Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

All right, I think I might have found the proper place to ask about
this. Back in the 90's when GEnie was still around, they had plans to
convert old AM car radios to shortwave receivers. My old Franklin ACE
500 computer wasn't capable of interpreting the file at the time, so I
didn't get to download it. I'm hoping someone here might know where I
could get the instructions.

I know, I could just get off my lazy ass, get an ARRL manual and figure
it out for myself, but if there's an easier option, I'd like to go for
it. All I'm looking for is something that will pick up broadcasts
between upper AM and the scanner frequencies.

By the way, my hotmail account isn't working, so emailing me won't do
any good. Please post where I can find what I'm looking for here.
Thanks.


Ralph Glatt

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

julian814 wrote:
All right, I think I might have found the proper place to ask about
this. Back in the 90's when GEnie was still around, they had plans to
convert old AM car radios to shortwave receivers. My old Franklin ACE
500 computer wasn't capable of interpreting the file at the time, so I
didn't get to download it. I'm hoping someone here might know where I
could get the instructions.
Ralph Glatt

Andy writes:
In my opinion, the easiest, most non-destructive way to do this
is to add a converter, using the AM radio as a tuneable IF for
AM transmissions.
A two transistor converter, using a xtal oscillator and a mixer,
can easily do this. Just select the xtal frequency to be about
1000 Khz above or below the middle of the shortwave band you
want.
I am assuming you are only interested in AM shortwave
broadcasts. Any of the other modes would require modification to
the inside of the AM radio....

Anyway, the neat thing about this approach is that no modification
needs to be done to the innards of the AM radio......And you can
still listen to Rush Limbaugh by switching off the converter....

If, on the other hand, you want to modify the AM radio to short
wave without adding anything significant, it depends entirely on
the circuit. In general, you will rewind a bunch of coils, which
means you need equipment for testing and measuring. There are
some AM radio designs that are such that success is extremely
unlikely while others are fairly straightforward ---- it's like asking
"how much does a rock weigh?"
I encourage the CONVERTER approach.... Good luck with your
project. These weekenders can be a lot of fun and very
educational...

Andy W4OAH in Eureka, Texas

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

AndyS wrote:
In my opinion, the easiest, most non-destructive way to do this
is to add a converter, using the AM radio as a tuneable IF for
AM transmissions.
A two transistor converter, using a xtal oscillator and a mixer,
can easily do this. Just select the xtal frequency to be about
1000 Khz above or below the middle of the shortwave band you
want.
I am assuming you are only interested in AM shortwave
broadcasts. Any of the other modes would require modification to
the inside of the AM radio....

Anyway, the neat thing about this approach is that no modification
needs to be done to the innards of the AM radio......And you can
still listen to Rush Limbaugh by switching off the converter....

If, on the other hand, you want to modify the AM radio to short
wave without adding anything significant, it depends entirely on
the circuit. In general, you will rewind a bunch of coils, which
means you need equipment for testing and measuring. There are
some AM radio designs that are such that success is extremely
unlikely while others are fairly straightforward ---- it's like asking
"how much does a rock weigh?"
I encourage the CONVERTER approach.... Good luck with your
project. These weekenders can be a lot of fun and very
educational...

Andy W4OAH in Eureka, Texas

Thanks, Andy. I think I've managed to find something a little better
than what I had in mind, anyway - Lindsay books sells a series of books
called the Impoverished Radio Experimenter. I've ordered two of them
that seem likely to have the information I need. My only concern now is
being able to run a tube receiver off of battery power, but I'm hoping
I can figure out something on my own.


Ralph Glatt

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

"AndyS" wrote in 1165840350.029509.309650@
79g2000cws.googlegroups.com:

In my opinion, the easiest, most non-destructive way to do this
is to add a converter, using the AM radio as a tuneable IF for
AM transmissions.

Agreed.

And you can still listen to Rush Limbaugh by switching off the
converter....

Or when you switch it on...

http://www.techlib.com/files/rushconv.pdf

Pick your 1MHz band, and tune away. You'll need to tweek a bit if
you want to be very far from 15 MHz.

--
David Hatch
KR7DH

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

David wrote:
http://www.techlib.com/files/rushconv.pdf

Pick your 1MHz band, and tune away. You'll need to tweek a bit if
you want to be very far from 15 MHz.

