All Keystone Science videos

Signal build

AM transmitter

Start with the video, then use the science notes and recommended parts below to follow the idea behind the build.

Radio & soundBuildRadio
Watch on YouTube

How it works

What this project is testing.

AM radio works by hiding sound inside a much faster wave. The carrier wave is the thing a radio can tune to; the audio rides along by changing the carrier height.

Read more

This build demonstrates resonance and modulation. A tuned system selects a carrier frequency, then the transmitter changes the amplitude so a nearby AM radio can recover the voice or music from the envelope.

An LC resonator naturally favors one radio frequency.
Amplitude modulation changes the carrier strength according to the audio signal.

Recommended parts

Products used in this project.

Affiliate links may earn Keystone Science a commission. Match ratings, values, sizes, polarity, and safety requirements to your own build before buying.

Amazon Basics 8-Pack 9V Long-Lasting Alkaline Batteries for Smoke Detector, Electronics & Audio, Reliable, 5-Year Shelf Life
batterypower

Amazon Basics 8-Pack 9V Long-Lasting Alkaline Batteries

$12.694.7(242K)

General electronics battery pick; choose AA/AAA variants when the circuit calls for them.

View on Amazon
BOJACK 3 Values 130 Pcs Solderless Breadboard 4 Pcs 830 Tie Points & 400 Tie Points & 126 Pcs Flexible Breadboard Jumper Wires
breadboardprototyping

BOJACK Solderless Breadboard Kit with 830/400 Tie-Point Boards and Flexible Jumper Wires

$9.994.4(692)
View on Amazon
ElectroCookie Large PCB Prototype Board Kit Solderable Breadboards for Electronics Projects Compatible for DIY Arduino Soldering Projects, Gold-Plated (6 Multi-Pack, Blue)
printed circuit board / PCBprototyping

ElectroCookie Large PCB Prototype Board Kit, Solderable Breadboards for Electronics Projects

4.8(111)
View on Amazon
EDGELEC 120pcs Breadboard Jumper Wires 20cm Wire Length Optional Dupont Cable Assorted Kit Male to Female Multicolored Ribbon Cables
jumper wires / hookup wirewiring

120pcs Breadboard Jumper Wires, 20cm Dupont Cable Assorted Kit, Male to Female

$6.984.7(4,500)
View on Amazon
BOJACK 1000 Pcs 25 Values Resistor Kit 1 Ohm-1M Ohm with 5% 1/4W Carbon Film Resistors Assortment
resistorpassive electronics

BOJACK 1000 Pcs 25-Value 1/4W Carbon Film Resistor Assortment Kit, 1 ohm-1M ohm

$9.994.7(4,500)
View on Amazon
BOJACK 24Value 630pcs Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor Assortment Box Kit Range 0.1uF-1000uF
capacitorpassive electronics

BOJACK 24-Value 630pcs Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor Assortment Box Kit, 0.1uF-1000uF

$16.994.7(953)
View on Amazon
BOJACK 20 Values 200 Pcs Inductor 10 uH to 10 mH 1 W Color Ring Inductor 1 Watt Assortment Kit
inductor / coilpassive electronics

20 Values 200 Pcs Inductor Assortment Kit, 1uH to 4.7mH, 0.5W Color Ring Inductors

$13.994.8(182)
View on Amazon
Tolako 5v Relay Module 5V Indicator Light LED 1 Channel Relay Module for Arduino ARM PIC AVR MCU
relay / switchcontrol

5V 1-Channel Relay Module with Indicator LED for Arduino, ARM, PIC, AVR, and MCU Projects

$5.694.6(381)
View on Amazon
CQRobot Speaker 3 Watt 8 Ohm Compatible with Arduino Motherboard, JST-PH2.0 Interface. It is Ideal for a Variety of Small Electronic Projects.
speakeraudio

CQRobot 3 Watt 8 Ohm Speaker for Arduino and Small Electronics Projects

$7.994.5(457)
View on Amazon
Syncwire 3.5mm Nylon Braided Aux Cable (3.3ft/1m,Hi-Fi Sound), Audio Auxiliary Input Adapter Male to Male Cord for Headphones, Car, Home Stereos, Speaker, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Echo & More – Black
audio source / phoneaudio

3.5mm Nylon Braided Aux Cable, Male to Male, 3.3ft

$7.994.6(119K)

Use with an existing phone or audio player.

