Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speakers?

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Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speakers?

Postby TimC » Thu Jun 04, 2020 3:12 pm

I want to install an auto type fm radio. I know the bluetooth capable ones will play audio from a phone (music, calls). Will they also play music through a connected bluetooth speaker? I dont want to hardwire speakers into the TD. Just play through a portable bt speaker that I can move around. I'm open to other suggestions to listen to FM radio without too much fuss.

Thanks, Tim
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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby Cosmo » Thu Jun 04, 2020 9:00 pm

I searched and could only find car radios with bluetooth receivers. I could not find a single car radio with a bluetooth transmitter.

I use a small AM/FM/Weather portable radio with an earphone jack can be plugged into a blue tooth speaker via a wire (if the bluetooth speaker will accept the wire. usually 3.5mm audio cable) and it sounds really great. https://youtu.be/gvXRDofJC5k?t=979
I use the JBL Flip speaker - totally waterproof (submersible) https://amzn.to/2MIqS6F The JBL accepts the standard 3.5mm audio wire.

I wire in other audio too like an MP3 player along with the phone bluetooth.

Its truly amazing bassoprofundo sound from the self powered speaker when compared to the one inch speaker on the portable radio.

Happy Camping
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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby RJ Howell » Fri Jun 05, 2020 6:29 am

Interesting to see if you find a Bluetooth transmitting radio, any of mine only receive. I'm a fan of using my phone for tunes and broadcasting on my bluetooth speakers. If I have signal, I stream. If I don't I play from a 32gig stick attached to the phone. If for no other reason than this use, I will not get rid of my iPhone 8. :D

Movies are either the iPad or MacBook, also broadcast over the bluetooth speakers.

I found the radio rarely received signal where/as I camp, then it's what they played for music.. Just MHO on this.
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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby TimC » Fri Jun 05, 2020 3:10 pm

Thanks Cosmo and RJ. I've not found one that transmits either. At least looking in my price range. Was hoping that I could avoid installing hard wired speakers as I don't have room and it would eliminate my desire to move the speaker around depending what I am doing... sitting by a fire, preparing or eating a meal, sitting in the cabin. I like subtle background music that won't disturb anyone else, even when I'm boondocking.

Not only have I struck out on the transmitting deal, but, I cant seem to find a radio that has a headphone jack for output. Many have AUX inputs but I don't think it'd work with headphones. It's not headphones I want in this case. I want to plug in a Bluetooth transmitter to send a signal to my portable speakers.

So, as much as I want to avoid subscription radio I am looking at early versions of Sirius like the Stratus 7. I think I can plug the Bluetooth transmitter into its audio out and send that signal to my BT speaker. It's 32 bucks for a NOS Stratus 7 with the car dock, which I think I can mount in a cabinet out of site and then just move my speaker around with me. I might start a Sirius FM post to see if I'm thinking right about this right. I don't have any experience with Sirius.
Tim
Niagara, WI
My First Benroy Teardrop Build Thread - A 5x8 Woodie - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=63575
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#3 My son's Benroy Foamie team build - Started July '20 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=72877

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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby Ottsville » Fri Jun 05, 2020 6:24 pm

You can find cheap bluetooth transmitters that would be able to be wired in, but why not skip the radio altogether and just go with a bt speaker? if radio is what you want, some cell phones have fm receivers in them
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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby TimC » Fri Jun 05, 2020 6:36 pm

Ottsville wrote:You can find cheap bluetooth transmitters that would be able to be wired in, but why not skip the radio altogether and just go with a bt speaker? if radio is what you want, some cell phones have fm receivers in them


Thanks. I'm not one to carry my phone much and few places I go have a signal. Strike three is no fm tuner on it anyway.
Tim
Niagara, WI
My First Benroy Teardrop Build Thread - A 5x8 Woodie - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=63575
My Second Teardrop (partial) Build Thread - Started August '16 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=66939
#3 My son's Benroy Foamie team build - Started July '20 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=72877

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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby MatBirch » Sat Jun 06, 2020 11:43 am

I just hit this point on my build too. I found the exact same issues. I had wired my cabinets with the plan of installing a car stereo, but I didn’t wire anything outside for speakers. After some discussion, we opted for a small Bose Bluetooth speaker that is rechargeable and completely wireless. It can recharge either AC or usb. Meaning I don’t have to run my inverter to recharge it. It can go indoors or out, depending on our mood.
It just came in yesterday! $129.
All of our music is on our phones now anyway. I enjoy the radio, but it’s not likely that we will have any reception or cell service where I’m heading anyway.

So... I used that 12v circuit I had for another fan 8)
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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby TimC » Sat Jun 06, 2020 1:18 pm

MatBirch wrote:I just hit this point on my build too. I found the exact same issues. I had wired my cabinets with the plan of installing a car stereo, but I didn’t wire anything outside for speakers. After some discussion, we opted for a small Bose Bluetooth speaker that is rechargeable and completely wireless. It can recharge either AC or usb. Meaning I don’t have to run my inverter to recharge it. It can go indoors or out, depending on our mood.
It just came in yesterday! $129.
All of our music is on our phones now anyway. I enjoy the radio, but it’s not likely that we will have any reception or cell service where I’m heading anyway.

