In this video I take a closer look at the circuitry inside a car stereo. I also show how a modern mp3-player or smartphone can be attached to older car stereos. Support my channel: Patreon: / tpai Paypal: www.paypal.com...
Loverly job :-) My frend did a much cruder modification to a very old (radio only) unit about 7 years ago, the inputs to the volume/tone control pcb were chopped and a small DPDT relay was used to swap the inputs to a stereo cable that immerged from the back of the radio and plugged into an external cd unit. The switch just powered the relay, it worked well :-)
Most excellent tweaking... And this is done to listen to great music too !! ;-) Thanks a million, I am not the only one in the world attempting this sort of crazy thing...
Thank you for this kind comment. You have just made me laugh out loud and have given me a good portion of positive energy ! BTW: It seems that the electronics community on RU-vid is bigger than one would think and it seems to grow every day :) So I guess there are much more crazy people out there than we think ;P
I've just discovered your channel through Dave Jones recommendation on his EEVBLOG 2 channel... Congratulations for all your work... I share your exact state of mind concerning recycling of old electronics, and I believe that people like us will soon rule the entire Universe... ;-)
Nice. I have tried once just using the preamp input (tape head pins) as an aux input and a parallel switch-bypass switch to fool the tape deck into action. If I remember right, it worked just fine too. Much simpler but much less elegant. I'm planning an oem car radio to aux jack + double bluetooth receiver (for a rearview mirror GPS - Love the concept - and my phone for music) and I think I'll use your method while keeping the tape deck functional because I'm a nostalgic. :D
Ha, I modded the exact same radio for the exact same car a couple of years ago! I remember giving up on tracing the logic and ended up disconnecting the cassette motor and connecting the input signal to some pins on the backside somewhere near the potentiometer. That worked very well, although in hindsight I'm surprised that it did. Unfortunately, both devices are on the scrap yard for 3 years now, so no chance to review old work :D
I'm trying to solder the AUX input onto my 2004 Toyota Camry stock stereo, but on the motherboard of the stereo, there is very minimal labeling of the solder points. I have no idea how to proceed because I'm not sure which one to solder to. Anyone having any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Nice video! I've been looking for tutorials on how to hack devices to add some neat features and what not, like more of a generic tutorials to know how to go about hacking an electronic device. This gave me a pretty rough idea, thanks a lot! (: Will continue my research hehe
I would have kept the radio looking as original as possible, I would have used a push switch with the original fast forward/eject buttons, I would have also put the jack between the buttons and the cassette door
I had a question, i had a Toyota Corolla 2008, which has optional adapter for a AUX to add ac jack for cellphone or mp3. They are expensive. Is it a cheaper version DIY we can build itself?
Yes I also like these switches I've used them in a hack, i buy a chinese soldering station 2 in 1(soldering iron and heat gun) and now is 3 or 4 in 1. i adapted a desolderind gun and i can use the vacuum for othes things like a fume extractor or pic up smd components... 'm from Portugal Thank you!
Cool ! Greetings to your sunny country at the Mediteranian Sea ! Germany is cold and dark right now, I wish I could wander along your shores right now !
Nice explanation. I have always wondered why the most simple and un-interesting OEM-stereo's have code protection - /who/ would seriously steal such a primitive car stereo, when the car just beside it may have an after-market model, that has better sound, display, CD etc. - and in 9 out of 10 cases, no code! Could you please elaborate on the Scope-like instrument on the right of your table - i have never seen one like that.
I guess in the mid 1990s these stereos were still worth a pretty penny, but the full time job of "Car Stereo Thief" might have died out by now... A Stereo like the one in my car is worth 1-3 € on ebay :D The instrument on the right is a tube-oscilloscope. And by "tube" I don't mean the CRT. The entire circuitry is built on electron tube technology. The unit was build in communist eastern Germany ( The "GDR") back in the early seventies. It is still running well !
The Post Apocalyptic Inventor Cool! - I love CRT's and other Vacuum tubes, too. I would just not take it for a scope, because there is no front controls on it!
That's the weird thing about it: the controls are mounted on the right side of the enclosure (inside an indentation). Maybe I will make a video about my gear some time in the future.
Liked how you didn´t just hacked it but explained how the radio works! Btw Do you know the name of the song? Of course its old but I liked it for demonstration purposes!
l want people to think for themselves and I still hope that people will do some hacks of their own, after watching this video. When I explain how it works, this idea can maybe be applied to other models as well. Would I simply do the hack without giving an explanation, than this idea could only be applied to exactly the one model shown in the video. The song is an old folk melody from Scotland. I'm not sure about its name though.
