This weekend, Bre Pettis of MAKE: Weekend Project showed how to make a foxhole radio. This project was very approachable since it didn't require any specialized electronics, hard to find diodes, chips, resistors, latches, etc etc. It used simple wires, thumbtacks, safety pin, pencil, etc.

So what you see is my attempt at making one (click for a larger view). At first, it didn't work. I was using my headphones to listen in but heard nothing. I then switched to a very old telephone operator-style headset that was more sensitive. I could hear a static noise as I rubbed the wires on the end of the plug.

I then decided to amp things up a bit and use the M-Audio Microtrak to amplify and record the sound. It was working– I could hear radio static, which is what I would expect if it wasn't tuned to a station.

Jim suggested that I try reorienting the antenna (which is about 30 ft long). I took everything outside and tied it off to the top of a tree. I put the headphones and and huzzah! I could hear music, Christian music to be exact. I was also lucky enough to hear the station ID. Listen to a clip of the recording here in MP3 format.

The station ID said the transmitter is located in South Carolina, that's a bit away from Delaware. I decided to Google the station and I found them here along with all of the transmitter specs. They're using a freakin' huge curtain antenna that can cover the US AND South America. They also seem to change up the frequency during the day depending on the program. During the time that I heard it, it was broadcasting on 11.960Mhz.

This got me thinking. The coil of wire around the tube was wound 120 times, as per the instructions. Does a single turn equal .1 MHz? Changing the number of turns is supposed to change the tunning.

Make one, it's easy and fun– keeps your mind sharp.