How To Make A Cheap WiFi Radio

In this episode, I will show you how to create a cheap WiFi radio for under $50.
Downloads
Firmware direct download - wiki.openwrt.org/toh/asus/wl520gu
Asus Restoration Utility -www.tinkernut.com/demos/253_wifi_radio/wl520.zip
Putty - the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe
Ario MPD client - sourceforge.net/projects/ario-player/files/
GTK+ for Windows - gtk-win.sourceforge.net/home/index.php/en/Downloads
Parts Needed:
Asus WL-520GU - www.amazon.com/Asus-WL-520GU-ASUS-Wireless-Router/dp/B000R3BTDC
USB Sound - www.amazon.com/External-Channel-Sound-Adapter-Notebook/dp/B000N35A0Y
Links:
MPC Commands - linux.die.net/man/1/mpc
MPD Clients - mpd.wikia.com/wiki/Clients
Reference Sites:
OpenWRT - www.openwrt.org
MightyOhm - mightyohm.com

[@loungelizard836]

Hey folks, before you berate this guy for the complex process, remember this was posted in 2010... Cheap Raspberry Pi, inexpensive bluetooth speakers... none of that stuff was available 5 years ago!

[@ronaldwilliamson4762]

J Bishop They had computers and powered speakers though. That's what I used back then. However instead of using powered computer speakers, I just plugged the computer audio into my stereo system amplifier.

[@0530628416]

it is not even complicated

[@hailenki2804]

Ily

[@klingoncowboy4]

let alone most smartphone capabilities... but seriously there is a charm in this

[@NurchOK]

J Bishop Actually, it was available more than 5 years ago. Cheap BT convertor was around $7CAD and the RasPi came out around 4-5 years ago. But interesting video (I gave it a like), gives me other ideas with the router and it's crazy how OpenWRT turns your router into a Linux machine...

[@Pantsthaniel]

Damn, this was 2010? I've been following this guy for 7 years.

[@kieferonline]

This is a cool project and a really clear, concise video. It's well-edited too. But, wow, so many steps! I think that it's beyond my technical ability, but I still enjoyed watching. Thanks for sharing.

[@anthonyrock-the-universal-one]

...hold on! what was step 2 again? hahahahha. after watching this video, I think I'll just stick with listening to the voices in my head. I don't even need a wi-fi connection for that.

[@bartselen1143]

Just get a Chromecast Audio.

[@arrowstheorem1881]

you have a point.

[@CarnageExecutioner]

+nathan martin me neither

[@PC4USE1]

That tinfoil hat always does the trick. If you use gold foil you can get those golden oldies.

[@tapestapes0]

You guys got to give this guy some credit;he put this all together for free,I would have done it if there were no other way.Thanks stranger!

[@dvorpahl]

Good job. This video is up to par man. Glad to see you redid this video.

[@Gregtier3]

Good info! Audio quality is limited by USB vs S/PDIF or other digital connections. The USB "soundcard" will be important, a cheap one will pretty much limit you to a mediocre sound quality. Many USB DACs are limited to 16 bits / 48 kHz max. Do not confuse (USB 1,2 or 3) and the USB audio standard (1 or 2). USB Audio Class 1 (1998) allows for 24 bits / 96 kHz max. Windows does not natively support USB audio class 2. 3rd party USB class 2 driver on Windows is req. Search: "intro computer audio"

[@rolirolster]

Love the fact that there are people out there doing this shit, there's no way I can do it, but love the fact that you're doing it :-)

[@OverkilledUnderdog]

Would it be just easier to open a browser and play a radio station. Just saying.

[@ismaelsoum6401]

OverkilledUnderdog it would be way easier

[@ImmaFiringNoLazors]

OverkilledUnderdog It would be too easy

[@pcochenour]

OverkilledUnderdog And you would learn absolutely nothing.

[@GoldenGearGrinder]

Yeah, but where's the fun in that?

[@mapo1288]

Irrespective of when it was recorded..... I'm years behind on this tech geek talk. so much going on behind the scenes to make shit work. I mean.... who the fk thinks of this stuff and where to find it and how to make it all come together. .. Brilliant stuff for a guy from a long time ago from a galaxy far, far away.

[@AtomicElectronCo]

This is actually a great idea, but there are MANY ways to do it. I use a cheap FM transmitter which I plug into my comp. There are many ways to do this!

[@1995FIRSTskybits]

We need more people who care about innovation and creativity more than just lazy easy how to videos. I'm so sick of nontechnical do this or that automatically bull rgggg. I love this stuff more. This guy is great!!!

