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In BugBook Micro Museum '08 - DeForest Crystal Radio
- By David Larsen
- Published 02/9/2009
- BugBook Computer Museum
- Unrated
David Larsen
David Larsen KK4WW became interested in electronics as a boy and was licensed as an Amateur Radio Operator in 1953. After graduating from high school in 1957, he served in Uncle Sam’s Navy for 2 years as an electronic technician, and went to Oregon State University for a degree in Business and Technology (Electronics). He spent some years in the electronic industry as an engineer, and the next 31 as a university teacher in electronic instrumentation at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA (retired 1998). For ten years at VT, David assisted the Office of International Development and received the Faculty Service Award in 1995 for “outstanding service in the outreach mission”. For many of those years, he was associated with land and farming with the start-up of a Christmas tree farm and marketing organization, which developed into a serious operation with hundreds of acres of Christmas trees and was a good sale for Larsen in 1993.
In BugBook Micro Museum '08 - DeForest Crystal Radio
A 1922 model DT-600 Deforest Crystal Radio, it contains no tubes and uses gallium solid natural occurring crystal to detect the radio signals. Earphones are required to hear the audio. The unit uses no external power; however, you can still hear an AM radio just fine, provided the station has a strong signal.
DeForest was the inventor of the vacuum tube, but many other clever folks helped to transform the tube into a really practical device.
This DeForest Crystal Radio is on display at Floyd Professional Center, at the Village Green in Floyd (Suite #8). Floyd Professional Center highlights the skills and talents of Floyd County's people, while coaxing visitors and residents toward a strong, wealthy, technology-based future. Floyd Professional Center is an appealing stop at the Village Green for visitors and customers, so come on by!!
