mjsrb5
Part of things
Posts: 162
|
|
|
|
|
Hello,
This might be a bit of a daft question but I'm not clued up on car audio.
Is it possible for me to use an old radio that's not got AM/FM options on it? It's just got one L button and 5 M buttons and a tuner.
Will this pick up any stations?
Cheers!
|
| |
'80 - Escort Ghia / '83 - Manta / '99 - RB5 / Bye Bye RS2000 
 |
|
Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,326 
Club RR Member Number: 160
|
Using an old radioRich
@foxmcintyre
Club Retro Rides Member 160
|
|
|
Yes, it will pick up stations but not FM stations  |
| |
|
|
g40jon
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,569
|
|
|
|
|
it'll pick up long wave and medium wave. You could probably tweak the tuner pots if you are a bit of an electronics geek, so you could have fm.
An easier option would be to add a line input and disconnect all of the tuner inputs, so essentially you are just connecting the line input onto the volume pot.
most phones these days can play mp3s and have inbuilt radio tuner.
The other easy option would be to use the old radio for show and install a modern radio away somewhere
|
| |
|
|
mjsrb5
Part of things
Posts: 162
|
|
|
|
|
Cheers for the replies chaps!
|
| |
'80 - Escort Ghia / '83 - Manta / '99 - RB5 / Bye Bye RS2000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You could probably tweak the tuner pots if you are a bit of an electronics geek, so you could have fm. Sorry to rain on your parade, but this wouldnt work, firstly the frequency shift would be way beyond any 'adjustment' that might have been built in to the original circuity. Secondly, FM stands for frequency modulation and AM (as used for MW and LW) for amplitude modulation. Fundamentally different methods of encoding a radio signal. The two just arent compatible. A bit like expecting an xbox game to run on a PC...sadly, just isnt going to happen That doesnt mean the radio is no good. There are still plenty of stations broadcasting on MW (medium wave) and LW (long wave)... |
| |
|
|
g40jon
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,569
|
|
|
|
|
Well that has shot that idea down in flames! Can't say it is an idea that I have given much thought tbh, but yeah what you say makes perfect sense.
Another idea I did think about though was to gut the chassis of an old radio, then add the insides from a more modern unit (when I say modern, I am thinking along the lines of an 80s radio with analogue tuner/volume pot etc. into a 60s chassis)
|
| |
|
|
buzby
Part of things
Posts: 158
|
|
|
|
What make and type of radio is it? If it's an old Blaupunkt or Becker unit that has a DIN socket on the back that was intended as an 'Aux' input for an 8-track player (some other makes had similar input sockets) then you may be able to use it as a line input for an iPod or modern radio, essentially turning the original radio into an amp. Trigger had an old mono MW/LW Sanyo radio that has a Becker-type 'Aux' input in his Cortina 2000XL that he wanted to use an iPod with. If you look at my post at the bottom of this page, I explained how the socket worked and how to connect an input to it. If it hasn't got an input socket, then the only way would be to probe round the circuit board to work out where the output from the RF stage of the tuner feeds into the audio amplifier stage. If you are lucky, some old radios had the a circuit diagram on a printed label inside the case which would help find where to connect to. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you really want to keep the old radio look there are some companies who will fit modern gubins within the old shell giving you FM. MP3, ipod or even digital output.
|
| |
|
|
