Message-ID: <Pine.NEB.4.64.0708060111180.12109@panix3.panix.com>
From: Alan Sondheim <sondheim@panix.com>
To: Cyb <cybermind@listserv.aol.com>, Wryting-L <WRYTING-L@listserv.wvu.edu>
Subject: crystal radio doldrums tending towards scribbles
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 01:11:38 -0400 (EDT)
crystal radio doldrums tending towards scribbles silly little drawings as i try to get the 1912 +/- crystal radio to work: http://www.asondheim.org/draw1.jpg http://www.asondheim.org/draw2.jpg http://www.asondheim.org/draw3.jpg from a letter - so far I've been able to hear nothing except slight crackles when lightning's around. I'm not sure what the problem is. The earphones are the right age (1918) and impedence; they work. The crystal seems fine. There are problems with the taps on the inner coil, but I found work-arounds. I also tried to use just the outer coil. Nothing is audible at all, just silence, not even 60 hz hum. We're not in a radio dead-zone; I should at least be picking up static. The diagram I'm working with is at http://www.sparkmuseum.com/COUPLERS.HTM - I'm not using capacitors, however (and they weren't employed much of the time at the period. I've also tried alternative ways of wiring, still nothing. I can't imagine what's going on. I've been using proper grounding and a fifty foot antenna; this should be sufficient for testing. If you have any ideas, please let me know!