[Milsurplus] Foxhole Radio - conclusion

[J. Forster]

I suspect, but cannot prove, the pencil lead works because it is softer
than a pin.

A pin selects a single contact point. If that happens to be a sweet spot,
great; otherwise it doesn't work well.

A pencil lead probably touches at many points. If any one of them works as
a diode, the others just act as parallel resistors. They will essentially
sum to a crummy diode, but still enough of a diode to make a functional
radio.

FWIW,

-John

==========



> On 8/6/2012 1:00 PM, mac wrote:
>> Gillette Blueblade and used  a sewing pin (not a pencil lead) as the cat
>> whisker.
> My dad used an electric razor so I had to use the non-blued blades we
> had around the house with my foxhole radios.  Always with the pencil
> lead wired to a bent safety pin, and always was able to hear the local
> BC station.    RF wants to be rectified.
>
> 73. Bob W9RAN
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