Spooky Tesla Spirit Radio

News Flash!!!
The Spooky Tesla Spirit Radio and Mrfixitrick are now featured in a PC game called "Tesla".  Monsters and bats are battled, while helping Mrfixitrick find the seven parts of the Spooky Tesla Spirit Radio. Intriguing background music. From GODD Games at: www.goddgames.com/tesla.html

Have a look at the Crystal Quantum Radio devices of EJ Gold that helped inspire this instructable:  http://www.yoyodyneindustries.com/

"My first observations positively terrified me as there was present in them something mysterious, not to say supernatural, and I was alone in my laboratory at night"
- Nikola Tesla, 1901 article "Talking With The Planets" 

The Spooky Tesla Spirit Radio is more than just a crystal radio circuit in a jam-jar. It's a sound maker that plugs in to a computer, and makes awesome spooky sounds by responding to electromagnetic fields or light sources in real time.

Athough Tesla used different parts, this radio's basic L-C (Inductor-Capacitor) circuit uses a similar schematic to what Tesla experimented with in his early days. The versatile 1N34A crystal germanium diode used here, substitutes for the tricky rotating nickel detectors and sensitive relays, used by Tesla in the late 1800's. 

You can listen to AM broadcasts with this radio, but it was made to have fun with in other ways. (Besides, AM radio wasn't exactly what Nikola Tesla was interested in...in fact, he believed it was a waste of energy to transmit and receive Hertzian waves!) 

By using a program like Audio Hyjack Pro (Mac), the radio's output is tweaked at the computer to give some great real-time sound effects...and you can record them at the same time. 

In the following accompanying movies, I show how the Spooky Tesla Spirit Radio reacts to lightning, radio frequencies, the light spectrum, the computer screen, RF pulses, electromagnetic fields and more!





In the following video, the Spooky Tesla Spirit Radio is used to give voice to a Mac Hyperspace screensaver! The simple crystal circuit is apparently sensitive to the screen synchronization RF frequencies, and so it provides awesome background sounds...check it out:





The next movie shows "Spooky", the radio, beside a Dancing Ghost homopolar motor. The motor emits electromagnetic waves that are picked up by Spooky's antenna coils, and we hear the results translated through computer software in real time...spooky!!






Here's a movie of the action in the new PC game "Tesla", featuring the Spooky Tesla Spirit Radio;

Step 1: Parts List And Schematic Diagram

List of Materials

1- Small Jam Jar, (Mason Jar) with large mouth
1- 3 1/4 inch dia Plexiglas (or polycarbonate) cover lid, 1/8 inch thick
1- C1 - 60/160 pf Variable Capacitor (ComtrolAuto #VAR160-1)
1- Extension Shaft and Knob for above (ComtrolAuto #ExtKnob-1)
1- L1 -  680 uh Ferrite Loopstick Antenna (ComtrolAuto #LSA680-1)
1- D1 - Germanium 1N34A Diode (*Allied Stock#: 935-0301) $2.16 ea
1- C2 - .001uf Capacitor (marked 102) (*Allied Stock#: 507-0822) $.21 ea
1- R1 - 47k Resistor (*Allied Stock#: 296-6641) $.05 ea
1- Chassis Banana Jack Red - (*Allied Stock#: 528-0158) $.53 ea
1- Chassis Banana Jack Black - (*Allied Stock#: 528-0159) $.53 ea
2 - (or more for each antenna) Banana Plug (*Allied Stock#: 528-0302) $1.21
2 -3.5 mm Mono Chassis Jack (*Allied Stock#: 932-0260) $1.16
a few inches of 20 gauge hook-up wire
solder
1- Audio Patch Cord, 1/8 inch plug ends

Total Cost less than $30.

Note1: Most of the above crystal radio parts are available in kit #SC-Kit-1 from ComtrolAuto 
Note2:Complete crystal spirit radios that can be adapted are available from EJ Gold at YoyodyneIndustries. 

