Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Or maybe which to build FIRST? ;)
We will walk through all the crystal radio types I have built, discuss their pros and cons, level of skill required, construction difficulty, cost, etc.
This is the roadmap I wish I had when I started with crystal radios.



RADIOS FROM THIS VIDEO:
(Diode Radio) World's Simplest Radio youtu.be/mlBfAI_55Mk

(Single Wiper) Best/Easiest DIY Crystal Radio - No Batteries, No External Power youtu.be/fLVCqZGpv3U

(Dual Wiper) My New Favorite! Crystal Radio with Antenna Tuner youtu.be/mh5KxCpbQ5U

(Single Capacitor) Crystal Radio--No More Variable Capacitor Designs?

(Single Capacitor 3D Printed) Crystal Radio--1 Variable Capacitor, 3D Printed (4K) youtu.be/ErhvVGM6mhY

(Single Capacitor Ferrite Rod) Crystal Radio--Ferrite Coil Model #2 youtu.be/CgJ5kqDT-0A

(Dual Capacitor) Crystal Radio, Capacitive Tuning - WORKS GREAT! youtu.be/VJ80Nm9KSkE

Radio Add-Ons
(Wood, brass, stainless Cat Whisker Detector) Crystal Radio DIY Cat Whisker--Wood, Brass, Stainless youtu.be/PQ0clWe8NGU

(3D Printed Cat Whisker Detector) Crystal Radio DIY Cat Whisker Ver 2.0 Pt 2 youtu.be/ANuU8gsALzI

(Antenna Single Capacitor) Wiper Crystal Radio Selectivity Upgrade #1 youtu.be/8R8MJpz1MyE

(Dual Capacitor Upgrade) Crystal Radio Wiper-Type Selectivity Upgrade #2 youtu.be/EqEVuLFxgCQ

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
00:17 Judging criteria
01:24 Diode Radio
02:54 Single Wiper Basic
04:57 Dual Wiper
06:44 Single Capacitor & Single Capacitor 3D Printed
08:15 Single Capacitor Ferrite Rod
09:34 Dual Capacitor
10:50 Radio Add-Ons--Wood, brass, stainless Cat Whisker Detector, 3D Printed Cat Whisker Detector, 12:06 Antenna Single Capacitor, Dual Capacitor Upgrade
13:04 Summary
13:15 Rankings / My Thoughts