Comments on: How Crystal Radios Really Work https://hackingwithgum.com/2009/06/08/how-crystal-radios-really-work/ A Hardware Hacking Blog Wed, 18 May 2011 15:50:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Hacking With Gum » More About Crystal Radios https://hackingwithgum.com/2009/06/08/how-crystal-radios-really-work/comment-page-1/#comment-155522 Hacking With Gum » More About Crystal Radios Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:51:41 +0000 https://hackingwithgum.com/?p=105#comment-155522 [...] receiving a few questions about my previous post describing how crystal radios work, I’ve updated it with a lot more information including [...] [...] receiving a few questions about my previous post describing how crystal radios work, I’ve updated it with a lot more information including [...]

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By: Craig https://hackingwithgum.com/2009/06/08/how-crystal-radios-really-work/comment-page-1/#comment-155518 Craig Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:26:35 +0000 https://hackingwithgum.com/?p=105#comment-155518 Vaibhav, Good question, and one which I did not address in the original article. For the answer, take a look at the image of the modulated vs. un-modulated signal. Notice that the transmitter frequency is much higher than that of an audible frequency; in the above image, the audio tone imposed on the transmitter is spread out over eight cycles from the RF oscillator. This is important, because it allows variations in both the strength and the frequency of the audio tone to affect the modulated RF signal. For example, if the audio tone were of a higher frequency, it might only cause an amplitude change in five of the oscillator's cycles. In other words, the amplitude change in the transmitted signal will be shorter (amplitude changes will occur more frequency) or longer (amplitude changes will occur less frequently) depending on the frequency of the imposed audio tone. When these time variations in amplitude are converted back to an audio at the receiver, the audio wave will be respectively shorter or longer, thus re-producing the higher or lower frequency audio tone. I've updated the article with this information, plus some corrections to other explanations. I will add some screen shots / videos of what the audio looks like on an oscilloscope later, which will hopefully make some of the explanations more clear. Vaibhav,

Good question, and one which I did not address in the original article. For the answer, take a look at the image of the modulated vs. un-modulated signal.

Notice that the transmitter frequency is much higher than that of an audible frequency; in the above image, the audio tone imposed on the transmitter is spread out over eight cycles from the RF oscillator. This is important, because it allows variations in both the strength and the frequency of the audio tone to affect the modulated RF signal.

For example, if the audio tone were of a higher frequency, it might only cause an amplitude change in five of the oscillator’s cycles. In other words, the amplitude change in the transmitted signal will be shorter (amplitude changes will occur more frequency) or longer (amplitude changes will occur less frequently) depending on the frequency of the imposed audio tone. When these time variations in amplitude are converted back to an audio at the receiver, the audio wave will be respectively shorter or longer, thus re-producing the higher or lower frequency audio tone.

I’ve updated the article with this information, plus some corrections to other explanations. I will add some screen shots / videos of what the audio looks like on an oscilloscope later, which will hopefully make some of the explanations more clear.

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By: Vaibhav https://hackingwithgum.com/2009/06/08/how-crystal-radios-really-work/comment-page-1/#comment-155497 Vaibhav Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:04:54 +0000 https://hackingwithgum.com/?p=105#comment-155497 I have a doubt. If only the amplitude of the radio wave changes according to the audio signal then how are the different frequencies in the human voice are reproduced at the speaker ? I would be grateful if you could answer this. I have a doubt. If only the amplitude of the radio wave changes according to the
audio signal then how are the different frequencies in the human voice are reproduced at the speaker ? I would be grateful if you could answer this.

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By: Vaibhav https://hackingwithgum.com/2009/06/08/how-crystal-radios-really-work/comment-page-1/#comment-155493 Vaibhav Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:44:44 +0000 https://hackingwithgum.com/?p=105#comment-155493 You're Great!! Such a good explanation and from the very core of things. I was exhausted finding such an explanation on the web. Thanks a lot!!! You’re Great!! Such a good explanation and from the very core of things. I was
exhausted finding such an explanation on the web. Thanks a lot!!!

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By: Jenny https://hackingwithgum.com/2009/06/08/how-crystal-radios-really-work/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Jenny Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:21:00 +0000 https://hackingwithgum.com/?p=105#comment-11 Awesome, I cited you in my Physics paper! Awesome, I cited you in my Physics paper!

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