Radio Transmitter made out of Junk

[hydrobot2003]

Why only 100 feet? How do you make it go farther?

[DG1MJH]

cool!

[rocketman221projects]

Cool

How far does it transmit?

[ranickel]

@rocketman221projects - I'd say 100 feet is about the limit, and that's pretty much what the FCC allows as well.

[Batsenl]

That's awesome dude !

[kuernodechivo]

Wow I can't beleive I missed this over the years. This is one of the coolest vids I have seen in a while.

[uploadJ]

Hmmm ... Tube, transistor, or, Tunnel diode ... thx for the vid!

[teamfab]

Do you play requests??

[Eduardo6689]

now i will like to put this in my car ....  :@

[teamfab]

Do you play requests???

[juveniled16si]

thats koo!!

[ranickel]

If you got to Picasa and search for "Zinc Negative Resistance Oscillator" the schematic should come up.

The ZNRO is a neat science project, but can be tricky to adjust and may not be stable for long periods.

For those who want a "real" AM transmitter for home broadcasting, etc., there are plenty of plans on the internet and kits are available from various manufacturers. Have fun!

[JagdtygerII]

Where is the Schematic for this design, others would probably like to duplicate it. The one from Sparkbangbuzz is nice, but many would not know where to place a mic or other audio input device.

[mountain177]

so you're a HAM Operator. Me too

[w5txrmark]

Built better than an Icom!

[3mustardMoNkEyS]

So the Zinc-Oxide Negative Resistance component is acting as a voltage controlled diode, by allowing current to flow when a certain voltage is attained, since one end has a higher resistance, you have a voltage difference between the two sides?

[Radioguy54]

Very interesting video! But if you really want a “Radio Transmitter made out of junk” Why not just buy a CB rig made in China?

[19thSFGA]

And it sounds like junk !

[wisteela]

Impressive.

[ranickel]

Thanks for the question, but this technology is not stable or suitable for RC purposes. You'll want to use a system designed for radio controlled cars - google will show many sources.

[BenderYoung]

@ranickel Hey, I have some questions related to this vid and I was wondering if you could answer me :)

Is that capable of sending radio signals with +/- 75 megahertz?

How can I send radio signals in different frequencies? I want to build an RC 4x4 car, so I wanted to send in different frequencies to its different functions, like accelerate, turn left, turn right, backwards, brake and thing like that. Is that possible to make in home? I know they are pretty difficult circuits for beginners... =\

[skierplaterandy]

gotta say, that is pretty cool.

[geliegelie]

can you send me the circuit diagram of this??.,

together with pats list.,

thanks a lot

[soyelferdemexico]

nice video.i'd like to build one but i don;t have a clue on electronics, is there anyway to get the schematics, i also have junk and want to turn it into something usefull. thanks

[bigred109]

What song are you playing bob? I like that old music, I've heard that song before but could not place it?? enjoyed your video on ZNRO's I also am a ham radio guy, and enjoy older Boat anchor radios, like the Heathkit's ect.. Thanks for posting !!

zach

[ranickel]

@bigred109 - That's ""Wild Weekend" by the Rockin' Rebels. It was originally the theme song for the Tom Shannon radio show on WKBW Buffalo, so it's got a bit of a radio heritage too! You can find the whole song on Youtube.

[benjwgarner]

How exactly do you have the zinc-oxide negative resistance oscillator hooked up? I made one and so far have only been able to use it as a detector/modulator rather than an oscillator.

[ranickel]

@benjwgarner

For more info on ZNRO, take a look at the sparkbangbuzz webpage. Bob

[nillchen]

love it; great work!

[Mushketer888]

interesting...thanks

[855h0le]

I tried to follow your Circuit. Could you PLEASE mail me with the schematic.

I ma interested in this circuit cause of the crystal. I know a lot but NOTHING about transmitter circuits. I would be very very happy! thanks!

[855h0le]

I dont call that stuff "junk" - but you know what I mean! I Really liked this video!

[Patriotgal1]

I am so glad that there are people like this around! In the coming (here?) World Police State, we will need to be able to communicate with each other! Good on you!

[kght222]

@Patriotgal1 cb allready has that covered, and regardless, just how retarded are you? like on a scale of 1-10? 1 being you belive that in 2012 robots from your mothers anus will take over the world and enslave humans, and 10 that in 2012 the earth will end in a simple inexplicable flash

[Patriotgal1]

@kght222 -apparently MUCH smarter than YOU. And MUCH more polite, also. I do hope you enjoy the Great Collapse.

[kght222]

@Patriotgal1 i apologize for my rudeness, but i feel that if the end were to come it would be because people either expect or want it to come, not because its inevitable. and as such i take personal insult to those who do such a thing. and anyway i enjoyed this video because of his display of knowledge, i never enjoy a comment from a child who thinks the end is neigh.

