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iPod AM Transmitter for iPod 3G

rkphoto

rkphoto

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 1, 2005
100
0
BROOKLYN
Alright this may not be an option but if anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated. I just bought a new (old) car. It's a 1964 Ford Thunderbird (see below). It's in beautiful shape, all original, only 38,000 original miles. It has the stock 1964 AM radio (they didn't want to spend the extra $44 to get the FM option) so I'm wondering if there are any AM transmitters out there. I've found loads of FM transmitters. I really don't want to start taking original parts out of the car but I would like to be able to listen to the iPod if possible. Let me know what you think.

Thanks,
rk
 

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I'm not finding anything via Froogle.com....only FM

If the car has a tape deck, that's a quick alternative. With the tape deck just make sure you balance the volume on the iPod and the stereo
 
Wow, nice car. I see why you wouldn't want to replace the radio.

My only idea is this: could you find a small amp (<s>AA-powered, maybe,</s> with a 3.5mm (1/8") minijack connector for the iPod) that could be connected directly to the car's speakers with a little fancy soldering?

Maybe this would work? http://www.fcsurplus.ca/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=198 I have no idea. It says it has RCA inputs, and you can easily get a 3.5mm to RCA cable so that you could connect the iPod to it. edit: It'd be powered by the car battery in this case.

That way you could have both the original radio and this new amp attached to the car's speakers. All you'd have to do then would be connect the iPod to the amp. I don't know much about the electronics of wiring speakers, but I'd imagine that with the right amp, it could be done. It should be just a case of matching the new amp's output to that of the original radio. You might be able to rig and wire it all so it fits in the glove box or under the seat.

Hope that helps. It might be the cheapest and least destructive way to connect your iPod up.
 
andylane said:
Hope that helps. It might be the cheapest and least destructive way to connect your iPod up.
Click to expand...

cassette

It's 20 bucks via apple so you can get something from belkin, or maybe an identical product for less than 10 dollars. That all depends on whether you have a tape deck or not. if not, andylane's way is better.
 
And it's a '64, so it was probably an option, but this thing has the base FM radio...so it's a no go. I use to have a baby monitor that transmitted AM. There has got to be something out there. I use to be big into AM transmitting (it goes farther per watt of power and it's cheap.)

Here you go:

Try here
 
Yeah, Ford only started putting in 8-track cassette decks in their cars in 1965.
The modern cassette deck didn't start appearing in autos until the late 70's.
The cassette tape popularized of course by the advent of the Sony Walkman.
 
Thanks everybody for your help and suggestions. Tape is not an option, Taeclee was right the 8 Track tape player was first offered as an option in '66. There was a AM/FM radio option that would solve my problem but I'm not having any luck finding one anywhere (plus the thought of ripping the dashboard apart to get it in doesn't sit too well). I'm going to look into the AM transmitter that was suggested by joecool. It'll work if it's battery operated and has an input that can be adapted to the iPod. Thanks for all your help. I welcome any and all other suggestions.

rk
 
why not just find a factory AM/FM radio and install that?? or......

my friend has a 68 firebird now and he just made a extra bracket and mounted a new amp under the dash now he has the pioneer ipod interface
 
Maybe I'm wrong on this, but wouldn't an AM rig sound like crap? (Got to defend my own idea somehow :) ) That said, the AM transmitter suggested does seem to operate off 12V DC.

If all else fails, you could always get one of those Bose Sounddocks. Throw it on the passenger seat and turn it on, and you've got yourself a messy, but usable, in-car sound system.

(edit: that is, if it runs off batteries.)
 
FYI they do make aftermarket radios that look like the original radios but with new tech like cassette or cd

Chris
 
Yeah, but he doesn't want it to LOOK stock, he wants it to BE stock. The model I posted can run off 12v car power and with a cheapo adapter will hook right up to an iPod. AM sound quality is poor compared to FM, but it's not that bad.
 
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