Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello.
Is there anyone out there who knows a site or step by step instructions on how to build a radio? I possibly want to do that for my 7th grade science seminar symposium. Possibly, I would not like to buy a kit since that would be "cheating". I would like to use items from around the house and seperate parts of the machine can be bought. Thanks!
Your help is GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks,
A 7th Grader In Need Of A Radio For An Experiment.
(PS: Would the radio transmit AM or FM? Or both?)

Are you asking about

Building an AM/FM radio transmitter

or

instructions on how to build a radio [receiver]?

Building transmitters legally requires considerably more expertise than building receivers because you have know how to insure you meet the unlicensed power limitations and choose a non-interfering frequency or become licensed.

Building an FM receiver either requires a kit approach or a lot of test equipment and expertise.

AM receivers can be simple "crystal sets" which are fairly easy and don't require any expensive test equipment to super-hetrodyne designs that require an oscilloscope to troubleshoot.

I put "Crystal Radio Set" into a search engine and this looks like what you are asking about.
http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/rad ... radio.html

Hi All,
Surely I am too late with this response, but I just noticed this thread. Please....whenever you are looking for project ideas, be sure to do a site search on the Science Buddies website. We are adding project ideas ALL THE TIME and we have a great project that shows how to build a radio receiver without a kit.

See:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... p014.shtml

Good luck,
Courtney
Science Buddies Staff