In a normal analog audio amplifier I would maybe do the same thing, but in this case I think it is more practical to use the inputs of the audio processor. But using the the volume control to tap into the circuit would also ( in many cases) mean that you couldn't use the stereos internal balance, tone / equalizer functions, when fed by an external mp3-player.
Matt Heilman A "Bluetooth Cassette" :D, that's not bad at all. I like projects were something old and (seemingly) useless is connected to something new and funky :D. And your video seems to be quit popular as well, so I guess many people liked the idea. The only downside is, that the audio signal is converted so many times before it reaches the amplifier. That is what I wanted to avoid in my attempt to basically "hardwire" the signal into the circuit. But in the other hand: Your approach has the advantage that you don't have to mod the stereo at all.
Coole Idee! Allerdings ist nach dem Entfernen des Tapelaufwerks bestimmt noch Platz für eines dieser "Bluetooth Airplay" Module wie man sie von Logitech kaufen kann. BT Antenne nach aussen legen wenn moglich, sowie den Pairingknopf, intern die Stromversorgung des Moduls anklemmen und schon verbindet sich der Oldschoolkasten mit dem Telefon und spielt die Musik drahtlos!
Gubelat Ja das wäre auch möglich. Es ist allerdings nicht ausgeschlossen, dass ein Bluetooth-Modul Störungen im Radioempfänger oder sogar im Verstärker hervorrufen würde. Man müsste eventuell etwas Abschirmung aus Metall hinzufügen.
Excellent video. At 3:46 the diagram of the external connections includes SCL and SDA suggesting that there's an IIC connection. Any idea what that's for ?
Yes i think it stands for: "SCL" = "Serial CLock", "SDA = Serial DAta" or ("Serial Data Array" or similar). The Stereo is connected to other digital circuitry inside the car. For example the RDS-Feature (Radio Data System) enables the Stereo to filter digital information out of the radio signals and uses it to display the name of the radio station and other data on a seven segment display in the dashboard. When you enter the security code, the numbers of that code are also displayed there. I guess that's the purpose of those pins.
Hi, I have found a same car stereo and i tought i could use it as a standalone amplifier and casette player, but i don't what kind of power source should i use and how much the impedence of the speakers should be. Also i cannot understand, where sould i connent these things to the stereo. (i know there is a diagram, but i cannot understand the abbreviations) May, could you help me, please? :) Btw, i love your channel, i hope you will keep doing it :)
good tutorial I see 2 point here the first one you overlay power suply and signal with the switch? in thah case its a switch always "on"? just to discrimanete " radio or player? and second , you connect the jack to reader head of the player in the mother board?? thanks again
very informative video man! I was wondering if it possible to keep the old cassette player working and do all the other modification including the Bluetooth one?
what's wrong with that type of music? and why not get a headphone jack with jack detection switches..connect the switches to the jack and whenever you plug in the aux cable it automatically switches on.
I'm actually a long time Heavy Metal fan. But that's "Hardcore" and I never really liked that particular style. Concerning the jack: I did this hack on one sunday afternoon. I simply took those parts which I had in the house, and I didn't have a jack with an integrated switch. Besides: These jacks have normally just one switch, so it would have been necesary to add at least one more transistor circuit to activate the second switch. I also don't see the problem of putting a nice little switch on the front panel. I like how it looks and there is enough space anyways.
Thanks a lot can you make it clear at the point of inputs of the audio processor.. I mean a closer look as I couldn't find exactly where to connect the Aux. If you can send me a diagram where to connect the R& L CH and so the Ground. Many thanks
Very good, better was if the plug activate the switch and better if detects the signal and desconect the radio, I know I could do that easily but we do not, I'm just an enthusiast but I think your channel very good ... you are from which country in europe? thanks!
hey I have an old cassette player , the problem is that it is very old , I think maybe 80's or something it has equaliser with separate switches , I looked up the diagram of the cassette but with no luck ... could you make a video about it ? the equaliser ?
