Temporary radio?
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
From: Urbandale, Iowa
Temporary radio?
Hi folks!
Here is a little hypothetical situation for you...
Let's say that someone bought a 69 F100 on Ebay (it should be in my gallery), and now has to fly out and drive it home.
Let's also say that the trip just a little over 1000 miles.
Now let's assume that the truck has no radio.
The trip in question will occur 6 days from today.
The person in question could take a portable CD player, but what he really wants is to be able to listen to the different radio stations along the way.
A portable radio might do the trick, but he is concerned that the reception will suffer, not to mention the issue of power to the radio (batteries or run a power converter off the lighter).
An MP3 player is not an option, as this guy is not jiggy with the current technology (or terminology).
The budget will allow small purchases - let's say less than $75.
Does anyone have a suggestion? Barry, anyone who knows about half wave lengths ought to be a real wiz at this....
Thanks!
Here is a little hypothetical situation for you...
Let's say that someone bought a 69 F100 on Ebay (it should be in my gallery), and now has to fly out and drive it home.
Let's also say that the trip just a little over 1000 miles.
Now let's assume that the truck has no radio.
The trip in question will occur 6 days from today.
The person in question could take a portable CD player, but what he really wants is to be able to listen to the different radio stations along the way.
A portable radio might do the trick, but he is concerned that the reception will suffer, not to mention the issue of power to the radio (batteries or run a power converter off the lighter).
An MP3 player is not an option, as this guy is not jiggy with the current technology (or terminology).
The budget will allow small purchases - let's say less than $75.
Does anyone have a suggestion? Barry, anyone who knows about half wave lengths ought to be a real wiz at this....
Thanks!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 8
From: Brea CA
Temporary radio?
Hi, this may be low tech but for your budget and purpose I would just buy a boombox with a tuner in it, they are pretty sensitive plus you could play CD's. When you get home the purchase will still be useful. A Walkman would do it but you'd get busted for wearing the headphones while driving.
Barry
Barry
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1
From: Central Kali
Temporary radio?
I like a radio from about the 1986 era. You can get these for about $25 in a wrecking yard. AM/FM, some have a tape. The wires aren't too hard to figure out. Hook up temporary speakers and power and you will be set. 
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 21
From: Texas
Temporary radio?
I like the small boom-box idea. They usually have good reception. get one with a 12v adapter if possible. Battery's are expensive these days.
I've done this twice now. Ebay and roadtrips. I love it. Just in case you have not seen my story's, follow the links to the trips to pick up the trucks just below the picture of my 67:
http://www.thedreyerfamily.com/69f25.../67project.htm
If you do a search here, you might find my old thread about what to take when flying out and driving a 30+ year old truck 1000+ miles. I think it was in march or april of this year.
I've done this twice now. Ebay and roadtrips. I love it. Just in case you have not seen my story's, follow the links to the trips to pick up the trucks just below the picture of my 67:
http://www.thedreyerfamily.com/69f25.../67project.htm
If you do a search here, you might find my old thread about what to take when flying out and driving a 30+ year old truck 1000+ miles. I think it was in march or april of this year.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA(best weather in the world)
Temporary radio?
where would this hypothetical truck be? I'd be a little nervous driving an unknown truck 1000 miles.
Walmart has a nice little boombox with CD and AM/FM radio for $28.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...%3A3983%3A4527
Don't forget to bring plenty o' drinking water.
Good luck, hypothetically
Walmart has a nice little boombox with CD and AM/FM radio for $28.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...%3A3983%3A4527
Don't forget to bring plenty o' drinking water.
Good luck, hypothetically
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
From: Urbandale, Iowa
Temporary radio?
Hi Gtex
I have followed your road trip exploits with much interest, and the truck will have an oil change, and belts / hosed checked and/or replaced before I depart. It has also had a recent PA inspection, which the seller says is fairly rigorous - Anybody in PA care to comment on that?
pa'struck - the truck in question is in Reading PA. I will be bringing it back to central Iowa. At least I won't be driving through the desert, like Gtex has done. I will have the advantage of driving through some of the most populated states (PA, Ohio, Illinois). I should be on the road about 4:00 pm Tuesday, so I should be able to put 7 or 8 good hours of travel in during the cool of the evening, before I stop to rest and if there are no problems, I will finish the trip on Wednesday.
I too, am a little nervous about the trip, but the 360 only has 85000 miles on it, give or take. I know that engines can break from lack of use as well as too much, but it has been inspected and of course, the seller claims it (altogether now)
RUNS GOOD!
(hypothetically)
I have followed your road trip exploits with much interest, and the truck will have an oil change, and belts / hosed checked and/or replaced before I depart. It has also had a recent PA inspection, which the seller says is fairly rigorous - Anybody in PA care to comment on that?
pa'struck - the truck in question is in Reading PA. I will be bringing it back to central Iowa. At least I won't be driving through the desert, like Gtex has done. I will have the advantage of driving through some of the most populated states (PA, Ohio, Illinois). I should be on the road about 4:00 pm Tuesday, so I should be able to put 7 or 8 good hours of travel in during the cool of the evening, before I stop to rest and if there are no problems, I will finish the trip on Wednesday.
I too, am a little nervous about the trip, but the 360 only has 85000 miles on it, give or take. I know that engines can break from lack of use as well as too much, but it has been inspected and of course, the seller claims it (altogether now)
RUNS GOOD!
(hypothetically)
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA(best weather in the world)
Temporary radio?
I'm sure you'll have no problems. Sounds like you have most of the important stuff covered. Are you going alone?
Make sure to post some pics when you get it home.
Dennis
Make sure to post some pics when you get it home.
Dennis
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 622
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From: Urbandale, Iowa
Temporary radio?
Yes. I am going alone. Hence the desire to listen to the radio. Don't tell anyone, but I actually like to listen to talk radio sometimes.
Thanks for the responses - I will probably get a power converter and use one of our boomboxes.
Thanks for the responses - I will probably get a power converter and use one of our boomboxes.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Temporary radio?
The F100 I purchased was driven from New Mexico to western Pennsylvania about 5 months ago and made it with no problems... It's a 97K mi, mostly original truck. I currently have no radio so I can understand, long trips get boring....
Why not purchase a cheap ****/shaft style radio and zip tye it somewhere under the dash... Theyre simple to install, 1 positive wire, two speaker wires and everything is a common ground... Run to a pair of speakers in boxes on the floor.
Why not purchase a cheap ****/shaft style radio and zip tye it somewhere under the dash... Theyre simple to install, 1 positive wire, two speaker wires and everything is a common ground... Run to a pair of speakers in boxes on the floor.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Temporary radio?
The boombox should be ok for strong signals, but may be a bit iffy if you are out on the interstate. Mainly cuz the antenna is inside the truck surrounded by a metal faraday shield. You would be much better of if you could find an old car radio to rig up, and install a real antenna outside. The antenna will be handy in the future no matter what radio you have. I have an old ac-delco AM-FM on my floor. "70-80's pushbutton type". It won't fit in the ford radio hole. I know running a GM radio in a ford truck is funky, but the older ac-delco is one of the best car radios ever made. Very good for AM. BTW, a 1/2 wave for 88 mhz is 63.682 inches. But you would usually use a 1/4 wave if mounted on a truck body. 30-35 inches is a good height for FM. But less will do. The taller the better for AM. MK