[Boatanchors] A Little OT - Need to locate a crystal radio KIT for granddaughter going on 12

[Al Klase]

Folks,

Robert is correct. Most of the worthwhile kits out there are expensive, 
and the cheap ones are poor performers, which can be disappointing for 
the student. The variable capacitor is the expensive component, but most 
of us have something in the junk box, or a beat-up All-American-5 clock 
radio that can be scrapped.

Supplies of the high-impedance crystal (actually ceramic) ear plugs, 
that used to be $3 at Mouser are starting to dry up. Again, your junk 
box may have a vintage 2000-ohm headset. Let me know if you cant find a 
germanium diode.

Plans for my "Pretty Good Crystal Set" are here: 
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/xtal/xtal.htm This design was developed 
over the last two decades with an eye toward good performance and 
reproducibility. There's nothing difficult or exotic about it's 
construction. It's reasonably selective, hears 50KW stations out to 
about 50 miles in daylight, and gets DX at night.

Build a crystal set. It's good for your karma,
Al

Al Klase – N3FRQ
Jersey City, NJ
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/

On 4/13/2015 4:10 AM, Robert Moses wrote:
> 1N34a germanium diode works as a detector. (Silicon diodes do not have a low enough voltage drop to be sensitive enough.) If you want to go there
> you can make a crystal detector with a piece of galena or pyrite. A high impedance earphone is needed. Tuning can be done with a variable
> capacitor or a variable inductor that can be home made with ease by a 10 year old with instruction. A high impedance earphone is the only part
> that is hard to make at home, but you can buy one (or 2) in the $5 price class. If you want to discuss specifics then write back. You can buy
> kits, but they are expensive and much less fun than making the radio by hand.
>
>
>
> On 04/12/2015 04:27 PM, rbethman wrote:
>> All,
>>
>> She is in the 5th grade.  Is in ALL AP classes.
>>
>> Loves science, reads at 9th grade level with ease.
>>
>> The wife and I will be going down her way this summer.
>>
>> I'd like to take it and a small soldering station.
>>
>> She gets to keep it *IF* the desire is shown.
>>
>> [ I may regret this!  She already has my original Celestron N8, 8" SCT
>> Telescope! ]
>>
>> Regards, Bob - N0DGN
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