Transmitting your own signal

ScionPI2005 · Dec 18, 2009

chrismak said:
So to get this sstrans... can you buy it already made? if not.. what does a guy need to make the kit? is it complicated?

Speaking of experience, I would say that building the SSTran from a kit is not too difficult as long as you're comfortable with electronic kit instructions, and are used to soldering and have a good soldering kit.

I tried building the kit from scratch, however, my soldiering gun point and solder was too thick, and made it very difficult to make clean connections without accidentally filling nearby holes on the circuit board with solder. The result: I had to send my kit to the guy who sales it and pay about $30 for him to fix my error. :eusa_doh: Still, I'm sure I could have been more successful if I had started with a better soldering gun.

chrismak · Dec 18, 2009

Yeah I really don't have the time to make the kit, moreso due to my lack of skills and short attention span.

So to pay extra and have it made full.. would be so great.

chrismak · Dec 18, 2009

As well anyone know where to get cables to use on this transmitter so I can hook and Ipod to it?

LizzieMaine · Dec 18, 2009

chrismak said:
As well anyone know where to get cables to use on this transmitter so I can hook and Ipod to it?

The transmitter has standard mono RCA jacks, so most any Radio Shack could set you up with the cables -- you'd want RCA plugs on one end, and whatever kind of a plug goes into an Ipod's output jack on the other.

chrismak · Dec 18, 2009

I am so excited I could pee.. Done tons of research and glad that I can keep that philco in oriiginal shape as it in immaculate.

You all Rock!

jonepark · Jan 6, 2010

I really don't have the time to make the kit,moreso due to my lack of skills and short attention span.I tried building the kit from scratch,however,my soldiering gun point and solder was too thick,and made it very difficult to make clean connections without accidentally filling nearby holes on the circuit board with solder.

ScionPI2005 · Jan 6, 2010

jonepark said:
I tried building the kit from scratch,however,my soldiering gun point and solder was too thick,and made it very difficult to make clean connections without accidentally filling nearby holes on the circuit board with solder.

Exactly. There's nothing overly complex about attaching diodes and conductors and such to a circuit board; the tricky part lies in steady hand movement and precise soldering. I've built a few different electronic kits over the years (all pretty easy for the most part), and the SSTran was the trickiest due to the numerous holes to install the parts being so close to each other.

Phantomfixer · Jan 11, 2010

ipod

Hi all,

I usually hang out in the WWII or outerwear sections. I saw this thread and I could relate my experiance. I took an old set of ipod earbuds and cut off the ear pieces. You are left with 2 wire strands with 2 wires each +/-and the factory male end. I connected the the two unshielded wires together and the shielded wires I soldered to the speaker of an old radio. The ipod went into the radio plugged into the male end and it has worked great ever since. About 3 years now. Very cheap and easy.
JZ

Bustercat · Jan 25, 2010

That's what I've done as well. I have an old chewed up Sparton that emits a loud buzz when on. Could take the time to fix it, but it was easier for me just to carefully solder a mono cable from radio shack to the speaker terminals. N o damage to the radio.
Best part is, I don't even have to turn it on or plug it in to hear my ipod play through it. Though some speakers need to have the unit actually on to function, see the other thread for more info.

Obviously, the ideal is to use the transmitter so you can actually enjoy the tactile sensation of using the knobs and seeing the lights, but you have to replace the capacitors which are made of paper and dangerous, on old units.

I wonder, has anyone looked into a multiple band transmitter? Something that would take multiple sources of music and transmit across several stations simultaneously, so you could actually 'tune' your set to hear different mp3 playlists? That would be the ultimate experience.

chrismak · Feb 1, 2010

SSTRANS AMT3000

I just received it, set the switches to 1710,

the antenna just laying across the table as it it just a wire.

It picked up off of my ipod and we could get the show in on the radio on the second floor of the house. that is a good thing!

But it seems to have a lot of static. Any suggestions on remedy?

As well, what do the knobs for compression, modulation and gain do.. in plain english.

Thanks all.

