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

The schematic for this design has never been released and I don't plan to release it back into the community. An older version is available along with the initial design Chris posted for people who want to build their own.

Apologies - just re-read your message. Could you PM me your email address by any chance please?

Hi,

Is it compatible with DMB-T ? (and european FM frequencies also ?)

On your website you lists France in the countries that have DAB stations, but there only has been tests stations like this in France (in Paris I think). But a few months ago our government decided to use DMB-T instead of DAB for the digital radio in France (yes they're stupid...) and I believe DAB receivers are not compatible with DMB-T . Furthermore, there has been a lot of protestations from radio professionals about the cost of the switching to digital broadcast (those idiots wants to get all the money, and the quality and diversity stays behind as always, and then France is once again technologically retarted), so I'm not sure when it's gonna arrive for us too...

The chips support DMB-T when in DAB mode according to Frontier Silicon.

It supports EU FM frequencies.

Ok thank you, that's very interesting !

It means that if I buy one, I will get a fully fonctionnal FM receiver (which really works, compared to my Silabs and homemade antenna adapter that only gets noise ^^) and when we will have the DMB-T coming, I will be prepared for it. Very nice. And it's cheaper than HQCT !

Also I would like to know if there are (or will exists) linux drivers for this device, as I may one day use linux for my carputer if I continue the development of my own frontend ?

I would say the FM is as good as a silabs but no better. It is however better than a HQCT

The DAB is excellent though. I would not buy this as an FM receiver.

@bigdave: FM is as good if not better than a standard car head unit if used with the correct aerial / antenna.

@AXB: DMB-T is supported by the chip so you should not have any problems with that. We simply have no means of testing this, though, not having this in the UK. If you are prepared to do some testing, PM me and I am sure we can work out a discount. We have built a Windows DLL to power a Windows standalone application, a Centrafuse plugin and a Ride Runner plugin. Due to Linux not being commonly used, we have not done anything for this but I am sure we can provide you with the required details to build your own if you like.

I have a VW Golf, I replaced the stock headunit with the Venice Tuner that I bought from Nrgizerbunny. FM reception is much worse than the stock headunit.

If you are going to make an outlandish statement like you just did, I would justify it.

Ok thanks for your answers, and please don't fight guys, perhaps both of you are right

I know that there are two types of possible antennas "designs" (I don't remember exactly what are the differences), perhaps VW is using a design that isn't optimal with what your product expects. But at least I hope that you still gets the signal at 80mph (the fastest allowed speed in France), right ?

In my VW i've got a ADSTech/Silabs FM USB receiver, but I don't get any signal, only noise. But I'm sure that it's because I made a custom MCX>ISO adapter with a cable which may be too thin, so it takes a lot of interferences (i soldered the wire-antenna of the InstantFM with a ISO cable ). And I also have a shorter antenna on the roof than the OEM one, which I know (from the time of when I had a sony headunit) that it makes the FM reception a little worse. To make short : I have a very very bad setup for FM as you can see ^^

I tried with the small antenna of my DVB-T card which has MCX connector as well, it was a lot better but didn't like high speed (no more reception at 30mph and more).

With a USB FM receiver specially designed for cars as your product it should work a lot better than my setup I think, and I'll be prepared for the future DMB-T radio broadcast.