I Added ALEXA to this 1976 FERGUSON RADIO! | For no Particular Reason
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- čas přidán 26. 11. 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 📻
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 😊
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! 😊
'For No Particular Reason' is the best reason.
Certainly is! Thanks OB Wan! 😁
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... 🤔
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! 👍
SUPERB. blending old vintage stuff with modern technology is the best of both worlds. Respect the past embrace the future.
Unlike at lot of retro moders you have managed to keep the original functionality and added to it. Kudos to you 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!
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 :)
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! 🤩
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.
Nicely done!
Thanks Vince! 👍
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
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..
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! 🤣
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
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….
This was such a fun video to watch, bringing vintage and new together.
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. 👍
Sat here with a beer again watching this Steve haha. Again pure genius ✅👍
😁 thanks Scott! Hope you enjoyed your beer! 😍
What a fantastic idea. I'm on the look for an old radio now because this would be such a great conversation starter
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 👍👏👏😊
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!
As someone who struggles installing a light bulb this was quite impressive! Well done mate :)
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!
yet again your reactions are priceless.
Thanks for your videos, I felt confident enough to repair a 1986 GDR record player (RFT SP 3001). And I made it work 👍
Recently found your channel and I’m really enjoying your content. What you did in this video blew me away. Awesome
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! 👍
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! 👍
I loved this one. Good work year ago Steve!
One of my favourite videos from you Steve, just a brilliant idea! Possibly the coolest Alexa device in the planet
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!
My absolute favorite of your videos!
Thats so awesome!! Great job!
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.
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.
This is a great job you did, lad. Modernizing radios with Alexa is the greatest idea anyone came up with.
Wow, you're one talented guy. Such a cool project
This is the smartest thing I’ve ever seen, modern technology with a 70’s aesthetic feel…utterly brilliant 👏🏻
I greet you, I think your videos are great, I could watch you all day... 🤗
Thanks Martin! 👍
really cool idea and very nice execution!
Love this upgrade
beautiful piece
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.👍
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! 👍
Love the mash up content! Keep up the great content!!
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.
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! 👍
Great idea, mate. Good video. Your subs are going thru the roof.
Love this!!!!! Great job!
Seriously, this channel is great. This chan deserves all the subs.
Thanks Stonecold! 😁
Captain Mod! You're venturing to other territories never walked by Man! Wow! What a fine mod!
😁 thanks Pedro! 👍
This was a great idea. Made me think that I could do something similar with my dad's broken pickup player.
Nice project man! Great video as usual, cheers!
Thanks James! Appreciate it! 👍
Steve great job I'm very impressed great job 👌 take care 👌
Thanks DR! 😍
This is BLOODY BRILLIANT!
😊 thanks Matt!
good job unplugging that power cord before cutting it Steve!
Brilliant, this has inspired me to order a soldering iron !
This is proper cool. Love it.
What a great idea 💡 old tec with a new twist outstanding
Just found this channel and loving it👌🏼
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 👍
Id love to see more videos like this where you add Alexa to stuff that don't normally have it, Great video
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! 😁👍
Nice work man!
Awesome channel. Great project.
Mate,, you're a genius 👍👏👏
Nice one Steve - just came across your channel now & subscribed. I'm 62 and love 70's equipment even though sadly I don't have any at the moment. I just have very fond memories of the quality of sound of that era - and especially bass. I supposedly have a good avr and speakers but can't get into listening to music on it at all - just doesn't have the punch I remember. It maybe because of the range of digital audio sources as well.
I'll look at more of your videos - thanks for sharing.
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.
Was about to do this myself 🤦 then noticed the smoke coming from the clock at the end 🤣 great idea thou ❤️❤️❤️
My new favorite channel!
Great content. Very interesting.
the smoke reflection at the end....nice!
Loved the video ! Mate did similar thing with a old army field radio.
Love it, Steve.
Cheers Steve! 👍
Fantastic work love it so cool
You sir, are a legend. 👍
Nice work, great idea too
Thanks Michael! 👍
Such a cool thing. I'm gonna listen to Hipsway now.
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! 🐈
Fantastic job.Amazing how something as old as me can be used with modern technology. (I can't).
🤣 thanks Chris!
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.
Nice job & I am glad you still have all of your fingers. I put a Sonoff Mini R2 in my Mr. Coffee. I have a reminder on my watch that warns me if I leave it on for 4 hours. BTW I have 10 Alexa's and none are inside of a radio, GG.
This is maybe the coolest video you've done yet!
🤩 thanks Sixty! Really happy with how it turned out! 👍
Another clever mod!
Thanks Micro! 👍
Good stuff!!!
1st class video to watch thank you take care kind regards from me kenneth😜
I had one in the 70s great radio
Seems like it has amazing sound quality ...I was actually surprised.
you could add a "sound activated relay" to detect if there's sound from the alexa and push the power button when it sees sound.
but this also works, it's just always powering the amplifier.
I would most likely do the same if i were in that situation
Brilliant 👏👏👏
One of your best thanks :) and we both said "INPUT" at the same time in Jonny 5 style :)
😁 brilliant!
Nice work. 👍
Thanks Mick! 😁
Wow, a "Short Circuit" reference 😮 "Input..." Some deep cuts here 😂
Lovley looking radio - very cool 😎
I am in the middle of doing the same (with a slightly newer radio cassette) i am hoping to mount the Alexa lights on the front somewhere.
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! 😁
Hipsway - Honey Thief.
Excellent track !