To organize the circuits from fairly easy to rather complicated, I put together a simple classification based on the number of Inductors and Tuning Capacitors in each circuit and a few of their main distinguishing features. Better classifications may exist, but this works well enough for my purpose. A legend follows so anyone may break the code. The catalog provides only minimal information about each circuit. Although an experienced builder may make the calculations to build a radio from the data provided, I mostly intend this for information only. I highly recommend if you wish build a set to consult the original reference.
Later as my experience and familiarity with crystal radio has grown, and after having built and tested a certain number of sets, more detailed and technical information has become necessary. Scouring the web has turfed up an amazing number of extremely well written and helpful web resources. While the number of excellent web sites is large, there have been a certain few that I found myself returning to time and again. From these I would print out large sections and read carefully, scribbling notes on the side, generating more questions and learning, learning, always learning.
Eventually I began to assemble what were, to me, the most useful and informative pages into a handy book format. I decided to print the darned thing out to keep as a sort of Crystal Radio Handbook, something to take with me on the go, or just to read on the couch. I am NOT a "kindle" type.. The project was no trivial thing. I knew what I wanted, but casting everything into a common (more or less) format, organizing things, formatting figures, etc, it was a lot of work. For my handbooks, a glance at the table of contents shows a book organized to lead the reader along the path I followed. The authors are many and I wish to thank 10,000 times all the people who have contributed so much to this hobby on the web. My apologies if I did not choose your pages for the book, the choices of what to include and what to leave out was purely my own. The final Handbooks, there are many now, I feel represent university-level material from advanced introductory to university senior / graduate presentations on Crystal Radio. Published handbooks on crystal radio are traditionally directed primarily to the "boy scientist" adolescent, introductory in nature. I hope this these handbooks fill a gap rather than pander.
Finally, to help as reference, I eventually formatted two particularly interesting web pages as complete volumes in themselves. Ben Tongue's pages are essential reading for the serious hobbiest, even if over my head, (read.. waaaaaaay over my head). At nearly 400 pages, I have broken it into two volumes. Kenneth Khun's web book is just great, technical, but not overly, well explained as one would expect from a professor. Thanks for your efforts and for all those others whose pages I missed.
I intend these documents to be printed on double-side letter paper, folded over or cut in half and then bound. The foldbook paging system in the document only makes sense when this is done. Printing instructions below:
Kevin Smith
Crystal Radio Handbook: V2 Crystal Radio Theory A Handbook of useful technical articles,
(Bookfold format for printing, 272pp).pdf format, 2.34 meg size
Crystal Radio Handbook: V3 Solid-State and Vacuum Diodes A Handbook of useful technical articles,
(Bookfold format for printing, 268pp). pdf format, 4.47 meg size
Crystal Radio Handbook: V4 Antenna / Ground and Antenna Tuning A Handbook of useful technical articles,
(Bookfold format for printing, 164pp). pdf format, 2.13 meg size
Crystal Radio Handbook: V5 Inductance, Inductors, and Measuring Q Technical look at Coils,
(Bookfold format for printing, 253pp). pdf format, 4.19 meg size
Crystal Radio Handbook: V6 Radio Wave Propagation A walk down memory lane, historical and personal,
(Bookfold format for printing, 284pp). pdf format, 16.9 meg size
Crystal Radio Handbook: V7 Vacuum Diodes Dedicated entirely to vacuum diodes,
(Bookfold format for printing, 272pp). pdf format, 12.40 meg size
Crystal Radio Handbook: V8 Resonance Resonance and Coupled Circuits,
(Bookfold format for printing, 252pp). pdf format, 17.70 meg size
Crystal Radio Handbook: V9 Capacitor Losses and Wire Resistance The other side of Q,
(Bookfold format for printing, 222pp). pdf format, 2.32 meg size
Kenneth Khun's Web Book on Crystal Radio Engineering
(ready for printing and binding.., 113pp), pdf format, 1.11 meg size
Ben Tongue's Web Book on Crystal Radio Systems Volume I
(ready for printing and binding.., 185pp)' pdf format, 1.37 meg size
Ben Tongue's Web Book on Crystal Radio Systems Volume II
(ready for printing and binding.., 208pp)' pdf format, 1.59 meg size
Ramon Vargas Patron's Web Book Contributions to Crystal Radio
(ready for printing and binding.., 111pp)' pdf format, 1.65 meg size
Crystal Radio Handbook: V10 This Web Page.. Because I'm so vain.., 260pp
pdf format, 7.31 meg size
1. Choose "fit to page" in print menu.
2. Print document double sided on letter size paper.
3. Cut the entire printed document in half.
4. Fold over making sure the page numbering is continuous.
5. For the cover: Print just the first page on card stock paper Cut the cover in half as well.
6. Assemble the covers on the document.
7. Punch the left side for a binding, spiral or comb as desired.