“Stolen Power”
Transistor Radio
Power from one local station can operate transistor amplifier
to boost signals from the other stations
IRANSMISSION and reception of elce-
trical power without wires has been one
‘of man's dreams since the days of the first
spark-gap transmitter. However, despite
Jaboratory demonstrations, practical appli-
cation of usable broadcast power had to
await the era of the transistor. Because
the transistor requires so little power, it
can be operated from unusual voltage
sources.
‘An ordinary recelving antenna can pick
up several hundred microwatts of radio-
‘frequency energy from a station ina strong-
signal area, If this rf. power is converted
toa dc, voltage, it wil be suifleient to oper-
October, 1958
By J. R. MACK
ate a low-current-drain transistor audio
amplifier.
‘This, in turn, can amplify the audio out
put of a erystal detector receiver which
can be tuned not only to the station being
used for power, but also to other stations
within its range.
Construction. The stolen-power ear-
phone radio can be built, with plenty of
room to spare, in a 6" x 3” x 144" plastic
‘case. All drilling should be done from inside
the cover, and with very little pressure, to
avoid cracking the plastic.
‘Antenna coupling windings must be
added to L1 and L2 as shown; leave endsfa PARTS List
C2 86Sagld msltuce tanking capacitor
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tor (Acro
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Se ttsftate phone Jock
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primary, 100000
limes secondary, 1000 ohm (Latayote TR3?
or the eguivaleat)
THACEI tanaistor
1Plastie case with removable cover
1 Crystat meadsot (Ustayete 1S 202)
1S length of 00 enamalcovered ice for
(edged windings on Ui aed 12
HOW IT WORKS
Dae receiver has wo ectinss (1) 8 tower section
oie iinet ke woe neat salon tad cone
Spel Seated tg tein aha ane
Sid ample RD) cpl by ihe de sod
‘Pawer Sections The powetag ston is selected by
radia opeck nde ed fone ce
bac “Bini CH? reins the rf Ss
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Becca menncere
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{tenine Sion. ‘The ‘sation tstened to need not
Eee tlecewes oo
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SENG ge wa red
proper match for a crystal
Sbiaro. polarity’ when
Rea
about 4” long for wising into the circuit.
One end of the new Li winding goes to Ji,
while the other is soldered to one end of
the antenna winding on £2. The free end of
this winding Is then soldered to the Gnd
Jack (J2).
‘The coils are fitted into the brackets sup-
plied and the brackets are mounted with
small 6-32 screws. Although the coils have
tunable slugs, they do not require adjust-
ment.
‘When the crystal diodes are installed, be
sure to observe polarity and avoid over-
heating. ‘The output transformer is a
crystal mlcrophone-to-transistor type, con-
nected backwards,
Operation. A good ground connection to
‘a water or steam pipe is a necessity. The
longer the antenna used, the greater will
be the dc. power and the louder all
stations will be.
In strong-signal areas, this set
has worked well with a good
ground and the antenna clip con-
nected to a tall metal lamp or
metal kitchen cabinet. For best re-
sults, an outdoor antenna from 50
to 100 feet is recommended.
‘Tuning the receiver is a little
tricky since both the power and re-
ceiver tuning capacitors must be
individually set. Slowly tune both
Ct and O2 through the broadeast
band. When a station is picked up, leave the
receiver set and “sweep” the power tuning
slowly across the band until you hit the
point where the received station comes in
‘at maximum volume, Leave the power
kknob set and retune the receiver to the de-
sired station.
‘The receiver is most effective within a
few miles from the station used for power,
depending om your antenna length and effi-
ciency. Further away, there may not be
sufficient de. voltage output to power the
transistor audio amplifier, but again, this
also depends on your antenna. a
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