--
David Hatch
KR7DH

Andy comments:

Excellent, David !!! Thanks for the circuit. Note that it can
easily be modified to get WWV also...... I suspect one could
use a CA3028 if one wanted to build it with a single IC, for some
reason...

Yet another simple converter can be made using a NE602.
I don't have a circuit handy, but it can easily be designed from the
data sheet.
Andy W4OAH

PS I'm going to check out 15.42 Mhz --- I hadn't messed with it
before.....

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

David ) writes:

Pick your 1MHz band, and tune away. You'll need to tweek a bit if
you want to be very far from 15 MHz.


If you choose the 31 and 25 metre bands you can receive both with one
crystal in the oscillator. Many years ago I built a simple converter
using a 10.7 MHz crystal and a tunable front end so I could tune 31 m band
(osc on the high side) and the 25 m band (osc on the low side). Don't
remember now where I got the circuit but it worked very well with a
standard (in those days!) car radio antenna.

.... Martin VE3OAT

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

julian814 wrote:
AndyS wrote:


Andy W4OAH in Eureka, Texas

Thanks, Andy. I think I've managed to find something a little better
than what I had in mind, anyway - Lindsay books sells a series of books
called the Impoverished Radio Experimenter. I've ordered two of them
that seem likely to have the information I need. My only concern now is
being able to run a tube receiver off of battery power, but I'm hoping
I can figure out something on my own.


Ralph Glatt

TUBES!! Tubes? Off of Battery, 6 Volt?, Vibrator? Inverter? 12 Volt B+
tubes ? Not since the 1950s ?
Am I reading too much between the lines ?

Yukio YANO, VE5YS

Except for the audio output stage, we can now run a radio on the power
used to to light the Dial on a Tubes Era Radio !

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

Yukio YANO wrote:
TUBES!! Tubes? Off of Battery, 6 Volt?, Vibrator? Inverter? 12 Volt B+
tubes ? Not since the 1950s ?
Am I reading too much between the lines ?

Yukio YANO, VE5YS

Except for the audio output stage, we can now run a radio on the power
used to to light the Dial on a Tubes Era Radio !

Andy writes:
Well, perhaps the OP is a "retro" hobbyist. I have met a few,
especially
youngsters who weren't born till after the ua709 was developed. Sort
of a
historical fascination.... Personally, I have had the hell shocked out
of me
enough to appreciate the privilege of using 14 volts or less (grin)...

Around here, you can usually pick up a transistorized car radio
for
about a dollar at garage sales and resale barns. I have yet to buy one

that didn't work. If you come to Eureka, Texas, I'll give you one for
free......

Andy W4OAH in Eureka, Texas


( If you've ever taken a beer to a job interview, you might live
in Eureka, Texas )

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

Yukio YANO wrote:
TUBES!! Tubes? Off of Battery, 6 Volt?, Vibrator? Inverter? 12 Volt B+
tubes ? Not since the 1950s ?
Am I reading too much between the lines ?

Yes, tubes. I have some that were pulled from circa 1960's television
sets, and I thought I'd use them, hoping that they'd be EMP resistant.
Been on kind of a survivalist kick, lately. Doesn't mean I'd be opposed
to using more modern equipment, though. One thing I saw that I liked in
one of the books I purchased was a loop antenna that uses transistors
to amplify the signal. Thought it might be easier than stringing up a
lot of wire. ;-)


Ralph Glatt

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

David wrote:
"AndyS" wrote in 1165840350.029509.309650@
79g2000cws.googlegroups.com:

In my opinion, the easiest, most non-destructive way to do this
is to add a converter, using the AM radio as a tuneable IF for
AM transmissions.

Agreed.

And you can still listen to Rush Limbaugh by switching off the
converter....

Or when you switch it on...

http://www.techlib.com/files/rushconv.pdf

Pick your 1MHz band, and tune away. You'll need to tweek a bit if
you want to be very far from 15 MHz.

I'm not that terribly fond of Rush, but I think I might be able to
adapt this to tune in other frequencies, so it should come in handy.
Thanks!


