OVER 2 YOU, 041 (02/08/01)

CRYSTAL RADIOS

I recall as a child seeing plans in one of those 'Boys Book of Knowledge' type books for a 'Crystal Radio' set that didn't need any batteries and used a piece of coal for the crystal. Does anyone know where I could find that book, or the plans, perhaps via a specialist Internet bookshop or web site? Would a crystal radio work on today's radio transmissions?

Chris Sutton, via email

I recommend http://freeweb.pdq.net/headstrong/

foxhole.HTM for 'Foxhole and PoW built radios: history and construction', which, not surprisingly, includes the simplest possible circuits and links to the more complex. In these a rusty razor blade is used for a detector, however a hacksaw blade, or a piece of coke could also be used.

Try also http://freeweb.pdq.net/headstrong/crystal.htm "The crystal radio page" has slightly more sophisticated designs including instructions for building a capacitor or condenser from the Cub Scout Handbook of 1954. The most difficult part of a crystal set is the earphones, which must be high impedance 2,000 ohm types, which are difficult to purchase these days. Foxhole and PoW Radios includes instructions on headset building.

Sue Sanchez

The August 2001 issue of Shortwave Magazine lists 9 books on crystal set radios available from them by post or by e-mail order: www.pwpublishing.ltd.uk/books 

John Dean (G7UTK),

I was in a 'Dick Smiths' store, here in Australia recently, where I spotted a Crystal Radio kit, and was surprised that they are still about. Dick Smiths are a retailer, similar to Tandy, they have a web site: http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront

Charlie Stott,

Chris can get a kit from Hawkins Bazaar: www.hawkin.co.uk. They have a very interesting catalogue of children's toys and the Crystal Radio kit, which is made in Australia and costs £8.99

Colin Francis-Griffiths,

On BBC2 a year or so ago (and repeated last month) there was a programme called 'Rough Science' in which they marooned some scientists on a island and set
them challenges one of which was to make a radio; see http://www.open2.net/science/

roughscience/index.htm from where you can order a free leaflet to go with the series which includes instructions for a radio.

Ian Maddocks,

The Maplin Electronics catalogue (01702 554000) lists a leaflet on the subject of crystal set construction. The last time I made one was about 1935!

Ronald Kitchen,

Try these: http://www.clarion.org.au/crystalset/

mystery.html is an Australian site which features full construction and component details of sets which won first prize for Best Reproduction Crystal Set and 3rd prize for Best Performance Crystal Set at the Historical Radio Society of Australia - South East Queensland Group - Crystal Set Competition held in March  2000 at Malaney (Approx 100KM North of Brisbane) Queensland Australia.

The other one is: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/

thecrystalsetradioclub. This is a Yahoo Club for a Crystal Set Radio enthusiasts, which boasts an active worldwide membership of 450 members.
J.A.L. Ferns, Crowthorne, Berks

ENVIRONMENTAL MOTORING

I would like to do my bit for the environment and would be interested in learning more about the ins and outs of environmental motoring. Does anyone know of a web site or resource that can point me towards the most efficient/least destructive means of personal transport (apart from bicycles) for my family and me?

Jane McNally, via e-mail

Our web site is aimed at ordinary people who, like Jane, want to do their bit for the environment. It can be found at www.ukenvironment.org.
Giles Turnbull, founder, UK Environment.

Have a look at the Battery Vehicle Society website http://www.bvs.org.uk, which has got a lot of links for further reference.

Anne Slack,

LEARNING SPANISH

I want to learn a foreign language (Spanish) quickly and with the least amount of effort. I don't aspire to talk like a native but I would like to know enough to get by on holiday without sounding like an idiot. Can anyone recommend a package or web site that isn't patronising or aimed at 12-year olds?

R. Taylor, via e-mail  

For lots of free grammar, learning games and other useful material visit the website Study Spanish  http://www.studyspanish.com/tutorial.htm. You can also pay a fee and in return get a 15 audio CD pack which was  originally prepared for teaching Spanish to US embassy staff.   Each lesson is backed up by the programs on a different website and the price includes 12 months password restricted access to this material.

Another website, which I have found useful for vocabulary is Learn Spanish      http://www.lingolex.com. This site has links to other sites of varying usefulness, depending on your ability. Most of the Spanish newspapers also have web sites.
John Gregory,

Forget the computer and buy "Spanish with Michel Thomas". It's a set of 8 CDs and is simply the best way of learning another language. I know, I have done it. It can be purchased in bookshops and online and is also available in French, German and Italian.
Ron Carpenter,

SOLO SCRABBLE

Does anyone know of a solo Scrabble game, I need this for training purposes?

Leslie Sutton, via e-mail

Scrabble II with in-built UK Chambers dictionary and many facilities, can be obtained for £29.99 + £2.99 (P&P) from Dream Direct, 4 Aristotle Lane, Kingston Road, Oxford, OX2 6TY (www.eDREAM.co.uk). 