View on Amazon
Panasonic Portable AM/FM Radio, Battery Operated Analog Radio, AC Powered, Silver (RF-2400D)
AM/FM radio receiverradio

Panasonic RF-2400D Portable AM/FM Radio, Battery Operated or AC Powered

$29.994.5(33K)
View on Amazon
E-outstanding 1 Pair AM FM Radio Universal Antenna, 62.5cm 24.6" Length 4 Section Telescopic Stainless Steel Replacement Antenna Aerial for Radio TV
antennaradio

E-outstanding 1 Pair AM/FM Radio Universal Telescopic Stainless Steel Replacement Antenna

$7.994.4(2,400)
View on Amazon
Apple 2025 MacBook Pro Laptop with Apple M5 chip with 10‑core CPU and 10‑core GPU: Built for AI, 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage; Space Black
computercomputing

Apple 2025 MacBook Pro Laptop with Apple M5 chip with 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU: Built for AI, 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage; Space Black

$1,538.304.7(107)

Preferred Apple laptop option for coding, editing, and project-control work.

View on Amazon
BOJACK 10 Values 250 Pcs A1015 BC327 BC337 C1815 S8050 S8550 2N2222 2N2907 2N3904 2N3906 PNP NPN Power General Purpose Transistors Assortment Kit
transistor / MOSFETsemiconductor

BOJACK 10-Value 250 Pcs PNP/NPN General Purpose Transistor Assortment Kit

$8.994.7(763)
View on Amazon
ELEGOO UNO R3 Board ATmega328P with USB Cable(Arduino-Compatible) for Arduino
Arduino-compatible microcontroller boardcontrol

Arduino Uno REV3 Microcontroller Board

Use the exact board/pinout required by the project; clones may differ.

View on Amazon
UCTRONICS 0.96 Inch OLED Module 12864 128x64 Yellow Blue SSD1306 Driver I2C Serial Self-Luminous Display Board for Arduino Raspberry Pi Pico
OLED display moduledisplay

UCTRONICS 0.96 Inch OLED Module 12864 128x64 Yellow Blue SSD1306 Driver I2C Serial Self-Luminous Display Board for Arduino Raspberry Pi Pico

$6.994.6(973)
View on Amazon
ShillehTek Pre-soldered 3.5mm Stereo Audio Jack Breakout Board – TRRS Headphone/Video Jack Module for Arduino, Raspberry Pi,
3.5mm audio jackaudio

3.5mm Stereo Audio Jack Breakout Board with Screw Terminal

$8.39

Functional breakout pick; verify mono/stereo wiring and connector style. Review requirements and safety guidance before buying.

View on Amazon
LeMotech IP67 Waterproof Junction Box ABS Plastic Project Box Dustproof Electrical Box Outdoor Enclosure for Electronics DIY Case Gray 9.8X 3.1x 3.3 inch (250x 80x 85 mm)
project enclosurefabrication

LeMotech ABS Plastic Project Box Electronics Enclosure

$16.994.6(1,153)
View on Amazon
Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch laptop in Indigo
MacBook Neocomputing

Apple 2026 MacBook Neo 13-inch Laptop with A18 Pro chip, Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage

$589.994.8(272)

Lower-cost Apple option for everyday Mac workflows.

View on Amazon

Project files

Prints, kits, and downloads.

Diagrams, printable files, kits, or companion downloads will appear here when they are ready to use.

Coming soon

Contact

Events, speaking, collaborations, and news.

Send the project name, outlet or audience, timing, location, and the context you want covered.

Email Keystone Science