The Challenge
I have a few favorite historic radio broadcasts from the early days of World War II.
Churchill's first speech as Prime Minister on May 19, 1940, rallied a nation with "blood, toil, tears and sweat." German radio broadcast British troops in full retreat toward Dunkirk on May 26, and days later J.B. Priestley's reflection on Dunkirk captured the mood of a nation on the BBC.
Churchill's "Their Finest Hour" speech on June 18, 1940, steeled British resolve, while Eric Sevareid reported on the fall of Paris just days later. CBS's "Today in Europe" brought the wartime continent into American living rooms.
The challenge I faced was, I wanted to hear those broadcasts, on an old radio, but today, and whenever I wanted to, so I could experience the moments for myself. I decided I could do this fairly simply with an arduino and some nerd know-how.
The Radio
The Hallicrafters S-95 Civic Patrol Receiver is a model of radio receiver manufactured by the Hallicrafters Company between 1955 and 1965. This model was part of their line of consumer-grade radios. Be aware, this radio was nonfunctional when purchased, and would gain a second life through this project.
The Components
Arduino Uno: The Brain - The Arduino Uno is the powerhouse of this project, acting as the central control unit. With its easy-to-use platform and versatile nature, it's like the maestro of an orchestra, coordinating all other components to create harmonious interaction.
LM 386 Amp: The Power - LM 386 is a power amplifier designed for use in low voltage consumer applications.
Potentiometer Switches: The Tuners - The potentiometer switches in this project act like the fine tuners of a musical instrument. They allow for the adjustment and control of voltage, effectively modifying the audio output's volume and tone.
DFPlayer Mini MP3 Player: The Storage - The DFPlayer Mini is a compact and low-cost MP3 module that can be connected directly to the speaker. It's the songbird of your project, capable of belting out your favorite tunes or any audio files you feed it with.