Dumb question - vintage FM radios still work fine?

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slackerinabox

Lifer
Mar 15, 2003
12,668
103
106
My wife would like a table radio (mostly for npr, music while reading - not critical listening) and I thought it would be fun to pick up an old tube radio off of ebay (zeniths from the 60s look nice and retro and they're very affordable). Perhaps a dumb question, has the broadcasting standard for FM changed in any way? Will the radios just work, or will older tuners have any problems?
 
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mmntech

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
The earliest FM radios actually did use different frequencies though ones from the 60s all use the 88 to 108mhz band.
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
98,733
17,216
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why would you think it won't work?

Worst case, use tunein.com
 
W

WHAMPOM

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2006
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freedomsbeat212 said:
My wife would like a table radio (mostly for npr, music while reading - not critical listening) and I thought it would be fun to pick up an old tube radio off of ebay (zeniths from the 60s look nice and retro and they're very affordable). Perhaps a dumb question, has the broadcasting standard for FM changed in any way? Will the radios just work, or will older tuners have any problems?
Click to expand...

They are considered an antique so some may (what you see on Ebay are probably modern counterfeit) cost alot, tubes use/waste A LOT of power, heat up and burn out, are hard to be found obsolete parts. Buy a modern set with retro case and be happy.
 
HeXen

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,832
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Offtopic but i have an emergency radio where you can listen to TV stations, i fired it up the other day and was suprised to hear broadcasts on it, i thought they did away with them when they forced digital.
 
Rakehellion

Rakehellion

Lifer
Jan 15, 2013
12,181
35
91
It'll probably be an AM radio, sound crappy, cost a fortune, and burn out in a week of use.

You don't abuse antiques like that.
 
B

bearxor

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2001
6,605
3
81
HeXen said:
Offtopic but i have an emergency radio where you can listen to TV stations, i fired it up the other day and was suprised to hear broadcasts on it, i thought they did away with them when they forced digital.
Click to expand...

I was wondering about that recently. I should fire mine up and see if I can tune in some TV audio.
 
Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
69,691
13,325
126
www.betteroff.ca
Should work fine. In fact it may even work better than newer ones. Anyone notice that newer FM radios tend to be more sensitive and pretty much require an antenna? Back in the day the built in antenna coil was powerful (maybe that's not the right word for a receiver) enough that it does not matter where you walk or where the radio is. It worked well.
 
TastesLikeChicken

TastesLikeChicken

Lifer
Sep 12, 2004
16,852
59
86
sdifox said:
That's like saying ATSC is UHF/VHF, just because they occupy the same band does not make them the same thing.
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ATSC/UHF/VHF/NTCS are broadcast standards. FM is transmission method. So, technically, whether it is HD Radio or analog, both are transmitted using frequency modulation. Honestly, it's not even that technical. FM radio is still FM radio, analog or HD.
 
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HeXen

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,832
37
91
HD radio's are not very common yet and they are expensive for that option alone. I refuse to get it until more than 2 stations in my area actually use HD. Plus it cuts out a lot...Analogue forever!!
 
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nsafreak

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 2001
7,093
3
81
Personally I'd recommend getting a modern tabletop like a Tivoli Model One, true it's not retro but it doesn't look too modern either.
 
rockyct

rockyct

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2001
6,656
32
91
HeXen said:
HD radio's are not very common yet and they are expensive for that option alone. I refuse to get it until more than 2 stations in my area actually use HD. Plus it cuts out a lot...Analogue forever!!
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Is HD radio even expanding at this point? I understood why it could work when it was HD radio vs. satellite radio, but HD radio vs. Pandora/Spotify/etc. seems like a lost cause. Unless every car radio came with HD radio support built in, I can't see someone spend the money for an aftermarket HD radio. The quality isn't even better than normal FM from what I've heard and the "HD" doesn't even mean hi-def.
 
HeXen

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,832
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rockyct said:
Is HD radio even expanding at this point? I understood why it could work when it was HD radio vs. satellite radio, but HD radio vs. Pandora/Spotify/etc. seems like a lost cause. Unless every car radio came with HD radio support built in, I can't see someone spend the money for an aftermarket HD radio. The quality isn't even better than normal FM from what I've heard and the "HD" doesn't even mean hi-def.
Click to expand...

yeah i doubt it's expanding. It hasn't gone anywhere in my area for the last 5+ years when it was advertised, which no one promotes it anymore. The problem is most radio stations don't seem to have any desire of supporting it.

I did try the XM/Sirrius radio, i had the 5 day free trial and all it did was cut in and out constantly. Had the antenna module where it was recommended and it was utter crap for me. Wasted $60 on the hardware....what i need is a better antenna module for it or something, the one that came with it just doesn't pick up very well...drive next to a tree and it's out.
 
rockyct

rockyct

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2001
6,656
32
91
HeXen said:
yeah i doubt it's expanding. It hasn't gone anywhere in my area for the last 5+ years when it was advertised, which no one promotes it anymore. The problem is most radio stations don't seem to have any desire of supporting it.

I did try the XM/Sirrius radio, i had the 5 day free trial and all it did was cut in and out constantly. Had the antenna module where it was recommended and it was utter crap for me. Wasted $60 on the hardware....what i need is a better antenna module for it or something, the one that came with it just doesn't pick up very well...drive next to a tree and it's out.
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I did have a Sirius radio for a couple years. I didn't seem to have much issue with the reception but it is completely line of sight. There was a few second buffer so it wouldn't cut out if I was on the freeway and drove under a bridge. If I were stopped under a bridge or large tree, then yeah, it would cut off. The antenna was a small box that attached to the car roof magnetically.
 
HeXen

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,832
37
91
rockyct said:
The antenna was a small box that attached to the car roof magnetically.
Click to expand...

Yeah that's what i have, the buffer isn't enough in my area it seems. I planned to look up to see if they make bigger antenna boxes or something.
If i sit in the right spots, it's fine but just to drive, even on the highway it's rubbish. Not sure why.
 
S

Suspicious-Teach8788

Lifer
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
rockyct said:
Is HD radio even expanding at this point? I understood why it could work when it was HD radio vs. satellite radio, but HD radio vs. Pandora/Spotify/etc. seems like a lost cause. Unless every car radio came with HD radio support built in, I can't see someone spend the money for an aftermarket HD radio. The quality isn't even better than normal FM from what I've heard and the "HD" doesn't even mean hi-def.
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Isn't HD radio 128kbps or something? That's far better than standard FM. It's a night and day difference. Sirius doesn't sound that hi-def either. It sounds pretty crappy actually.

I do like Sirius for selection, but the cost is stupid, so I stopped after my 3 month trial. Pandora/Spotify/etc. are options but cost money. Pandora is free but its music selection is tiny, so you get bored after a day or two really. Spotify costs money, so eh.

I think the content on FM radio is still decent. There's talk sometimes and you get up to date traffic. Not really possible on Pandora/Spotify. I still do hold hope HD Radio expands or whatever. Is there some reason why it doesn't come in standard head units?
 
bbhaag

bbhaag

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2011
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nsafreak said:
Personally I'd recommend getting a modern tabletop like a Tivoli Model One, true it's not retro but it doesn't look too modern either.
Click to expand...
That's a really cool looking little radio. Do you own one?
 
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