Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
For camping, emergencies, bug-out bags, cabins... any place you want a radio, but may not have power. Groundbreaking, earthshaking, original crystal radio design!
MATERIALS
- Ferrite rod 100mm x 10mm
- Plastic tube (120mm x 10.5mm ID)
- Wire, coil: 0.55mm (24 AWG) Enough for 90 turns. Enameled
- Wire, antenna & ground (flexible, thin, insulated)
- Diode: 1n34a or D9K or equivalent
- Resistor: 10k to 40k ohm
- Earphone: Crystal type
- White glue, thread, misc
3D Printer Files (if desired): thingiverse.com/thing:7204264
We build a simple, small, and ultra-robust crystal AM radio for camping, survival kits, or your bug-out bag! It's packable, water-resistant and uses just a few parts: a diode, resistor, coil core, ferrite rod, and wire. 3D printer or not: a plastic or acrylic tube and a small mounting block for the base works fine. We will scatter-wound our coil, connect the classic 1N34A or D9K germanium diode detector, and show it tuning stations by sliding the ferrite rod in and out. This design is lightweight, durable, and field-ready, making it ideal for off-grid communication, emergency preparedness, or science learning. Whether you’re a DIY electronics builder, ham radio hobbyist, or just love old-school technology that needs no batteries, this project shows how much you can do with minimal components and maximum ingenuity. Watch to the end to see the live demo of this compact crystal set pulling in multiple AM stations; all powered purely by radio waves!
RELATED VIDEOS (including this one):
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 #SurvivalGear #OffGridTech #Prepping
For camping, emergencies, bug-out bags, cabins... any place you want a radio, but may not have power. Groundbreaking, earthshaking, original crystal radio design!
MATERIALS
- Ferrite rod 100mm x 10mm
- Plastic tube (120mm x 10.5mm ID)
- Wire, coil: 0.55mm (24 AWG) Enough for 90 turns. Enameled
- Wire, antenna & ground (flexible, thin, insulated)
- Diode: 1n34a or D9K or equivalent
- Resistor: 10k to 40k ohm
- Earphone: Crystal type
- White glue, thread, misc
3D Printer Files (if desired): thingiverse.com/thing:7204264
We build a simple, small, and ultra-robust crystal AM radio for camping, survival kits, or your bug-out bag! It's packable, water-resistant and uses just a few parts: a diode, resistor, coil core, ferrite rod, and wire. 3D printer or not: a plastic or acrylic tube and a small mounting block for the base works fine. We will scatter-wound our coil, connect the classic 1N34A or D9K germanium diode detector, and show it tuning stations by sliding the ferrite rod in and out. This design is lightweight, durable, and field-ready, making it ideal for off-grid communication, emergency preparedness, or science learning. Whether you’re a DIY electronics builder, ham radio hobbyist, or just love old-school technology that needs no batteries, this project shows how much you can do with minimal components and maximum ingenuity. Watch to the end to see the live demo of this compact crystal set pulling in multiple AM stations; all powered purely by radio waves!
RELATED VIDEOS (including this one):
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 #SurvivalGear #OffGridTech #Prepping
