I Added ALEXA to this 1976 FERGUSON RADIO! | For no Particular Reason
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 พ.ย. 2021
- I picked up a lovely looking Ferguson 3196 bedside radio from a charity shop for less than £5. Why not add Amazon Alexa to it by dismantling an Echo Flex and harvesting some parts!?
Hope you enjoy!
Steve
PS. I'm not an expert in repairs at all. I do this for fun, and it may not be the best or safest way to go about repairing broken stuff. I'm pretty good at melting plastic though. Please don't copy me - I'm an idiot.
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Looks constipated on the thumbnail.
I was a bit.
How does a mathematician cure constipation? He works it out with a pencil.
@@stevespeck3586 🤣🤣🤣
@@stevespeck3586 The non-mathematicians just work it out on their fingers
@@dpowerful1 😀
This is really cool, only thing I would think would make it cooler is if you could integrate the Alexa light into the display somehow. Like make it light up the front tuner display when Alexa is listening? Would definitely add a cool factor to it. :)
And maybe repurpose one of the buttons on the radio as a mic mute, so She Who Shall Not Be Named isn't constantly listening from just by the bed 😳
You should have twitted the input cable to get less noise. Nice mod butifull radio 📻
People watch these vids and read the comments even 2 years on. . . or is it just me?
Anyway, this project was right in my wheelhouse. On behalf of a workmate I bought an old valve radio, recap'd the gutz, with caps (bought from Umerika) found the audio input and installed a balanced aux in lead out to an iPod which would hide behind the radio. The fella loved it; an old time radio sitting on his bar but magically playing "modern" digital music from its beautiful valve amplifier. There was no Alexa those days but I can see the huge advantage of integrating Siri or Alexa. Hmm.
'For No Particular Reason' is the best reason.
Certainly is! Thanks OB Wan! 😁
Unlike at lot of retro moders you have managed to keep the original functionality and added to it. Kudos to you for that.
To tune in to SW you gotta have an outdoor antenna or a long wire attached to the radio at one end and the other end is out of the house. Great video 😊
SUPERB. blending old vintage stuff with modern technology is the best of both worlds. Respect the past embrace the future.
This is a great idea and having the finished product not even give a hint of the magic inside is brilliant. Love it!
Thank you! I'm really happy with how it turned out, no-one would ever know what's going on inside! 😊
I really, REALLY love seeing people who managed to implement modern functionalities in vintage technologies without modifying it's cosmetics outside, and I'm a sucker for it! You've appeared on my recommendation and it certainly caught my eye!
Should find the preamp chip on the board of the old radio and pull the input pins out of the board and put in a bypass to the Bluetooth/Alexa... LN-BT02 is the unit I use to convert all my old radios... Pro tip - when using cutters to strip wires turn the flat side of your cutter to the side you'll be pulling off..
good job unplugging that power cord before cutting it Steve!
good idea as a whole.. there is one part which isn't needed though ! the second small amp..... you've got an amp (alexa plug) feeding another small Bluetooth amp feeding the radio amp. 3 amps in total, you could ditch the middle one (Bluetooth amp) and get the same if not better audio quality most likely.
but no bluetooth which is why he said he'd keep it
A delight to see the old trusty Fergus on radio is venturing its new life with Alexa and preserving its look. I can imagine they both having good good time. A marriage made in heaven I think😄😅😂. You did a great job and it is a shame less singing this time from you😔.
Thanks M m! 😁 some people are probably grateful for that! 🤩
Shortwave is alive and well. It just depends on your location, and time of day, and if the sun is acting a nut or not (the solar flux plays a huge roll in shortwave propagation, and a solar flair will kill reception). In the day time higher frequencies work better than low frequencies, at night lower frequencies do better than higher frequencies. It also depends on how good the antenna is, electrical interference is a constant issue with shortwave.
Not to mention needing an antenna!
@@kastrosama It does have an antenna, it's that single thin black wire hanging out the back.
@@madmax2069 I spotted it after I commented. Nice build though!
Brilliant. I think that was an awesome thing to do and it truly sets you apart from someone who just repairs. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Oz, much appreciated! 👍
Splendid project Steve ... love the mix of old and new tech. How about finding a scrap 1940s/50s tv cabinet and fitting it with a tablet in place of the tube? Keep up the great work 👍😀
Thanks Chris! That sounds like a great idea! I'm definitely going to look into that! 👍
So much this ^
What about incorporating a toaster inside a Betamax video recorder?
Would need to do something to stop oil from the cassette mechanism getting on to the bread though.
Brilliant idea.
