Common Radio Problem
We occasionally receive an e-mail from customers who are having a problem receiving a signal on their Crystal Radio set. One of the common problems is the earth (or ground for our American customers) is as important as the aerial (antenna). With modern buildings, radiators and plumbing is not directly earthed, but goes through a trip switch, so if you ‘short’ the circuit the supply will ‘trip’ and switch off.
When demonstrating the radio, it is nigh-on impossible to get one working in a modern building such as exhibition halls etc. Give me a tent or marquee in the middle of a field miles away from any electrical supply, I’ll stick a bit of copper in the ground and pick up a crystal clear signal. One such recent e-mail explaining this problem prompted this reply from a customer:
‘Well I got there in the end I have a mate who works as a Plumber and he kindly gave me a piece of 2 metre copper pipe that he knocking about in his garage, so I hammered one end flat banged it in the lawn connected the earth and yeah I got The Beach our local station, mind a few odd looks from my neighbour I think it is a great piece of kit as I did have one years ago as a child fun to make mind I think summer and autumn listening’.
