[jepstr67]

This is a total kick. I was trying to figure out a way to wire my Ipod into my old Philco. The more I thought about it the less I liked the idea of cutting and soldering around in there. The thing survived this long without being all butchered up so I want it to continue to be original. So I got to searching to net and I stumbled onto the idea of a low watt AM modulator for the home. I have one on order. Pre-built and pre-tuned to a vacant channel in my area. If this works, I can use as many vintage radios as I want and feed whatever audio into the modulator I desire!

I hope this works well.

Todd
MN

[P40-165k]

that sounds very cool!
where did you get it and how much'd it cost? (sounds like something i might be interested in!)

[Ron Ramirez]

That's the only way to go, using a low power transmitter to play music through as many of your old radios as you wish to have on at the same time.

So which transmitter are you getting?

[jepstr67]

This it what I have ordered

http://www.sstran.com/

Todd

[Glenn Roberts]

Nice,

let us know how it works. I'd love to listen to pandora over my console.

Glenn

[w4rtc]

HI Todd
I have a SStran AMT3000 here that runs 24-7 I have it connected to a computer streaming old time radio into the AMT3000 and it sounds beautiful. the range on mine is about 1/2 block I have Put a CD in the computer with music and it sounds beautiful. I think you will be very pleased with it I am.
Joe

[jepstr67]

Excellent! Nice to know that.

Hey, what locomotive are you near in your photo?

[w4rtc]

Hi
C&O 2716 At Kentucky Railway Museum
you will like the transmitter you can change frequency anywhere on the BC band
read all the info on tuning
The loco is the other hobby here I ran a steam engine (L&N 152) today the last trip before we have to prepair for winter
See yea
Joe

[jepstr67]

OK, well the gizmo came and it works! I will need to amplify the iPod input signal to get decent volume. However, I had to transport my Philco over the last couple months and it didn't make the trip in working condition. Now I have to try to fix my radio. Any tips on what to check to get it working again? The lights come on, but it smells like something gets too hot after 5 minuets or so. No sound. No amp popping. Nothing.

[FStephenMasek]

Has your radio been properly restored with new capacitors to replace the old electrolytic and wax over paper & aluminum units? Are any tubes loose? What about the condition of the wiring insulation (if one of those with rubber-insulated wiring) ? What model do you have?

[jepstr67]

It's a 38-40.

No. It is just like it came form the Good Will store. Since it worked before, I left it alone other than to vacuum the dust out of it.

[Raleigh]

I have an SSTRAN connected to an old stereo receiver with multiple inputs. I use one of the tape inputs to connect a cheap CD player. To the other tape input I ran a wire with a phone plug that I can connect to a computer or MP3 player. I connected the receiver's headphone jack to the SSTRAN. It works very well, and I often run it 24 hours a day. I listen to Pandora from the computer, FM radio stations, and sometimes CDs that I want to hear on my old radios.

The SSTRAN is an exceptionally well-designed kit with about the best instructions I've run across for a kit.

The one problem I had is that my receiver doesn't have a stereo/mono switch, so if I listened to stereo sources I would only get one channel through the SSTRAN. Often that isn't noticeable, but with some early stereo recordings I hear on Pandora, the voices and instruments are widely separated. You can hear the difference if you get only one channel. I built a simple adapter that shorts the two stereo channels together, so that isn't a problem any more.

[Ron Ramirez]

Now I have to try to fix my radio. Any tips on what to check to get it working again? The lights come on, but it smells like something gets too hot after 5 minuets or so. No sound. No amp popping. Nothing.

No. It is just like it came form the Good Will store. Since it worked before, I left it alone other than to vacuum the dust out of it.

You should not operate that radio any more unless/until you replace ALL paper and electrolytic capacitors!

Continued operation of the set on original components is just asking for trouble.

http://www.philcoradio.com/tech/plugin.htm

http://www.antiqueradio.org/powerup.htm

I would advise you to heed this warning, lest you find yourself making a post on here in the future looking for a replacement power transformer for your 38-40 because you smoked the original one.

[jepstr67]

OK, I'm going to take Ron's advice and have my Philco rebuilt into tip top condition.

However, I finally had time to set up my AMT3000 permanently as a home station to broadcast around my house. I'm looking for tips and tricks to get the best reception. Should I run a wire from basement to the attic as transmitter antenna? Should I make a coil in a big piece of wood like they did in the old days? Not surprisingly, old radios that are AM only pick up the signal WAY WAY better than brand new ones made as an iPod stand. LOL

That XM 40's on 4 sounds so fine as you move from radio to radio throughout the house. Happy. (except for the Philco not working)

[Radioroslyn]

If you need something to listen to check out WNAR on line.They run a great line up of old time radio show coupled with mostly early 1930's music between shows. Listening to it now as I'm typing!

http://wnar-am.com/graphical/

Enjoy!
Terry