• filed in design on 2. August 2005

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Cafe Makeover - using Transistor-Radios

Being sick and tired of having a lot of ideas that never come to life – some might be whack some might be pure genius, who knows ;) – I have decided to make them publicly available, that way, they might come to life after all – eventhough not by my hand…

This is the first of my “If I had the name/energy/resources – I would love to…” posts.

I would love to do a café “one-night makeover” using nothing more than some sort of a sound output, a FM radio transmitter and a lot of cheap transistor-radios hanging from the ceiling acting as a cluster of loudspeakers. Hopefully creating that cozy kitchen-transistor-radio-sound-feeling at every table (and somewhat of a sight).

Beeing completely wireless (battery driven) the radios could be installed in a lot of different ways, but I imagine using next-to invisible fishingline for a nice hovering-radio effect…

The sound output could of course come from the cafés own sound system OR you could use any other device (think mp3 player), as long as the output device has a mini-jack out (headphones) plug). The $69.95 FM Transmitter from C.Crane would do nicely range-wise for a small café, it even has “stable digital tuning” :)

For your iPod craving – you could of course use an iPod and the iPod Pirate Radio Hack from Phillip Torrone of Engadget/Make Magazine fame instead, but the mentioned iTrip does not have quite the range, but it does only cost $35.00 direct from Griffin Technology

Happy café mod’ing