Ralph Glatt

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

On 12 Dec 2006 09:54:50 -0800, julian814 wrote in . com:

Yukio YANO wrote:
TUBES!! Tubes? Off of Battery, 6 Volt?, Vibrator? Inverter? 12 Volt B+
tubes ? Not since the 1950s ?
Am I reading too much between the lines ?

Yes, tubes. I have some that were pulled from circa 1960's television
sets, and I thought I'd use them, hoping that they'd be EMP resistant.
Been on kind of a survivalist kick, lately. Doesn't mean I'd be opposed
to using more modern equipment, though. One thing I saw that I liked in
one of the books I purchased was a loop antenna that uses transistors
to amplify the signal. Thought it might be easier than stringing up a
lot of wire. ;-)

But the transistors almost certainly will be fried by EMP. If that's
not a concern, then by all means try it -- and share the design and
results with us, please!

--
Mike Andrews, W5EGO

Tired old sysadmin

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

julian814 wrote:
Yes, tubes. I have some that were pulled from circa 1960's television
sets, and I thought I'd use them, hoping that they'd be EMP resistant.
Been on kind of a survivalist kick, lately. Doesn't mean I'd be opposed
to using more modern equipment, though. One thing I saw that I liked in
one of the books I purchased was a loop antenna that uses transistors
to amplify the signal. Thought it might be easier than stringing up a
lot of wire. ;-)


Ralph Glatt

Andy writes:

If we have an EMP attack, who will you use the radio to listen to
???


Andy W4OAH

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

I'll admit that the idea of a tube receiver is partly based on looks
than EMP survivalbility. (I managed to find eight wonderful old
headsets at a school sale. Bakelite earpieces and cloth wrapped wire!)
I thought it might give me more of a 50's era Cold War feel. I'm sure
I'm not the only one who likes using tubes as well! ;-)

As far as using solid state, I wouldn't be opposed to it, especially if
I could figure a way to shield the parts from EMP. The main reasons I
wanted to adapt a car's AM radio was because they're cheap (I know for
a fact there's one at the local resale shop) and have a certain amount
of shielding, plus they run on 12 volt DC. I've discovered they have
plans for a shortwave converter in another of the Impoverished Radio
Experimenter's books, so I might look into that. There is also a bit of
that post-apocalyptic feel of using "junk" to listen to the airwaves.

I'm seriously considering getting a ham license. So far, the only thing
holding me back is learning Morse code for CW.

Thanks to all who have posted with suggestions, advice and comments.


Ralph Glatt

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

julian814 wrote:
I'm seriously considering getting a ham license. So far, the only thing
holding me back is learning Morse code for CW.

Do a search on Code Quick. I think the URL is www.codequick2000.com or
something like that. It's a combination audio/visual/tactile system
that teaches you how to copy morse code as if it were words and not
beeps.

Worked great for me, I tried for 29 years and never was able to get anywhere
near 5 wpm. With code quick I was able to pass the 13wpm test and at my
peak copy at 35wpm.

Best $50 I ever spent on the hobby.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
julian814 wrote:
I'm seriously considering getting a ham license. So far, the only thing
holding me back is learning Morse code for CW.

Do a search on Code Quick. I think the URL is www.codequick2000.com or
something like that. It's a combination audio/visual/tactile system
that teaches you how to copy morse code as if it were words and not
beeps.

Worked great for me, I tried for 29 years and never was able to get anywhere
near 5 wpm. With code quick I was able to pass the 13wpm test and at my
peak copy at 35wpm.

Best $50 I ever spent on the hobby.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/

Heck your hot mail dont work my links dont work. so try nj7p's tube
data web page I'm sure it has a link to an RCA tube manual. In the back
of the RCA tube manual is many a circuit an the older the manaul the
better the tube circuits are or were. I recall a converter or two back
in the day, all tube radio, on a points/distributor ignition system
car, yeah vibrators those were the days. You know the trick to clean
the contacts on a vibrator 100 watt light bulb in series with the coil
and plug it into the mains

Then just about the time tung sol invented the 12VDC plate voltage
tube, transistors took over.
I even know how to make a tube out of a dual filament car taillight.
Now there's a real tube.

ray
N8ZU/e0

Hey I like to know what country has a code requirement to get your
ticket.

