Radio Choice S4 Elan

[RichardHawkins]

I am approaching the point where I need to decide what to put in the radio aperture. I have a Phillips Turn o Lock, but it works on long and medium wave. There is a hole in the body for an aerial.

I don’t understand radio, stereo or in car entertainment, I only listen to BBC radio 4. I would like to keep the dash looking period correct, but don’t want to spend a large amount on something I won’t use or appreciate. Can anyone advise, or make suggestions? Is there a system that can be installed in the boot but controlled remotely?

Richard Hawkins

[nmauduit]

I understand BBC 4 still emits in LW, so an aerial would let you hear it on Philips the Turnolock 314 (which is the model I suppose you have, I had one in my S4 and gave up on it when I installed a TTR fast road exhaust)

or these radios are quite easy to modify to get a line in signal, that could then be supplied by a phone output, a MP3, or blue tooth operated device... (some fettling required - e.g. 2 wires to solder on the volume potentiometer, or a bit more elaborate, tons of sites about the subject)

[elanfan1]

Or buy one of mine in the For Sale section, then sell yours off

[Andy8421]

I understand BBC 4 still emits in LW, so an aerial would let you hear it on Philips the Turnolock 314 (which is the model I suppose you have, I had one in my S4 and gave up on it when I installed a TTR fast road exhaust)

or these radios are quite easy to modify to get a line in signal, that could then be supplied by a phone output, a MP3, or blue tooth operated device... (some fettling required - e.g. 2 wires to solder on the volume potentiometer, or a bit more elaborate, tons of sites about the subject)

Radio 4 is still transmitted on Long Wave at 198kHz from Droitwich, although its on borrowed time - the BBC have a limited supply of transmitter output valves (tubes) and when they are gone, they are gone (the site is actually now owned by Arquiva, BBC spun out its transmitter sites in the 90s).

I spent a few weeks at Droitwich in the early 80s as part of a BBC engineer training course when it was still in its art deco splendour. For those interested:

https://www.bbceng.info/Operations/transmitter_ops/Reminiscences/Droitwich/droitwich_calling.htm

Reception in a car on Long Wave is likely to be pretty poor unless you have gone to reasonable lengths to suppress interference from the ignition system. The Elan is particularly prone to this as the glass fibre doesn't provide any shielding, and provides a poor ground plane for the aerial.

[englishmaninwales]

I understand BBC 4 still emits in LW, so an aerial would let you hear it on Philips the Turnolock 314 (which is the model I suppose you have, I had one in my S4 and gave up on it when I installed a TTR fast road exhaust)

or these radios are quite easy to modify to get a line in signal, that could then be supplied by a phone output, a MP3, or blue tooth operated device... (some fettling required - e.g. 2 wires to solder on the volume potentiometer, or a bit more elaborate, tons of sites about the subject)

I went down this route and got my Phillips Turnolock modified to accept iPhone output and use it to stream the radio. Works fine, of course with no interference. The LW facility is retained so keeping the radio’s value, although LW is not useable unless you have extensive engine suppression.

[richardcox_lotus]

I understand BBC 4 still emits in LW, so an aerial would let you hear it on Philips the Turnolock 314 (which is the model I suppose you have, I had one in my S4 and gave up on it when I installed a TTR fast road exhaust)

or these radios are quite easy to modify to get a line in signal, that could then be supplied by a phone output, a MP3, or blue tooth operated device... (some fettling required - e.g. 2 wires to solder on the volume potentiometer, or a bit more elaborate, tons of sites about the subject)

I went down this route and got my Phillips Turnolock modified to accept iPhone output and use it to stream the radio. Works fine, of course with no interference. The LW facility is retained so keeping the radio’s value, although LW is not useable unless you have extensive engine suppression.

Who did you use, out of interest ?

Thanks,
Richard

[englishmaninwales]

Walmley Classics. rogerbeasley4(at) msn.com or zero seven970424616

Edited at add: I paid £60 for the conversion.

[TBG]

Slightly left handed solution that I use is my telephone - that I use for navigation using the fantastic Waze - connected to a bluetooth mini speaker on top of the dashboard so that I can more clearly hear the young ladies navigation instructions and when we stop in the ferry queue or are just pootling along one can play music, news, you tube videos et all. Works for us.........

[RichardHawkins]

Thanks everyone, but I should have explained my level of incompetence better. I don’t have a smart phone, I don’t know what an MP3 player is, and there is so much stuff on the net using terms I don’t understand to the extent that it may as well be a foreign language.

