How I converted Old Valve radio in to remote controlled USB Mp3 player

Hi friends .


With happy new year wishes 2018. Today's story is How i converted 60 Years old Valve radio into  todays Latest mp3 player with remote control.

Dear friends in our collage days before transistor we studied Valve operation and we have drawn neat diagram of it in our practical record book. Also, studied how it has been employed in radio amplifiers during middle of this century 1950s.

MW/SW are the only 2 types of transmission were used during those days. Even I enjoyed a lot when I was kid I think this term is understood only to our generation people because we had practical taste and experience of the valve radio output. Present generation they don’t know what it is. And don’t know how to repair it. If they wish to see then possibility is only internet, Photos and videos.

In those days’ valve Radio is one of  the main communication media and only rich person own this. Many youths in those days gathered evening to enjoy the news and music which is very low telecosting  time. This is shared my grandfather long back and just I am imagining how the people life during those days. We cannot compare now present generation. If the same radio runs FM/AUX/ USB along with Remote control with digital disiplay operation then how it looks??, Here is the twist in my article and story tells how I converted OLD Valve radio into Modern USB MP3 Player which is controlled by remote. Let me began,

One of my costumer brought his old valve radio and asked me to repair. I felt surprise to see this. During present condition, it’s very difficult to repair 1995s Radio cassette players. Then is it possible me to re-life this 1950 model MW/SW radio??. Directly I said the costumer it is not possible because we have only FM Transmission and MW/SW band no more channel & stopped. Costumer convinced me to do something to remain old memory for this MW/SW band radio, so he can tune any single station no problem.

Really I appreciate this costumer because he is accepting something from this radio.As “Old is Gold” he is valuing this radio instead of throwing dustbin.Totally I understood his concern and started to do operation this. Made my mind to convert this equipment into completely modern USB mp3 player.

Now valve radio is at my work bench. Universal USB /FM Kit is ready to install and started to locate the connection nods in the set.




USB /FM/MP3 PLAYER KIT

Below is the important connection  Nodes needed to fix USB Player
1) DC Voltage point > 8volts
2) Audio Amplifier input node
3) Chassis ground point
Since this model messed with Resistor /Capacitor end to end joints and assembled as shown without proper PCB. It’s very difficult to locate above three points.




Componant assembly without PCB

Identified Audio input point found at the middle pin of the volume controller as a short cut what my father taught me during my training days.
Now the next task is Identifying pure DC Line to feed 5Volts to the USB Module. Yes, in my mind i don’t want to disturb its originality inside valve radio circuit. Decided to install separate transformer power supply followed by 7805 Regulator to get regulated 5Volt DC Which is very important to the USB Module.

EXTERNAL DC SUPPLY FOR USB MODULE

Before Conversion Conformed the working status of the Valve Amplifier  repaired and made ok.

Started wiring and soldered important connecting points as said above. Radio worked excellent tuned FM Radio station via Remote control nice to hear Old Kannada Rajkumar song.

I gone some were olden days. I remembered those days when I was a kid my grandfather used to tune same song what I tuned now. Yes, the mission is completed and ready to Deliver. Customer felt very happy after delivery and he is one of the lucky person to enjoy this pure Valve amplifier crystal clear audio output with modern USB Module.





 Regards
Basavaraj BM