Not a good idea, I tried it, you can't get the new screen to look like an old crt screen, BUT maybe you can think of a way... 🤔
Many years ago I added Bluetooth to an early 80s radio. Was very proud of that creation. And now I need to add Alexa to a 70s machine! You've inspired me, thank you :)
Ah man, this brought back some memories. My dad had this above his bed all throughout my childhood. Used it as an alarm everyday to get up for work
Im glad im not the only one that hurts himself opening these really old machines haha.
Love this project, such a cool idea and could easily be adapted to any old system :D
😁 thanks Tony! I thought it was just me, so that makes me feel better if others are hurting themselves too! 🤣
just now at the end of the video lol I found out why you weren't actually saying alexa AND you sir are a genuine legend!
This is the smartest thing I’ve ever seen, modern technology with a 70’s aesthetic feel…utterly brilliant 👏🏻
Wow, a "Short Circuit" reference 😮 "Input..." Some deep cuts here 😂
Sat here with a beer again watching this Steve haha. Again pure genius ✅👍
😁 thanks Scott! Hope you enjoyed your beer! 😍
Captain Mod! You're venturing to other territories never walked by Man! Wow! What a fine mod!
😁 thanks Pedro! 👍
Nicely done! P.S. Shortwave is still going; I expect that to get good reception, you need a longwire and to situate it away from sources of interference.
old tech circuit boards just look so much better than modern ones.
😂😂 the simon says segment made me laugh out loud, loved it!!!
upgraded nostalgia, well done! projects like this gives the unbreakable old devices even a longer lifespan and also new idea's for future projects for you and others. I am a-technical myself, but i appreciate your work. Fun to watch.
Seems like it has amazing sound quality ...I was actually surprised.
I greet you, I think your videos are great, I could watch you all day... 🤗
Thanks Martin! 👍
That's the beauty of old electronics devices. You can bring them to the current times. Good luck bringing current electronics devices to 2070 though.
ive just found your channel and been binge watching your videos, really my cup of tea, love this kind of stuff and your work is brilliant, and you have Vince and Tronics fix follow you, wow , well done, your channel is going to be huge.
Thanks Dom! Really appreciate that. 👍
Another clever mod!
Thanks Micro! 👍
And it plays Hipsway - The Honeythief. Respect
@4:17 -- safety first kids, and second,, and possibly third. 😄
yet again your reactions are priceless.
Throughout my childhood, my grandfather had a really old stereo/amplifier system next to his chair. It had the most magnificently clunky switches and heavy, metals dials... it was beautiful. It's all I wanted when he passed because I wanted to do the same thing you had done to this bedside radio. After he passed I went to collect it, only to find that someone had thrown it out!! I can't quite explain what that piece of electronics meant to me but it meant far more than it could be worth in function or value. Not only did it hold some of my oldest, nostalgic feelings but it gave THE most pleasurably tactile feelings of a device (pun away!). I wish I had taken note of what brand it was, even if I couldn't have his, I could still have tracked down an alternate of it.
Steve if only your soldering was as good as your vibrato 15:16 🤣 jokes ass-ide, bloody good work on Mcgivering the radio!👍🏻
🤣 Thanks BeoGeek!
I love the old radio Steve and then to put Alexa in great idea 💡 I have watched a few of your videos and enjoy the way you do your videos well done sir 👍👏👏😊
My absolute favorite of your videos!
I just found your channel so I have been binging a bit, and this has been my favorite video so far. One of my dream projects is turning a Sony Boombox from the 80s(Something like a Sound Rider) into a smart device.
Steve mate,i did the bluetooth hack to my cd/digital radio.
I found the 5v DC power rail on the origininal motherboard and tapped into that,and wired the bluetooth output to the aux in socket .
Nice job mate,please keep the vidyaas coming .
You are funnier than MMV but he's still a tryer 😂.
😁 thanks Daveyboy! That sounds like an awesome mod! I'd like to do more stuff like that, there's something nice and rewarding about modernising old tech! 👍
Brilliant, this has inspired me to order a soldering iron !
As someone who struggles installing a light bulb this was quite impressive! Well done mate :)
It would be cool to take one of those old boomboxes with a little tv in it, and update it with an lcd video player.
Hipsway - Honey Thief.
Excellent track !
Being a nerd for old vintage electronics, I feel I could do transporting back to the 70’s, and get to feel the vibes of those times. Good to keep old vintage electronics, bringing them upto the new era.👍
Now this was rather interesting to watch there Steve that retro Ferguson radio & Alexa combo great idea you thought of there - Nice 1 mate 👍
Thanks Chris, I think it looks great and it works really well! 👍
I can't believe I have binge watched nearly all your vids, enjoyed every one too and my cats just lurve your singing... :P
😂 glad your cats enjoy! 🐈
*Hey Mathew what do you see? the A Team, The A Team, I see the A Team* 😎
I loved this one. Good work year ago Steve!
