The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Hi all!

How does this thing work? Is it a radio without an amplifier, or?

I am having the idea that you could use it in combination with an AM radio? Would that work? Is that the meaning from the start?

Thanks!

At a guess I would say that it connects to your car antenna and works like a radio.
But instead of being connected to the speakers it probably sends an AM signal to your existing radio (through the coax cable) and you tune your existing radio into the same frequency this FM receiver is putting out.

I have never seen one before but I have seen CD players that work that way for cars that did not come with a CD unit.

i think maybe you should call the number see if it still works, i might try my self,Lol

dave-r wrote:At a guess I would say that it connects to your car antenna and works like a radio.
But instead of being connected to the speakers it probably sends an AM signal to your existing radio (through the coax cable) and you tune your existing radio into the same frequency this FM receiver is putting out.

I have never seen one before but I have seen CD players that work that way for cars that did not come with a CD unit.

Thanks! You are probably right.

I got these information from two ads:

The unit mounts under the dash and connects to your existing AM radio by playing through your antenna line.

Connect the cars antenna to this unit and run the units antenna wire to the radio. Hook up power to the converter and tune your AM radio to channel 1400. The converter is now the tuner.


I find it a bit intresting since I always have thought that an old AM radio is crap. Maybe it is useable after all !? (If you like the vintage style/old school.)

Those were common here in the USA in the 1960s-1970s when FM first started gaining popularity. USA auto manufacturers didn't start putting AM/FM stereos in cars as standard equipment until later, starting IIRC the early to mid 1980s???

fal308 wrote:Those were common here in the USA in the 1960s-1970s when FM first started gaining popularity. USA auto manufacturers didn't start putting AM/FM stereos in cars as standard equipment until later, starting IIRC the early to mid 1980s???

Thanks! Intresting! I have wondered about that.

I am born in 1965. After that, we have only used FM radio over here if I remember it right.
(I wonder when we started using FM radio?)

I thought these gadgets were obsolete and not sought after. Now I find that the better looking ones are selling for $30-$60. Is it me who is too stingy? Are they really useable and worth that much?

(Yeah, I know. I should concentrate on my project instead of doing other unnecessary things.... )

Maybe folks are doing 70s-era restomods. This would most likely have been one of the first mods after wheels/tires. Had to have tunes for cruisin'

fal308 wrote:Maybe folks are doing 70s-era restomods.

Maybe so. I have no idea myself since I became familiar with this setup only a few days ago.

fal308 wrote:Had to have tunes for cruisin'

I fully agree.

fal308 wrote:Those were common here in the USA in the 1960s-1970s when FM first started gaining popularity. USA auto manufacturers didn't start putting AM/FM stereos in cars as standard equipment until later, starting IIRC the early to mid 1980s???

Once installed you adjust the volume with the AM radio and the channel with the FM converter? (or do you adjust both volume and channel with the AM radio?)

Maybe stupid question but this whole thing is new to me....

I've had a few of those, in the past. You set your A.M. Radio to a certain station. Don't remember wich one, very long ago. You have your antenna hooked to F.M. unit, then looped to your A.M. radio. Once, you have the A.M. unit, tuned in to the right frequincy, you can tune the F.M. converter. If you want to go back to A.M., just turn the converter off, and use the A.M., as normal. I had these in my 63' Impala, and my 66' Fury. Worked very well in the early 80's. After that, nothing beat some serious, KENWOOD, Power! 200 Watt's, was a good start.
Patrick