[Shelnutt2]

My iPod suffle's earphones are all but dead and dying. The right audio is almost non-existent. So I went looking and wondering if there might be some wireless earphones online. I remembered reading something about them in a Science magazine.

Turns out there really are no widely available (cheaper) wireless earbuds..or at least google didn't turn much up.

So now I'm thinking about building some. I don't know an entire lot about radio transmission but I think I know enough to get started.

First off I know that because I only am aiming for a few feet of range, that my earbuds will not need to be powered. So that makes the earbuds much easier. As seen here, the earbuds are basically an antenna themselves, I assume if I have about 1or 2 cm of a metal rod wrapped in wire that should be plenty for receiving the AM transmission.

If you look here, about 1/3 the page down there are plans for a micro powered AM transmitter. Now they use a 9.8 foot pole as an antenna, I very much doubt that one again I would need much of an antenna. Now the only problem with that design is that it requires 6v for input. Tell me if I am wrong but would it not be possible for such a short range to just run off a hearing ad battery? Design would need to be tweaked.


I know AM is not ideal for wireless headphones as music is generally Stereo and AM is not of great quality but for now thats all I am aiming for.

I'd really appreciate feedback and your thoughts. Any input would be great as I know many of you have a whole heck of a lot more experience in this field than I do.

[Illah]

Sound quality will be horrid is all I can say. Also wireless buds could potentially get lost in your ear.

If you really want wireless they have bluetooth headphones that are supposed to be OK. That might be the best bet. I know iPods don't have bluetooth but perhaps there's a transmitter you can get.

Building a custom AM transmitter would probably not be at all worth the effort. I mean, unless you got a ton of time to kill and are in no rush to have new buds Quality headphones are so cheap that it's not worth busting your butt for crappy AM sound.

--Illah

[Shelnutt2]

Originally Posted by Illah

Sound quality will be horrid is all I can say. Also wireless buds could potentially get lost in your ear.

If you really want wireless they have bluetooth headphones that are supposed to be OK. That might be the best bet. I know iPods don't have bluetooth but perhaps there's a transmitter you can get.

Building a custom AM transmitter would probably not be at all worth the effort. I mean, unless you got a ton of time to kill and are in no rush to have new buds Quality headphones are so cheap that it's not worth busting your butt for crappy AM sound.

--Illah

I hear what your saying but I really want to create these wireless ear buds. I mean you aren't saying it's impossible, your just saying it not worth my time.

I think your right about the AM though, the quality will be less than ideal and for that I'm looking into a simple FM transmitter.

Also get lost in my ear? I was planning on just modifying some regular earbuds, cutting the wire off and attaching my antenna to them..and I've yet to run across a set of earbuds that fall into my ear.

[seadave77]

Why don't you get a shuffle fm transmitter.

http://www.provantage.com/battery-te...x~7BATI00R.htm

And a pair of headphones that they use for jogging and listening to the built in radio.

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-am-fm-s...i-2103049.html

And put the two together? AM is going to be bad quality compared to FM. MAKE has something on building your own IPOD shuffle FM radio transmitter.

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive...shuffle_f.html

[Shelnutt2]

Originally Posted by seadave77

Why don't you get a shuffle fm transmitter.

http://www.provantage.com/battery-te...x~7BATI00R.htm

And a pair of headphones that they use for jogging and listening to the built in radio.

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-am-fm-s...i-2103049.html

And put the two together? AM is going to be bad quality compared to FM. MAKE has something on building your own IPOD shuffle FM radio transmitter.

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive...shuffle_f.html

Thanks for the links. The shuffle FM transmitter looks good but I really want some ear buds, not headphone. I've just become very loving of my ear buds.

Tell me with that FM transmitter would I still be able to use my same idea for a receiver? Just a little extension wrapped in wire added (soldered) onto where the stereo cable use to be?

This looks like what I want as far as transmitters go.

[mdameron]

You're gonna lose 'em in no time!

[David]

Moved to Sound Systems and Audio Devices.

[seadave77]

Well if you want ear buds you could get a little pen radio.

http://www.solware.co.uk/gadgets-toy...en-radio.shtml

And use that to listen to your shuffle. If you don't like those ear buds I'm sure you could mod it to use ones you like.

I don't understand what you are talking about with the transmitter.

[Shelnutt2]

Originally Posted by seadave77

Well if you want ear buds you could get a little pen radio.

http://www.solware.co.uk/gadgets-toy...en-radio.shtml

And use that to listen to your shuffle. If you don't like those ear buds I'm sure you could mod it to use ones you like.