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

I'm seriously considering getting a ham license. So far, the only thing
holding me back is learning Morse code for CW.
===========================
You currently only need to do a 5 wpm morse (receive only) for the
highest class of licence ,giving you all the privileges available to a
licenced radio amateur.
So you can start with with getting licences with not all the privileges
and enjoy operating before you go for the Amateur Extra class of licence.

Frank KN6WH / GM0CSZ

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

ray13 wrote:
Heck your hot mail dont work my links dont work. so try nj7p's tube
data web page I'm sure it has a link to an RCA tube manual. In the back
of the RCA tube manual is many a circuit an the older the manaul the
better the tube circuits are or were. I recall a converter or two back
in the day, all tube radio, on a points/distributor ignition system
car, yeah vibrators those were the days. You know the trick to clean
the contacts on a vibrator 100 watt light bulb in series with the coil
and plug it into the mains

Sounds good, I'll have to check it out.


Then just about the time tung sol invented the 12VDC plate voltage
tube, transistors took over.
I even know how to make a tube out of a dual filament car taillight.
Now there's a real tube.

I wouldn't mind knowing how to do that myself. One of the really good
radio books from Lindsay tells how to make your own vacuum tubes and
transistors. I'm thinking of picking that up as well.


ray
N8ZU/e0

Hey I like to know what country has a code requirement to get your
ticket.

I've been told that "real" hams know code. For now, I'm mainly
interested in listening to news from outside the US and possibly any
Civil Defense frequencies. Would definitely be interested in listening
into any frequency that plays old time radio programs.


Ralph Glatt

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

I even know how to make a tube out of a dual filament car taillight.
Now there's a real tube.

I, too, would like to see a circuit which demonstrates that "tube"
did something useful. Is it just a diode (i.e., rectifier), or
can it also amplify?

--
--Myron A. Calhoun.
Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, witness, jury, and cartridge
NRA Life Member and Rifle, Pistol, & Home Firearm Safety Certified Instructor
Certified Instructor for the Kansas Concealed-Carry Handgun license

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

All right, I think I've found what I'm looking for, but I'll need some
help. I found something on textfiles.com that looks to be close to what
I need, but there are some things that aren't quite clear.

http://www.textfiles.com/hamradio/convert.txt

If anyone can help me with the schematics and parts list, I'd
appreciate it.


Ralph Glatt

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave
 

julian814 wrote:
Yukio YANO wrote:
TUBES!! Tubes? Off of Battery, 6 Volt?, Vibrator? Inverter? 12 Volt B+
tubes ? Not since the 1950s ?
Am I reading too much between the lines ?

Yes, tubes. I have some that were pulled from circa 1960's television
sets, and I thought I'd use them, hoping that they'd be EMP resistant.
Been on kind of a survivalist kick, lately. Doesn't mean I'd be opposed
to using more modern equipment, though. One thing I saw that I liked in
one of the books I purchased was a loop antenna that uses transistors
to amplify the signal. Thought it might be easier than stringing up a
lot of wire. ;-)


Ralph Glatt

Tubes can be fun. Just be careful not to get zapped by the high voltage
power supplies..that isn't fun.

EMP? If your radio is subjected to one of those you won't be needing a
radio.

Have fun with the tubes and 73,

Bill KU8H

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

Highland Ham wrote:
I'm seriously considering getting a ham license. So far, the only thing
holding me back is learning Morse code for CW.
===========================
You currently only need to do a 5 wpm morse (receive only) for the
highest class of licence ,giving you all the privileges available to a
licenced radio amateur.
So you can start with with getting licences with not all the privileges
and enjoy operating before you go for the Amateur Extra class of licence.

Frank KN6WH / GM0CSZ

Well effective sometime in Feburary, 2007 you won't need code to get
the highest class of license. See?

My crystal ball saw this a coming.

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

Hey, OM:

If I remember correctly, in the late '80s / early '90s, Phillips made
an in-dash AM/FM/SWL/Cassette car radio. Always wanted one. I'm sure
there are still a few lurking out there.

Hey...just checked. Here's a Sony car stereo that covers SWL bands,
too!

See it at:

http://www.shortwavestore.com/sws/pr...&cat=42&page=1

Nifty!

--Kirk, NT0Z

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

NT0Z wrote:

If I remember correctly, in the late '80s / early '90s, Phillips made
an in-dash AM/FM/SWL/Cassette car radio. Always wanted one. I'm sure
there are still a few lurking out there.

