Crystal radio set

mardatha

Unusual question -- my dad used to talk about making crystal wireless sets himself when he was a boy. They used something called a cat's whisker to tune in with. My question is, could that set still be made today ? Would it work ?

basmic

Yes it'd still work, we still have analogue radio signals for it tune into - I made one with one of those sets when I was a kid.

mardatha

Would there be instructions anywhere and is it easy ? I was telling my grandson and he was fascinated by this.

thelawns

A quick google search reveals:

http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/radio/homemade_radio.html

weegie.geek

There are electronics hobbyist kits you can make all sorts with.

Components, wires, and a kinda breadboard thing with springy terminals. I remember seeing one in Home Bargains last time I was in.

http://www.quasarelectronics.com/maxitronix/erkc-crystal-radio-set-electronic-kit-mx-901c.htm

Like that. There are far more varied ones too.

http://www.quasarelectronics.com/maxitronix/epl500-500-in-1-electronic-project-lab-mx-909.htm

If you prefer the proper DIY approach, then look at http://journeytoforever.org/edu_xtal/XTAL.HTM

john_s_2

I've just skimmed a fascinating Wikipedia article on it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_radio

totalsolutions

today's or yesteryears cats whisker is a geranium diode

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=220060

barak

mardatha wrote: »

Unusual question -- my dad used to talk about making crystal wireless sets himself when he was a boy. They used something called a cat's whisker to tune in with. My question is, could that set still be made today ? Would it work ?

The so-called 'cat's whisker' was extremely fiddly to use and is best replaced by a crystal diode as in the circuit diagrams shown in the links above. You should definitely encourage your grandson to build a crystal set. It is fascinating to receive radio signals with so few components.

I progressed from crystal sets to a one-valve radio, and then to a multi-valve VHF/FM receiver which I still have somewhere in the loft!

weegie.geek

totalsolutions wrote: »

today's or yesteryears cats whisker is a geranium diode

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=220060

Germanium, shirley?

Pssst

totalsolutions wrote: »

today's or yesteryears cats whisker is a geranium diode

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=220060

I've just planted some Geraniums in the garden. I'll string some wire between them and see if I pick anything up. They should be well earthed as I used john Innes No 5.

HoofeHearted

Pssst wrote: »

I've just planted some Geraniums in the garden. I'll string some wire between them and see if I pick anything up. They should be well earthed as I used john Innes No 5.

Ah! The old Long-wire Aerial. :j