I've build many crystal radios and there's only one type that uses (two) variable capacitors that works well. The simple wiper style is what I recommend for most folks.
I had a crystal radio receiver when I was a child, and this brings back some memories. Incidentally, I don't use much of the modern lead-free solders as they are rubbish.
Lead in solder isn't a problem for most people. I worked in many phases of electronics through my career including wave soldering which you might think of as a bad offender. I also was casting bullets and shooting in wholesale quantities especially when I was competing in the shooting sports. My coworker had similar electronics lead exposure and he cast many fishing sinkers over time. I sometimes helped him with it too. So based on the foregoing we both thought it would be wise to get tested for lead. The test results came up negative for both of us. The vast majority of people then would seem to have nothing to worry about. As far as I'm concerned any lead "problems" are grossly over emphasized. So go ahead and use leaded solder freely. You and the vast majority of people should be fine.
Good day to you. Why would you buy a kit? These crystal radios are *SO* easy and cheap to make. Success depends on a long antenna 100’ plus (as high above the ground as possible, horizontal and properly insulated) and an *EXCELLENT* ground connection. Make these adjustments and you’ll pull in stations from 100s of miles away. Good luck to you!
Kits serve the purpose of easy access to parts. With electronics stores disappearing it's not always easy to get one each of this and that. A $.50 capacitor with ridiculously expensive $5.00 shipping plus the wait isn't always the best solution.
Looks like you have a unit from the 1920's or so! A friend of mine builds "Replicas" of old sets from plans published way back then! It's very difficult to get hold of an original "High Impedence" type of headphones. So, sadly most of us have to resort to those cheap, low quality earphones made in china. Some seem to work okay, while others don't work at all. GOOD LUCK.
I soldered for my work for over 20years , rosin cored lead solder, either try tip a bit hotter or perhaps a heavier tip, have heard the lead free soldervisnt as friendly. Im aboutvto go back to basics and build onr from scrap and crap,, im qquite excited 🤔
Thanks for showing this. I'm playing with a transmitter from parts at the moment. Notice how it didn't require power. In a sense they were less stupid back then. That's why it's a good idea to look into. I found a mono amp board at the size of 3x3x1 cm more or less in China (eBay) and it's quite useful as I power it from USB/5 Volts. It gives a good punch for mono setups for simple stuff. I didn't predict that I would use a little amp so much. It goes from one place to another all the time.
A beautiful century-old device. That crystal is galena. Pyrite (ferrous disulfide) can also be used, which is also a very good detector. Galena can be made at home. To the kit - a very unsuitable handset. It is necessary to use a high ohm handset (2-4k). Then there are the radio stations themselves, which are mostly FM. The crystal received long and medium AM waves well. Very short AM waves could no longer be received well, just as it is not possible to receive FM well around and over 100MHz, except that FM is a different way of receiving and FM transmits with a fractional power compared to AM. Theoretically, nothing can be heard through the crystal in this century. If so, then a very close AM CB source, or an AM band reserved for emergency broadcasts. In most cases, it is no longer possible to receive an AM crystal.
You are wrong. There are loads of AM stations to be heard. You're also wrong about FM transmitter power. They're actually quite high power and use high gain antennas. Additionally, one doesn't "make" Galena. It's either purchased or found if you're lucky enough. Only the accessories for using Galena might be made. I have some that I got in a gem shop. Not expensive. But one can also use germanium diodes. 1N34 for example. Audio frequency matching transformers are available to enable the use of modern low impedance headphones.
Made one as a child 60 years ago used a toilet paper tube with a couple coats of shellac. Didn't have the galena and cats wisker used a razor blade and a safety pin with a piece of pencil lead attached. you mounted the blade and the safety pin such that the lead touched the blade and moved it about til the sound of a local station was heard. Otherwise it was very like this in construction.
I've build many crystal radios and there's only one type that uses (two) variable capacitors that works well. The simple wiper style is what I recommend for most folks.
I had a crystal radio receiver when I was a child, and this brings back some memories.
Incidentally, I don't use much of the modern lead-free solders as they are rubbish.
Lead in solder isn't a problem for most people. I worked in many phases of electronics through my career including wave soldering which you might think of as a bad offender. I also was casting bullets and shooting in wholesale quantities especially when I was competing in the shooting sports. My coworker had similar electronics lead exposure and he cast many fishing sinkers over time. I sometimes helped him with it too. So based on the foregoing we both thought it would be wise to get tested for lead. The test results came up negative for both of us. The vast majority of people then would seem to have nothing to worry about. As far as I'm concerned any lead "problems" are grossly over emphasized.