Hey...just checked. Here's a Sony car stereo that covers SWL bands,
too!

They used to be popular in Europe where SW broadcasts were commonly used
as sources of news and entertainment. There may be many models still
available there. The problem with using them in the U.S. is that the AM tuner
will not work properly as the stations are 9kHz apart instead of 10kHxz,
and the FM stations will sound different.

I doubt that anyone driving in a car would notice the difference (it's
due to how the high freqencie sounds are processed) and the tuners may
be set or modifed to 10kHz spacing, or tune in 1KHz intervals.

73,

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

The particular Sony model I mentioned tunes in 9 or 10 kHz steps on the
AM BC band. It's obviously meant for use on either side of the
Atlantic... :) Wish I owned one!

--Kirk, NT0Z

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

Guys,

The Sony XR-5100 in car cassette AM/FM/SW radio is a great little
performer, and its mounted in my Pajero 4x4. I ordered my from the
Shortwave Store and picked it up when I was in Hawaii for my Wedding and
Honey Money 2 year ago (Else delivery cost to Australia was not going to
be worth it). Whenever I head out camping or just day trip I always
have a Shortwave Radio with me, without worrying about packing a
portable shortwave.

The only downside is the radio beeps when you press the tunning buttons.
So If you know what freq you want then you hold the tuning button
until you get there else you let it scan and stop on freq whichever you
desire. BTW it does have a remote control which I love as when I'm
sitting on the back tail gate / boot I can easy control the radio and
volume from back there :)

To make it more effective I carry two bits of random wire BLUEY 1 -
10foot blue light wire cable for short stops by the side of the road and
BLUEY 2 - a 100m drum of light wire cable for when I have time to run
a good bit of length.

I would highly recommend this radio, but if you can unlike mine do not
run it though a electric car antenna, however that said, when the car is
stationary and engine turned off the electric antenna is fine, and even
better when extended with a bit of wire :)

Regards
Mark

------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Canberra Australia
Radio: Icom R75 with DSP options
Antenna: Cliff Dweller 2
Website: http://people.aapt.net.au/~mark_rutherford/

NT0Z wrote:
The particular Sony model I mentioned tunes in 9 or 10 kHz steps on the
AM BC band. It's obviously meant for use on either side of the
Atlantic... :) Wish I owned one!

--Kirk, NT0Z

Converting AM Car Radio to Shortwave UPDATE
 

BTW That's HONEYMOON not Honey Money..... Sorry Darling :):)

------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Canberra Australia
Radio: Icom R75 with DSP options
Antenna: Cliff Dweller 2
Website: http://people.aapt.net.au/~mark_rutherford/

AussieDrifter wrote:
Guys,

The Sony XR-5100 in car cassette AM/FM/SW radio is a great little
performer, and its mounted in my Pajero 4x4. I ordered my from the
Shortwave Store and picked it up when I was in Hawaii for my Wedding and
Honey Money 2 year ago (Else delivery cost to Australia was not going to
be worth it). Whenever I head out camping or just day trip I always
have a Shortwave Radio with me, without worrying about packing a
portable shortwave.

The only downside is the radio beeps when you press the tunning buttons.
So If you know what freq you want then you hold the tuning button until
you get there else you let it scan and stop on freq whichever you
desire. BTW it does have a remote control which I love as when I'm
sitting on the back tail gate / boot I can easy control the radio and
volume from back there :)

To make it more effective I carry two bits of random wire BLUEY 1 -
10foot blue light wire cable for short stops by the side of the road and
BLUEY 2 - a 100m drum of light wire cable for when I have time to run
a good bit of length.

I would highly recommend this radio, but if you can unlike mine do not
run it though a electric car antenna, however that said, when the car is
stationary and engine turned off the electric antenna is fine, and even
better when extended with a bit of wire :)

Regards
Mark

------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Canberra Australia
Radio: Icom R75 with DSP options
Antenna: Cliff Dweller 2
Website: http://people.aapt.net.au/~mark_rutherford/

NT0Z wrote:
The particular Sony model I mentioned tunes in 9 or 10 kHz steps on the
AM BC band. It's obviously meant for use on either side of the
Atlantic... :) Wish I owned one!

--Kirk, NT0Z