30 Mar
2001
30 Mar
'01
1:39 a.m.
Well, if the purpose of the crystal + (what we used was a safety-pin) is to
function as a diode, then is it still a crystal radio if a diode is used
instead?
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Duell" <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 10:58 AM
Subject: Re: Crystal Radios (was Re: List spammer ID'd)
>
> When I built mine, we (the CubScout pack) used toilet paper roll cores which
we
> varnished and then applied our magnet wire. We
even went rock hunting to
find
> galena crystals to use. I don't remember any
sort of diode ... there
could've
been one,
though ... that was nearly 50 years ago, after all.
The galena + catswhisker is a (poor-quality) diode.
My suggestion to use a ready-made diode (in the UK I'd use something like
an OA81) is that you know that diode is good. You can then wind the coil
and wire up the rest of the set, knowing that if it doesn't work the
problem is not due to the fact you've not found a spot of the right
impurities in the crystal. When you've got it working, you can then swap
the diode for the crystal and catswhisker, knowing that if it doesn't
work the problem is with that.
Otherwise there are too many variables IMHO.
-tony