Internal bluetooth receiver for transistor Beolits

12 replies
Let me first start by clarifying that I'm no electronics expert - and so there will likely be some fundamental things I'm not accounting for in this post, however, I'm hoping that someone can help me achieve what I'm trying to do! So... I have a fondness for Beolit transistor radios which comes from growing up with one in the family home, and have acquired a few over the years since. A year or so ago I had an idea of attempting to put together a bluetooth module from off the shelf parts that I could install (but be reversible) within the body of a Beolit with an external source input (a Beolit 1000 for example). After a period of searching and trial and error I created a rough solution which sort of works ? – a small step down power supply converter (from 7.5v to 5v) connected via the on/off switch (so the bluetooth board only uses power when the radio is *on*) – this then feeds a 5v bluetooth 4.1 board (took a while to find one that powers up in receive mode!) – the audio output of which is connected to the corresponding DIN input pins Well that's the theory - however, when I tested it on a Beolit 600 (using internal D cell batteries) as soon as I initiated streaming the sound from the radio just died away. Again I mention I'm not an electronics expert but I'm guessing that the current that is being drawn is too much to power the actual radio in addition to the ps and bluetooth board. I've subsequently tried a Beolit 1000, powered with an external 7.5V 1000mA DC input, and this successfully allows me to stream from my iPhone and hear the music. Success? Kind of, however, I'm getting *noise* in the background of the audio signal. As this is absent if I power the ps and bluetooth board via an external source I'm guessing it's related to how/where I'm pulling the power from internally. I'd love to get this all working and give me a new way to use my old Beolits but could use some sage advice! Where am I going wrong? Is this ultimately achievable? Thanks!  

Location: Nottingham, UK

My B&O Icons:

Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beovox.png Beovox.png
Beolit.png Beolit.png
Beogram-400x.png Beogram-400x.png
Hi. I've tried in the past to "bluetooth" various things: a Beosystem 10, a Beolit 707 and a Beocom 6000 at least. All this is documented on the old forum. The Beosytem 10 ended up being airplay-ed. For the 707, I use an USB receiver and a slim powerbank. It did work and was "useable". But the thing was that the sound was very bad. – Dumb assumption – I believe the speaker was meant to emphasis common frequency from radio or music from that time and now when you feed it with whatever modern sound (not music, sound) it just sounds hollow. Absolutely no benefit appart the pleasure of the game. Anyway, now what I want is to find a cheap, dead, not reparable 707 and a Beoplay A2 in the same condition and just tuck the last into the first. For what it worth the BS10 Airplay attempt ended up the same: sounds hollow, flat, better find a bargain con a Beolit 12: just what I did ! Hope this helps.

Location: Paris France

Thanks Matador - I'll have a dig around the old forum for your posts, I think I remember seeing the Beocom 6000 thread. I know the easy thing would be connect an Airport express to the DIN in (as I did with my own BS10 years ago) but I'd like to have something self powered and 'internal'. It's less about the sound quality and more the ability to make something 50+ years old still relevant today – and less dependant on software than today's B&O!

Location: Nottingham, UK

My B&O Icons:

Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beovox.png Beovox.png
Beolit.png Beolit.png
Beogram-400x.png Beogram-400x.png
Here's hoping! I read you 3D printed slider buttons for your 600 - I don't suppose you would mind sharing the file? I have a 400 missing all its buttons!

Location: Nottingham, UK

My B&O Icons:

Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beovox.png Beovox.png
Beolit.png Beolit.png
Beogram-400x.png Beogram-400x.png
It's the slider knob…

Location: Paris France

Fantastic – thanks!

Location: Nottingham, UK

My B&O Icons:

Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beovox.png Beovox.png
Beolit.png Beolit.png
Beogram-400x.png Beogram-400x.png
I don't know if they are legal everywhere, but you can buy small, fairly cheap, BT receivers that transmit a weak FM signal with a range of only a few metres. They need a 12V supply since they are most often sold for use in older vehicles. It's many years since I've tried one, before the time of BT, so it needed a wired signal in. If it works it wouldn't need any Beolit modification at all.
Thanks artig - I used to have something similar for my iPod back in the day, however, I’m looking for a solution that doesn’t rely on an external power source.

Location: Nottingham, UK

My B&O Icons:

Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beovox.png Beovox.png
Beolit.png Beolit.png
Beogram-400x.png Beogram-400x.png
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