The Airwave — Solderless Crystal Radio Kit

Build a working radio powered by nothing but the signal in the air.

The Airwave is a solderless crystal radio kit that lets you tune in local AM stations without batteries, a power cord, or an external power source. The radio captures the tiny amount of energy it needs directly from the radio waves traveling through its antenna.

It’s one of the simplest—and most fascinating—ways to experience the fundamentals of radio.

Designed for beginners and curious builders, The Airwave includes nearly everything needed to assemble a complete working crystal radio. No soldering is required.

What You’ll Build

A functional AM crystal radio featuring:

• A large 3½-inch hand-wound air coil

• Variable tuning capacitor

• 1N60 germanium diode detector

• Ceramic earphone

• Approximately 30 feet of antenna wire

• Approximately 10 feet of ground wire

• Brass hardware

• Circuit board

• Tuning knob

• Nylon feet

The kit even includes a screwdriver and wrench.

Once assembled and connected to a suitable antenna and ground, slowly turn the tuning knob and listen for local AM stations—using only energy captured from the signal itself.

No Batteries. No Plug. Just Radio.

Your antenna captures radio-frequency energy traveling through the air. The coil and variable capacitor select a station, the germanium diode extracts the audio signal, and the sensitive ceramic earphone allows you to hear it.

No battery is required.

Skill Level

Beginner / Curious Builder

No soldering is required. During the build, you will wind the radio’s coil, install components and hardware, and connect the antenna, ground wire, and earphone.

Additional tools required:

• Wire cutters or fingernail clippers

• 1/8-inch jeweler’s screwdriver

Build Instructions

Download and review The Airwave Build Companion before beginning your project.

The illustrated companion includes the complete parts list, step-by-step assembly instructions, safety information, antenna and grounding guidance, and troubleshooting tips.

What’s Included

• 1 circuit board

• 1 dual-section 266 pF variable capacitor, pre-soldered to the circuit board

• 1 1N60 germanium diode

• 1 .001 µF capacitor

• 1 47K resistor

• 1 ceramic earphone

• 1 variable capacitor knob

• 1 variable capacitor shaft and screw

• 10 brass #4 × 3/8-inch pan-head screws

• 8 brass #4 × 1/2-inch pan-head screws

• 5 brass #4 thumb nuts

• 26 brass #4 nuts

• 14 brass #4 washers

• 4 nylon feet

• 1 high-impact polystyrene coil form

• 1 spool of 22 AWG green magnet wire

• Approximately 30 feet of 22 AWG stranded antenna wire

• Approximately 10 feet of 22 AWG stranded ground wire

• 1 small piece of sandpaper

• 1 Phillips screwdriver

• 1 1/4-inch wrench

Want More Volume?

The Airwave can also be paired with Atomic 29’s Audio Amplifier Kit 2, sold separately, for stronger audio.

A Note About Crystal Radios

Crystal radio reception depends on your location, nearby stations, antenna placement, grounding, surrounding buildings, terrain, and atmospheric conditions. A good antenna and proper ground can make a dramatic difference.

Experimenting with these variables is part of the experience. You’re not simply assembling a radio—you’re exploring the invisible signals already passing through the space around you.

Small Parts Warning: This kit contains small components that may present a choking hazard. Adult supervision is recommended when children are building or using the kit. Never connect the antenna or ground to an electrical outlet, battery, or other power source. Do not use an outdoor antenna or operate the radio during an electrical storm.