[@filozof71]

The most infirmative instructions I have ever seen !!!

[@gregquiring9777]

With that many steps the probability of errors creeping in increase exponentially! What is saved monetarily is offset with the amount of labor and frustration required. HOWEVER, great job! Your cyberskills are fantastic!

[@RichardThorneanorak]

Phew! I don't have your skills even with the excellent tutorial. Love the idea of re-cycling an nice retro real piece of kit to make it 21st century. Well done, you can look justifiaby proud. A lead with two headphone 3.5 ends on will connect a mobile/cell phone with TuneIn radio, Spotify, Google selection etc from the phone to the external speaker inputs on many old radios, or new inexpensive FM/AM sets.

[@Muwex]

You can also restore ip using cmd, no need to take ethernet cable in and out. I just can remember command right now... it was something like this: ipconfig /renew or like that :)

[@jasonkloos6348]

This is awesome for whole home audio. Set one of these up in each room of your house.

[@cameramandanno]

Insane configuration . My brain is smoking just watching this video. You guys are one step away from super villains .

[@JaroslavHuba]

Hi, nice presentation, which one software you was use for making this? Thanks

[@whimpey109]

I hooked up a fm cartransmitter to my computer to listen to internetradio on all the radios in and around the house...including on cellphones and mp3/players with radio!!! Even the neighbours enjoy it!!!

[@marcocunha]

i was able to do this on my old Apple Airport Extreme, and it works like a charm

[@GamesNews1]

@gigafide awsome bro thank you for re-doing it i love this one

[@klb161]

@gigafide your videos are the best and they have lots of stuff to do at home. PLZ UPLOAD MORE!!!!

[@AugustoGuerrero__Main__]

This video just blow my mind away. GREAT work!

[@cwbh10]

dude, Your editing is great! +1 Subscriber :DD Thanks soo much

[@Tinkernut]

@Wiejeben yep. that's why it's the easiest one to use.

[@minkintn]

This defenately better than the old one :) Good Job :)

[@peterowens290]

Did not count exactly but I think around 10,000 steps here! You are almost guaranteed a failure with so many detailed steps & troubleshooting could become very time consuming. A programatic implementation is surely called for here.

[@Crux161]

@RyHu FM signals can be produced using the RPs GPIO pins. It's not a radio in the traditional sense, but in a sense the RP is using pin 4 as an antenna and doing some PWM magic in the form of software to produce signals in line with FM standard. This project was pretty neat at the time of it's posting. Pi or no pi.

[@Browningate]

Very interesting. I've got a Linksys E2100L that I picked up at a thrift shop for $7 with DD WRT installed, but I've never thought of using the USB port to hook up a soundcard. USB storage or printer maybe, but never a sound card; it's quite an interesting idea.

[@1995FIRSTskybits]

For all you (yawn zzz) lazy just buy this or that people for x listen this type of stuff is not about $ first. It really is about the fun of doing it and knowing you can create anything with electronics. Only people who love to make things and learn how things work enjoys these videos.

[@tcknapp1984]

very cool! routers are linux based?

[@vargasf5]

Great job, man! I love your channel

[@ChiTownBallin2]

This is what I'M talking about! Definitely a TO-DO on my list!

[@bigfelon]

I had to subscribe, sharing such wonderful knowledge with the masses. thank you

[@ghostrid3]

wonder whats the success rate of this video?! these instructions seem overwhelming, i like the swap-tronics kind of hacking

[@mugurstefan68]

Great ideea, I wish I can found more recently podcasts for the same application...an radio-online from an router with USB port. I don t have Asus WL-500gp , just RTN56u . . .

[@Thepockets88]

I hope you changed the output volume on the wifi router, this is VERY IMPORTANT as you diddent mention it needs to be at or below line level of you can blow out the preamp for the cassette head and end up with loads of distortion.

[@MarinusvdMeulen]

Even though it's 2015, i still like this video!

[@MarinusvdMeulen]

+Greg Peck oops.. 😂

[@MarinusvdMeulen]

+Greg Peck oops..

[@hailenki2804]

Ilysmmmm

[@rCw8105]

I used an abandoned Motorola Droid on wi-fi only with powered speakers plugged into it. Works great on Pandora.

[@chtwdb]

9 Years later in late 2019 am/fm radio looks pretty much alive. At least several stations on am/fm radio are not under big tech or media companies censorship..

