Thread: FM/DAB digital radio - THAT WORKS!!

Originally Posted by Juanito

How STEREO MONO switch?

In FM mode the Select button switches between mono and stereo.

Originally Posted by ibf

Not possible with that firmware. It is meant for a clock radio, bedroom radio or kitchen radio. Their function is very limited and the module were meant to be part of a cheap hardware. Its basically a kitchen radio connected to your PC if you like.

Bugger. It's painful to tune, was hoping there would be an easier way.

cheers

Originally Posted by ibf

Not possible with that firmware. It is meant for a clock radio, bedroom radio or kitchen radio. Their function is very limited and the module were meant to be part of a cheap hardware. Its basically a kitchen radio connected to your PC if you like.

Not having a go at you ibf just a slight clarification for anyone not familiar with the V7 module.

Kitchen radio is maybe not quite the description I would have used as it can imply a poor cheap quality sound. Low cost because the master firmware allows a simplified control interface, however it’s one of the best quality receiver modules around and is also used in HI-FI high end equipment, slave firmware does not make it sound any better just a lot nicer to use. However the design and layout of the Ultimate DAB-FM does not take full advantage of the audio quality attainable from the V7 module, its pretty dam good for a car radio though.

Originally Posted by Mickz

Not having a go at you ibf just a slight clarification for anyone not familiar with the V7 module.

Kitchen radio is maybe not quite the description I would have used as it can imply a poor cheap quality sound. Low cost because the master firmware allows a simplified control interface, however it’s one of the best quality receiver modules around and is also used in HI-FI high end equipment, slave firmware does not make it sound any better just a lot nicer to use. However the design and layout of the Ultimate DAB-FM does not take full advantage of the audio quality attainable from the V7 module, its pretty dam good for a car radio though.

Sorry, what I meant was the firmware of the module were designed for cheap radios and for most of the time some features are omitted. For example, modules out of cheap radio doesnt have the I2S, SPDIF enabled even the RDS is sometimes disabled. A module out of high end radio would have I2S, SPDIF, DRC control, station prune, L Band, Band 3, signal level, BER, etc etc all are enabled and accesible. We can probably say Windows 7 Ultimate 64 vs Windows Starter. Very unlikely to find Window Starter on a high end PC.

Im not comparing sound quality, I was comparing features as to why it isnt possible to input the FM frequency directly to the module. My explanation was... because CB's module was meant for radio with basic controls and to implement a direct frequency tune is not possible. Nothing to do with sound here, that was never the question. But you are right the sound quality comming out of the module are all the same regardless of the FW. The FW are just designed for different type of radios.



Probably off topic :

But to get this clear and to be fair, CB's radio is in between. There is MASTER, there is serial controlled MMI, and finally there is SLAVE.

A module with MASTER firmware = buttons and display connected directly to the GPIOs of the module. The module take care of everything, from scanning the keypads to spitting out signals for the display. This is found on a very very very basic radios.

CB's firmware = require an MCU to send command and receive status. Usually this MCU is shared with the CD player. But in this case it is the PC that is acting as the MCU. The MCU/PC is only required to send simulated button pushes and to receive the display for the 2x16 LCD. The module take care of the menu layout, function available and the display format.

A module with SLAVE = as it says, you send command, get the response and make it work the way you want it.

I have no idea why people kept saying MASTER FW when refering to CB's radio because it is clearly in between. But for the sake of avoiding confusion we will stick to calling it a master.

I agree using kitchen radio example might be too extreme, I should have said, a radio with "kitchen radio function" connected to your PC? Im not so good at explaining but I think you get the idea.

and thanks for making it clear for everyone.

I have my own software driving CB’s version of “Master FW” in my FE. I was tempted to get the V7 DAB-FM receiver kit described in Silicon Chip as appeared to have fully featured Slave FW; however the fact that CB’s unit does most everything I need in a DAB-FM “CAR” radio and the cost of the SC unit, I put off going down that road.

BTW, great effort your putting in for owners of the various DAB-FM modules.

Originally Posted by Mickz

I have my own software driving CB’s version of “Master FW” in my FE. I was tempted to get the V7 DAB-FM receiver kit described in Silicon Chip as appeared to have fully featured Slave FW; however the fact that CB’s unit does most everything I need in a DAB-FM “CAR” radio and the cost of the SC unit, I put off going down that road.

BTW, great effort your putting in for owners of the various DAB-FM modules.

Thanks

I have built the silicon chip project with my own hardware and PCB, basically to test to see how well it work. You will be dissapointed with it. The DsPIC FW is slow, unresponsive and seems buggy, although I didnt build it the way it should be but the feel the way it work is enough to put me off. I think its very expensive for what it is if you are buying and building the kit. You made the right decision not to bother.

Its true what you said about CB's radio, it may lack function and customization but its definately good enough for most.

This manual for the Bush BCR30DAB radio pretty well describes the functions of CB's Venice 7 module and how to access them through the menus.

Venice 7 DAB manual BCR30DAB.pdf

got a problem with the Plug-in/CB's radio. It's preventing XP going into hibernate and sleep.

when I exit CF xp will go into hibernate, the same when there is no comport allocated in the plug-ins setting.

any idea how to fix this?

How do I get this to scan the Dab mux's?