FAR SIDE OF THE MOON

[Tedward]

Ah, did not think of that at the time because I did not know about it

I suppose the retelling pun side it was a gas cooker.... I do not recall what fuel it was.

[ka9q]

Then there was the woman complaining of getting Radio Two on the cooker.

Yes, as long as it's an AM broadcast (e.g on MF or LF) this can happen whenever you have a loose connection somewhere acting as an electrical nonlinearity (an imperfect diode).

Not quite the same thing, but when I built crystal sets as a kid I discovered that the metal finger stop on a dial phone provided a great signal. The whole telephone line became a longwire antenna.

[onebigmonkey]

As a young man I lived not all that for from the local TV transmitter (Emley Moor).

You could get a decent picture by sticking your finger in the TV aerial socket.

[ka9q]

Right.

[nomuse]

Not quite the same, but there's a video or two going around showing local youth listening to AM radio broadcasts from a tower by jamming a dry weed against the metal.

[bknight]

Not quite the same, but there's a video or two going around showing local youth listening to AM radio broadcasts from a tower by jamming a dry weed against the metal.

Instead of smoking it?

[dwight]

Maybe that's underground speak? "Like, yo we've been jamming the dry weed against the metal, man."

Come to think of it, _we_ could use that term to describe how it is when an HB refuses to listen to reason. As in, "We have been jamming the dry weed against the metal all day long and the guy still insists on a "C" rock."

[Tedward]

Then there was the woman complaining of getting Radio Two on the cooker.

Yes, as long as it's an AM broadcast (e.g on MF or LF) this can happen whenever you have a loose connection somewhere acting as an electrical nonlinearity (an imperfect diode).

Not quite the same thing, but when I built crystal sets as a kid I discovered that the metal finger stop on a dial phone provided a great signal. The whole telephone line became a longwire antenna.

At the time I would not have know about this, a 17 year old apprentice. I know now you can but never connected it with that event so to speak.

But I never built a crystal set today. Now, I wonder where I can get the required bits today?

I have spent time "tuning" a length of solder jammed in the rear of a TV for a good signal.

[ka9q]

But I never built a crystal set today. Now, I wonder where I can get the required bits today?

Oh, they're still available. You'd just use a more modern diode.

Of course, with only talk radio to listen to, why bother?

[Tedward]

It's the doing for the hell of it. Something I should have done yonks ago. Never really did a lot of hobbying but followed a few kits and tried a few things, making my own transformers and audio filters etc. but it all sort of petered out as kit became non raidable for parts. Scrap items that is, the usual suspects still sell stuff but when times were tight the scrap bin was a haven. Nowadays kit is returned, cannot even repair that anymore so stopped fiddling many years ago. Bag it up, send it off. Cannot even remember the resistor colour code and would have to dig a book out for the legs on a transistor. Been a while.

Call it whimsy.


 

[Bryanpoprobson]

I went big with my first DIY electronics and built a synthesiser.. I can't for the life of me remember the magazine, but it must have been around 1978/9

Cannot even remember the resistor colour code and would have to dig a book out for the legs on a transistor. Been a while.

Call it whimsy.
 

Black Brown Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Violet Green White. Now I have a little ditty that acts as an memory aid for that but it is so NON PC I couldn't repeat it on here. The first three bands are the number 4th band is the multiplier you can sometimes have 5th the tolerance followed by the 6th temp co-efficient.

[Apollo 957]

I went big with my first DIY electronics and built a synthesiser.. I can't for the life of me remember the magazine, but it must have been around 1978/9

Electronics Today International? UK?

I wanted to build it, but I was missing too many issues, and never got the kit for etching my own circuit boards .....

[Luckmeister]

I went big with my first DIY electronics and built a synthesiser.. I can't for the life of me remember the magazine, but it must have been around 1978/9

In the 70's, when TTL timing chips first became available, I designed and built a digital tachometer for my car. Just got it finished and was considering marketing it when the same circuit showed up in an electronics mag so I bagged that idea. Anyway, I much prefer using an analog dial tach.

Then I built a Heathkit 2-meter ham mobile rig and, just after finishing it, they recalled it (couldn't pass FCC specs) and paid me a little for my trouble.

[Bryanpoprobson]

Electronics Today International? UK?

I wanted to build it, but I was missing too many issues, and never got the kit for etching my own circuit boards .....

I forgot about that, I worked in an ARC (Area Repair Centre) and persuaded my boss to buy a professional etching system, with UV templates and proper chemical baths..  

[HeadLikeARock]

Perhaps Father Ted will be able to help us. The magic start at the 30 second mark. But do watch the whole clip!