Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 21:40:48 -0700
From: Tim Ostrom <576587@ousd.k12.ca.us>
To: exploratorium pinhole <pinhole@exploratorium.edu>
Subject: loop antenna crystal radio
>Aloha Pinholers < :
>
>I am a 7th grade teacher in Oakland, CA and I built a loop antenna
>crystal set
>which does not require a long wire antenna or ground. I crossed two
>meter sticks for the frame and wrapping about 27 meters of insulated
>wire around 4 styrofoam blocks which I attached to the 4 ends of the
>meter sticks. The volume is OK but I can pick up only one station
using
>
>a 365 Variable capacitor. Do you have any suggestions on increasing
the
>
>volume and selectivity or the radio??? SHould I add an inductor of
some
>
>sort??? A ground???? Lengthen the antenna or the frame??? Also the
>signal sometimes disappears for a while and then reappears. How can
>this be expained???
>