radio input gadget

dave11

Anyone out there had any success with the new technology available to play a music device ( i pad or similar) through an AM radio ?

Dave Eddie

RL Chilton

Yes, you should check with Steve Engel.  When he rebuilds vintage radios, he often puts in a jack that you can plug your phone or ipad or any other music device and listen to your tunes through your original radio.  Very cool!

Don't know HOW it's done, but I do know it's do-able.  

DavidC

Steve Engel put me onto Redirad. Look them up, they got what you need. Tiny black box sits in glove. Hook up iPOD or whatever, plays thru antenna to preset channel. Simple.

dave11

I have two Redirad units. One I recieved as a gift, but I couldn't get it to work, all it would play was a very weak signal with a lot of static, So I phoned the fellow at Redrad, thinking I must have connected it wrong, after I had tried all his instructions  with no success, he suggested it was likey something with the radio, so I tried it on another car, this time it was a 48 Chrysler, 6 volt positive ground....same results.

After another phone call he suggested it must be the unit. I offered to ship it back but he said he would send me another new unit (to keep the shipping cost down) great idea I thought. When the second unit turned out to work identical to the first I called him. He said he can't expain it, told me if he came across a fix for it he would let me know,...been over a year now haven't heard a thing.

I talked to Steve Engel the other day and he is going to make me a device,...his is a bit different design as it is hard wired.....takes a bit of soldering to install, which is fine by me.

The fellow at Redirad was quite helpfull,...and I haven't heard anything negative about him, but in my case the product wouldn't work.

Dave Eddie

J Lombard

Dave do you recollect which Hudson model radio you were installing it on originally?

regards

J Lombard

dave11

Not sure of the model of the radio, but it was in my 52 Hornet

J Lombard

I wonder if there was a difference between the '52 & '53?

J

53jetman

Most '52 radios had the round push-buttons, while the new radio available for 1953 had the rectangular buttons.  Two different manufacturers, can remember the mft names jjust now.

J Lombard

Then maybe the Redirad might work on the newer '53 radio. Anyone with a '53 radio have any luck with the Redirad?

J Lombard

DavidC

I'm the other Dave. I have a Redirad installed in my glovebox. It's a 53HH but I like the look of the 52 radio so I installed one after complete rebuild and 12v conversion by Steve Engel. As long as volume is kept to 2/3 on iPOD the sound is fairly clear. Max volume could be better- thinking about an amplifier for speakers, or a different set of speakers (mine are handmade by a guy who does this as a hobby- I have no idea if they are up to snuff). My antenna connection at the radio is tenuous- if pushed in too far, no sound. This may be the problem others have experienced. Dave Eddie, did Steve give you any feedback about why the Redirad did not work for you? Has it been a problem for his customers in the past? I cannot imagine he would recommend a part that did not work.
Dave C

dave11

No, Steve had no insight into why the Redirad won't work, infact he said he has installed them with no issues.

So, it sounds like you have a 52 radio same as mine, the difference being yours is 12 volts?.

The reasons I ordered a unit from Steve are (1) the price is better that Redirad (2) I am pretty confident he will have the provisions to test before he ships the unit.

 

Dave

DavidC

Yes, I converted all to 12V
Yes, I like the 52 look. Sounds like you're on a good path. Good luck!

GaryAlanEvans

I installed a Redirad in my 51 Pontiac with the stock 6 volt system and it works great with any external input such as iPhone or iPod.  More recently I converted my 54 Hudson Hornet to 12 V negative ground, but left the radio 6 V (although capacitors and some tubes were replaced).  I didn't bother changing the transformer in the radio so that it would work on 12 V, but I use an efficient 12V to 6V DC to DC converter.  I believe I replaced the mechanical vibrator with a negative ground solid state vibrator.  I use a 12 volt negative ground Redirad with this radio and it works fine, too.  

dave11

Gary, is your 51 Pontiac negative or positive ground?

dave11

Recieved my new input device from Steve Engel, installed last night in my 52 Hornet. It works great !

With this unit you leave the antenna pluged into the radio. You are required to install a contact strip inside the radio and solder one wire from the volume control, simple job probably took me 1/2 hr or so.

There is a little black box with a toggle switch so you can select am radio input or the remote device.

Dave

J Lombard

Dave, that is good news mine should arrive next week & I should get my radio back from Steve Engel next week also. I'll get them installed in my '53 Hornet (6v, pos. ground) & let you know how it works.

regards

J Lombard

Jon B

I was asked to post this by Butch Smith.  (Don't know why my post turned yellow!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W-ZlQcDqvk

As my registration has disappeared on both "Forums" , I'm unable to post info.
This might be helpful to some members.  Dan Maupin, whose radio this is, is an HET club member.
I had the same mod done on my '47 radio.

Cheers,

Butch