I don't understand what you are talking about with the transmitter.

That is a radio with earbuds. What I want are wireless earbuds. Meaning all I have to put in my ears are two little buds that have no wires attached.

Transmitter part is you need a transmitter to transmit the FM signal for the earbuds. Or else you wouldn't be able to listen. In my case I want to transmit my iPod shuffles songs via an FM frequency.

There are really two parts to my wanting. 1) Wireless earbuds. and 2) I need an fm transmitter so I can actually use the earbuds to pick up the audio I want to hear.

[mbigna]

Wireless earbuds may be a tough stretch on current technology. You'd have to stuff not only the drivers (mini-speakers) in your ear, but also find space for a wireless receiver and a battery that will last more than 30 minutes. And, would you want to spend that kind of money on button batteries, or could you find something rechargeable in that size?

[mcoleg]

it's a tough build, man. even companies with enough money to put into it haven't made them that small yet. here's the limit of how little it gets:

http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Ety8-...&s=electronics

http://www.amazon.com/Nady-EO3FF-Wir...al-instruments

one's a straight up radio, the other one is a bluetooth.

[Shelnutt2]

Originally Posted by mcoleg

it's a tough build, man. even companies with enough money to put into it haven't made them that small yet. here's the limit of how little it gets:

http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Ety8-...&s=electronics

http://www.amazon.com/Nady-EO3FF-Wir...al-instruments

one's a straight up radio, the other one is a bluetooth.

If I am understanding everything correctly, then I don't understand why these companies are having such a hard time. The earbuds shouldn't need to be power. To pick up an FM/AM signal all they need is a small antenna. With the fm transmitter planning on being so close all you should need is a very small, 1-2 cm antenna. Also because of the proximity of the transmitter to the antenna you should not have to worry about interference or the need to tune the earbuds to a specific frequency.

If it turn out that the interference will be much great than I imagine I can see how it can get complicated real quick, as how to build a earbud with a tuner inside can a mind challenging task to think about. Or it might be a simpler solution of boosting the fm transmitter.

I've already ordered my parts to build this transmitter. I think that is a good start and I can tweak from there.

I plan on buying some $1 earbuds from Walmart. Just so if I mess up the earbuds it only cost me a $1 and not $10. After I perfected it I'll get some nice earbuds to make them wireless.

[mbigna]

OK, I see your plan for the transmitter. Where are you going to find parts for the receiver? Will the receiver be small enough to fit in/around your ear?

If you actually have any success with this--I definitely want to see schematics and pics!

[Shelnutt2]

Originally Posted by mbigna

OK, I see your plan for the transmitter. Where are you going to find parts for the receiver? Will the receiver be small enough to fit in/around your ear?

If you actually have any success with this--I definitely want to see schematics and pics!

Look here. That is what I am going off of. All I need for the receiver part is the earbuds themselves, some thin wire, and a thin (small 1-2 cm) metal rode. Earbuds = speaker. Wire + rode = antenna. Bam instant receiver.

[mbigna]

I hope you realize that if you are attempting to construct a 'batteryless' receiver, that your transmitter is going to need a huge amount of power. AM crystal receivers only work when you are near an AM tranmitter--and these are usually pumping out 10-50 thousand watts.

None the less, if you manage to figure out how to get a tuned receiver in such a small form factor, you could probably make a fortune. Make sure you apply for a patent!

[TTP]

have you checked out Etymotic bt earbuds?

[Shelnutt2]

Well I received the bulk of my parts in the mail. Tomorrow I will run to SkyCraft, my local electronic wonder world..If you need an capacitor they have ones ranging from little tiny weeny size of a small screw to capacitors that are double the size of a big pickle jar! I love going there, its like a candy store .

Anyway I need to pick up two capacitors (well I'm going to get 3 of each, I like spares) and I should be set. I've already soldered about 1/3 of it together.

I'm also going to stop by Walmart to get some of those $1 earbuds to play with. Assuming I get it working tomorrow I'll post up some pics. Be warned so far its ugly!

[Vulcan]

whats the power source going to be?

[Shelnutt2]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

whats the power source going to be?

For the transmitter, I'm planning on using either a watch battery or a hearing aid battery. At least I hope. The plans I'm following call for a AA battery and I'm thinking I can get a similar ~1.5v (750 millamp) battery.

I've got the transmitter built, and I'm about to go buy a battery, and some earbuds so I can start on the receivers.

[Glaze132]

Bump any updates?