[@Atlantis1986]

Should I use basically any of the cheap USB sound cards, or there are more strict requirements? Should I look for particular model, built upon particular microchip?

[@TimothyPleines]

I built one of these. It is not a problem depending on your level of geek and whether or not you have a social life.

[@jodogdadawg]

Do people not understand the satisfaction that comes from doing a project like this? It's not just about the purpose of it.

[@CraigChamberlin]

Man.. you're a genius, I love it!

[@Atlantis1986]

MPD is not only radio. You can configure it to read music from particular directory (on pendrive or network disc).

[@waswestkan]

Different stroke for different folks, but the persickity go through a lot of steps to be happy. Although in my day we bought 8 track car audio to make up for the lack of FM broadcasters in the rural boonies when the DJ on the AM clear channel stations ( not the conglomerate real clear channel) stations weren't making us happy

[@the_only_gp]

you deserve a grammy award!

[@danielfulop]

it's fun, I didn't know routers are programmable like this... it just isn't any useful, cause it's a lot easier to actually play stuff from your computer or smart phone which has internet connection anyway... so I don't really see the point, but it is definitely interesting what you did here

[@emremutlu44]

That was piece of CAKE !!! next mission is to convert a cheap CRT monitor into a laptop with some rewiring !!! All you have to do is to follow the steps.. XD

[@bearfreeman7604]

A friend was diagnosed with a tumour earlier this year, she uses a cordless [800MHz-ish] home fone, but stays on it for looooong periods, so even though these low power devices may seem safe, their proximity in the home or next to our heads [= brain, eyes, ears etc] is a real cause for concern.

[@strykerhorse]

The ASUS WL-500gp v.1 works as well with the added benefits of a faster chip, more flash memory, and an additional USB port built in. I set it up using an OpenWRT Attitude Adjustment build from a year or so ago. I'll post a how to with links to an image as well when I have a chance to build on stable.

[@Atlantis1986]

On the other hand RasPi do not have integrated WiFi card. Some people say that those cheap USB sound cards offer better quality and they are using them in RPis anyway. I do not hear any difference. Although using RPi only as Internet Radio may be considered overkill. ;)

[@casaverdero]

lol I never knew that routers have a linux system under the hood. btw was that Angstrom?

[@TheCreeperRedstone]

casaverdero That's why linux rules.

[@CoolDudeClem]

I have a WIFI radio app on my PSP, it works great and I didn't have to spend a penny!

[@zerosun1]

I use a Bluetooth reciever I bought from walmart for $25. Its small. I can take it anywhere and use it on anything with a audio input.

[@1995FIRSTskybits]

I wish you were here in Cleveland. I would love having some fun with electronics with you. Cool!

[@frankjackson655]

I still love listening to FM radio:D 102.9 all day

[@z1897]

What is this? you are like a scientist. this is very complex.

[@ramonitadiaz155]

All of your videos are awesome

[@dianahickman8868]

This is a REALLY GREAT tutorial! The steps are clear, and really not difficult when taken one a time. But does this material exist somewhere in text form? That would be a lot easier to follow. Again, great job! Thanks!

[@GeorgeDekker]

In 2010 this was probably the easiest and cheapest solution. At home I have a second hand Apple Express Wifi (with build in headphone jack) and another setup with a Raspberry Pi with Volumio installed. Both work pretty good with both my macbook, ipad and iphone. the airport express was 35 incl transport and the pi is an old model B+ that was 20 euro.

[@Tinkernut]

@anoob100 yeah, i could do that....since it has the linux instructions and what not.

[@bulldogs288]

I feel like there has to be a way to do this for much cheaper! I've seen it done with a Raspberry Pi but that even seems like overkill. Isn't there some way of combining a USB WiFi dongle and a USB soundcard?

[@lisyachy]

Hey man! Thanks for great instructions! I succeeded) The only problem I have: the device doesn't want to restart automatically upon turning the router on( I put that string for auto-start but it seems not to save any of stations url's. So every time I turn the router on, I need to start the radio via Ario on my computer. What can be the problem? How to make it remember the last station? Thank you and mighty-ohm anyway!

[@Crux161]

the raspberry pi simplified a lot of this - and it does FM transmissions with a lot less work lol

[@ryhu7354]

It does FM transmissions? What does it transmit?

[@ryhu7354]

wait a minute... FM now falls into 802.11? So you are saying that it transmits signal, in addition to receiving signal?

