Crystal radio set

david39

I seem to remember making a crystal set and using a cube of sugar as the crystal.

kwikbreaks

I'm not sure about sugar but certainly a piece of coal was often used (or so my grandfather told me).

Apart from tuning to the correct frequency the cats whisker had to be fiddled about with to find a sweet spot on whatever piece of mineral was being used as the rectifier. Apparently putting the headphones in a buscuit tin gave just about enough volume for more than one listener.

I'm approaching 60 and crystal sets were only a novelty item even when I was a boy. I bought a kit out of the newspaper. It was abysmal with a pressed cardboard case so I complained and they replaced it with one with a bakelite case. Even they used diodes though and had no cats whisker.

Pssst

HoofeHearted wrote: »

Ah! The old Long-wire Aerial. :j

I've only got two meters at home. One gas and one electric...oh and a microwave which i keep in the kitchen.

mardatha

kwikbreaks, I'm the same age as you, and my dad told me he and his brothers made the crystal sets when they were young. I was just interested when I saw that they need no power. One day they might make a come-back, you just never know !

DCFC79

i remember the crystal radio set i had, didnt last long as it suddenly stopped working, it was good while it lasted

Pssst

mardatha wrote: »

kwikbreaks, I'm the same age as you, and my dad told me he and his brothers made the crystal sets when they were young. I was just interested when I saw that they need no power. One day they might make a come-back, you just never know !

In this modern digital era i think its good to stimulate the inquisitive younger mind with the basics of science and technology.

When i was a kid i was always pulling things apart to find out how they worked. Sometimes i learned,sometimes i got shouted at !

Either way,i now consider that i have a wide range of skills and knowledge...something very useful for kids growing up in an increasingly competitive world.

If you have a young child,you could do worse than stimulating their brain by getting these "build 'em try 'em " type kits. The early learning centre is a good place to start and various places on the interweb. Whats that big science play centre/museum up near bradford?? Ah yes, Eureka,,is it still open? most kids would find it a fun trip out. Also the Science museum Manchester,great place.