I recently embarked on a fun and nostalgic project that combined my love for retro electronics with smart home automation. It all started when I inherited an old tube radio about 12 years ago. While it still works, the speaker wasn’t hooked up, and it sat in our home gathering dust. I decided it was time to breathe new life into this classic piece.
The challenge was to integrate modern smart home technology without altering the radio’s original charm. After some research, I decided to use an Echo Dot as the brain of the project. I placed it inside the radio to keep everything hidden and neat. To enhance the aesthetics, I used some Sylvania lightify LED strips that I had lying around. With a bit of creativity, I threaded the strips through the top of the radio display to mimic the classic lighting effect. SCORE!
For the audio, I added a Bluetooth speaker at the bottom, but I found the sound a bit muffled. I’m still working on improving that, but the visual transformation was stunning. I also attached a second LED strip down where the speaker was mounted, concealing the power components inside. A Homeseer light sensor completed the setup, allowing the radio to react to my voice commands.
The result? The radio now lights up when I call its name and stays lit while playing music. It’s a great conversation starter and adds a touch of whimsy to our home. I’m definitely not done with this project—I have ideas for adding more features, like adjusting the lighting based on the music playing. Inspired by @adamkempenich’s work, I hope to take it to the next level soon!
This project was a great way to honor the memories tied to this radio while embracing the future of smart home technology. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next!