Resurrecting a Vintage TV with a Raspberry Pi: A 50th Birthday Gift
2025-09-19
In 2017, the author built a unique 50th birthday gift for his father: a vintage TV modified to play shows from the 70s and 80s. He cleverly integrated a Raspberry Pi with an RF modulator to solve video output and channel switching. Software-based channels controlled by a rotary switch were implemented. A power supply solution with voltage regulators was also integrated inside the TV. While the software code is less than perfect, the final result is an 8-hour continuous video playback (including commercials) with keyframe timestamp saving for resuming playback. This creative project showcases the author's technical skills and love for his father.