LizzieMaine · Feb 1, 2010

Modulation -- basically the loudness of the audio signal

Gain -- amplification of the signal from the source

Compression -- degree of equalization of loud and soft portions of the signal

You'll find full instructions on how to set these controls on page 18 of the manual -- "Audio Adjustment Procedure." Follow these instructions carefully.

Miss Neecerie · Feb 1, 2010

Bustercat said:
I wonder, has anyone looked into a multiple band transmitter? Something that would take multiple sources of music and transmit across several stations simultaneously, so you could actually 'tune' your set to hear different mp3 playlists? That would be the ultimate experience.

I don't know about this...but I do know that Miss Joeri at one time had multiple smaller ipods connected to a set, so that channel changing on the set changed which ipod was currently playing......

I will try and find the thread she posted about this on...but no promises.....

Edited to add:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=680284&postcount=13

chrismak · Mar 10, 2010

So the radio is done, And rebuilt. a Philco 41-280, I will post pics soon.

And here is what I have to say.. I love it. The man who did the repairs did EVERYTHING down to a new pointer on the dial as it was missing one. He also added a switch at the back to switch from radio to phono (as it had a phono input hidden in the tubes). Now I can hook a ipod and play it straight from the system OR use my AMTRANS and play music from internet stations.

I am just giddy. I am so glad I didn't just rip it all out and put in new speaker and tuner.. and make the front face non usable. The Smell, the sound, the hum, the light off the dial is just magical as you all I am sure know.

Best thing I have bought in the past 5 years!

dhermann1 · Mar 10, 2010

I completely and totally know how you feel. Giddy is the word for it. Congrats! Enjoy!

FedoraGent · Jan 4, 2011

chrismak said:
So the radio is done, And rebuilt. a Philco 41-280, I will post pics soon.

And here is what I have to say.. I love it. The man who did the repairs did EVERYTHING down to a new pointer on the dial as it was missing one. He also added a switch at the back to switch from radio to phono (as it had a phono input hidden in the tubes). Now I can hook a ipod and play it straight from the system OR use my AMTRANS and play music from internet stations.

I am just giddy. I am so glad I didn't just rip it all out and put in new speaker and tuner.. and make the front face non usable. The Smell, the sound, the hum, the light off the dial is just magical as you all I am sure know.

Best thing I have bought in the past 5 years!

So how did this work out in the long run?

FG.

missjo · Feb 25, 2011

I have a 70s tuner connected to ipods and the original bakelite switches and speaker of my 1934 radio.
It isn't perfect but nothing beats hearing a vintage broadcast from a vintage radio.
Another option would be to have a small radio transmitter set up somewhere hidden in your home and pick it up with your radio.
That would probably sound even better and you could use a real still working radio.
No channel switching though.
With my Ipods that all play a loop recording of music and broadcasts I can now switch from 1930s BBC, to radio Berlin to Hilversum and back.
Never knowing what I'm going to get.

martinsantos · Feb 25, 2011

One of the very first things I constructed with tubes was a little AM transmitter, from the schema on a RCA tube Manual. I made in in a cigar box. Not a wonderful set - for my faults, specially when wiring the coil. But worked OK.

Chicago Jimmy · Mar 13, 2011

I just ordered a AMT3000 2 days ago...I can't wait to use it on our restored 1938 Philco 38-62 in our living room. We have been listening to " KCEA " radio via winamp on the computer.

FStephenMasek · Jun 15, 2011

Fletch said:
Yeah, DXing for the thrill of it is pretty much dead...

Really? I just bought a $400 antenna to help with just that.

Wambleyburger · Jun 15, 2011

I have had my AMT 3000 for about three years now. Pricey? Yes. But, I think it was well worth the money. A great performer and a top notch company. I do WW II reenacting and nothing beats hiding the transmitter somewhere in the barracks or outside in a campsite and having the public come by and look in the back of the radio and wonder how I'm "making it play". They expect to find a CD player or MP3 in the back. When they find out it actually still plays and is receiving a signal, I get great reactions and most people get a real kick out of it. Needless to say, I've had a lot of fun with it.

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