Vintage radios are truly beautiful. Their design is synonymous with attitude and identity, and it's a pleasure to use them even today, but time shows no mercy. Despite the web being full of restoration tutorials, high-voltage electronics aren't for everyone, and a cracked bakelite case is hard to replace. However, the world of DIY has a different opinion. With a Raspberry Pi Zero W, a 3D printer and a lot of code, we can shape a high-quality clone and add modern features like internet streaming support.
Unless you're interested in politics or sports, traditional radio doesn't deliver much. Many countries have abandoned AM broadcasts, while FM stations only play the overprocessed music that record labels throw onto the market. As strange as it may seem, that's an injustice to radio sets. They have always been seen as faithful companions, from the first hours of the morning to the moment you rest your head on the pillow. Radios used to transmit warmth, but if current content is so poor, the loss of listeners is inevitable.
A Modern Twist on a Classic
The good news is that radios, like televisions, can adapt to new forms of consumption. Online we find various tutorials for AM and FM transmitters, but what we have here today is the clone of a vintage radio with a Raspberry Pi heart.
Components and Software
The guide published by Tinkernut is quite advanced, especially on the software side. Among the main components we find a Raspberry Pi Zero W (not required, but its WiFi support is very useful), a small MAX 98357A amplifier from Adafruit, a breadboard, a 1.8-inch LCD screen, two rotary encoders that can also be pushed, a battery, a speaker, and several cables. The centerpiece of the software is Mopidy, a player compatible with the most important streaming services. After configuring several dependencies and services on the Raspberry Pi, Mopidy logs into a premium Spotify account and plays all its music.
No, building the radio is not simple and not exactly cheap either. The amplifier, the breadboard, and the LCD screen together cost three times more than the Raspberry Pi Zero W. However, a fundamental aspect of any DIY project is that its "rules" are optional Anything that allows you to improvise and reduce costs is welcome.
