[geeks] While on the subject of weirdness

[Francois Dion]

On 8/8/05, wa2egp at att.net <wa2egp at att.net> wrote:
>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: Francois Dion <francois.dion at gmail.com>
> > In short, I'm getting radio reception out of a little puddle of salty
> > water, a copper wire and a piece of aluminium. But there is much more
> > to the story.> I'm interested in any info to any experience that is even
vaguely
> > related. Also interested in any theories as to what's going on.
> > Francois
>
> He's got it right.  He created a non-linear junction which can mix the
> "carrier" and sidebands of an AM radio station and get the audio out
> of it.

Thing is, I cant replicate this on demand, because I'm not sure what
precisely makes the diode rectifier. Probably should have paid better
attention in chemistry. Funny, in microelectronics we did have classes
on semiconductors and physics of materials (operating principles and
equations for purity of an anular oven anyone?) but never came upon
something like that.

> During WWII, GIs used to
> make foxhole radios out of razor blades and scrounged parts.

you have an URL for that?

> IIRC there is a website of crystal radio enthusiasts which might be
> a source of info.  I think it is midnightradio.com

Close:
http://www.midnightscience.com/

It might be a rare case where an old library might have more info than
the internet...

Francois