So... I used that 12v circuit I had for another fan 8)


Dang! I was hoping that story ends with... here's how to adapt your radio to transmit Bluetooth signals. Bummer. Where I typically camp I can pull in NPR signals (WPR and MPR) and usually a rock station. There's always country if I'm really desperate :lol: i have a small collection of music on my phone for when nothing comes in, but, i like to broaden my musical selections beyond the Cds I ripped a decade ago from albums I've had since the 70s. Still hoping to find something better than my MUVO MP3 player with FM which doesnt have a dedicated antenna and eats AAA batteries for breakfast.
Tim
Niagara, WI
My First Benroy Teardrop Build Thread - A 5x8 Woodie - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=63575
My Second Teardrop (partial) Build Thread - Started August '16 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=66939
#3 My son's Benroy Foamie team build - Started July '20 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=72877

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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby DWT77 » Sat Jun 06, 2020 1:38 pm

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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby DWT77 » Sat Jun 06, 2020 1:41 pm

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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby TimC » Sat Jun 06, 2020 5:43 pm

DWT77 wrote:or maybe an FM Transmitter

https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-FM-Tra ... NrPXRydWU=

DW, those look like possible options. I'm leaning away from Sirius right now, but, may lean back down the road. The fm XMTR with Bluetooth is interesting if I have a strong signal. With NPR they have booster stations all over the rural landscape so it just might be the ticket.

Still hoping one of the reviewers for the car stereo I am looking at answer questions about the AUX in functionality. I'm assuming it is just that, AUX in. Not an output. Also have questions on the USB on that radio. You can play a memory stick with audio through it and charge 5v things, but, can it also feed audio out? If so I'd be on a Bluetooth transmitter like stink on a porti John. Then I could get a quality antenna and wire it up without speakers. I may just spring for the car stereo and hope for the best results. If I'm careful with it i could just return it if it doesnt fit my needs.
Tim
Niagara, WI
My First Benroy Teardrop Build Thread - A 5x8 Woodie - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=63575
My Second Teardrop (partial) Build Thread - Started August '16 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=66939
#3 My son's Benroy Foamie team build - Started July '20 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=72877

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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby Ottsville » Sat Jun 06, 2020 9:51 pm

wire in a mini headphone jack and a usb charger and get one of these: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wireless-Blu ... GZEALw_wcB
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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby GPW » Sun Jun 07, 2020 4:33 am

Restoring my 1969 SAAB ( which came with No radio ) , we also decided to skip the radio completely and use the I phone / portable BT speaker .. The most practical ( for me ) and Simple too … no wiring !!! 8)
I can also use it in my FoamStream for evacuation which is a big topic here right now !!! :frightened: ( see: Christobol … )
There’s no place like Foam !
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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby TimC » Sun Jun 07, 2020 6:49 pm

Ottsville wrote:wire in a mini headphone jack and a usb charger and get one of these: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wireless-Blu ... GZEALw_wcB

That one may just do it. I found out the cheap car stereo I want to try has two RCA jacks on the back and they are pre-amp. The amplified signal goes through the wire harness straight to non pwered speakers.I think that is the signal I'm looking for to feed to that BT transmitter. I just need to make up a patch cord to go RCA left and right to 3.5mm phone plug. Then the USB on the radio powers the XMTR through its USB. If it works I can move my BT speaker around to where I want depending on if I'm just relaxing at the fire or prepping food or sitting in the cabin. No speakers to wire and install. Wish me luck. It'll be a week or so before I get around to hooking up everything, but, I'll report back on how it works.

Tim
Tim
Niagara, WI
My First Benroy Teardrop Build Thread - A 5x8 Woodie - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=63575
My Second Teardrop (partial) Build Thread - Started August '16 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=66939
#3 My son's Benroy Foamie team build - Started July '20 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=72877

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Re: Bluetooth car radio... do they play to bluetooth speaker

Postby TimC » Sun Jun 07, 2020 6:53 pm

GPW wrote:Restoring my 1969 SAAB ( which came with No radio ) , we also decided to skip the radio completely and use the I phone / portable BT speaker .. The most practical ( for me ) and Simple too … no wiring !!! 8)
I can also use it in my FoamStream for evacuation which is a big topic here right now !!! :frightened: ( see: Christobol … )


Yeah, bug out early GPW! Don't wait for it to become exciting. My sis-in-law was living in NO during Katrina. She bugged out to Atlanta I think for three months. She lost everything. Eventually she was reassigned by the Army to another area.
Tim
Niagara, WI
My First Benroy Teardrop Build Thread - A 5x8 Woodie - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=63575
My Second Teardrop (partial) Build Thread - Started August '16 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=66939
#3 My son's Benroy Foamie team build - Started July '20 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=72877

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