All-Band Radio Receiver: Listen to Everything at Once

Ido Roseman built a simple, untuned radio receiver to discreetly monitor air traffic control (ATC) conversations during flights. Rejecting the complexity of traditional radios, it uses a Schottky diode detector and a high-gain audio amplifier to pick up signals across a wide frequency range, from medium wave to VHF. Reception is limited to nearby strong transmitters, but it surprisingly captures pilot-ATC communications. The design includes an LM386 amplifier for standard earbuds and a 3D-printed case for stealth. This clever hack demonstrates that simplicity can yield surprising functionality.