Welcome to the archived messages from In The 00s. This archive stretches back to 1998 in some instances, and contains a nearly complete record of all the messages posted to inthe00s.com. You will also find an archive of the messages from inthe70s.com, inthe80s.com, inthe90s.com and amiright.com before they were combined to form the inthe00s.com messageboard.
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Subject: Crystal Radio.
Did anyone listen to a crystal radio late at night or use an old shortwave receiver when they were young and trying to hear the top hits your parents wouldn't let you normally hear? :)
Subject: Re: Crystal Radio.
I have a small red crystal radio with ear plugs and it still works. I can pick up the local radio station, just as clear as a bell. I still use it when I have a hard time falling asleep.
Subject: Re: Crystal Radio.
Yeah, aren't they neat? I had a teacher in grade 5 (that would've been 1978 or so) that gave me one that I had to rebuild. I was impressed that I could use something that didn't need batteries! :)
My parents wouldn't let me put up a long wire antenna so all I could listen in on was a couple of local AM top-40 radio stations. I thought I would ask here as I just recently became reaquainted with crystal radio when a class mate built on and brought it in. Everyone was summarily impressed that it could receive without batteries or some kind of power.
Subject: Re: Crystal Radio.
Mine has a long wire with an alligator clip at the end that I clip to anything metal. I think that you can still buy the kits. I've had this for ages.
Subject: Re: Crystal Radio.
Quoting:
Did anyone listen to a crystal radio late at night or use an old shortwave receiver when they were young and trying to hear the top hits your parents wouldn't let you normally hear? :)
End Quote
I was actually very into do-it-yourself kits in the 1970's and early 1980's. That included building crystal radios, CB reciever, and once a multi-band SW reciever (that took 3 months of soldering!).
It is a shame that Heath Kits, Sandy's Electronics, and even the great Realistic kits from Radio Shack are now all gone. But if anybody is interested in trying to build one of these (or maybe even helping their kids build one), here are a few sites:
http://www.tompolk.com/crystalradios/cedarcreek.html
http://www.midnightscience.com/project.html
http://www.glynn.k12.ga.us/~opool/XTAL/default.htm
http://www.crystalradio.net/beginners/index.shtml
http://www.elexp.com/a_cat_37/z321-328_37.pdfThis last one has a lot of kits, very similar to the "100 in one" type that Radio Shack sold in the 1970's and 1980's, including the single item projects.
Subject: Re: Crystal Radio.
Crystal Radio ??? No batteries ???
Subject: Re: Crystal Radio.
Quoting:
http://www.elexp.com/a_cat_37/z321-328_37.pdfThis last one has a lot of kits, very similar to the "100 in one" type that Radio Shack sold in the 1970's and 1980's, including the single item projects.
End Quote
I remember those! My cousin had one of those 300 in 1 Radio Shack kits and never used it. So I borrowed it and found it very educational. I learned that you should never reverse bias an LED! ;)
You built a CB radio, eh. I had a shortwave radio given to me for x-mas one year (a little cheapie one), but I wasn't allowed a CB radio. I think my parents knew what kind of language to expect on there!
When I was 16 I did build an Apple ][+ from parts. Took months of soldering... ugh! But it worked on the first try before I sold it.
Subject: Re: Crystal Radio.
Quoting:
Crystal Radio ??? No batteries ???
End Quote
Yep, no batteries. It uses the natural "flow" of electricity between the atmosphere and ground to get it's power. They were commonly made in POW camps in WWII, because the parts were easy to get.
If anybody remembers the Lee Majors toy from the 1970's there was a backpack that went with it, that had a functioning crystal radio with it. I knew a couple of kids that got it only for the radio. Was cool to use in school, just attack the clip to the desk and you could listen in class with no batteries. :)
Subject: Re: Crystal Radio.
I think that Heath Kits were based in St. Joseph Mi., Mr. 80's. I have one that my son put together. It's a car radio and it was for his first car. I don't think it works anymore but I've kept it for the memories of his putting it together. He was so young. He's still good at this type of thing.