Darsha Hewitt + Peter Flemming - Roll Your Radio

From Gosh! 2009: Open Source Hardware Summit

Roll Your Own Radio with Darsha Hewitt and Peter Flemming

Date and Time: TBA

Location TBA

Description

In an attempt to relate to the discussion about some of the roots of open source hardware we will build some old fashion cat's whisker radios, and play with some simple canned-crystal transmitters.

Fun and experiments include:

• the amazing "Secret Life Of Machines" episode about radio
• instruction, history and demo
• building radios

Even if you have a ton of electronics experience it's still possible to appreciate the wonderment of this simple device. Maybe you've never built one and always wanted too.

We'll bring the crystals, you bring the toilet paper tube.

Details, Costs

We will be bringing along some kits. We hope to keep them in the $10 or under range. We should have enough for 12 kits. It's okay for people to work in pairs or groups. If you have your own wire cutters and wire strippers that would be helpful, but not mandatory.

Links

Secret Life Of Machines:
main site
Tim Hunkin's site
Exploratorium - download videos

Radio:
The simple low power AM transmitter we were using in the workshop
Some cat's whisker stuff, including barebones crystal receiver we made
Tetsuo Kogawa's site - low power FM transmitters. The simplest FM transmitter is a good one

Links to Links:
Peter's delicious bookmarks - random assortment of links, check the tags radio, am, electronics etc.