The Raudive Diode

by Ron Ruiz
The Raudive Diode has been the source of discussion and frustration among researchers
for quite some time.
If you do an image search for the Raudive Diode you will see various schematics.
This is because the Raudive Diode is not a single circuit or device but rather, a short lived
trial and error progression of designs intended to facilitate trans-dimensional
communication.
or the purpose of this writing, I shall give a brief overview of the circumstances that
lead to the use of the diode.
In the beginning!.
"hile riedrich #$rgenson is officially credited with the %&'& discovery of the voice
phenomenon we (now today) there had been other individuals prior to %&'& who had
attempted to communicate with *the dead+ by mechanical means. ,r. #$rgenson retains
this title because he was the first researcher to be recognized on an international basis.
During his research, #$rgenson realized that he could obtain louder and clearer -./s by
using the inter-frequency static from a radio that was tuned between two stations.
In the spring of %&01) following the advice of contacts from the other side, #$rgenson
began using radio and settled on a ,edium "ave frequency range of %2'1-%011 (3z.
3is optimal frequency) which produced a buzzing or wobbling sound came in at
%2415%24' (3z but varied slightly due to things li(e atmospheric conditions. To this day,
this frequency is (nown to researchers as the #$rgenson "ave.
In %&02, psychologist and philosopher Dr. 6onstantin Raudive became intrigued with the
-./ phenomenon after reading #$rgenson7s boo( Rosterna fran Rymden 8*.oices from
space+9
Dr. Raudive contacted #$rgenson and arranged a meeting with him in :pril %&0' where
the two men conducted microphone only recordings.
-ven though Dr. Raudive could hear an occasional word, he considered these initial
recordings somewhat lac(luster in quality. This was probably due to Dr. Raudive not
understanding the tone and timbre of -./s. ;evertheless, Dr. Raudive7s interest
continued and the two men began to collaborate.
<n #une %1, %&0' #$rgenson added radio static to their recording sessions. The in=ection
of radio static made all the difference. Dr. Raudive heard voices calling *riedrich>
riedrich>+) which was #$rgenson7s first name.
?ut the response that would forever change the landscape of things to come was a
response directed to Dr. Raudive@ *Do you (now ,argaret, 6onstantinA+
Indeed, ,argaret /etrautz(i) a very close friend of Dr. Raudive had passed from a serious
illness earlier that year on eb. %1, %&0'.
;ow hoo(ed, Dr. Raudive parted company with #$rgenson and began to conduct his own
research into the -./ phenomenon.
rom %&0' to %&04 Dr. Raudive began his own -./ sessions) recording in what he felt
were controlled environments. :long the way he invited colleagues and scientists to
participate.
In :pril %&04 physics professor :leB Cchneider introduced the diode to Dr. Raudive.
/rofessor Cchneider understood radio7s inherent potential of false -./s creeping into a
recording from station drift. "ith that in mind he proposed a simple circuit that could
only pic( up transmissions from the immediate area surrounding the device.
The circuit8s9 /rofessor Cchneider chose were based on the old *catwhis(er+ or crystal
radio sets from the early days of radio.
3ere is a pic from the appendiB of the -nglish version of Dr. Raudive7s boo(
?rea(through. The description and diagrams seen are the translated words and wor( of
/rofessor Cchneider.
:s you read through the page you will notice that Diagram % D the most common diode
schematic found on the internet was only used during the earliest eBperiments.
:lso note /rofessor Cchneider7s statement about elements within the circuit not being
critical. I thin( this also applies to the circuit itself as long as a crystal radio circuit is
being used.
Eou will notice that there is additional info that relates to circuits F G H in the form of
;otes 4 G &.

