Crystal Radio


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I have received a number of emails regarding schematics for crystal radios. After about the third email, I figured that I may as well put one on my page. So here it is. The circuit is very simple with only 5 parts, but performs very nicely when used with the right size antenna.

Schematic

This is the schematic of the Crystal Radio

Parts

Part
Total Qty.
Description
Substitutions
C11Tuning Capacitor (See Notes)
D111N34 Germanium Diode
L11Loopstick Antenna (See Notes)
SPKR11Crystal Earphone
MISC1Wire, Board, Wire For Antenna, Knob For C1

Notes

  1. C1 and L1 can be bought, or salvaged from an old AM radio (which is where I got mine). You may need to experiment with the connections on L1 in order to get the best (or any) signal.
  2. You may or may not need the ground connection. I never use it and the radio usually works fine without it.
  3. The bigger the antenna, the more stations you pick up and the louder you hear them. On my radio, I get about 10 stations, 3 of which are very loud in the earphone. Of course, not everyone has room for a 60' antenna...
  4. A 47K resistor in parallel with the earphone will help properly load the detector (This suggestion from Kb8tej1@aol.com)

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Comments

Add A Comment

anonymous
Crystal Radio
Wednesday, September 02, 2009 9:16:41 AM
There is NO FM radios on that page.
anonymous
Crystal Radio
Wednesday, September 02, 2009 9:13:52 AM
Can a loudspeaker be used for the circuit instead of the crystal earphone????????
anonymous
Crystal Radio
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 4:59:35 AM
can we use this device to make light flickers by changing the speaker to LED
anonymous
Crystal Radio
Friday, May 08, 2009 8:20:19 PM
If this radio is able to use the energy from the radio waves interacting with the antenna coil for power, is there a way to use this as a free energy device too? Turn this into a small charger for example

(Editor's notes: We're only talking a few microamps here.)

Sanjeet
Crystal Radio
Sunday, February 15, 2009 3:56:23 AM
Where is the battery or power or it is of without battery?
alex
Crystal Radio
Saturday, January 31, 2009 3:23:15 PM
Crystal radio's require NO power source. they are able to use the energy from the radio waves interacting with the antenna coil. The germanium diode with it's low forward bias voltage is the ideal device for use in this circuit.
pranab
Crystal Radio
Saturday, January 31, 2009 3:27:43 AM
its not working properly
sumit
Crystal Radio
Friday, July 25, 2008 8:18:57 AM
where's the supply voltage?
mrudula
Crystal Radio
Wednesday, June 04, 2008 10:50:21 AM
please help me out with the shematics. i dont get for what is there a extention from c1.is it a coil or has the wira to be completad in a loop?
cody Williams
Crystal Radio
Saturday, March 29, 2008 12:52:36 PM
I just got done w/ mine.
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