FM conversion

stina

stina

New Member
Hi all .
I've been thinking of getting my radiomobile push button converted to receive fm . I see the trend is to have an ipod plug fitted too, i'm not overly bothered with that , but if it's part of the package that's o.k . but what i'd really like is the fm option . i found a company called tadpole radios but they're way over budget . What are the options ? Any one else had one done for sensible money ? :D
 
Most of those radio refurb places I've seen charge the earth. If you just do the ipod lead conversion which is easy and cheap, you can get an ipod with a built in radio. That would take care of it.
 
Get yourself another period FM radio stina. I picked up this unused FM radio cassette a while back and fitted it to my 3500S. I reasoned that this would have been a sensible upgrade for anyone owning one of these cars for more than 10 years so it got my vote. Period look, FM radio and plays cassettes too :D what more can you ask for?

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Dave
 
I would also go for an existing period FM unit as converting yours is liable to be financially implausible. I can understand the outlay for older cars where an FM unit would look out of place but the P6 was current in the age of FM so many, many period choices that would have been fitted to them back in the day are still available off the shelf, so to speak.

If you're determined however, try this thread: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=15971&hilit=radio+conversion
 
You can find those modern retro radios much cheaper on Ebay
Amstrad were churning out stereo radios when the P6 was current !
 
Righto guys , stop messing about now , i'm serious :LOL: My knowledge of these things is terrible , but reading through this and other threads i still think i want to keep the old Radiomobile , it just looks "Right" to me . Great sound quality isn't the priority although i don't want a total load of rubbish . I've come to the conclusion that i'd like to fit a mp3 plug to mine . So bearing in mind that electrickery is my worst subject how do i move forward ? what bits would i need to buy , and from where ? I read in another post about using a jack plug that switches from radio to mp3 as the plug is pushed in . I like that idea . I'm thinking if i had an mp3 thing that picks up radio i could listen to that through it too ? My radio is mono so i guess i'd only hear it in mono , i could still replace the 40 year old speaker for better quality sound right ?
I need an idiots guide of what to buy , and someone willing to guide me through it please . Also what mp3 player do i need to buy as i don't have one , i looked on the bay but it's a mine field to the uninitiated :shock: just want a simple thing i can download a few tunes to and have a radio .
The priority is to keep the old radiomobile and a bit of FM on longer runs :D
 
stina said:
I'm thinking if i had an mp3 thing that picks up radio i could listen to that through it too
Click to expand...

I'd want to check that I didn't get any interference from the engine before deciding on an mp3 radio. The antenna would not be earthed to the car's chassis in the same way that a standard car radio is so you would probably get a crackly reception. Unless anyone can confirm otherwise.

Dave
 
I bought an FM transmitter (Sparky has a period VHF radio) but it isn't much good to be honest. I don't tend to listen to music much in the Rover as there are so many other noises to listen to :shock:

I would like to fit some sort of of music storage thingy to it though, say an SD card or MP3 player, so any info on this would also be of interest to me.

Richard
 
stina said:
I've come to the conclusion that i'd like to fit a mp3 plug to mine . So bearing in mind that electrickery is my worst subject how do i move forward ? what bits would i need to buy , and from where ? I read in another post about using a jack plug that switches from radio to mp3 as the plug is pushed in . I like that idea . I'm thinking if i had an mp3 thing that picks up radio i could listen to that through it too ? My radio is mono so i guess i'd only hear it in mono , i could still replace the 40 year old speaker for better quality sound right ?
I need an idiots guide of what to buy , and someone willing to guide me through it please . Also what mp3 player do i need to buy as i don't have one , i looked on the bay but it's a mine field to the uninitiated :shock: just want a simple thing i can download a few tunes to and have a radio .
The priority is to keep the old radiomobile and a bit of FM on longer runs :D
Click to expand...
I did the MP3 conversion that automatically switches from the radio to MP3 when plugged in, (Click here for the original thread), so could help with parts etc... How handy are you with a soldering iron though? :shock:

With regards to an MP3 player to choose, as you say it is a minefield out there :cry: but from personal experience I can suggest one of the Sony NWE- series. I had an NWE-005 2Gb player which was so easy to use, I didn't need to look at it in the end to select a track etc... which is always helpful, (especially when you are meant to be concentrating on driving) :shock:

Even when I got an iPhone, I still used the Sony as the iPhone relies on user input via the touch-screen which, (to my mind at least), is way to dangerous to be doing when driving, as you have no choice but to look away from the windscreen to use it :shock: so I would shy away from any touch-screen MP3 players.

Sony did make an NWE-003F which was a 1Gb player with built in FM, but I have no personal experience of how well the radio performed.

I believe that MP3 players with radios built in rely on the fact that you will, (normally), be wearing the headphones, and that the radio uses this as the aerial, so you may well experience reception problems, as already suggested by others, just because the original headphones are not being used :?
 
So do you still want FM then or just an MP3 facility? If FM, I'd still go for a period FM unit & have that modded to take your ipod. As already said, plug-in type radios are not a very satisfying experience, a proper unit with the aerial grounded to the body is really the only way to go.
 
Thanks for replies , some good info . These mp3's that use the ear pieces as the antenna , so , i'm assuming that the plug in that goes to the ear phones is substituted for a lead that goes into your radio installed jack plug ? the cable from this to the radio is say 4ft " as advertised by people offering the conversion , and the radio unit is grounded to the car . Is this not enough for a decent FM signal ? or am i clutching at straws and just hoping it would be ?
Codekiddie I would be more at home rebuilding a motor or indeed stitching bits of metal together with my MIG than soldering if i'm honest :cry: I've recently been trawling you tube though trying to find ways to improve , also i think my soldering tools are a bit crap . Having said that if that guy in the link can do it for 30quid it's not worth having a go :?
 
stina said:
These mp3's that use the ear pieces as the antenna , so , i'm assuming that the plug in that goes to the ear phones is substituted for a lead that goes into your radio installed jack plug ? the cable from this to the radio is say 4ft " as advertised by people offering the conversion , and the radio unit is grounded to the car . Is this not enough for a decent FM signal ? or am i clutching at straws and just hoping it would be ?
Click to expand...
I really don't know, but my guess is that it would be similar to taking the aerial off of the car, and placing it on the passenger seat and hoping it would work as well, which is very unlikely.

I've also read somewhere that even not using the original earpieces, can cause the FM signal to degrade, implying that they are actually special in some way :shock:

I guess the way it must work would be similar to how moderns using the heated rear window as the aerial, (which I know they do, but don't know how :? ).

As you say, once you have purchased the cable and socket for the conversion, just to possibly ruin it all for trying to solder it together with your MIG :shock: it would be cheaper to get him to do it for you, BUT remember his service is to modify your radio so you would still be left needing your FM hurdle to get over :(

Try to find a period FM unit, sell your old unit to help fund the project, and pay the guy to convert the FM one I think :p, or even better still just stick with the FM one you find, if the MP3 is not a priority for now, which you did say you were not too bothered about originally.
 
Hi Phil .
Yep the FM thing for me is the clincher . I,m going around in circles a bit , but then i'm thrashing ideas about . The MP3 part of the equation would just be a bonus . I'm now coming back to the idea of the auto sound replica , that's not totally disgusting , looking period and fulfills all i'd want . I'll be asking for cash for Christmas :LOL: The ideal is the tadpole company job , totally rebuilt with a new amp and fm receiver . Can't justify £450 quid though , or can i :? :shock: :D
 
Aldi or Lidl do a car stereo that takes USB etc .About £39.99 .Fit it in the glovebox if it looks out of place on the dash
 
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