<n page H'2 we find@
;ote 4 says@ T had success with Iircuit H, but Iircuit F is only a blueprint.
;ote & says@ T uses a commercial two-stage valve amplifier for shared aerials, to which
the diode screen is coupled.
The publishing of the -nglish version of Dr. Raudive7s %&04 boo( JnhKrbares wird
hKrbar 8*"hat is inaudible becomes audible+9 was contingent upon Dr. Raudive
conducting a series of eBperiments in London for the prospective publisher.
Co!!!on riday, December %F, %&0&, Dr. Raudive arrived in ?ritain and brought
along his equipment including a *diode boB+.
<n page B of the preface to ?rea(through the diode boB is described as a small boB twice
the size of a match-boB with F inches of wire stic(ing out of one end and another small
wire at the other end which was to be placed into the input of a tape recorder.
;ot understanding the diode7s function and wondering if this diode boB was some type of
elaborate hoaB, one of the publishers arranged for the diode to be inspected by David
Ctanley) an electrical engineer.
The following day, ,r. Ctanley inspected the diode boB and within seconds proclaimed
the diode and circuit was ordinary and held no particular value. 3e offered to build
another diode boB within the hour for the publisher to use during their eBperiments later
that evening.
<n page BB of the preface to ?rea(through we find David Ctanley7s schematic of Dr.
Raudive7s diode circuit as it appeared on December %H, %&0&.
-ven though there are no values listed for parts, the schematic clearly shows the diode
circuit had evolved from Diagram % 8shown above9 to one which included an untapped
double coil and capacitor.
This circuit wor(ed well enough for the December %H, %&0& eBperiments that the neBt
morning found Dr. Raudive signing a contract for the publishing of an -nglish language
version of his boo(.
The boo( ?rea(through placed -./7s into the -nglish spea(ing public arena and allowed
Dr. Raudive to emerge as the preeminent motivator of men in the field of -lectronic
.oice /henomena!having cataloged well over M1,111 -./7s by the time of his death in
%&M2.
Inasmuch as the diode recording concept seemed to wor( well in recording anomalous
voices, the process lac(ed the ability for the eBperimenter to in=ect questions into the
recording.
Co once again) the diode evolved with /rofessor Cchneider designing another circuit
which allowed the input of a microphone.
3ere is that circuit@
The use of the %n capacitor between the antenna and the diode is to help cut down on
mains hum voltage. This circuit also recommends using a grounding wire from the metal
enclosure to a grounding source.
"hile you may still find an ::%%0 diode somewhere online, an appropriate equivalent
would be a %;01 diode.
8circuit redrawn by me9
If you desire to hear eBamples of the -./7s obtained by the 6onstantin Raudive) there
are several options available to you.
Eou can purchase the original fleB-disc record that came with the ?rea(through boo(
directly from the publisher. <r, you can get the record for free if you purchase the
?rea(through boo(. The publisher7s site is here@
www.colinsmythe.co.u(N
:n *enhanced+ version of the fleB-disc record is available through :mazon@
www.amazon.comN:n-Introduction--./-Ohost!PIntroductionPtoP-./
Ccroll down to QM' G M0 and you will see that for less than RF you can buy Cide : G ? of
the ?rea(through recordings as an mpH download.
If you do a youtube search for 6onstantin Raudive ?rea(through you can find the fleB-
disc recording.
If you wish to listen to the -./7s offered in Raudive7s original Oerman version of
?rea(through you can go here@
www.rodiehr.deNaSH1SraudiveSunhoerbaresS!llplSeinfuehrung.htm
The recordings are at the bottom of that page.
:s we have seen, the Raudive diode is nothing more than a crystal radio with a very short
antenna.
If you do an online search for crystal radio (it or crystal radio schematics, you will find
many (its, plans and parts to choose from in all price ranges.
If you want to eBperiment in the shortwave band, a search for shortwave crystal radio will
point you in the right direction.
:;D!!you can get , from a crystal set. Cearch for , crystal set and loo( at the
website by a guy named Colomon. 3e has a couple of very attractive designs.
If you do eBperiment with any of the crystal set designs, (eep in mind that you cannot use
regular headphones or earbuds to listen to the audio output. Eou will need high-
impedance headphones or piezo earpieces.
Low impedance inputs li(e headphones and earbuds 84 5 %0 ohms9 require more current
which causes more power loss in the diode) which in turn mean less signal that gets
turned into sound.
Jsing a digital recorder or computer to record Raudive diode circuits or crystal sets
should be fine because of the higher impedance of these inputs.
or eBample) the microphone =ac( for my <lympus vnHF11pc recorder has input
impedance of F6 ohms. ,y <lympus DC-21 has a microphone impedance of 041 ohms.
The microphone input on one of my soundcards is T26 ohms.
To be sure!please consult your equipment specifications.
<n a sad note!I contacted the publisher of the ?rea(through boo( and as(ed him if he
still had the duplicate diode that ,r. Ctanley had made for the %&0& eBperiment.
3e wrote bac( that over the years the diode had been cannibalized by various people he
had lent it out to.
3ere is a pic of all that is left of the duplicate diode@
I guess people thought the parts were somehow special enough to ta(e as souvenirs.
8photo courtesy of Iolin Cmythe9
<ne of the questions we often encounter is why the diode system does not seem to wor(
as well today as history would suggest. I respond that for all I (now, some sort of
synchronicity was in play.
Cpirit has been tal(ing to us since the dawn of recording devices, I suppose it7s possible
that since #$rgenson and Raudive were among the first to listen for them, Cpirit made
more of a concerted effort to be heard.
3owever successful the Raudive Diode was , it quic(ly fell by the wayside in favor of a
new device called the Ooniometer designed for Dr. Raudive by electronics engineer
Theodore Rudolph.
8photo courtesy of google images9
Side Note: Speaking of the Goniometer.
:fter Dr. Raudive passed away in %&M2, the Ooniometer was returned to Theodore
Rudolph.
' years later, during a trip through -urope, Oeorge ". ,ee( 8of Cpiricom fame9
obtained the device from Theodore Rudolph and brought it to the JC for continued
research. :fter ma(ing some necessary repairs to the Ooniometer, ,r. ,ee( forwarded
the device to 3arold Cherman of the -C/ Research :ssociates oundation.
<n Cep. %0, %&4%, Oeorge ,ee( sent a letter to 3arold Cherman inquiring about the
Ooniometer and as(ing if it could be returned to him if ,r Cherman was done using it.
8l
etter obtained from the 3arold Cherman :rchives9
Oeorge ,ee( received a response from 3arold Cherman on <ct. F, %&4%, saying that
oundation associate :. #. LoriauB) was in possession of the Ooniometer and that he
would as( ,r. LoriauB what had become of the device.
8let
ter obtained from the 3arold Cherman :rchives9
%&4F found Oeorge ,ee( sending a copy of the Cherman letter bac( and as(ing again if
the Ooniometer had been found. In the lower left corner of the page ,r. Cherman7s
handwritten reply@ *;o answer required+
The trail grows cold at this point, leaving me to assume that :. #. LoriauB had in fact)
discarded the device to the landfill of history.

Than(s for ta(ing the time to read this,
Ron
Ron Ruiz, iDigital,edium Io-Ireator