[CW] OT: foxhole radios

[Joseph L. Pontek Sr.]

The fox hole radio was a very basic crystal radio. My first radio
was a crystal radio. It had a crystal in a glob of lead (solder) and
what they called, a cats whisker. It was a spring loaded wire that
you could move around on the crystal until you found a "hot spot."
When I talked to my Uncle Stan, a WW II vet, he told me about
using the razor blades. I think in a Boys Life magazine, I read
about that method. Both were very finicky to get to work. Then
my Great Uncle Vern gave me a little diode, maybe a 1N34A
or the like. Worked right off!

The diode does not generate electricity, it simply rectifies RF
that is picked up via a wire (antenna) and against a ground.
I made tuning coils by wrapping enamel insulated wire on
paper tubes, toilet paper tubes, oat meal boxes, etc. I sanded
the insulation with sand paper and made a sliding contact
the shorted out part of the coil, ie, tuned it. It was very broad
banded, so I heard two local A.M. broadcast stations at the same
time. I used a pair of surplus crystal earphones.

If you want to supply some one the needed materials, I would
assemble some diodes, like 1N34A, 1N914, or such, enameled
copper wire for the coil, earphones, hook up wire and, maybe,
fan-stock clips, some hardware, like screws and nuts and some
antenna wire.

My first ones were made on just a piece of wood. They got me into
electronics, ham radio and career in electronics 70+ years ago.

I used to teach ham radio classes at the Michigan School for the
Blind, so I understand the handicap fairly well.

I hope this helps.

73, Joe, K8JP/K5


On 10/24/2022 8:05 AM, Jude DaShiell wrote:
> Hi David,
> That's all the information I got on foxhole radios some of them used
> graphite pencils and razor blades.  Two different kinds of metal in
> contact certainly would produce electricity as illustrated when a N.A.S.A.
> contractor figured out the specification writers requiring only one kind
> of metal for those Mars Rovers was wrong and used two different metals.
> The batteries kept recharging and N.A.S.A. got lots more data back on Mars
> than they expected thanks to that contractor correcting that mistake.

-- 
Regards, Joe, K8JP/V31JP, Ronnie, Martin & Sidney Pontek
175 Diamond Loch Rd., Apt. 5
Gilmer, TX 75644-9374
U.S.A.
903-204-2318 (My TX cellular)

Member FOC-1743 Feb 2001, QCWA-LM21894, OOTC-4607, American Legion, A1OP, CFO 1055, SKCC-3171T, NAQCC-5798, Flying Pig-2819, FISTS-7625CC951, A1C-2299, SOC 1075, 10-10 22977, PG1915841, CW Rag chewers #21,
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