Xtal Set Society, Inc
Kit Index:
Updated 05-06-08
Oat Box Radio Pack (download file updated 05-04-08).
XS-402 Little Wonder Crystal Radio
XS-404 Big Brother Crystal Radio
XS-500 Basic Crystal Radio
XS-801 Crystal Radio Kit - new 04/25/08
XS-W Crystal Set
XS-EAK Ear-Piece Transistor Amp
XS-DE Dual Ear
XS-TGK Test Generator
XS-PCWF Passive CW Filter - for QRP
XS-SDLK Smart Dummary Load - for QRP
XS-SC The Standard 365 Capacitor Kit
XS-90uH The Standard 90 uH Coil Kit
XS-250uH The Standard 250 uH Coil Kit
XS-OB1 Oat Box Radio - Pack 1
Build an inexpensive radio out of an oat meal box. The pack includes 1 Spool (100 feet) #24 wire, 1 IN34 Diode, 1 100 pf Capacitor, 1 47K Resistor, 3 alligator clips, 1 ceramic, hi impedance ear piece, 56-32 by ½ machine screws, 10 6-32 nuts, 5 #6 solder lugs -- you provide the box (eat the oatmeal, it's good for you!) and an antenna. The plans for this radio are on our website at www.midnightscience.com/oat-box-project.html. Great for classes, scouting, and science fairs -- easy for kids to put together, with adult supervision.
If you need an antenna, then order the Oatbox Pack 2.
This pack includes everything in Pack 1, above, plus another spool of 24 gauge hook-up wire (100feet). The extra wire can be used to make a bigger coil, to cover more of the broadcast band, or it can be used as antenna wire. You'll need to buy and eat the oatmeal.
XS-402 The Little Wonder Crystal Radio Kit
Our “Little Wonder” is a super starter kit for kids and beginning adult builders! It tunes the entire broadcast band. The extra large solder pads make it easy for beginning builders to have a successful first radio. There are only a few solder joints, and the pads are spread out making it clean and simple to assemble. The “Little Wonder” was designed especially for the XSS by our founder, Grampa Phil, WØXI. We tried to combine everything we’ve learned about building radios with beginners and kids to create a radio that everyone can build the first time. There is no coil to wind, a high resonant frequency molded choke have been used in place of the coil. A nice photo diagram is included showing all the parts and their placement on the printed circuit board (PCB) . This radio is perfect for parents and grandparents to build with kids. It is also priced right for classroom use, and can be used to teach basic radio theory, soldering, and handling of electronic parts and PCB’s. Kit includes a high impedance crystal earplug. A super performer and a great little kit; you’ve got to have one! XS402 $14.95.
XS-404 Big Brother Crystal Radio
Big Brother (of the Little Wonder), designed by Grampa Phil, is a mix of pure crystal set and modern radio techniques. It's a kit that bridges the gap between the still very popular basic crystal set of the early days of radio and today's "transistorized" walker and jogger radios. It features an antenna tuner, variable capacitance diode for station tuning, EAR PIECE transistor amplifier, and panel & base with pointer knobs for antenna and station tuning. We like it because it teaches additional concepts, for experiments and science fair enthusiasts. It uses molded coils so no coil winding is necessary - unless, of course, you want to do that. You'll experience improved selectivity and better reception of weak stations. The tuner helps suppress strong local stations and the transistor boosts weak stations, thereby increasing your ability to hear them. The varactor diodes and transistor require a 9V battery (not included) for operation. Big Brother includes a printed circuit board, Fahnestock clips for attaching the antenna and EAR PIECE, 1N34 crystal diode, a PN2222 transistor, resistors and caps, molded coils, two varactor diodes, two panel-mount 10K variable resistors, two black pointer knobs, and front panel. Cat# XS404 $34.95
XS-500 Basic Crystal Radio
The XS-500 Basic Crystal Radio is a tapped-coil crystal set, designed for those who wish to wind their own coil and for solder or non-solder assembly. Set tunes the AM broadcast band and requires, as usual, an antenna and grounding (antenna wire not included). One-hundred foot wire spools are available via mail order or our web site. We like the assembly flexibility of this set: a bit of a challenge in winding the coil and the alternative for non-solder assembly. This basic kit includes a pre-drilled wood base, pre-drilled PVC coil form, 50 feet of enamel wire, 1N34 detector diode, ear piece, capacitors and a resistor, alligator clips, Fahnestock clips, 6-32 mounting hardware, and manual. Cat # XS500 $16.95.