Geoffrey Allen

There is a splendid edition of "Scrabble" for windows produced by US Gold Ltd., Unit 2 & 3 Holford Way, Holford, Birmingham, B6 7AX.  Tel: 0121 625 3366. The game can be played with four players, or with one just one solo against the computer.  It has skill levels ranging from A (very easy) to L (very difficult).  Beware, it is a terrible time waster!!

Patricia Daman, via e-mail

I have been using a game called "Computer Scrabble Deluxe" for several years with great satisfaction. The floppy was supplied by Beau Jolly Ltd of Reigate, Surrey under licence by JW Spear & Sons. I don't know whether these people are still trading, but if Leslie would like to Email me I am sure we can sort something out.

Tony Greenwall,

As an adjunct to my Spanish GCSE adult evening classes I found the BBC education and knowledge sites very helpful. Also try www.lingolex.com, and www.travlang.com. I bought Smart Start Spanish, which has some fun but slow games to help with vocabulary. I don't think any of these sites are very helpful with basic grammar. Best of all is to go to a language school in Spain; I leant as much in a fortnight (4hours a day) as I did in a year of evening classes and there are more intensive courses -- a good way to combine a holiday with learning. I'm hoping to go to a school in Tenerife for another fortnight this winter. Patronising? I can't really judge! As a greying 55-year old technophobe, it's becoming an increasingly common experience. 

Janet Peacey,

Mattel Media do a Scrabble game on CD ROM, which includes an option to play against the computer.
Jane Dallimore,

SPIROGRAPH

I would like to produce static geometric images similar to those one could generate with Spirograph, or even the intriguing patterns of fractal geometry. Does anyone know of such a program?

Ian Thomas, Gwynedd

I run the website www.CoolFreeSoftware.com, (this helps pays for me at university) with a few programs to download. Ian Thomas should try Fractal Artist to look at a range of fractals (there are a few examples on my site as well), and I have just added The Atomic Screensaver 2, which has a mode where static or dynamic images are built up by a Spirograph formula. 

Tom Botterill,
 

MAPPING THE CHURCH

As part of a research project into medieval churches, I want to plot the

geographical location of various architectural features in the UK. I need a package, which will accept grid references and plot them on a simple outline map using different symbols for each feature. The map may be of the whole country, or of individual counties or regions. I dare say that expensive GIS systems will do this - is there any shareware or cheapware that does the job?

Trevor Cooper, via email

I suggest iMap, which is a powerful but easy to use program developed by the University of Leuven in Belgium originally for mapping biological specimen data. iMap will import maps in most common formats and these can be calibrated
by selecting and entering the coordinates of two diagonal points. A pre-calibrated high-resolution relief map of the UK is one of many provided. iMap can plot symbols or characters from any installed font enabling a rich variety of attractive and informative maps to be created. Distribution maps can be exported in a range of formats and in sequence as a QuickTime movie showing changes over time. iMap is available for both Classic Mac OS and Mac OS X. A Windows version is said to be planned for this summer. iMap is currently freeware (although
contributions are invited): http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/bio/sys/imap/. OS gridrefs can be converted to latitude and longitude, as required for iMap, using this online converter:
http://www.obliquity.com/astro/osgb.html or with one of the programs or spreadsheet models available from the University of Wales, Bangor:
http://www.bangor.ac.uk/is/iss025/osgbfaq.htm
Jeff Ross, Stockport.

Try OziExplorer, which allows you to scan and calibrate your own maps or charts, specify permanent Map features and display a picture for each feature. You can place symbols and comments on the Map and save and print Maps and their additions. Registering the full version costs US$ 75, but you can try a disabled version (which may be enough) for free by downloading from http://www.oziexplorer.com. The package includes stacks of features useful
for the traveller using a GPS receiver
Axel Nelms, via e-mail

CAN YOU HELP?

We are moving to the USA in the near future but want to keep up with the
Archers. I know it is broadcast over the Internet, but is there a program that will save this broadcast to my hard drive. Could I then use task manager to dial up and start this program at the right time?
Richard Hazelwood, via email

I have been looking for a quiz program, where I can set the questions and
answers myself and generate the questions randomly.  I used to have one in
the days of the Amstrad 8256 - but I cannot find one for a PC. I don't want it to be in a multiple choice format but straightforward answers, because I want to put in English words with the French/Spanish translated answers, to assist my daughter's studies. Any ideas?
John Power, via email

I have about forty rectangular paving stones in random sizes ranging from quite small to about 40" x 30".  I would like to assemble as many as possible of these to form a paved area which is roughly rectangular but without cutting any of them, if at all possible. Can anyone suggest a software package, which would enable me to enter the dimensions of all the stone slabs and would then calculate the arrangement for a best fit?
Dave Hanson, Talley, Carmarthenshire

I have some old spreadsheets constructed in SuperCalc version 2.1. Is there any quick way of converting these into Excel?

Keith Haycock, via email

I want to control some small machines using stepper motors etc controlled from my Macintosh PC. Can anyone help?
John Harradine, Scotland.