Note3: For Each Spiral Pancake Antenna,
6 feet of #14 gauge solid copper wire
Banana Plug

Note4: For the Football Style Antenna,
4 feet #10 gauge solid copper wire.
40 feet of #30 gauge coated magnet wire.
Heavy Paper
Scotch Tape
Hot Glue
SuperGlue
Banana Plug

Tools
Needlenose pliers
Wire Cutter
Soldering iron
Computer w/ Audio Hijack audio software (Mac), or equivalent

Crystal radio parts and kits available at http://comtrolauto.com/

Comments

[nerd7473]

epic

[Dorkinator]

Thanks for the fast response, Rick.

I'm having touble posting this as a reply, so I just made a new post.

I will try out your suggestions tomorrow.

As for now, I have another question. Assuming we have the right circuit, should we be able to hear some kind of noise if we shine a green laser onto the diode.? Would we have to change the pf until we find the range its in, or should it detect it almost right away?

I appreciate the help, Mikey.

[mrfixitrick]

The laser will be detected no matter what range. The problem is the gain has to be turned way up to hear the response, and the pitch has to be tuned to give a good solid sound. As before, you should be able to hear the audio plug loudly when touching the tip of it with your finger, before plugging it into the radio.

Good luck, let me know!

[Dorkinator]

Hi, we are making this for my school project,really enjoying but because we are in Canada I had to use a variable capacitor from midnight science (365pf with 8:1 planetary gear) but which has 4 lugs. My questions are;
1) how to wire the variable capacitor, I believe we can use any of the 4 lugs then use a ground connection for the other side?
2) we are using a ferrite antenna from a am radio but which has 4 wires3, on 1 side and 1 on the other.
we are using audacity and so far its not working, I know I didnt fry the diode, any ideas would really help, many thanks, Mikey Pratte

You can email me at [e-mail] if you need to.

[mrfixitrick]

Hi Mike,

The variable cap will likely be ok wiring as you describe. The ferrite antenna you will have to try various orientations of the wiring.

Start first by knowing that you get a very loud hum/noise when touching the end of the audio wire plug (with other end plugged into computer)

I found Audio Mulch worked better than Audacity on the PC. http://www.audiomulch.com/download

I had to use 3 "Gain" modules to raise the volume enough.

Once you get a loud response, plug in the radio and put a source of EMF beside it, like a drill or motor or modem. You should begin to hear something.

For better reception, add a 20 foot antenna.

Let me know how that works for you!
Cheers, Rick

[Thax]

I'm having real problems with my radio and I'm trying to understand the options you describe. I've built my radio as you've pictured yours, but I'm getting no signal or noise. I've checked all my parts and connections. "Run it direct with an antenna connection" doesn't help me understand. Can you clarify this? Thank you!

[mrfixitrick]

"Run it direct with an antenna connection" means when the induction coil does not have a 10-coil wire wrapped around it, and uses just the tiny wires of the induction coil in the circuit, as seen in inductor L1 and antenna Ant1 in the circuit diagram. The antenna Ant 2 and Ant 3 are auxiliary, and in some circumstances may work better.

For diagnosis, let's go back to basics first...
1.) Are you using a Mac with Audio Hijack, or what is your way of hearing the radio? Test: Do you get a very strong hum when you touch the end of the audio stereo plug on the wire that connects to the computer? If you don't, then the audio software or other adjustments must be made, as the radio needs tons of gain to be heard.
So, touching the end of the plug that goes into the radio, should sound very loud.

2.) If above test is ok, plug in the radio. Is there any sound at all? Turn up the volume if necessary. Touching the antenna should increase the sound.

Let me know, and we'll go from there!

[Thax]

I loaded Audio Hijack onto my Mac, but couldn't see how to make it open the windows you present. Then I loaded AudioMulch, which appeared much closer to 'right', but I still couldn't get anything out.
Better option, I thought, was to apply an Oscope to it and see if there was anything there. I found nothing but what I believe was that 60 cycle hum you mention. Phoey.
I hard wired the funny little 1970's earpiece that came with the crystal radio kit so I could more easily monitor if I made any change from further tweeks. In fact, your suggestion of removing the 10 coil seems to have some change. When I poke the variable cap a tiny burst of noise comes through the earpiece.
Still, this kit was supposed to be for kids, and it mocks me. I feel dumb.