Seriously, this channel is great. This chan deserves all the subs.
Thanks Stonecold! 😁
Sleeper radio genre is born
Wow, you're one talented guy. Such a cool project
here is other music by Nana Mouskouri...... "NO, that's absolutely not happening" I spat my coffee out my nose and onto my keyboard and monitor... thanks Steve
Love this upgrade
"Hey Matthew" LOL . Great upgrade :)
Nicely done!
Thanks Vince! 👍
Wow never realized how much your huge 240v plug standard limits minimizing the size of things until I saw that amazon device. That is the size plug we use on our clothes dryers here in the States!
What a fantastic idea. I'm on the look for an old radio now because this would be such a great conversation starter
I'm here for explosions!! 🤣😇
This is a great job you did, lad. Modernizing radios with Alexa is the greatest idea anyone came up with.
love the work english isnot my first launge
I picked up a VHS player for $8 (£6.35) at this thrift store here in the US. It woks awesome and I already converted one video to digital.
What a great idea 💡 old tec with a new twist outstanding
Holy cow... HEY MATTHEW!!!
This is BLOODY BRILLIANT!
😊 thanks Matt!
thank you for not saying alexa nice upgrade
thank you have a nice weekend
Mate,, you're a genius 👍👏👏
It's a triumph, great project!
PS Nana Mouskouri is a bit of a legend in my eyes. Still going at 88... bless.
One of your best thanks :) and we both said "INPUT" at the same time in Jonny 5 style :)
😁 brilliant!
Steve you set my fire tablet off every time you said Alexa
You sir, are a legend. 👍
Truly Amazing Content !!! I am blown away with this idea ! Stumbled upon your channel for fixing/ repairing which I have been enjoying older episodes but then to find this nugget of cosmic mix of old retro nostalgia dragged into modern times! I wish I had the skills to do something like this….
Nice work Steve and a nice upgrade loving the retro look
Thanks Stephen! Yeah, it looks awesome and it works really well. Very pleased with it! 👍
One of my favourite videos from you Steve, just a brilliant idea! Possibly the coolest Alexa device in the planet
Thanks for your videos, I felt confident enough to repair a 1986 GDR record player (RFT SP 3001). And I made it work 👍
This is really cool even without the Alexa! Nice find! In 30 years people are going to be taking this apart again and wondering why there’s an outdated Alexa from a totally different time period. 😂
Great idea, mate. Good video. Your subs are going thru the roof.
DAVE : "GOOD, ..Adaptation.., Improvisation but your weakness is not your technique" now THIS was electronics tinkering! more of this with mustard, Dijon maybe .
This was such a fun video to watch, bringing vintage and new together.
Great job Steve, i like it! The old Ferguson sounds pretty decent for the size the driver and tiny magnet.
Thanks Les! I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sound. Lacking a bit of bass, but the mids are excellent! 👍
What a great project.
I've just picked up a couple of faulty Google Home devices that I want to play around with if I get them up and running.
I'm going to have to keep an eye out for an old radio now!!!
Thanks Craig. I love the end result of this, especially since it still looks original. Good luck with the Google Home's 👍
Recently found your channel and I’m really enjoying your content. What you did in this video blew me away. Awesome
I had one in the 70s great radio
My new favorite channel!
i subscribed simply because of your singing abilities
Such a cool thing. I'm gonna listen to Hipsway now.
Another nice mod. Radio takes me back to when I was a kid...all audio equip had to be the size of a bungalow and teak effect!
Absolutely Stuart! it's true, they don't make 'em like they used to! 😁
Wow what a great idea Steve 💡 👏 😀 👍.....now you got me thinking 🤔 😀 I think I am going to do something like that....cheers mate 👍 👌 😀
It's great, I'm really happy with how it came out! There's something special about having new tech inside of old! 😁👍
The best part is - this radio can still work as intended. Strenghts of both, weaknesses of neither.
Best thing you ever made..))
Hi, Stez! Yes, that DIN 5 is a tape deck connector. Pins 1 and 4 are for left and right, pin 2 is the common ground, and 3 and 5 are left and right outputs (to record a tape in the deck). The outputs come from the pre-amp, so you can use it as an output for a bigger amplifier if you wish to. :)
But that is not a “line” output. Its a variable one
Was about to do this myself 🤦 then noticed the smoke coming from the clock at the end 🤣 great idea thou ❤️❤️❤️
Love the mash up content! Keep up the great content!!
beautiful piece
Good job. Should have fixed the blinking clock as well.
Loving the Sarah Ferguson radio
really cool idea and very nice execution!
Fantastic job.Amazing how something as old as me can be used with modern technology. (I can't).
🤣 thanks Chris!