Old time radios.

[dman]

Those of you who use vintage radios: are you able to pick up FM broadcasts? I've always wanted a nice little vintage radio to listen to Prairie Home Companion (I imagine it's fantastic with those warm sounding tubes), but can it be done?

 

[kpreed]

Hello and welcome. I do listen to the show on my old radio, but over the internet from the web site. A.M and F.M. radio is pretty much trash around here, so I do most of my radio stuff by internet. It is really a matter of how good your connection is and I would rather do old radio then T.V. anytime.

 

[dman]

I too listen via the internet. Are you saying that you pipe your computer's audio through a vintage radio? If so, how?

 

[RetroToday]

I too listen via the internet. Are you saying that you pipe your computer's audio through a vintage radio? If so, how?

Check out sstran. One way of doing it...

http://www.sstran.com/

 

[kpreed]

Right now I have a low power A.M. transmitter (SSTrans AMT3000) hooked to my computer, but when I did not have that, I just hooked the speaker out-put to the phono in-put on my 1941 G.E. radio, but now I can do all my radios thanks to my AMT3000, not just the ones with a phono jack.

 

[The Wingnut]

If you can read schematics and are decent with a soldering iron, about $50 and some elbow grease will yield you a Lil'7. I intend to build one of these soon, since I now have two radios that both work. I just picked up a 1940 Philco Transitone PT-6 for $40 the other day.

Lil'7

 

[LizzieMaine]

FM is featured on a lot of higher-end postwar radios, and another option might be a postwar FM hi-fi tuner running into your phono jack.

There were a few prewar sets built with FM capability, usually more expensive console models, but be aware that the FM band had its frequencies reassigned in 1945, and a prewar tuner won't receive modern FM broadcast channels.

 

[Sefton]

Yup,you can't miss with little SSTRAN. I use mine everyday so I can enjoy real Swing on my 1935 Grunow tombstone.

 

[russa11]

I use the Metzo transmitter and have been happy with it's performance. It makes my collection of OTR so much more enjoyable to be able to listen to where ever I am within the house or out in the yard. I just hook it up to the computer and set up my play list and I am off and listening. The older radios have a much nicer sound than the solid state ones.

 

[mrshanno]

Check out sstran. One way of doing it...

http://www.sstran.com/

I use the SSTRAN and am very happy with it.

 

[ScionPI2005]

I use the SSTRAN and am very happy with it.

I second that. I got mine "fixed" (I built the kit version and it had a few problems) within the past week, and have been enjoying it immensely. My old radios wouldn't see any action if it weren't for the transmitter; I don't listen to modern radio more than a few times a year.

 

[dhermann1]

Me three

Another SSTran AMT3000 user here. I can listen to internet radio, or CD's or whatever. The device has an input jack in the back, and you plug whatever you want into it. It broadcasts in a radius of 250 feet to a quarter of a mile, so unless you want to become a one man radio station for your condo or dorm (which is not uncommon) make sure you transmit on a frequncy not used locally. That should not be hard if you follow the simple instructions.
Listening to music, or especially old radio programs, of which thousands are available, is one of the coolest funnest vintagey things you can do.
It can also get you into antique radio collecting, which is a fine madness indeed!
Note, just like Norm Abram saying wear your goggles when using power woodworking equipment every single time he does it on TV, I always remind people who are newly into old radios that an old tube radio HAS TO have its old flammable paper capacitors replaced with modern ones.