I might be absent for a while...

[KC2UGV]

Due to a critical event in my life.

I think I may be falling in love with the crystal radio craze as much as my son (Who, BTW, thinks I'm Maguiver. He thought I made the crystal headphone out of a light bulb )

So, I may go dark for a while due to coil winding, op amp construction, and other assorted tinkering :) Now I know why there are still tons of SWL's out there

So, now I have a two-fold goal here: Start work on the front-end of my homebrew transceiver (I figure it'll take about 5 years from design to completion), and build a "steampunked" crystal set for both home and office (Brass components, etc).

[W1GUH]

Crystel Set? Op amp construction?

[KG4CGC]

Crystel Set? Op amp construction?

21st century crystal radios use op amps.

[N8YX]

Real Men Of Genius use germanium transistors as audio amplifiers in their crystal sets. They build batteries to power the transistors from discarded pill bottles, lemon juice, copper and lead wire.

I have a sheet-load of NOS small-signal germaniums. Will throw a handful in with the diodes and the -232 if you wish.

[NQ6U]

As Charles will tell you, real men build their crystal radio sets out of dirt and save the rocks to eat later. Right, Charles?

[KC2UGV]

Real Men Of Genius use germanium transistors as audio amplifiers in their crystal sets. They build batteries to power the transistors from discarded pill bottles, lemon juice, copper and lead wire.

I have a sheet-load of NOS small-signal germaniums. Will throw a handful in with the diodes and the -232 if you wish.

Sure, just let me know what my tab ends up being before you ship it

[KC2UGV]

Crystel Set? Op amp construction?

Yup. This is a "building block" on my way to a fully home brewed transceiver. Trying to "get back to our roots" in ham radio stuff :)

[W3MIV]

Wish I still had the one I built as a kid in the Scouts. Genuine cat whisker and crystal glued in a tiny cup. We still used the Quaker Oats box, though. Can't stand oatmeal, but the xyl loves the stuff, and I still can't look at a QO box without it bringing up memories of those bakelite USA surplus cans with the two "meter" plugs on the fabric-covered leads. Wish i still had them, too.

Alas, the homestead was sold whilst I was still in my Uncle's employ in Northern Bavaria. Seems everything was given away, not only stuff like that, but also two entire Lionel o-27 trains sets, one American Flyer O-gauge set (from the 1930s!) and a Hallicrafters S38 -- or thrown out. I didn't find out about any of it until I returned to the Land of the Round Doorknob in 1967.

[W1GUH]

Wish I still had the one I built as a kid in the Scouts. Genuine cat whisker and crystal glued in a tiny cup. We still used the Quaker Oats box, though. Can't stand oatmeal, but the xyl loves the stuff, and I still can't look at a QO box without it bringing up memories of those bakelite USA surplus cans with the two "meter" plugs on the fabric-covered leads. Wish i still had them, too.

Alas, the homestead was sold whilst I was still in my Uncle's employ in Northern Bavaria. Seems everything was given away, not only stuff like that, but also two entire Lionel o-27 trains sets, one American Flyer O-gauge set (from the 1930s!) and a Hallicrafters S38 -- or thrown out. I didn't find out about any of it until I returned to the Land of the Round Doorknob in 1967.

Ouch!!!! That last paragraph hurts real bad -- almost brings tears to my eyes. Sympathies for that one, Albi.

[N2CHX]

So you're saying you surf the web and build crystal radio sets at work?