[mrfixitrick]

Ok, what you likely need is lots more gain (assuming the radio is wired correctly and the diode was not overheated durting soldering ;)

Here's what to do: You need to set up Audio Hijack with my Spooky Tesla Spirit Radio Patch, which I just stored on Google Drive at this web address;
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9Pq3EqgH_91QWJ4TlVia2NuYVU

Go to the above address, and download the patch file there to your desktop. Then, open Audio Hijack, look at the top row and click on "Control" then select, "Import Effects Patch". In the window, find the patch on your desktop and open it. It should make Audio Hijack ready to go except for minor tweaking.

Note: You may need to set "Source Type" to "Audio Device". There should be 6 modules set up, AUBandpass, 10-Band EQ, 3 of AUPitch, and Reverb.  Be careful, as it could be very loud, turn down gain if necessary. 

The other thing that makes a huge difference in sound level is to attach a 20 or 22 foot long piece of wire to the antenna circuit and stretch it across the room. 
You should hear a sound increase by touching the antenna.

As a kid I spent hours messing with a chunk of germanium and a needle-like gizmo probe to finally get a station...and it would disappear the next day!  The crystal radio pros have big tuned coils and proper antennas. It becomes all about the tuning, selectivity and sensitivity at that level. 

Good luck, and let me know re: Audio Hijack. 

[Thax]

first, thank you for taking the time to work with me here. It is really a big help. I found a few mistakes I've made that have made a big help.
1: the output port I have has three leads. One ground, and two that appeared to be connected. I realized today that when the plug is in they disconnect and I had the circuit to the wrong lead. Fixed!
2: Audio Hijack is not the program I needed. Audio Hijack PRO provided what you've been describing that I couldn't find. Hallelujah! (on a side note, I used Pro for only a matter of minutes before it started piping in noise to get me to buy. grumble.)

So now I can hear a very deep low throbbing hum. Actually I get it even with just the patch cabe. Touching the antenna gets more static, better than nothing. I'm ready to attach a long antenna. Where in the circuit do i wire it to? Ground as the other seems to be? Or a separate floating 10 loop coil around the loopstick as it appears in the diagram? Or, as I find in another crystal radio circuit, on this unused third thread into the main antenna coil?

[mrfixitrick]

Glad to hear you are getting some results. That is the hum you are looking for, and the hum should be less with the patch cable connected to radio and computer. The free version of Audio Hijack PRO (hehe) will run for 10 minutes without static being added. Then just re-start the program. I liked Audio Hijack so much I gladly bought it.

As for antenna, I would wrap a 10-coil copper wire around the induction coil, and attach one end to "ground" or negative, and the other end to the long antenna. You may be wish to attach the antenna directly to that "third thread" wire instead of the 10-coil. Try each technique and see what sounds louder.

Especially with the antenna, if you are close to an AM radio station, you should be able to hear something when adjusting the variable cap. You might need to centre the "AUPitch" pitch controls to make sense of it.

Keep in mind, for the kind of fun I have with the radio, it's often best to tune outside of the main stations instead of on them. The AUPitch and other modules are used for "tuning". The idea is to crank it up with gain, so it becomes super-sensitive to whatever you are listening to, and adjust pitch and reverb, etc. for best sounds.

Have fun...it's a perfect Halloween activity!

[frostybob]

So must this is almost like a mircophone then? As portable as the computer its plugged into. How easy would it be to record straight onto a tape without first going through a computer? I'm just generally wanting to take it outside and see what I can whilst out there
Any help would be much appreciated
Thanks

[mrfixitrick]

The radio does and can act as a microphone, among many other things. I have done a movie about that in fact. However, if you record straight onto tape, it will not have enough gain to hear much, or have any of the effects that create the ambiance. You might hear an AM station if you are lucky, along with plain static, for example.

An old MacBook would be the cheapest and best way to get the cool sounds while being mobile. Windows laptops may work with some software too.

[Mvtnns]

Will the AA113 Ge diode work with this?

[mrfixitrick]

The AA113 germanium diode is similar in function t the 1N34a, and may work in this application. I can't say for sure, as it is not a direct cross reference to the 1N34a. Try it...it can't harm anything.

Perhaps another reader has more info on this diode?

[TheFabricationist]

It had been a week or two but here is my finished product

[mrfixitrick]

Cool! It looks really nice.