XS-801 Crystal Radio Kit
This kit is an ideal transition for those who’ve finished an Oat-Box or other starter crystal radio and desire to learn more and hear more stations. In building this radio you'll learn about antenna matching, winding an advanced coil, coil and system Q, and accommodating an ear piece or hi-impedance phones. Features include antenna matching, dividing the AM band into two sections, variable capacitor station tuning, a circuit to reduce audio distortion, and a large coil. Parts include two air variable capacitors, a 4.2 diameter by 5.2 inch long coil form, a spool of #18 insulated stranded wire, 2 diodes, an ear piece, and assorted components. The chassis, panel, and coil form are predrilled and ready for assembly. The manual covers assembly, installation, and operation of the radio, and includes suggestions for further adaptation and experimentation. The XS-801 is described in the May, 2008 issue of the Xtal Set Society bi-monthly newsletter. A brief summary can also be found on the XS-801 Page and some mechanicals on the downloads page (article-index).
XS-W Crystal Set
This is our smallest crystal set yet, measuring 1.5 by 2 by 0.5 inches. It’s small enough to wear on your wrist, and includes jacks for plugging in an antenna and ear piece. Set is tuned by selecting a set of capacitors wired in parallel with the miniature molded coil. Kit is constructed by soldering the parts onto the printed circuit board provided. Plugs to match the jacks, along with an ear-piece are provided. As with all sets, it requires an antenna, not provided.
Cat # XS-W,
$ 16.95.
XS-EAK Ear-Piece Transistor Amp Kit
This ear-piece transistor amplifier kit (EAK), designed to work with a crystal set, boosts the signal you can hear by up to x14. Parts assemble on PCB; step-by-step instructions included; 9-V battery not included. Assembly time is about 45 minutes.
Cat # XS-EAK $19.95
XS-DE Dual Ear Kit
This kit features binaural listening by interconnecting two traditional crystal ear pieces. By utilizing both of your ears, a signal heard will sound as if it is inside your head, less "brassy," and you'll hear less background noise! The kit may be used with crystal sets or other radios or audio devices with 8-ohm or "phone" outputs, thus giving you inexpensive headphone listening. The kit features a 2 by 2-inch printed circuit board, three 3.5 mono-jacks, a toggle switch, back-to-back 1N914 diodes, and a thumb potentiometer. The DPDT-switch enables a series or parallel connection of the ear pieces. The pot and diodes are used to limit volume; and the pot has some effect on the "timber" of voices heard. The kit includes two crystal ear-pieces and three mono-plugs but does not include cable and connectors for your crystal set or radio. Assembly time is roughly 25-minutes.
Cat # XS-DE, $ 19.95.
XS-TGK Test Generator Kit
This test generator kit (TGK) produces an AM test signal and tunes the 550-1600 kHz AM BC Band with a thump pot on the PCB. The audio is a fixed at 1 kHz; ideal for checking out your crystal set or kit. The signal is low-level and must be clipped to the insulation of the set coil. Parts assemble on PCB; manual included; 9-V battery not included. Assembly time is about 45 minutes. Cat# XS-TGK $19.95
XS-PCWF Passive CW Filter
For QRP Amateur Radio use. This passive CW filter (PCWF) goes between your HF receiver and an 8-ohm speaker or headphones. Features an 750 Hz center-frequency, 500 Hz LC band-pass design, utilizing three high-permeability cores. Parts assemble on PCB; no batteries are required; and assembly time is about 30 minutes.
No battery Maw! Cat# XS-PCWFK $19.95
QRP CW Filter
For QRP Amateur Radio use. This active CW Filter - constructed with op-amps - was conceived within a few days of bringing home a new IC-703 from Dayton in 2004. The 703 is a great little radio but it didn't come with a narrow CW filter installed. Expensive IF CW Filters can be purchased, but you can save some money and have fun at the same time, building this external 500 Hz filter centered at 750 Hz. the first think I noticed when operating was that the audio background noise is simply cut out. The PCB is just 2.9 by 3.5 inches and can be fit in a case less than 1.2 inches high (case not included but offered as one of our "specials" while supply lasts). Kit includes PCB, parts, and manual.
XS-SDLK Smart Dummary Load- 10 Watts.
For QRP Amateur Radio use. This kit and our passive CW filter kit were inspired by our enthusiasm for non-powered - no batteries - electronics. The “smart” dummy load, assembled on a 1-1/4 by 4-1/2 inch PCB, features a 10-watt dummy load with power levels acheived denoted by four LEDs. The circuit includes six 3-watt metal film resistors, four detector diodes, four zeners, four LEDs, and bias resistors. The four LED circuits denote power achieved: 1, 2, 5, or 10-watts. The signal measured supplies the power. No batteries Mom! Assembly time is about 25 minutes. Coax not included.