Nifty addition to my boler

[bobdobqb]

I thought I'd post this because I think it's a pretty cool addition to my boler and I know there are other geeks there who might want to give it a try.

I have an old Stromberg Carlson AM radio that was non functional and non repairable but I just couldn't toss it out. After having it sit on my bookshelf for a number of years I figured it was time to do something with it and thought maybe I could bring it back to life.



The first thing I did was take it apart and pull the guts out in preparation for its new life.



I decided I would install a Raspberry Pi Zero W and install Volumio which would allow me to use wifi to stream music, play podcasts and listen to internet radio as well as use it as an "offline" music player.



After converting the 110 to 12 volt and installing a 12v to 5v buck connector I had power available for the raspberry pi and wired in the power switch on the front of the radio. I added some LED strip light so when the unit is powered up the old (non-functional) AM dial lights up.

The Volumio installation was super simple and in no time I had it ready to run. Management of the radio is all done through the Volumio app on my phone.



It's up and running now and I'm pretty darn happy with it. I still need to source a new speaker and I'm waiting for an amplifier breakout board since right now I'm running the audio output via HDMI to the monitor in my office but I give it a big thumbs up

It turned into a really great rainy winter project while we wait for better camping weather here on Vancouver Island. And I get to repurpose a pretty sweet old radio as well and keep it out of the dump.

[tua]

Nice job!

[Jon in AZ]

Love it!

[FRED SMAILES]

Wish I'd of paid more attention as the computor age started to happen.
I hardly understood a word you said! Lol
Really like your results though!!
Fred

[bobdobqb]

Thanks folks! Glad you like. Was a fun project to do while the rain came down and got me to exercise my brain a bit which is always good.

[francene]

Great job! Very cool.

[TimR]

So you were able to use some of the old components? Does it actually turn on with the old knobs? Wish I had that skill set. Awesome job!

[bobdobqb]

Hi Tim. I was hoping to use the original speaker but it was just too deteriorated so the only part that I'm using is the on/off switch so it turns on with the original knob.

[John McDonald]

Recycling ar it’s finest. Way to go.