Music on board - simple soluitions ??

spiller

spiller

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Search facility not currently available, therefore a request for info that I am sure has been asked several times !

I want to instal a simple fm radio, CD, MP3 (Auxiliary) stereo on the boat - economically. (26ft 1980 Super Seal - great boat, but doesn't justify mega investment).

I am sure I have read that car stereos are not suitable because of certain security features (I think).

Berthed in Dubai, there isn't a real demand for marine / waterproof speakers.

Any info / ideas gratefully received (pun unintentional !)
 
Car stereos are fine - you just need to have a (fused) permanently live wire from the battery to keep the radio's memory going.
 
Car radio works a treat. Don't spend oodles of cash as the cases are made of steel and succumb to rust eventually.

If it's got a memory you have to lead the permanent live direct to the battery.

I've got to do this job soon as I hate not having music and the previous owner didn't leave the security codes behind.
 
Yup - simple car stereo will suffice ... I don't have cockpit speakers - so don't need waterproof ones ..
 
[ QUOTE ]
Car stereos are fine - you just need to have a (fused) permanently live wire from the battery to keep the radio's memory going.

[/ QUOTE ]
Or, like us, accept the fact that you will need to re-programme the radio stations into memory the first day back down at the boat
......and sleep well at night, whilst away from her, knowing that there is nothing that might short-circuit left connected to the house batteries (ok..ok...apart from the bilge pump!)
 
Absolutely no problem with car radios in the accommodation below.

A recent thread gave some useful peripheral information on the subject. Listening to a CD uses considerable battery power by comparison with listening to the radio. So the most 'economic' way to have music aboard is by having your collection on an Ipod or MP3 player, transmitted through an FM transmitter. This has the additional benefit of being thoroughly portable.

My own choice is a car radio equipped with MP3 disc player. Before having this I used to take CDs to the boat in two large instrument cases, heavy and bulky. I now have my complete CD collection on about 25 MP3 CDs, all contained in a small wallet. One CD plays for much of the day. The player also has an external connection for an Ipod, so I can play collections, mood music etc. It also has a front mini-jack connection that I can connect to a laptop or DVD player's audio, for greatly improved sound.
 
Of course the simplest solution is an ipod and a set of speakers. Takes up no space, great sound, and no worries about whether you brought the right CDs.
Radio - portable also?
 
Simplest solution? Sing. When you are bored of that song think of another and sing that. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Do you visit Yokesfleet creek on the Roach very often? I was anchored there last year, enjoying a quiet beer and curry in the cockpit, when the distant strains of a squeezebox (aka strangled cat) came from the next boat (about 300 yds away). Then the chap started with "As I walked out one May morning.." and went on and on. And on. And on..... I got bored after 26 verses, but he was still going strong after I'd finished the washing up! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
The freeplay radios are excellent, and need less winding up than you might imagine, but haven't seen one that'll do cd's. howeverwouldn't surprise meif they hadan aux in jack so youcould plug in ipod or a portable cd player. lots less hassle than installing a car stereo and speakers, and you can take it away for security and enjoyment elsewhere,includingthe cockpit when you're on watch. only issue is sound might not be quite as good.

having said that I have a car cdplayer with an aux in and that does the job very nicely. Not sure about where you are but inthe UK most after-market unitsdon't have security code features so a non-problem.
 
A car radio is very good BUT it looks wrong!I bought a boat sound system in 1994 and its still going.I added a CD player via the tape player.Its not powerful but more than adequate.

It looks like a mini system three times the car radio but narrower,its also far less power hungry and will run mid day with a 10w solar panel all day with a 20w with power over

FOR THE FUTURE:I will do as vyv_cox in his post.I fully agree with him great possibilities.I tried blue tooth radio/PC/PDA to speakers.Gave up after a few days!!!

Firstlt i have to do battle with poverty???

Perhaps i could ask Tony Blair? Gordon Brown? The EEC as they all say they have a LOT of tax money to give away in the fight against economic hardship.

o
 
On my Phillips car radio you had the choice to turn the security codes off, so it doesn't need a live feed all the time.

Just turn it on and it lets you 'in' and remembers the stations too!

We have both mini-disc and MP3 now with an external 'jack' to the radio. V Simple, V cheap, V good.
 
So just to be difficult..and take things a step along the way for UK types..when are the analogue radio signals being turned off and replaced with comparatively power hungry DAB signals,,,and what is there to install in a boat in the way of DAB..apart from a freestanding radio.

anybody know? cos i don't.

Tim (and no clever remarks about small flatfish operated radios if you don't mind)
 
agree with all the car radio guys. I've a cheap Sony car radio, well as cheap as you can buy a Sony for, feeding 2 internal speakers in the cabin and 2 waterproof ones in the cockpit. I've also got an MP3 player which I can play via the radio and the installation is 6 years old and never missed a beat. The MP3 player is great for night watches too.
 
No date for analogue radio switch off so far.
There are too many problems in getting small FM stations onto DAB platforms, hence Ofcom's Future of Radio consultation.
The power consumption issue has been improved with newer receivers eg. the Pure Highway, an excellent bit of kit for car and boat. (No connection).
 
I fitted a sony mp3 radio with a front socket for Ipod connection. It had a memory, but was no real problem not having permanent battery connection.
 
I use a pda (could as easy be mp3 player) & a sony FM/SW/LW portable radio with computer speakers.

Only problem is computer speakers require inverter, but will try to find way to get 12V DC directly into them or others.
 
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