A Couple of Questions About A Crystal Set
 

I am intrigued with the idea of a totally passive reciever -one that
requires no power source- and so find myself looking into building a
crystal set for myself. I found what appears to be a pretty easy
build-up at this page: http://antiqueradio.org/econmain.htm

To my non-expert eye, it appears to be a very well thought out, clever
design.

My questions a

1. Is it possible to modify the design to also allow for the clear
reception of ssb signals while maintaining the "passive" characteristic
that I find so appealing?
2. Would it be difficult to modify the design to allow reception above
the stated ~17Mhz upper limit to, say, 30Mhz?

Any input/thoughts will be much appreciated.

"-" wrote in message
...
I am intrigued with the idea of a totally passive reciever -one that
requires no power source- and so find myself looking into building a
crystal set for myself. I found what appears to be a pretty easy
build-up at this page: http://antiqueradio.org/econmain.htm

To my non-expert eye, it appears to be a very well thought out, clever
design.

My questions a

1. Is it possible to modify the design to also allow for the clear
reception of ssb signals while maintaining the "passive" characteristic
that I find so appealing?
2. Would it be difficult to modify the design to allow reception above
the stated ~17Mhz upper limit to, say, 30Mhz?

Any input/thoughts will be much appreciated.


No to SSB... it requires a carrier signal to be reinserted.

Yes to being able to make modifications (usually a coil change) for 30 MHz
reception.

- wrote in news:E%hpb.123250$Hs.62791
@twister.nyroc.rr.com:

http://www.vintageradio.info/xtal-modern.html
http://www.crystalradio.net/crystalplans/index.shtml
http://www.midnightscience.com/
http://members.aol.com/scottswim/larry.htm

Hope this helps in your endeavors.

Dr. Artuad


I am intrigued with the idea of a totally passive reciever -one that
requires no power source- and so find myself looking into building a
crystal set for myself. I found what appears to be a pretty easy
build-up at this page: http://antiqueradio.org/econmain.htm

To my non-expert eye, it appears to be a very well thought out, clever
design.

My questions a

1. Is it possible to modify the design to also allow for the clear
reception of ssb signals while maintaining the "passive" characteristic
that I find so appealing?
2. Would it be difficult to modify the design to allow reception above
the stated ~17Mhz upper limit to, say, 30Mhz?

Any input/thoughts will be much appreciated.




--
To know and to be, this is not even a question, there is no alternative.
You see it clearly in the loneliest little avenues between particles and
waves, shunned even by the gregarious quark and unknown by the various
strands of time, so big it cannot be seen, yet so little it is immovable,
lies the fabric of the ultimate reality gripped in the fist of the all or
nothing."

NoSpam,

Take a look at these "Homemade Crystal Radios" by Digtal Dave
http://www.schmarder.com/radios/index.htm
Looking at his radios shows that he is both a Craftsman and Artist.


~ RHF
..
..
= = =
= = = wrote in message . ..
I am intrigued with the idea of a totally passive reciever -one that
requires no power source- and so find myself looking into building a
crystal set for myself. I found what appears to be a pretty easy
build-up at this page: http://antiqueradio.org/econmain.htm

To my non-expert eye, it appears to be a very well thought out, clever
design.

My questions a

1. Is it possible to modify the design to also allow for the clear
reception of ssb signals while maintaining the "passive" characteristic
that I find so appealing?
2. Would it be difficult to modify the design to allow reception above
the stated ~17Mhz upper limit to, say, 30Mhz?

Any input/thoughts will be much appreciated.

1) No. 2) Maby but I've never be able to do it. Check out the crystal set
society. Thay have a web site. And several books you can get on crystal
sets. Crystal sets work better on MW than SW. But you can pick up SW
stations with them. Also Check out Modern Radio Laboratories. Thay have a
web site and a yahoo group.

