Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Portable, Packable, Prepable, No Battery, WAND Radio: an inductively tuned crystal radio that is compact, rugged, lightweight, for camping, prepping, or emergency use. My original wand design uses a simple coil and ferrite rod. We will walk through how this WAND Radio is made using only a 10 mm plastic tube, a 100 mm ferrite rod, 100 turns of #24 wire (scatter-wound), and basic components like a diode, resistor, and crystal earphone. We’ll see how it works, how to tune it, and how it picks up multiple AM stations. If you’re into DIY electronics, classic radio tech, survival gear, or hands-on science, this is a great from scratch project. Watch till the end for the oscilloscope demo, circuit details, and performance notes, and check the description for build specs.
MATERIALS
- Plastic tube: 200 mm x 10mm ID (slot 100 mm long)
- Coil Wire: 0.55 (24 AWG) enameled
- Coil length: approx 90 mm
- Coil: 100 to 120 turns, scatter wound (depends on the coil length, longer = more turns)
- Resistor: 10k to 40k
- Crystal earphone
- Ferrite core: 100mm x 10mm, black (1 mHz range)
- 1n34a or D9K diode
- Antenna / ground wire: any light weight, flexible wire
- Alligator clips: 2 small (black and red)
- White glue & thread to secure wire to coil
- 3D Printer Files: thingiverse.com/thing:7167184
RELATED VIDEOS (including this one):
Crystal Radio-Inductor Tuned Radio Intro youtu.be/7NdZFm6zXYo
Crystal Radio-Wand Radio youtu.be/S0I9NQNfUDU
Crystal Radio Earphone From Common / Cheap Stuff youtu.be/dWkKFD_yZs8
Crystal Radio-DIY Crystal Earphone youtu.be/ARtfLB0nQ5k
Crystal Radio Headphone--DIY Part 1/2 youtu.be/oG5cDi9Va_Q
Crystal Radio Headphone Mod--DIY Part 2/2 youtu.be/v_9InMj-eL8
Crystal Radio-Simple, Cheap, Inductor Tuned Radio Intro-The Coil youtu.be/7NdZFm6zXYo
Crystal Radio-Portable, Packable, Prepper Wand Radio youtu.be/S0I9NQNfUDU
Crystal Radio-Simple DIY Induction Tuned Radio youtu.be/ez_O3l7E5is
Crystal Radio-Space Rocket Radio, Induction Tuning youtu.be/xViNW4HFFDA
Crystal Radio-Simple, Packable, Robust youtu.be/kosErSipEzs
Crystal Radio-1950-60s Satellite Radio youtu.be/O6fyyGqvrQE
Disclaimer: This information is presented as entertainment only on an "as is" basis and any use the viewer makes of it is solely up to them, and it is their responsibility to determine if the information remains current and if it is applicable to their situation. The viewer is responsible for any and all safety involving this. Viewing this video is the viewer's agreement to these terms and conditions. If you do not agree, stop now.
#CrystalRadio #DIYElectronics #RadioReceiver #PreppingTech
Portable, Packable, Prepable, No Battery, WAND Radio: an inductively tuned crystal radio that is compact, rugged, lightweight, for camping, prepping, or emergency use. My original wand design uses a simple coil and ferrite rod. We will walk through how this WAND Radio is made using only a 10 mm plastic tube, a 100 mm ferrite rod, 100 turns of #24 wire (scatter-wound), and basic components like a diode, resistor, and crystal earphone. We’ll see how it works, how to tune it, and how it picks up multiple AM stations. If you’re into DIY electronics, classic radio tech, survival gear, or hands-on science, this is a great from scratch project. Watch till the end for the oscilloscope demo, circuit details, and performance notes, and check the description for build specs.
MATERIALS
- Plastic tube: 200 mm x 10mm ID (slot 100 mm long)
- Coil Wire: 0.55 (24 AWG) enameled
- Coil length: approx 90 mm
- Coil: 100 to 120 turns, scatter wound (depends on the coil length, longer = more turns)
- Resistor: 10k to 40k
- Crystal earphone
- Ferrite core: 100mm x 10mm, black (1 mHz range)
- 1n34a or D9K diode
- Antenna / ground wire: any light weight, flexible wire
- Alligator clips: 2 small (black and red)
- White glue & thread to secure wire to coil
- 3D Printer Files: thingiverse.com/thing:7167184
RELATED VIDEOS (including this one):
Crystal Radio-Inductor Tuned Radio Intro youtu.be/7NdZFm6zXYo
Crystal Radio-Wand Radio youtu.be/S0I9NQNfUDU
Crystal Radio Earphone From Common / Cheap Stuff youtu.be/dWkKFD_yZs8
Crystal Radio-DIY Crystal Earphone youtu.be/ARtfLB0nQ5k
Crystal Radio Headphone--DIY Part 1/2 youtu.be/oG5cDi9Va_Q
Crystal Radio Headphone Mod--DIY Part 2/2 youtu.be/v_9InMj-eL8
Crystal Radio-Simple, Cheap, Inductor Tuned Radio Intro-The Coil youtu.be/7NdZFm6zXYo
Crystal Radio-Portable, Packable, Prepper Wand Radio youtu.be/S0I9NQNfUDU
Crystal Radio-Simple DIY Induction Tuned Radio youtu.be/ez_O3l7E5is
Crystal Radio-Space Rocket Radio, Induction Tuning youtu.be/xViNW4HFFDA
Crystal Radio-Simple, Packable, Robust youtu.be/kosErSipEzs
Crystal Radio-1950-60s Satellite Radio youtu.be/O6fyyGqvrQE
Disclaimer: This information is presented as entertainment only on an "as is" basis and any use the viewer makes of it is solely up to them, and it is their responsibility to determine if the information remains current and if it is applicable to their situation. The viewer is responsible for any and all safety involving this. Viewing this video is the viewer's agreement to these terms and conditions. If you do not agree, stop now.
#CrystalRadio #DIYElectronics #RadioReceiver #PreppingTech
