Thread: USB FM RDS Solution with sofware

Looks like a good USB Radio. Waiting for the result.
Will this search on its own for a better frequency when the reception is bad?

Now I use my D-Link DU-R100. But that got no RDS support.

Testing of USB FM Radio from Silicon Laboratories

By Courtesy of Silicon Laboratoires and their Hungarian Distributor HT EUREP Kft. Budapest, I was a possibilty to test this module.
I tested it from the viewpoint of using in carputers.

The results:

The module:

It’s a simple USB key format module with a cca 70 cm long wire, as the aerial.
The unit is a possibility of use of the SLAB chip FM Radio Tuner Si4701 and USB enabled microcontroller ( C8051F321).

This two chips are mounted on a little pcb panel with a few additional parts. This is a very simple work, (or the chips can get everithing)

The installation of module:

It’s very easy. The unit is absolutelly plug and play, under windows xp. After a few seconds recogise as a composite USB unit, and after this as an FM radio. After 5-8 seconds ready to work, wthout any requst of install.

The software:

It’s a very simple but good working software. Can download from this link: http://www.silabs.com/public/documen...n/USBRadio.exe

It was developed in C++ and visual studio 6.0 and the source code is available: http://www.silabs.com/public/documen...en/AN264SW.zip
All of codes, skin parts, and headers can download from here. This is a good possibility for the further developing. The users guide link is: http://www.silabs.com/public/documen...B-Radio-RD.pdf
The downloaded part an exe file only. Not any installation required, click on, and working.
The string and closing speed is very impressive! Starting and closing immediatelly. This is a good thing for embedding any frontend software for Car PC-s.

After starting the program recognize the radio unit automatically, and working immediatelly.
The display illuminate the mono-stereo mode, Signal strenght(it’s important) the frequency, and RDS indentification,
The buttons are: preste buttons (12pcs), great work to programming, if You hold down, store the actual frequ. As in a car FM radio. Step up, step down, seeking, and intro buttons. + a volume level ctr.

This is a very usable and simple prog.

But a few words: the working preset number not signed anywhere. The RDS ID is in 4 digit only. For further development can increase this to at least 8-10digits.

Working of the FM radio:

This product not supported the RDS service. The radio wth RDS will comes frist weeks of 2006 (SILAB info)

Generally the work of unit is unproblematic, I not find any problems within 3 days continuous action.

The reception. This is a very important part of using USB radio modules.

With a desktop computer worked very good, but here is a very much troublesome parts, working motors….etc.
The place was a very bad conditioned place of receiving, but working good, without any request of positioning aerial.

In car can test with a notebook, without any additonal aerial. The wire was hang out on the window. But works good.

The reception depends from the quality of unit( I think it’s no prblem) the quality of coverage, and the aerial.

The SILAB FM radio working very good in car, but for further use: Must find a good place in car, the outermost distance from the Car pc. And for the secure work I think must build a possibilty of car aerial connction.

The price: The informational price of the unit is $5 !!!!!! after 5th asking too!(in case of buying minimum 75 pcs)
This is a very competitve price. With this knowledge this unit should be an base part of building Car PC-s.
Nevertheless this is a very simple, and very good quality soluton of this task.
I commend for everybody to try and use.

Laz

Do you know if the rds capabilities includes an automatic switch between frequencies? That means it will track the best emetter all along the way when driving?

It looks like they have a supplier less than 10km from my home.. I'm gonna call them up and see if I can't swing by to pick one up.