FM/DAB digital radio - THAT WORKS!!

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Originally Posted by RevheadKev

lez & war085,

Please stop trying to hijack this thread talking about DVB-T tuners and FM.
This thread is about FM/DAB/DAB+ radio reception, particularly DAB+.
You can start reading from the front of the thread to refresh your memory.
If you have nothing constructive to add in relation to DAB+ reception then don't.:angrymob::focus:

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Get back on topic as soon as you want as soon as you stop posting BS..

The dvb-t tuners DO receive radio, DIGITAL radio, not DAB standard radio but none the less, its a DIGITALLY encoded signal.

That was my initial post, to counter your incorrect post that they dont recieve radio.

_some_ also have FM but thats irrelevent

As to the other poster, they DO work in a car environmet, as I have one. /wheres raspberry smiley.

To get it to work I added a twin diversity antenna which was given to me from an imported japnanese mazda bongo (aka ford frendee)

It was made by panasonic, worked fine on motorways but was useless in town, but ias I dont watch TV driving through town, not an issue.

last post on dvb-t subject from me, unless I get more BS......

Quote:

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Originally Posted by veletron

Hi

@Craigbrass

What are the chances of keeping your unit software-compatible with the DIY units people have, and making the plug-in's available to all? This might even be a good way to erm 'appease' the nae-sayers regarding how the project came about!

Would be a shame for the commercial and DIY versions to go in two completely separate directions requiring different plug-ins for what is essentially the same thing.

Maybe you could also consider offering appropriately-flashed venice 7's for sale to folk who still wish to DIY, but keep it legal re firmware.

Personally I see no reason why a commercial solution for DAB can't co-exist with the DIY solution that started life on digital-car - with any enhancement's software-wise being available to all. I guess I am basically saying 'why not make the software open-source'.

I have a DIY variant hence my interest, but if you do a DAB/FM mux module then i'd be very interested in that!

Regards

Nigel

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Hi Nigel,

For reasons I don't understand, I believe the serial protocol used to talk to the modules is held under a non-disclosure agreement. Why? I have absolutely no idea, I have been working in the electronics and control industry for over 25 years and can't quite grasp this. I can understand if the protocol somehow contained IPR that SF had some value in it but it does not.

Maybe another Chinese company wants to either copy or produce their own module? In this case, a company who can do that can also reverse engineer the serial protocol in about one week... maximum.

The protocol for the Venice 5 module (in slave mode) was skillfully reverse engineered and this is what we use to control it. If the firmware for the Venice 7 is compatible with the Venice 5, then it probably will work except there will be some Venice 7 bits that need to be handled. All of which brings you round to the first problem that you need to know the protocol and this is under an NDA (I guess).

Strange. My uptake is that I never even heard of SF before and now in several months hundreds of people have, they are impressed with the company, they want their products and if they are on the high-street they will probably be influenced in their purchases knowing a device has an SF module in it. I wish I had a business like that...

Andy

Right, this unit is now available to purchase at introductory prices. See http://www.coolapplab.com/ultimate_c...ona/index.html for more information, photos and a video of the unit in action. This price will only be for the next few weeks!

Windows software should be complete by the end of this week / start of next followed by the Centrafuse software followed by the Ride / Road Runner software followed finally by a Windows DLL with documentation for others to integrate with.

With regards to the software, the Venice 5 / 5.1 custom built units detailed on Digital Car generally run the Slave firmware. The Slave firmware between 5 / 5.1 and 7 has been re-written and as such, the plugin would need re-written. Ours runs the Venice 7 in Master mode and our software should will be designed especially for this. To my knowledge, Venice 5 / 5.1 and 7 have the same Master commands so anybody with a Master mode Venice 5, 5.1 or 7 should be able to use our software.

I have tried to read thru the thread, but I have to admit I am very confused about who is doing what. Is it time for a brand new thread?

Never mind. It seems like if I want one I should turn to coolapplab, which will provide the unit + CF and RR plugins.

My question is if there will be a standalone application, preferably with keyboard shortcuts for commands.

My second question is if anyone has made a cover for the unit.

nrgizerbunny (who initially posted this thread) isn't selling these units anymore. I am currently the only one selling a full unit.

As detailed on http://www.coolapplab.com/ultimate_c...ona/index.html, a standalone Windows application will exist as well as plugins for Ride / Road Runner and Centrafuse. We should be able to add keyboard shortcuts in no problem. I will add it to my notes.

Hello Craig,

OK, some questions ...

1. The unit in the video shows what looks like the original usb-serial adapter board but earlier in the thread you said you were going to use the USB-serial chip directly to help lower the cost. Has that still happened and is the board in the video an old-style board ?

2. While the website says CF, RR and Windows software is available, here you have indicated that these software plug-ins will not be available for anywhere from 1 week to a few weeks. How will we be able to use the modules without the software shipped with them ?

3. Also, because these software plug-ins are not available yet, how did you tune the module to the stations in the video ? How did you switch from DAB to FM after you changed the antenna lead ?

4. What type of connector have you used for the aerial connector ?

5. Will the module be configured for DAB or DAB+ dependant on country shipped to or is that configuration automatic, manually done by us or not required ?

6. Can the special introductory price be extended until a few weeks after all the software plug-ins are available to give us the ability to see the interface working in our chosen front-end ?

Thanks,
Kev.

@Kevin: 1. We will eventually move to this but have some boards to use up first.

2. The website is incorrect. I wrote the text weeks back for when we launched. I will have it updated.

3. I have a test application which I can provide to anyone who wants it.

4. The aerial connector is SMB.

5. The unit supports DAB, DAB+ and FM. In DAB mode, it will search for both DAB stations and DAB+ stations and show them in the same list according to Frontier Silicon documentation we have but it may need tweaking which is why I PMed you to do some testing in exchange for a discount.

6. I doubt this will happen. Search my name on Google though (specifically Kayako help desk related) - you will see I have a long history with software and if I say something will happen, it will. I am happy to have implemented any features anyone requests, though....

With regards to a question I got sent via email, we can only send to the billing address of your credit / debit card for security reasons. There is no way around this and entering the wrong billing address will cause the order to fail.

Thanks Craig,

Re: 5. PM reply sent regarding DAB+ testing.
Re: 3&6. OK, I assume then that customers who purchase at the introductory price now will have the final software plug-ins sent to them once ready or somehow allowed to download them from your site ?

Re Shipping: Do you have a Paypal payment option ? This would give people the ability to nominate different shipping addresses which have been verified by Paypal. I mention this after reading your final comment because others may have mail theft problems in their neighbourhood and wish to have the unit shipped to a secure work address.

Yes, that is correct. We will release the software to anybody who wants it (including people who build the units themselves - mainly as a way of putting something "back into the community" to please some of the users who were not happy with what I was doing).

We do accept PayPal and Credit / Debit Card via RBS WorldPay. Sadly, the only way we can ship to a work address is if the card is registered there.

Not all Paypal accounts are funded by credit cards (there is a linked bank account option) and as such you would be shipping to a verified paypal address instead of a credit card account address.