Vectronics VEC-121K - Manual (Page 28)

VEC-121K Owner's Manual Crystal Radio Set Kit
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3. Connect a good ground connection to the crystal receiver. Use the 7 foot
length of stranded hookup wire supplied with the kit to make the ground
connection between a good earth ground and the Fahnstock clip on the
receiver.
4. Connect a long wire antenna to the Fahnstock clip on the receiver.
5. Carefully tune the tuning knob while listening for signals in the earphone.
You should be able to copy at least one, and maybe several, stations without
difficulty.
What can I hear? You should be able to hear local stations without much
difficulty. The crystal set tunes the entire broadcast band from 530 kHz to 1700
kHz. The antenna and ground system are the keys to success when using crystal
sets. Where you live affects how well you receive signals. If you live in a salt
marsh, or along the shore, you may experience exceptional reception. The
fellow living in an arid area with poor soil moisture may have much poorer
reception.
When to listen? You should hear local stations at any time of the day. At dusk,
radio signals propagate over greater distances. Listening just before the sun goes
down may yield some pleasant surprises! Also, as the seasons change, you may
find you can hear different distant stations at sundown. Keep a simple log of
new stations when you receive them. Note the time, call letters and frequency.
It’s always fun to add a “new one” to the list.
Erecting a good antenna
Your radio will work only as good as the antenna and ground it is connected to
do. The best antenna for a crystal set is located outdoors, it is between 100 and
30 feet long, and is mounted high and in the clear. Your kit includes enough
wire to make an outdoor 40 foot wire antenna and short lead-in wire to the
crystal set receiver.