Can you get it to talk, that is the question! hehe

The Dell PC is harder than the Mac to use, but there was a comment I posted here below that goes like this...

" ...and PC program called Audio Mulch and it will work fine for the purpose of the Spirit Radio with a PC. It's expensive to buy, but you can download a 60-day free trial that works great .

I set up three "MGain" patches in the Audio Mulch software and it increased the volume enough to hear radio stations and electromagnetic fields clearly. Then I added various controls such as pitch and reverb for strange "spirit" effects.  "

Good luck and happy hunting!

[TheFabricationist]

So far I haven't gotten the voices yet. I downloaded the free trial of audio mulch but I know very little about it, I have been plugging my radio into a guitar amp and I get all the volume I need to hear a few am stations and the electromagnetic fields. I will tinker with audio mulch and let you know If I hear the voices.

[TheFabricationist]

I know very little if anything about circuits and radios. So my question is (and please forgive me is it is unbelievably stupid) could i open up any old analog AM radio and get the majority of the parts i need?

[mrfixitrick]

Some of the parts from an analog AM radio may work, including the antenna coil, a variable capacitor, and possibly a resistor or capacitor. However, the main item missing will be the 1N34a diode, which is particular to crystal radios and hard to find elsewhere. I have a 1500 page electronics catalog that doesn't have them!

You won't be able to get the parts from an analog radio, but you can simulate the effects by plugging in the audio out from the radio into the audio in of your computer. Then run software to increase the gain (volume) and alter pitch such as the suggested program Audio Hijack Pro on a Mac is best. There may be PC alternatives for software.

The technique would be to tune off-station, in the places where you normally hear static, then crank up the gain so that the background noise becomes what you listen to. However, you would not be able to have as much of a variety of other uses for the analog radio, as "Spooky" does.

Without the 1N34a diode, some of the trickier experiments like shining a laser on the diode, or hearing a lightbulb, won't be possible. Diodes are cheap...if you can find them!

[Nicola Tesla]

Question, all the ferrite loopstick inducters i have seen have 4, 6 or even 8 wires coming out of it, to have different sizes of coils. How do i know witch one i need?

[mrfixitrick]

The coil should have the micro-henrys indicated in the literature. Use the pair of wires closest to 680 uH. If you don't have that info, then experiment with each pair of wires to get the best signal.

[Oppzuz]

Those signal pulses appear to be the WIFI "Beacon" set by default on my router to 100 milliseconds (10 Hz). Those are constant as long as the WIFI is enabled.

[WV_Kokamo_Joe]

Have you tried to test if this receives radio waves or energy that can be converted into voltage through the use of a radiant energy device which through the use of a simple circuit converts radiant enrgy into voltage?

[mrfixitrick]

This circuit already converts radio waves and/or light waves, laser light, and/or sound waves into voltage. The voltage is converted to sound wave frequencies that we can hear. The same diode circuit could be used to recover energy from, say, the sun, or a light bulb. But solar panels are much more efficient!

Where is your definition of "radiant energy", and what real and working radiant energy device do you refer to?

[WV_Kokamo_Joe]

I just built a device with 4-ceramic 50V .1uFdisk caps, 2 radial 100uF 250V caps and 4 germanium diodes 75PRV .005A, which when hooked up to an antenna does in fact produce voltage from the thin air ;}, low amps of course but does create voltage.

I am studying how to step this up to get more amperage as well as volts so I can possibly build a device that provides voltage without the use of batteries or any other form of man-made voltage.

I already know that if I connect 2 of these circuits together that it will double the output.

I am trying to find plans on a suitable antenna that will harness energy waves such as your antenna, for input of the energy I need.

[mrfixitrick]

Nikoila Tesla, in his Radiant Energy patent,( U.S. Patent 0685957 - Apparatus for the Utilization of Radiant Energy) claimed that a flat surface that was "as large a surface as practical" and "highly polished or amalgamated" was best to act as a receiver.

Tesla also notes that the best in insulation (mica in his time) must be used for the antenna because the slow accumulation of power from such a set-up might get bled off otherwise. A good ground is also very important.

There might be some kind of scalar antenna that will work for you, as new ideas are coming out regularly.

[kmysterio]

hii dude..!!!!
this 1 s awesome...but can i know wat is the software u used..???

