On 6 Feb 2004 10:25:58 -0800, (ellisc) wrote:

I have an 80s model delco am/fm radio. I'd like to attach an external
long wire AM antenna, an external FM antenna, and rig something up so
I can listen to it with headphones at bedside.

Questions:

1. What do I need to do/build the headphone connection? Can I put
something together using the car radio speaker wires?

Get a 1/8" stereo jack from RS or wherever. Use a 100 ohm resistor
between left and right speaker outputs and the jack. Too loud? Try a
higher value. Not loud enough? Try a lower value. Resistors are
cheap.

2. Is it possible to hook up the long wire antenna without getting too
complicated? Can I use the antenna plug on the radio in some way, or
will I have to get inside the box? I don't know a lot about
electronics. I have a soldering iron and have fixed the occasional
loose wire on things around the house, but not much more than that.

For normal use just put a 5 foot length of wire on it. That should
work for FM, too. It's not much different than what was on the car.

If you want to listen to distant stations a different antenna is
needed for AM and FM. I used a tuned loop antenna with a shielded
pickup loop on a mid-80's Dodge radio and it worked great. It was
selective enough to bring in stations adjacent to a nearby 50,000 watt
clear channel station (WHAM 1180, Rochester, NY).

Anyway, try it out. It will cost a buck or two and you will learn
something in the process.

Good luck,
Jim