[@ryhu7354]

Yeah dude, what I was asking was if it pushed a signal, not just received one. FM is a form of radio frequency modulation, like AM.

[@Crux161]

@Christian Zelenuk I know. I remember when it first posted lol. I'm simply suggesting that today it's a bit more work (open wrt is neat) than popping a raspian SD in, a 5v power supply and voila. One of the GPIO pins can be used to transmit fm. The pi could be used to "super charge" this project and make it a lot more functional/customizable. I really like this video and bringing up the raspberry pi I feel in ok way diminishes this project. :D

[@UndegroundInformer]

MIND BLOWN

[@JosueRodriguezTonUpBoy]

Ohhhh this is from 2010... Damn how much has changed

[@votremain]

amazing job, but how likely is it to brick the router?

[@gymtrancerage]

this is seriously awesome

[@TheStonedSpidR]

So you dont need to make anything just buy the stuff you need. Whatever. Why dont you make a vid on how to make a mp3 player by buying one.

[@H.EL-Othemany]

:D

[@moover123]

First I want to see you doing something similar and educate me on the same level as he just did.

[@MrTartar2004]

***** because generators are more fuel efficient than a car's engine. so, car engines are not ideal power generators for regular long term use. :)

[@joelie83]

Cool idea. This would be much easier nowadays using a Raspberry Pi instead of a router box. No mucking around with networking settings, and it already has a sound card built-in.

[@TheMicrOXL]

Works for me! Great tutorial!

[@RavingNephilims]

I 've made this with another firmware called gargoyle router. The advantage of that i f/w is that it has a full router management web interface ;)

[@yodeler1232214235134]

I read the entire mighty ohm webpage on how to do this and I'm wondering how you got around cracking the router open and putting in a serial port? You seemed to have skipped a step. Just wondering what you're doing differently

[@dcdean01]

Sick hack, man. Love it.

[@Crux161]

@RyHu The raspberry pi is capable of transmitting FM radio signals from pin 4 (could be wrong, I thought that was an rt or rx pin). It can play audio files that you specify to a program as a command line argument. Google it. ^_^

[@NiMareQ]

Are there any other wifi routers I can use? Basically I need any router which supports openwrt and has USB, right? Also, does the Ario support multiple wirelessly connected audio systems? Say that I have three rooms, I would put one router with usb in each and I want to have same music played in each. Will it work?

[@rmhutchins7]

Could I use something similar to this process to create a wireless webcam? In other words, could I plug in a webcam to the USB port on the Asus router and, then, send the signal to my computer? Another option (which would be preferred) would be to connect the Asus router to another router which, already, runs my home wireless network. Thus, any computer on my home network could access the webcam.

[@maxetamis]

what did you use to make the video when you're on the browser?

[@HedgehogStudios1]

At first I was a little disappointed that you didn't use an esp8266, then I noticed that this video was 8 years old.

[@kishukumar8011]

you are great man all the best keep it up ...

[@forid200]

good vid tinkernut keep it up

[@LeonardPutra]

A2DP Stereo Bluetooth adapter & headsets are available from 2007. I have a Sony Ericsson HBH-DS200 from 2008, just sayin'.

[@kevingp12]

wow this is so sophisticated!!

[@BearSesameLLCAllentown]

I need a guy like you! Your on my #100 list

[@TechVidGuy]

What software do you use to make your videos?

[@shreddez]

I just use a C Crane FM transmitter II - It was like sixty bucks and I can broadcast a quality FM signal all around my house and property. Any audio - my records or audio streaming from the internet.

[@Theclassicjoystick]

clear idea and clean mind , very smart .

[@JamesJAKAZeldaboy14]

Those Speakers in the video are the EXACT same one's I had for my Windows 98SE!

[@SignalsEverywhere]

@tomsega What part of this is cheaper don't you understand?

[@gery49]

I ♥ Windows so thanks for the new tutorial :D

[@jackever]

I do not think you hooked in to the Tape Player "Head"(pickup) connections. Perhaps the line level after the tape player pre-amp??. The headphone signal level would be way to high for the head input, unless you added a resistor network.

[@caskwith]

Far too complicated for me but serious respect to the creator!

[@tbuddy3076]

Which software did you use to recording computer screen

[@munamunamike]

This would be ideal, any ideas?

[@brenocunha]

that's the point, it's not for the normal user, it's for us, who were curious enough to get here

[@yuh6094]

Woah ur intro looks like its popping out of my iPod

[@carnby24]

superb tutorial!!