So go ahead and use leaded solder freely. You and the vast majority of people should be fine.
Thanks for info, good times building these radios.
Good day to you. Why would you buy a kit? These crystal radios are *SO* easy and cheap to make. Success depends on a long antenna 100’ plus (as high above the ground as possible, horizontal and properly insulated) and an *EXCELLENT* ground connection. Make these adjustments and you’ll pull in stations from 100s of miles away. Good luck to you!
Kits serve the purpose of easy access to parts. With electronics stores disappearing it's not always easy to get one each of this and that. A $.50 capacitor with ridiculously expensive $5.00 shipping plus the wait isn't always the best solution.
Looks like you have a unit from the 1920's or so! A friend of mine builds "Replicas" of old sets from plans published way back then! It's very difficult to get hold of an original "High Impedence" type of headphones. So, sadly most of us have to resort to those cheap, low quality earphones made in china. Some seem to work okay, while others don't work at all.
GOOD LUCK.
You can use modern headphones using a small impedance matching transformer in reverse.
I soldered for my work for over 20years , rosin cored lead solder, either try tip a bit hotter or perhaps a heavier tip, have heard the lead free soldervisnt as friendly. Im aboutvto go back to basics and build onr from scrap and crap,, im qquite excited 🤔
Great job!! It came out nice 👍
Thanks for showing this. I'm playing with a transmitter from parts at the moment.
Notice how it didn't require power. In a sense they were less stupid back then. That's why it's a good idea to look into.
I found a mono amp board at the size of 3x3x1 cm more or less in China (eBay) and it's quite useful as I power it from USB/5 Volts. It gives a good punch for mono setups for simple stuff. I didn't predict that I would use a little amp so much. It goes from one place to another all the time.
Great job, and I learnt what 'tinning' is .. Thank you.
109, 110, Hey Mike, wanna go get lunch with me? No thanks, i already ate. Um... 8, 9... 😂😂😂
Lol! You'd need to have handwound coils to appreciate your humor. I know I did.
thats a nice stained glass panel
Good job 👍
Great :)
What's the diameter of card board tubing? It seems 2" to me. You are I guess using 28 SWG, if I'm not wrong?
Thanks...
You Soo .
Much sir .
For is .video.
....Graet ..
...sir
By sound do you mean radio stations just wanna know if you managed to pickup any stations
what is the name of yours and what makes did your friends get,
You made a good work assembling the kit. Perhaps it is one of the non-performers. That design in particular has many flaws.
👍👍👍👍👍
This is the first video I've saw like this an the guy talking doesn't sound like his on the radio 🤣
We call them alligator clips in the us !=8)
Why would you do that? They are croc. clips. 😁
@@SpeccyMan Because we have alligators in the US, but no crocodiles.
جربت تلك هذا طريقه فشلت احاول اتكشف خطاء الذي وقعت فيه
A beautiful century-old device. That crystal is galena. Pyrite (ferrous disulfide) can also be used, which is also a very good detector. Galena can be made at home. To the kit - a very unsuitable handset. It is necessary to use a high ohm handset (2-4k). Then there are the radio stations themselves, which are mostly FM. The crystal received long and medium AM waves well. Very short AM waves could no longer be received well, just as it is not possible to receive FM well around and over 100MHz, except that FM is a different way of receiving and FM transmits with a fractional power compared to AM. Theoretically, nothing can be heard through the crystal in this century. If so, then a very close AM CB source, or an AM band reserved for emergency broadcasts. In most cases, it is no longer possible to receive an AM crystal.
What? There are literally thousands of AM stations operating! I have 3 dozen near to me.
You are wrong. There are loads of AM stations to be heard. You're also wrong about FM transmitter power. They're actually quite high power and use high gain antennas. Additionally, one doesn't "make" Galena. It's either purchased or found if you're lucky enough. Only the accessories for using Galena might be made. I have some that I got in a gem shop. Not expensive. But one can also use germanium diodes. 1N34 for example.
Audio frequency matching transformers are available to enable the use of modern low impedance headphones.
That paper tube is not really strong enough. Too easily damaged.
Made one as a child 60 years ago used a toilet paper tube with a couple coats of shellac. Didn't have the galena and cats wisker used a razor blade and a safety pin with a piece of pencil lead attached. you mounted the blade and the safety pin such that the lead touched the blade and moved it about til the sound of a local station was heard. Otherwise it was very like this in construction.