[clagwell]

This is very interesting. It somewhat reminds me of saltwater rectifier/triode technology. I am looking forward to some shop-time next weekend to try this. Thanks for posting and looking forward to more vids.

[fgleich]

got a schematic ?

[TAC19jm]

nice experimentation !!!

[howisdiscool]

dang straight out of mad max

[MsPederast]

awsome idea

[MsPederast]

@XtremAlien i fully support u mate.

[Greegor47]

What's the theory of operation?

[ranickel]

The oscillator is based on the principle of "negative resistance" which means that the current does not increase with applied voltage as is normally the case. This is because the heat treatment of the zinc strip creates a crude semiconductor. Google "negative resistance" for more info.

[Aviator14]

Wouldnt the brushes in the motor of the cd player create a lot of noise and cause interference in the transmitted signal because when I am listening to am radio and I turn on a motor there is static

[ranickel]

Noise like that is filtered out by the CD player electronics. Larger motors like you may have around your house do create electrical noise that is harder to eliminate.

[Moneysaver001]

That's great but HOW did you do it?

Some of us hav'nt been into electronics as long as you have. How about some Clear shots of connections.

[3mustardMoNkEyS]

Are you using a Coil in this at all or just the modulated signal from the transformer is going directly to an antenna?

[ranickel]

I do not have a coil in this transmitter, just the crystal which oscillates at a resonant frequency. However I'm hoping to find time to experiment with adding a link-coupled coil to make it easier to connect to a real antenna. Testing was done with a short piece of wire laying across the workbench.

[11033066099]

wont find any of this around the house, lol

[dtiydr]

Amazing good quality to be AM.

[sidebander]

Nice, please keep 'em coming.

[Aviator14]

how far does it transmit

[dbs2010]

Nice Jukebox crystal.

[cjsinclair]

Very cool!

[DirtyThumper]

Cool as penguin piss!!!!  5/5

[RayAir1]

Good job man, you're better than me!

[coondogtheman1234]

that is pretty cool and it sounds good too.

[timhavens]

THAT is COOL!

de NW0W

[OK2BCK]

now add the D-STAR function

5/5

[THEtechknight]

too bad the professor didnt know this on gilligans island. lol.

[yellowdart137]

he did, but it would have only made for a short episode.

[Dummerd]

He could have used one of the girls' underwire bra!

Wait. All he had was non conductive coconuts and palm leaves.

[3mustardMoNkEyS]

do you need a US radio transmission license to transmitte RF thats under a range of like 30ft?

[SmashCOBamberg]

i don't think so but i'm not sure

[jpartieda]

nope

[3mustardMoNkEyS]

alright thats good, dont want the fcc to knock on my door.

[hellsmaw84]

no. hobby AM transmitters under 30ft do not require any kind of license for short term broadcasts

[101popster]

im pretty sure that you cn broadcast as far as u want without a license if you only use .1 watts of power and your attena reaches no more than 10 feet high. also if u build ur tansmitter u can have a max of 5.

[hellsmaw84]

the FCC monitors all AM, FM, VLF, VHF, and UHF frequencies for interruptions in mainstream signal broadcasts for military, tv, radio, cb, and amature bands, and monitors the power coming out of the transmitter with metering equipment in thier cars. if you ever hear a person on HAM or CB by "the little green man", thats the FCC warning the person in violation to shut off any "skippers" or face a fine and permanent loss of equipment. pirate radio stations face hefty fines and equipment loss a lot.

[fgc1975]

cool !!

good music too

[clocktwibright]

Can you measure some typical device and publish a graph or numerical table of the V/I curve?

[piplol2468]

whats the name of the song being played

[ranickel]

That's "Wild Weekend" by the Rockin Rebels, 1963. Originally made as the theme song for DJ Tom Shannon on WKBW Buffalo it was released as a single. I like it too!

[boxa888]

wow thats awesome! look how simple radio can be made, in some ways arent you making a solid state transistor with the different areas on the sheet metal? awesome work

[zoltan656]

would it work without audio transformer?

can i use normal power transformer instead?

[mumish13]

it can only be runned with a audio transformer but u can use a regular power transformer instead using his output to audio modulation and input to audio out

[clocktwibright]

DO you have any idea how high the device goes? Would it run with a 10MHz crystal? Would it be possible to seal it (guing into epoxy)? so it would be long-term stable? I was thinking about this to make a crystal oscillator why build some complicated hardly stable transistor contraption when I can just burn a piece of sheet metal?

[ranickel]

I don't know for sure, but I was able to get oscillation with a 7 mhz crystal, but it was more difficult to maintain. I'm afraid any kind of glue would interfere with the zinc contact but you may have success. Half the fun is experimenting and trying new ideas!