Richard Hawkins

[Andy8421]

Richard,

Most of the basic conversions involve intercepting the radio's innards between the bit in the radio that picks up the radio signal and turns it into a low level audio signal, and the bit that amplifies this low level audio signal enough to drive the speakers.

Injecting a low level audio signal from a different source (usually the headphone output from a phone) at this point allows the radio's existing amplifier to drive the speakers, and has the advantage that the radio's front panel volume control should still work.

A lead is brought out of the back of the radio either into the glovebox or dangling under the dash to plug into the phone or other music source's headphone socket.

[Craven]

BBC radio 4, is available throughout the UK on FM frequencies. Find a period AM/FM radio but find a good quality one as early models were poor on sensitivity.

[fatboyoz]

Hi Richard,
I know you said you didn’t want spend too much, but this site may be of interest.

https://www.tadpoleradios.co.uk/Default.aspx

Cheers,
Colin.

I am approaching the point where I need to decide what to put in the radio aperture. I have a Phillips Turn o Lock, but it works on long and medium wave. There is a hole in the body for an aerial.

I don’t understand radio, stereo or in car entertainment, I only listen to BBC radio 4. I would like to keep the dash looking period correct, but don’t want to spend a large amount on something I won’t use or appreciate. Can anyone advise, or make suggestions? Is there a system that can be installed in the boot but controlled remotely?

Richard Hawkins

[elanfan1]

Wow! Those prices are eye watering. I doubt any of the ones listed would fit in an Elan dash.

[fatboyoz]

Hi Steve,
Not sure about the German radios, but most of the Radiomobile and Motorola units are the correct size.
Cheers,
Colin.



uote="elanfan1"]Wow! Those prices are eye watering. I doubt any of the ones listed would fit in an Elan dash.[/quote]

[Andy8421]

Wow! Those prices are eye watering. I doubt any of the ones listed would fit in an Elan dash.

If price is a concern, but you are prepared to sacrifice some originality, then this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Car-Radio-Bluetooth-Stereo-Player-MP3-USB-SD-AUX-FM-In-dash-Head-Unit-UK/373119166940?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item56dfa2a9dc:g:cswAAOSwTAhesSRh&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACcBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%252Fn%252BzU5L90Z278x5ickk8ihYa55VeJusc0Ydu6jng%252FpBqyTKs9oWlQI0z8oG3dTzjy1E80tF%252F4skwwUIcj%252BclE3AudSCdCoWrLCMK7sB76NsktO7bVgOoWpXpW7Q2XZA4NEwrnS3qlNT4mkC8a1WbIi4AK4pwYPDYY36au1fAsErvj2jcpL05PARWMkRjjq4sYj0RSjytS4LdLV%252B4q7xBDxxomluGFBbzIIg7SvXVqCa1YoiooLrV67c%252BSv%252FWtoLbdxp2pp8IyT%252FiW%252B9jXpSpdJa3bFE%252Bf5260cSt%252FwuclOoBqGqSccInKK4IjO%252FUnuphhkgtzCpS8WI7Bquc%252Bjy46tKyZCRKjss1W2KWxxoiUxVUQ60Yehkg3mrIfrpXj3SNfdNiuiY1SRe8XKa4VZ7fgt50cNI8NXKXmbsnNP0JZyQzGpC5IHP56xMlFICgzUnVK8QTKxU4QWAasr0wFQaa575Qk%252FMGncT745uCFDMmL8fd9jbpWkXzFh4oUQB5ORIH6jCyj%252BzF7lFVnDgwTwDZ1gC9mjB7R0yyJEUhws0TsUJeJN6E0ik7kqMj2%252FXzzZ80cOMHJvG0IF7pdfO%252FvTXLH2o4TUe%252BYA%252BL4NkOguhxyfQGI3du21p0dmtkZKYgfyme%252FFqDlw%252Ft2qfLYJVjF%252Fwnh1E6eopgsncDdgl1fGVaVzdHGYs2btTruy%252FQl3ui6PlX5SJnspgSIMhBcM4YPbu2A6zGWrCovO3uUqOC7xp1bnivNBRFsgQ6ejO9M8QvjmXoocueuVbYLGQnWMIDgrzAhFitVFI6539QjbzFi1Bgw%253D%253D%7Ccksum%3A3731191669403cf7625ec221461f9b79d65180c16f40%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524

Is remarkable value. Unlike many of the old radio conversions, it really does support MP3 and syncing a Bluetooth phone, and doesn't need an MP3 player to operate. Just put your 60s summertime playlist on an SD card, and off you go.