You can't really know it unless you try it, or have the entire circuit diagram in front of you. In general it is bad to not replace a load by a resistor, because you might then have an open collector( or open drain) transistor on the circuit board. That could possibly lead to problems, because no clearly defined logic state ( 1 or 0 ) might be present at the collector. It could possibly lead to malfunction of the device, or even to wild oscillations etc. It is highly unlinkely that the radio will be permanently damaged, but since a resistor like that costs next to nothing these days, I don't see a problem in soldering one on the board.
Hello, i wonder if you can tel me your info sources. Because I'm doing a paper about this radio and a youtube vidieo isnt a viable source. Thank you in advance.
I have an toyota fujitsu ten radio 18401, which has an cd input, a propietary conector at the back., If i press the cd button nothing happens, how can i make it think there is a cd player there, Do i hook the tx /rx line to power?
Here is a page, where you can find various pinouts of Toyota stereos. Just look for a connector that looks like the one on your unit: www.tehnomagazin.com/Auto-radio-car-connector/TOYOTA-Car-Radio-Wiring-Connector.htm
You missed an opportunity at 4:30. I would have said "and now I will demonstrate the tape drive functionality by playing some lovely children's bedtime music over a loud speaker" then after a few seconds, lightly snored and pretended you were sleeping for a second. "Sorry, bedtime music makes me sleepy.". Then again I have an odd sense of humor.
Well everybody's sense of humor is a bit different I think ;P That cassette is from a (girl)friend of mine and I guess she wouldn't like my jolly Scottish Folk Music as well :D
Hello! I have a different model of Blaupunkt and tried to reduce the noise adding resistor to the head wires but no good results. Your hack might help me. Unfortunately I couldn't find any service scheme, neither identify the audio outputs, however I'd appreciate if you could provide me with technical assistance. According to your accent I assume you are German. I have German friends and by nature they are always supportive. I just need to identify the input which has line-level impedance so that it doesn't produce noise when I input the audio signal coming from my ipod. Auf Wiederschreiben.
Ronor Cannel Yeah and I have enough time to answer them all, even though the questions are repetitive ? :D Oh boy. Well to make it short: I basically used the switch, because I didn't have a jack with integrated switches at hand. But it's also not that simple, because you have to close two separate switches. So you would need a jack witch not one but two integrated switches, or you would have to add ad least a little ciruit with some transistors.
Ronor Cannel I can say from first-hand experience doing essentially the same project (with a slightly different approach) that using a jack with a built-in switch can be problematic, especially if you use a low quality jack. Basically, any minor abrasions or corrosion of the jack switch contacts can cause the system to go between an on and off state as things vibrate, causing the audio to crackle and pop. A solution might be to have the jack-based switch control a more stable debouncing switch sub-circuit, but who wants to go through that trouble?
+The Post Apocalyptic Inventor Can you tell me how to fix a car stereo it is an original headunit with a usb to plug flash dirves in but after 7months the usb wont work or read nothing happned when i plug the flash drvie in it tried different drives to but they dont work and all of them work in other head unit i unmount it and every thing was good wireing capisitors and every thing was good i also scrap the face to inspect the usb port all connetions are good and soldered the stereo is a pioneer deh 15ub. thanks in advance i liked and sub
Verz usefull hack, ja? You can listen to polka vhile zou drive, ja? ;-) I'm tempted to do this to my Audi Gamma radio, no use for the tape deck anyway. You could have glued in the aluminum from the back side of the front panel, I think it would have looked better that way.
akkudakkupl Yeah I'm, sure optical improvements are possible. I did this in one afternoon and didn't spend a lot of time on thinking about the looks. It's just one of many possible ways to do it. The music is folk music from Scotland. I listen to it once in a while when driving :D
The Post Apocalyptic Inventor Function over form ;-) Problem is my Gamma is dead. There is no +5V on parts of the board, seems some SMD transistor gave out its life. As I suck with SMD I think the radio is either going to the bin (I would hate that, I like the original look of the interior) or I will have to shell out some Euros ;( Or get better with SMD :D
Niki Dorian absolutely. The amplifier sections of almost all car stereos, no matter how old, are basically identical to even the newest units. It's the same with most audio equipment. But nevertheless the big companies have managed to trick people into buying new units constantly. Most of the time because some new medium has hit the market, but just as often out of simple optical design changes. We have to stop thinking that way !
If your radio requires a key to take out, I would recommend watching this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-s3Y4lH-Vceg.html I didn't think it would work but sure enough it did lol. I haven't tried putting my radio back in, as I'm still working on it, so I don't know if I'll encounter problems when I do try to put it back in.