[clocktwibright]

Actually the feeding potentiometer contributes to damping. I wonder if feeding it from a constant current source would help oscillate more readily. Do you know the name of the tune that playts on the radio? I like it very much.

[rockangel1967]

i am a swiss and 42 now and much more wise than i used to be as a 14 year old 11meter CB amateur (back then in switzerland 0.5watt on AM and 4watt on FM on 27MHz) i remember i was a proud owner of a president 3 radio. we have build those FM 1 watt mono transmitters and where caught by the swiss officials haha. my sentence was 1 week of public work and a fine of 100 swiss franks (250US4 then) and some homearrest by my dad haha.... but it was fun. i miss these days

[clocktwibright]

What is the artist and name of the tune? I like it!

[toobroke2fight]

could you tell me what AM freq's are legal to broadcast on? Im just getting to this stuff at 35 yo and think its amazing! I love wiring and figuring stuff out! I thought you had to be licensed as a radio station to broadcast or be a ham on restricted areas. other than the CB band what area is open for public use. I know part 15 states that things may not cause interference with anything or it cant be used, but thats all i know about it! My daughter and i would love to build a project like this

[101popster]

u can broadcast on any am frequency as long as no licensed stations re on it and as long as u dont cause any harmonics on another frequency so when finding a frequency make sure that you choose one well away from others especially if u overmodulate for extra range.

[toobroke2fight]

Its a great idea. Even though its out of the 160 meter band, is this illegal? Im not being an ass, I dont care what you do, im just curious. No broadcasting is allowed in Ham radio or CB radio. This could be used for some other stuff too, but i wouldnt want to risk my FCC license. TU 73's

[ranickel]

Thanks for your comments. I agree, even though it's micropower it's illegal to transmit music on Ham or CB bands. That's why I used a crystal in the AM broadcast band, where this type of transmission is legal under Part 15 of the FCC rules.

73, Bob W9RAN

[zmandt1993]

that is vary nice but could make a vidio that explanes it in more detal...because im trying to bild one but im not shure of all of the comections...thanks

[ranickel]

Thanks for your suggestion, I know more about how to make videos now, and I will try to put a more detailed video together in the near future.

73, Bob W9RAN

[codecodecode8]

How far does it broadcast?

[ranickel]

Hi,

The range of a transmitter like this is VERY limited, I'd say 50 to 100 feet using a short antenna wire (about 10 ft.). There is an FCC limit, but this transmitter operates at an even lower power level than most similar devices.

Bob

[youvexme]

wild weekend on your home made transmitter. wish I were smart enough to build stuff like that! Very cool.

[carl95125]

Bob,

Great post !! I guess with the right crystal, you could use xmiter on 160 meters?

Carl K6ZXU

[GeneralBerger]

could you post a link for step by step instructions on how to build one of these things? This looks pretty cool.

[MrUnidyne]

PLEASE post the schematic!

[sz42781]

awsome

[DAVYDPT]

cool spirit

[Isochest]

Nice One!!

[Electron220v]

Hi Bob from Greece!!!..your am transmitter project is amazing!!! and i really want to try it..can you give the schematic???

[G0IFI]

Amazing!

[modmadmike2]

in what planet? ever heard of a car fm adapter or a radio station? think b4 you post

[LocoLuisR]

@modmadmike2 I bet he knows much more than what he's showing you, he just did this as a past time hobby, please you think before you post, messing with radio waves is cool...

[modmadmike2]

@LocoLuisR I was replying to another comment (I think "SamuraiClinton's", but I posted the comment two years ago back when youtube indented replies rather than having to type @username) not saying that about the video.

[CassetteMaster]

That was AWESOME! What's the transmtting range, how far will it transmit?

[Kcy101]

HI BOB,

I love this stuff, been doin it since i a was 14, now 21 and still loven it, POST MORE VIDS

[KA4PNO]

Hi Bob,

This is a fascinating video!

Reminds me of a tunnel diode. I would dearly love to have a schematic so I could reproduce the circuit & demonstrate to some kids some basic make-do electronics.

I also restore antique receivers, and have a transmitter I use in my home to broadcast old time radio shows to these old girls.

Please search YouTube for KA4PNO and look at the partial video of my latest restoration.

Thanks again for the wonderful video!

73s de KA4PNO

Keith

[thorgodof]

im finding it hard to find a crystal oscillator without destroying a video card or something like that just for a transmitter. i know you used a zinc-oxide negative resistance oscillator but i am trying to make a transmitter just out of a crystal oscillator and a audio transformer... dam crystals...

[RadiosRUs]

I Love IT! Congrats on a very nice experiment!Ah the good old days when you take a bunch of junk and turn it into something!

[xxfastxxeddie]

You simply must find yourself a gal to keep you busy on these cold winter nights.

Ed_K Nice experiment.