Old Tech thread

I've been reading an article online (I was going to post a link in here but I had to reset my phone and I lost it) about enthusiasts in the 1940s and 50s building their own crystal radio "cats whiskers" sets.
I was looking at the lists of what's required and thinking maybe one day when I get motivated.
However I then had a thought:-

If I built one of those would it work in this day and age? There's lots of digital radio stations.
 
Danny McG said:
I've been reading an article online (I was going to post a link in here but I had to reset my phone and I lost it) about enthusiasts in the 1940s and 50s building their own crystal radio "cats whiskers" sets.
I was looking at the lists of what's required and thinking maybe one day when I get motivated.
However I then had a thought:-

If I built one of those would it work in this day and age? There's lots of digital radio stations.
Click to expand...
I built several from kits back in the 1970s. Lovely, simple things that did not require a battery.
If there is still AM radio, a crystal set will work.
 
Danny McG said:
I've been reading an article online (I was going to post a link in here but I had to reset my phone and I lost it) about enthusiasts in the 1940s and 50s building their own crystal radio "cats whiskers" sets.
I was looking at the lists of what's required and thinking maybe one day when I get motivated.
However I then had a thought:-

If I built one of those would it work in this day and age? There's lots of digital radio stations.
Click to expand...
I believe crystal radios only pick up AM without some rather fancy radiophile tweaks (which are beyond me). Check and see if this list helps in your AM search. Radio Garden
K2
 
IMG_7809.jpeg
 
Danny McG said:
I've been reading an article online (I was going to post a link in here but I had to reset my phone and I lost it) about enthusiasts in the 1940s and 50s building their own crystal radio "cats whiskers" sets.
I was looking at the lists of what's required and thinking maybe one day when I get motivated.
However I then had a thought:-

If I built one of those would it work in this day and age? There's lots of digital radio stations.
Click to expand...
As others have said crystal sets only operate on AM. I'm not sure how much is still broadcast on AM. I have radios at home that have AM and FM but I'm away for a while so can't search. Exactly what range of frequencies you receive is dependant on, I think, the length of aerial. Mine when I was a kid was the length of our garden which was around 15m I think. I'm pretty sure FM and digital transmissions are all in much higher frequencies than you would be getting with a crystal set so no clash with them.

TLDR: If there are still AM broadcasts you would be fine.
 
@Danny McG I can't answer for the UK, but here in the States AM radio is alive and well. (You could debate the "well" part of it because it is dominated by talk radio.) I have a little Walkman (yes I guess it's now old tech!) and it can pick up dozens of stations today here on the Plains. So I think you are in good shape. A few of the AM stations here broadcast (or at least they did broadcast) in stereo. I had a car in the 90's which had a stereo light which came on when a stereo broadcast was detected and it lit on some but not all of the AM stations I listened to.
 
@Vertigo

bestradios.co.uk

AM Radio Stations in the UK - Best Radios

AM, which stands for amplitude modulation, is the oldest form of radio broadcasting technology. Despite the growth of newer alternatives, it’s still in use in the UK, though services are limited and are gradually reducing in number. AM radio in the UK mainly uses the MW (medium wave) band of...
bestradios.co.uk bestradios.co.uk
 
Cthulhu.Science said:
I hope the cop has his holster on his left side - or things could get a little awkward.
Click to expand...
I was thinking along similar lines. In fact it seems so weird that I'd wonder if this is some sort of fake. I'd think that if you used such a thing you'd have to at least handcuff the prisoner. Even without a gun the guy could make life very dangerous for the officer.
 
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