[geeks] While on the subject of weirdness

[Sandwich Maker]

" From: wa2egp at att.net
" 
" Considering
" that AM stations can run really high power, it's no wonder that a
" meager "crystal radio" can receive them.

today am and fm broadcasters are limited by the fcc to 50kw.  a few,
like wgbh-fm here in boston, run more because they were already in
operation when the rules were set.  iirc all the handful of 100kw fm
stations are pbs...  i can personally attest that 'gbh has been dxed
as far south as delaware/maryland more than once, as i was at the
station on the phones two of the times.

but back in the '20s several of the three-letter am stations ran as
much as a megawatt and sold cheap 'radios' little more than two
stamped steel dishes back-to-back, with a little bit of corrosion
'diode' where they touched.  close to the towers, chain link fences
could 'receive' broadcasts.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
adh at an.bradford.ma.us                       and think what none thought