Craig W460 "hands-free" hidden bluetooth project

[Rhye]

Hi everybody,

I'd like to share a project I've been working on for the last year. The idea was proposed by Alan and it's a further development of my hidden aux input (http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?16338). A bluetooth receiver and a microphone were added along with some custom electronics that allows to use Craig's buttons/knobs to control the receiver's functions. No external switches required so there's no impact on car's interior look (as long as you hide a microphone somewhere) while you can play/pause/navigate soundtracks and receive calls without touching the phone. A frequency tuning knob is used to set a bluetooth volume level. Forward LED is lit whenever any sound is played via bluetooth. LED display was forced to read "AUX" letters (this is optional feature). And there's still a wired aux input, in case one wants to play from a bluetoothless device (it's activated by MTL button).
Here's a short video (~35MB) showing how it all works:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jPnSGGsOYuu-Qw_ZZfFqwvOoD0w9aasC/view?usp=sharing

The prototype seen on the video was tested successfully and there's a plan to build second one for Alan (early next year, I guess). I'm just wondering if there would be any broader interest in such an upgrade (I'm aware that there are at least 2 other bluetooth options available around).

Thanks for reading/watching - any feedback is strongly welcomed.

[RamblinDMC]

Well done!

[dmcnc]

This is really impressive - I love that we're able to squeeze more new life out of these 40 year old radios. They are limited in terms of audio quality compared to a modern digital unit. I would be really interested in moving the guts out of a retrosound (https://www.crutchfield.com/S-MGXEvrnwtHk/p_068HRMOSAB/RetroSound-Hermosa-M2-Black-buttons.html) head unit into the shell of a Craig, with the original buttons as input interface for the retrosound unit. Perhaps a bigger project than what anyone would do. In the meantime, what you have done is nothing short of awesome!

[Gregadeth]

This might be the coolest mod to the Craig yet, nice work. You mentioned adding in the receiver and other electronics - does your setup still use the Craig's amps/preamps to output the audio, or are you bypassing the audio output altogether and just using the head unit's buttons for controls?

[Rhye]

does your setup still use the Craig's amps/preamps to output the audio, or are you bypassing the audio output altogether and just using the head unit's buttons for controls?

Preamp and amp are still Craig's, but I'm preparing an option to bypass the power amp by connecting an external one (there'll be a selector switch and input/output connectors at the back of the chassis).

[Rhye]

I would be really interested in moving the guts out of a retrosound (https://www.crutchfield.com/S-MGXEvrnwtHk/p_068HRMOSAB/RetroSound-Hermosa-M2-Black-buttons.html) head unit into the shell of a Craig, with the original buttons as input interface for the retrosound unit.

I took a brief look at that RetroSound Hermosa M2. Merging it with Craig would be quite a challenge, especially in keeping the stock display without loosing the additional info like station memory (and probably more) - this likely calls for a design of a new Craig-style screen. And there would have to be be some obvious compromises in buttons' functionality (some of the original ones would be inactive). Seems doable, but means a lot more development work compared to my upgrade.

[Rhye]

Final PCB's of the first version assembled (except a few components of a display driver) and ready to be integrated in my test radio - just around 60 wires to be soldered ;).

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I'm also designing a next generation microcontroller-based version - just 1 PCB instead of 3 and much less components on it. Functionality will be the same, except there'll be more options for a display (like BLU for bluetooth and AUX for wired input, or whatever one wants).

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[Rhye]

I decided to try to add a little bit more magic to the project - a bluetooth receiver status icon. The contrast is poor but just because it's a quick and dirty prototype.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=67084&d=1630099324

[iflights]

So happy to see this effort progressing.

[Domi]

Amazing project, congrats!

[Rhye]

Radio #0001 repaired/refreshed, upgraded, tested and ready for shipping. Now the fate of the project will greatly depend on the first customer's feedback.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=67102&d=1630443310

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=67101&d=1630443310

[BladeBronson]

Wow, this is really incredible. It’s probably the last thing you want to think about at the moment, but do you foresee an ASI version for the 82 and 83 cars?

[Rhye]

Wow, this is really incredible. It’s probably the last thing you want to think about at the moment, but do you foresee an ASI version for the 82 and 83 cars?

I'd probably have to clone myself. ;) The only option I see is to make an ASI prototype and pass the project to someone willing to offer it. But first I'd need to switch to the next generation circuit to reduce the enormous workload this upgrade requires.

[nkemp]

It's been a year and I thought I'd bump this thread to see if there is any update.

I saw you mod in Alan's car this last weekend and it works really well! Good work.

[Gregadeth]

I'm also interested in updates on this.

[BladeBronson]

I ended up having Hector's Car Audio Tech in Pomona, CA add Bluetooth to my ASI radio. They use boards by Aurora Design (https://www.tech-retro.com/aurora-design/home.html) but because I didn't want it saying "connected!" every time I turned the radio on, I sourced my own Bluetooth board. The way that my board (and Aurora's) works is that the board sits between the Craig/ASI's preamp and volume knob and normally passes the audio through (whether the source is AM/FM/cassette). If a phone is paired with the board and is playing audio, a relay is flipped on the board and the phone's audio is passed through to the volume knob, power amp, and then of course the speakers. Once I understood the operation, I was excited to crack open my ASI and mod my own radio... until I opened it and caught a glimpse of the rat's nest of wires!! I decided that the hack was best left to the pros and Hector did a great job.


Hector's demo on a Craig radio with the Aurora board: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib-epk_iFoc

[Rhye]

So glad to hear the 1-st radio works as expected!

Here's a little update on the project. Second set of electronics for another Alan's radio is prepared and functionally tested. Another 2 sets are 95% assembled but I need a full feedback on the 1-st set to offer them.

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A prototype of the 2-nd generation microcontroller-based PCB is almost completed, but it's still a long way to go to get it running.

68961


As for the W460 itself, I've designed and fabricated spare display PCB (to be equipped with modern LED's - bluetooth icon included) and spare lock arm for tape reverse mechanism.

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And I haven't cloned myself yet to think of ASI radio conversion :| - sorry (way too many other projects ongoing).

[Patrick C]

Any more updates on this cool project?

[Rhye]

Thanks for asking. Well, not much interest in it. Understandable, 'cause the sound quality of the original unit itself is far from today's standards - I guess most owners would rather invest in replacing it with something decent.

Not much progress with the 2nd gen version. Life took it's own unexpected course for the past 2+ years and I'm slowly preparing myself for finishing the 2nd unit for Alan (I know, it's been ages...).

[brettdmc88]

Rhye, just wanted to say how cool what you've done here is! The reverse engineering to repurpose something old to work with something new while keeping existing functionality is incredibly awesome. Unfortunately it would not be in my budget to support this project by sending in my unit for conversion, but your work is much appreciated!

One question, though - I know this was a few years ago, but do you still have the 3D print file for the tape lock arms, and would you be willing to share it? Mine is broken, and I don't think it's an easy-to-find part

[Rhye]

Thanks for the appreciation.

As for the lock arm, I actually haven't had a chance to test the latest revision (the first one didn't work well so I've redesigned it slightly). I'll try to get back to this early next week and we'll see.

[Rhye]

OK, I've finally... developed an FDM version that works properly (took a lot more of trial and error than expected...).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C14sc3Zmm_MXjZ5cGYsVmmPuX21CFUfF/view?usp=sharing

I can provide 2 pcs for tests for just a cost of shipping, PM me for details.