How a Crystal Radio Set Works

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Discover how a crystal set radio works and some of the hints and tips in building them.

Crystal radios were used in the early days of radio broadcasting. They used crystal detectors that were known as Cat’s Whiskers because of the thin wire that was placed onto the crystal itself. These radios required no batteries, all the power for the earphones coming from the signal that was received.

This video describes how the tuning and selectivity of the crystal radio works. It shows how the tuning capacitor and inductor may be changed to tune in different stations. It then describes the detection of amplitude modulated signals. It shows how a diode detector works. Finally it mentions the transducer and why only headphones are normally suitable for use with crystal radio sets.

The basic principles used within crystal radio sets are also employed in other more sophisticated radios, but this demonstrates how the basic radio principles work.

The video then provides some useful practical hints and tips about building and using crystal radio sets.

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You did so well by mentioning out the risk and it precautions, I wouldn't have known if you haven't mentioned it, Thanks ❤

ISAACSACKEYEAGLES

Glad to see crystal set radio is still alive and well. As a young boy in the 50's with ex-WD earphones, the magic crystal and wires, we could listen to the World.

beemer

I was just buying magnet wire on amazon, and it suggested a crystal radio piezoelectric earpiece. I couldn’t quite remember where I saw it before. But now I remember I had one of those 100 in 1 circuit discovery sets when I was 5, and it had components to build a crystal radio. I remember being disappointed though, because it didn’t pick up FM. Only sports, talk radio, and classical music. And I eventually blew out the earpiece by hooking direct voltage to it to out of curiosity.

AZREDFERN

0:58
Is the signal across the tank circuit inverted or non inverted ?
I mean: Is the input signal of the diode inverted or not inverted ?

suhailasaba

Thank you for your good video.
2:44 where is the tank circuit and is the signal inverted or non inverted across the tank circuit ?

suhailasaba

THIS INCORRECT explanation of detection WENT OUT in the 20's and perhaps sometime in the early 30's

fourfortyroadrunner

Thank you for your good video.

Question: 3:24 How much should be the length of the antenna ?

suhailasaba

You can also use any powered speaker with a 3.5mm jack. If you solder it to the speaker connection, you will be able to hear the radio channels. Just ensure that the speaker is connected to a power source.

Superguru

Tanks for your videos. They are really informative and well done. Keep up the good work.

BlackBon

We need more videos like these man! Keep up the good work. :)

shubhamrapartiwar

I had a rocket shaped one back in the day. Clipped a wire, with an alligator clip to a gas pipe and had power. Listened throughout the night.

aznboycols

Greetings Mr Poole, I have an interesting question that you might be able to answer about a crystal radio. In the early 1990's, I purchased a 100 in 1 electronics kit. I followed the wiring instructions to make this project work. I could here AM radio transmission, eve when I removed the battery. The radio station I was listening to, was located in a city one hour away from where I live. The city I live had quite a few AM stations. Perhaps the frequency of the distant station was stronger? If any enthusiasts of crystal radios have a better explanations, or would like more information, I will be pleased to reply, thank you.

julians

But why does the crystal have to be there to rectify the signal? Or, IOW, why bother transmitting both sidebands if the receiver is only going to lop off half of it?

The headphone requires a push-pull effect to drive the voice coil/diaphragm? You can't get that from just the upper half only?

As you can see, IDK what I am talking about. Please help.

:)

JohnToddTheOriginal