[mrfixitrick]

The software I used for Spooky is "Audio Hijack Pro" for Mac computers:
http://xhttp://www.rogueamoeba.com/audiohijackpro/

If you have a PC, you can try "Audio Mulch" at
http://www.audiomulch.com/

[Stefhan Albayaty]

If i modified this design a little do you think i could use it as a Microphone for my Ham Radio,or my Spark Gap transmitter? I'm trying to make a cool looking nice microphone and instead of using a Morse code key in my spark gap transmitter replace it with a microphone so i can transmit voice instead of Morse code.

[mrfixitrick]

Although I have demonstrated the use of the Spooky Tesla Spirit Radio as a microphone,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oCI9XvFU_M I can't say my configuration would be the best choice for your application. It may work with the addition of a sounding board with larger magnetic coil...then you would be starting to duplicate a microphone.

Is there a circuit you have seen for converting Tesla coil output to music/voice ?

[redyellow]

Scott's electronics only sells 60/141pf variable capacitors now. What if any effect will this have on the radio? Thanks.

[hawhaw]

what voltage are the caps?

[Southclaw]

hmmm,now,how could you get this to work with a regular set of ear buds? It was kind of hard to tell if you are using a crystal or a vfo,which are you using,and I don't see why it could be that hard to get it to work with a regular set of ear buds,what exactly did the computer do? please explane.

[mrfixitrick]

The signal from the circuit is very weak and will not drive a set of regular earbuds. You must use crystal radio earphones, (which are high-impedance), or use an amplifier. Then you would be able to hear a scratchy local AM station...if you are lucky.

The Mac with Audio Hijack acts as both an amplifier, and as a pitch (frequency) changer in real time. This enables one to hear what would normally be static, for example, as enhanced sounds with deep texture and ambiance.

Signals we might not normally hear get amplified and "translated" by the software. This requires an extreme gain (volume) increase and a shift in frequency, otherwise the subtle sounds are lost.

[artemmishin]

I've built it per instructions. But, instead of "spooky" sounds I get strong broadcast of local radio channels.
I needed it for sound effects for a horror movie I'm working on.
Any suggestions what mods I can implement to achieve the "spooky" effects?
Thank you!

[mrfixitrick]

You are on the right track by being able to receive stations.There are two things that come to mind to get spookier sounds from your radio... 

First, are you using the Audio Hijack Pro software for Mac OSX, or Audio Mulch for PC?  Audio Hijack works really well to alter sounds. The AUPitch control is one easy way of doing that. Even a strong broadcast can be made alien-sounding.
-My custom patch for Audio Hijack is here: https://files.me.com/mrfixitrick/6axuh4
-My patch for Audio Mulch is here: https://files.me.com/mrfixitrick/0f04x2

Second, the radio you have made happens to be overwhelmed by strong local stations. You need to be able to tune BETWEEN stations if possible. When you turn the variable capacitor do you hear only strong stations? Is there any place on the dial where there is not a station?
-You can try adding or removing a few coils from the 10-coil winding that goes over the induction coil. 
-If necessary, you can "re-tune" the radio to to other frequencies by using an antenna induction coil that has taps for different frequencies.
-A variable capacitor with more range will help too.

Some effects are done by resonance with the induction coil, such as running a drill close to it will produce a sound. Some effects are done with light played on the diode. The antenna is less necessary in those cases, and so it could be shorted with a piece of wire to ground, which should stop the reception of local stations. Or, try removing the antenna altogether for those type of effects!

[artemmishin]

Thank you so much mrfixitrick!
I will try all the suggestions and report back!

PS Trying to use both Mac and PC.
PS 1 These links don't work anymore, by the way:
-My custom patch for Audio Hijack is here: https://files.me.com/mrfixitrick/6axuh4
-My patch for Audio Mulch is here: https://files.me.com/mrfixitrick/0f04x2

[mrfixitrick]

Ok, for some reason those patch files did not stick. Instead, you can select Go/iDisk/ Other User's Public Folder, user "mrfixitrick", and find the patch files, or this link: https://public.me.com/mrfixitrick

[Southclaw]

ok, sounds like if I could somehow make it work with earbuds I need volume and a vfo, ok