse.rpi.edu/~john/xtal.html
Of course, I was still learning how to read in 1960. So this can't be the state-of-the-art design I mentioned earlier. That probably came out between 1964 and 1968. My college library has PE on microfiche but only back to 1971.
I will keep looking. I couldn't stop if I wanted to.
Here is a guy who has written a lot of Crystal Set articles and has kits, plans, and parts.
He also mnaged to stake out a cool URL:
http://www.xtalman.com/
But this is probably the best Crystal Set website I've found so far:
http://www.antiquewireless.org/otb/dxxtal.htm
Here is a 1960 article from Popular Electronics about a crystal set that can power a small speaker:
http://hibp.ecse.rpi.edu/~john/xtal.html
Of course, I was still learning how to read in 1960. So this can't be the state-of-the-art design I mentioned earlier. That probably came out between 1964 and 1968. My college library has PE on microfiche but only back to 1971.
I will keep looking. I couldn't stop if I wanted to.
Here is a guy who has written a lot of Crystal Set articles and has kits, plans, and parts.
He also mnaged to stake out a cool URL:
http://www.xtalman.com/
But this is probably the best Crystal Set website I've found so far:
http://www.antiquewireless.org/otb/dxxtal.htm
d-glitch,
Very nice links.
Had I seen the original Popular Electronics article in 1960, I would have built it. That’s the kind of thing I was always looking for.
Same for the DX article link.
I got hooked on electronics by a friend eight years earlier. Back then there were all kinds of fun ads in Popular Mechanics. Like build a 100 power telescope for $2.95 or make all kinds of money by drilling water wells or sharpening saws in your spare time. My friend had something called an “Audio-Vox” that he bought for $4.95 through Popular Mechanics. It was a low power AM radio transmitter that had a range of up to 75 feet. The ad said that you could use it make your own broadcasts through your radio. The ad showed a picture of somebody broadcasting into a neighbor’s radio and pretending to be the announcer. We kids thought that we could do that too, but whenever we tried to do that we realized that we didn’t sound like the radio announcer.
regards
Very nice links.
Had I seen the original Popular Electronics article in 1960, I would have built it. That’s the kind of thing I was always looking for.
Same for the DX article link.
I got hooked on electronics by a friend eight years earlier. Back then there were all kinds of fun ads in Popular Mechanics. Like build a 100 power telescope for $2.95 or make all kinds of money by drilling water wells or sharpening saws in your spare time. My friend had something called an “Audio-Vox” that he bought for $4.95 through Popular Mechanics. It was a low power AM radio transmitter that had a range of up to 75 feet. The ad said that you could use it make your own broadcasts through your radio. The ad showed a picture of somebody broadcasting into a neighbor’s radio and pretending to be the announcer. We kids thought that we could do that too, but whenever we tried to do that we realized that we didn’t sound like the radio announcer.
regards
ASKER
:-)) [220/400]
I think kids can still do that announcer thing without the electrical plug, given something like a ball and enough room. At first they seem to be meandering about and talking to themselves, but when you get closer, the word choices are more second hand - the announcer describing their play-by-play performance. They may kick the ball, then catch up to it and kick again, or throw the ball (hopefully to a friend who can throw it back), or bat it, probably with bases loaded and the game on the line for another Casey. While they broadcast, I do not think their intent is for their real neighbours to overhear.
I still do not remember the crystal well, but it is starting to sound familiar, and all that talk on coils reminds me of being more weakling, where I'd read something, and got at some old TV set, removed a transformer, then wound copper around it until it could run a car radio, or rather, with a little money for a few parts it was able to apply a recharge to the car's battery. It was very heavy, compared to crystal or transistor. That part I remember well. Not somethiing I wanted to lift more than once. Although parts were cheap, I also don't remember getting the money for that. That might have been the period of finding a road hardly anyone used (during day), and finding some bottles that had recycle value.
I think kids can still do that announcer thing without the electrical plug, given something like a ball and enough room. At first they seem to be meandering about and talking to themselves, but when you get closer, the word choices are more second hand - the announcer describing their play-by-play performance. They may kick the ball, then catch up to it and kick again, or throw the ball (hopefully to a friend who can throw it back), or bat it, probably with bases loaded and the game on the line for another Casey. While they broadcast, I do not think their intent is for their real neighbours to overhear.
I still do not remember the crystal well, but it is starting to sound familiar, and all that talk on coils reminds me of being more weakling, where I'd read something, and got at some old TV set, removed a transformer, then wound copper around it until it could run a car radio, or rather, with a little money for a few parts it was able to apply a recharge to the car's battery. It was very heavy, compared to crystal or transistor. That part I remember well. Not somethiing I wanted to lift more than once. Although parts were cheap, I also don't remember getting the money for that. That might have been the period of finding a road hardly anyone used (during day), and finding some bottles that had recycle value.
ASKER
Posting Counts
2 d-glitch
2 SunBow
2 WaterStreet
1 JR2003
1 moorhouselondon
1 aburr
1 David_Ward
10 Total Postings
2 d-glitch
2 SunBow
2 WaterStreet
1 JR2003
1 moorhouselondon
1 aburr
1 David_Ward
10 Total Postings
ASKER
230 WaterStreet
100 aburr
100 d-glitch
25 JR2003
25 moorhouselondon
20 David_Ward
that's about easy 100 ea, severe penalty for links I'd not seen yet (all), but a little something since others said something nice about links, a small reprieve and 30 for general best to all questions
100 aburr
100 d-glitch
25 JR2003
25 moorhouselondon
20 David_Ward
that's about easy 100 ea, severe penalty for links I'd not seen yet (all), but a little something since others said something nice about links, a small reprieve and 30 for general best to all questions
Thank you SunBow.
d-glitch,
Forgot to say 365 and MMF in my mind will forever go to together like a horse and carriage. It could be one word AFAIC. Had forgotten all about that.
By the way, I just googled "superheterdyne" and discovered that somehow during the last few decades, a radio listener is now called a user. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superheterodyne_receiver
"Good morning all you wonderful users out there in radio land"
d-glitch,
Forgot to say 365 and MMF in my mind will forever go to together like a horse and carriage. It could be one word AFAIC. Had forgotten all about that.
By the way, I just googled "superheterdyne" and discovered that somehow during the last few decades, a radio listener is now called a user. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superheterodyne_receiver
"Good morning all you wonderful users out there in radio land"
ASKER
I guess I now be a user wannabe
I've still got a crystal, in its original 'tin' tin box. I believe the whisker is lost, sadly. My father gave it to me along with a whole bunch of other old toys of his. :-)
Thanks WaterStreet for an enlightening description.
Paul
Thanks WaterStreet for an enlightening description.
Paul
ASKER
;-0) [and thanks for belated comment]
ASKER
I've relatives have suggested I visit to review attics and other areas I thought I'd cleaned out in some past. [130/220]