You can use a Schottky diode like a Bat43 for a Germanium diode. Almost identical forward bias. It’s what I used in my signal tracer probe. It works great.
But it's not sensitive in picking the weak signals as compared to 1N34A original one which has 1.2uA reverse leakage current, whereas schotky diodes have 0 uA reverse leakage current. Yes schotky BAT43 and another germanium diode OA74 are close but not very close to 1N34A. I am afraid orginal 1N34A would be rare on earth. Coz it is also used in some very classified experiments to pick those signals. So one day we shall have to switch back to a razor and a lead pencil.
I built a crystal radio last year and had 10 or so 1N34's all of them had slightly different forward voltage bias and I picked the one with the lowest forward bias and it sounded a little better than the rest. Great video Rick as always.
Ok. I did some testing this afternoon and here are my results: 1st place for an orgiginal ( or at least a good copy) Germanium diode with the signal after filtering 100 mV, second place for Skotkky diode with 70 mV and then an interesting thing happens a "fake Germanium " diode from AliExpress with 30 mV (really bad it is like the last place in my ranking) and after all this some random silicon diodes with almost 0 mV. This shows how important it is! This is why a lot of projects fail (a lot of fake, shitty products, you think it should work but it doesn't etc.) . It really detects like a very small signal, I fed 0.3 V and still works, below 0.2 V yes but very noisy etc.
Hmmm 🤔 I have ordered some Germanium diodes from old Polish supply from 80' probbaly I need to compare them because I need to know 😅 Hmm the cost? But I paid like 10 times more for Germanium diodes than for Scottkky diodes so I don't think it is the cost. Sometimes I really have to find out myself hehe
I only hope that they are not faked because I will be quite angry. It is not about cost as relativelly it is not that expensive but I hate wasting my time on fake products which don't work as expected.
That’s probably why my first attempt at making a signal tracer didn’t work well. I probably didn’t use a germanium diode. I’ll have to see if I still have it somewhere.
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You can use a Schottky diode like a Bat43 for a Germanium diode. Almost identical forward bias. It’s what I used in my signal tracer probe. It works great.
Thanks. A Schottky would be a great choice, probably would be less noisy.You all have a great New Year's
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio A wonderful New Year to you! I look forward to more of your videos.
But it's not sensitive in picking the weak signals as compared to 1N34A original one which has 1.2uA reverse leakage current, whereas schotky diodes have 0 uA reverse leakage current. Yes schotky BAT43 and another germanium diode OA74 are close but not very close to 1N34A. I am afraid orginal 1N34A would be rare on earth. Coz it is also used in some very classified experiments to pick those signals. So one day we shall have to switch back to a razor and a lead pencil.
Thanks Rick! wishing you a Happy New Year!
Thanks Barry. Hope y'all have a great and happy New Year's.
Thanks for that Rick. Hope you had a good Christmas and wish you all the very best for 2022.
Thank you, and you all have a great new years.
Love the way you explain whats going on Rick! Happy New 2022!
Thank you Tony. I hope y'all have a great New Year's.
Learning electronics is like a treasure hunt. One clue at a time...
Yes
Good to hear that ending statement again :) Have a good New Year AA5R
Thanks. I sure hope 2022 will be better.
I built a crystal radio last year and had 10 or so 1N34's all of them had slightly different forward voltage bias and I picked the one with the lowest forward bias and it sounded a little better than the rest. Great video Rick as always.
Thanks. Your comment is a good example of why this subject is important.
Nice to see you Rick
Thank you, and y'all have a great and happy New Year's.
I wish you and yours all the best for 2022
Thanks you. You'll have a great and happy New Year.
Thanks for posting Rick. Good info here. Cheers!
Thanks
Quick and easy way to explain that, thank you Rick
Thanks. Yes it was quick and easy, and accurate. Y'all have a great and happy New Year's.
Ok. I did some testing this afternoon and here are my results: 1st place for an orgiginal ( or at least a good copy) Germanium diode with the signal after filtering 100 mV, second place for Skotkky diode with 70 mV and then an interesting thing happens a "fake Germanium " diode from AliExpress with 30 mV (really bad it is like the last place in my ranking) and after all this some random silicon diodes with almost 0 mV. This shows how important it is! This is why a lot of projects fail (a lot of fake, shitty products, you think it should work but it doesn't etc.) . It really detects like a very small signal, I fed 0.3 V and still works, below 0.2 V yes but very noisy etc.
Thanks for the information.
The two are very different. It is important to know the forward bias voltage when designing for a specific task. Thanks Rick.
Thanks. Yes it is very important. You all have a great New Year's.
Capacitance is quite different as well. Thanks and I hope you have a great New Years!
Thanks, and you have a great New Year's also. Yes the capacitance of the junction is quite different.
Thank you good sir, I think I have found a reliable source in small quantities. :)
Thank you, I'm glad you found a reliable source. You all have a great New Year's.
I made TRF receivers with DC biased germanium, silicon and LED's as a AM demodulator.
Try DC biased LED for crystal radio... :)
Try a Galena Crystal
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio My experiment with iron pyrite crystal as a AM demodulator:
m.ruclips.net/video/cIexDjp0rwQ/видео.html
Recently I have bought some good Schottky diodes with exactly the same forward voltage 0.2 V ! So why are they not used instead of Germanium diodes?
My first thought is cost. I'll check into this. I have copied your comment.
Hmmm 🤔 I have ordered some Germanium diodes from old Polish supply from 80' probbaly I need to compare them because I need to know 😅 Hmm the cost? But I paid like 10 times more for Germanium diodes than for Scottkky diodes so I don't think it is the cost. Sometimes I really have to find out myself hehe
I only hope that they are not faked because I will be quite angry. It is not about cost as relativelly it is not that expensive but I hate wasting my time on fake products which don't work as expected.
That’s probably why my first attempt at making a signal tracer didn’t work well. I probably didn’t use a germanium diode. I’ll have to see if I still have it somewhere.
Thanks. Let me know what happens with the signal tracer. You all have a great many years.