Myth or Reality
Myth or Reality
(OP)
Things have been slow on this forum for a while so thought I would bring up this topic. Back in the early 60's I was just a little sprout reading Popular Electronics. They had this article about how a cheap (think this was an important parameter) AM loopstick transistor radio would stop working if it was turned upside down. I remember trying this and indeed it stopped working. I don't remember what they said was the reason for this. Of course they also had an article about how to make a Black Noise Generator out of a loop of wire connected to a BNC connector inside a Black Bean soup can. So is this true? Can't find an AM radio to try it. Or is this like some of the things I tell my wife and she tells me that never happened.





RE: Myth or Reality
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RE: Myth or Reality
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RE: Myth or Reality
It is a myth. Probably inherited from older days when orientation may have been a problem. Redneck and Mid-West thing, I would guess.
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
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Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.
RE: Myth or Reality
On the plus side, I lived about 3 miles from here Droitwich. A one station wireless for me!
H
www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk
It's ok to soar like an eagle, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
RE: Myth or Reality
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Bill
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"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter
RE: Myth or Reality
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.
RE: Myth or Reality
RE: Myth or Reality
RE: Myth or Reality
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.
RE: Myth or Reality
RE: Myth or Reality
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.
RE: Myth or Reality
I also recall using two legs of a germanium transistor as well??
H
www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk
It's ok to soar like an eagle, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
RE: Myth or Reality
The Radio Shack stores used to (c. 1970s-1980s) sell ten-packs of 1N34A Ge diodes - the primary market being for this exact purpose (xtal radios).
Interestingly, this city of nearly 450,000 used to have about a half dozen AM broadcast stations. Now - not one! AM Band is empty locally. No more crystal radios, unless made high performance for Xtal Radio DXing (an actual sub-hobby, seriously...).
RE: Myth or Reality
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.
RE: Myth or Reality
The crystal radio I made in junior high was capable of DXing, particularly if I used the dial hook as an antenna.
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