Bill, N5NOB

- wrote in message
...
I am intrigued with the idea of a totally passive reciever -one that
requires no power source- and so find myself looking into building a
crystal set for myself. I found what appears to be a pretty easy
build-up at this page: http://antiqueradio.org/econmain.htm

To my non-expert eye, it appears to be a very well thought out, clever
design.

My questions a

1. Is it possible to modify the design to also allow for the clear
reception of ssb signals while maintaining the "passive" characteristic
that I find so appealing?
2. Would it be difficult to modify the design to allow reception above
the stated ~17Mhz upper limit to, say, 30Mhz?

Any input/thoughts will be much appreciated.


You may not be able to receive SSB with a crystal set but give Morse code a
try, you might have better success. Can you figure out a simple way to do
it?
;-)

RG

"RadioGuy" wrote in message
...

- wrote in message
...
I am intrigued with the idea of a totally passive reciever -one that
requires no power source- and so find myself looking into building a
crystal set for myself. I found what appears to be a pretty easy
build-up at this page: http://antiqueradio.org/econmain.htm

To my non-expert eye, it appears to be a very well thought out, clever
design.

My questions a

1. Is it possible to modify the design to also allow for the clear
reception of ssb signals while maintaining the "passive" characteristic
that I find so appealing?
2. Would it be difficult to modify the design to allow reception above
the stated ~17Mhz upper limit to, say, 30Mhz?

Any input/thoughts will be much appreciated.


You may not be able to receive SSB with a crystal set but give Morse code
a
try, you might have better success. Can you figure out a simple way to do
it?
;-)

RG


Morse is pretty easy with a crystal set.. that's what foxhole radios were
for. You don't get a tone, which makes it a little harder to copy, but you
can just listen for the carrier keying, all the intelligence is there even
without a tone.

Brenda Ann wrote in message
...

"RadioGuy" wrote in message
...

- wrote in message
...
I am intrigued with the idea of a totally passive reciever -one that
requires no power source- and so find myself looking into building a
crystal set for myself. I found what appears to be a pretty easy
build-up at this page: http://antiqueradio.org/econmain.htm

To my non-expert eye, it appears to be a very well thought out, clever
design.

My questions a

1. Is it possible to modify the design to also allow for the clear
reception of ssb signals while maintaining the "passive"
characteristic
that I find so appealing?
2. Would it be difficult to modify the design to allow reception above
the stated ~17Mhz upper limit to, say, 30Mhz?

Any input/thoughts will be much appreciated.


You may not be able to receive SSB with a crystal set but give Morse
code
a
try, you might have better success. Can you figure out a simple way to
do
it?
;-)

RG


Morse is pretty easy with a crystal set.. that's what foxhole radios were
for. You don't get a tone, which makes it a little harder to copy, but
you
can just listen for the carrier keying, all the intelligence is there even
without a tone.



With the proper hookup you will get a tone---and the tone will be adjustable
in frequency depending upon operator preference.

I thought Foxhole radios were field expedient devices using an oxide
finished razor blade (Gillete) and pencil point for detector---in the usual
crystal set hookup. The radios were used by US service men in combat
overseas WWII to receive local AM broadcasts. I have a copy of a Foxhole
radio article that appeared in a 1948 (?) issue of QST authored by a fellow
who served in the Pacific theatre somewhere in my files.

OK... how many of you fellows cut your fingers on that razor blade building
that set? It got me more than once!

BTW... I'm RadioGuy and I'm BACK! HELLO ALL!

RG

To go higher in frequency would require a diode capable of higher frequency.

My first crystal set, a Philmore, used a galena detector. My second one used an
out of spec microwave diode (1N23). G

CW, the original digital communications, may be copied, because the on-off
action would vary any noise.

Bill, K5BY

"RadioGuy" wrote in message
...
With the proper hookup you will get a tone---and the tone will be
adjustable
in frequency depending upon operator preference.

Ah, but then it wouldn't be a totally passive receiver. The OP is looking to
use only the passive receiver, not any add-ons or external sources.