USB FM RDS Solution with sofware

**SmoL** · 03-28-2007, 05:05 AM

jjint , about your dual antenna. check to see how many antenna connections go to your head unit. i'm guessing it is probably one. If so the system is already set up to determine the best reception on the antenna so just plug you silabs rasdio into that lead and you will be set, no extra power required.

However, if there are 2 antenna connectors that means that your head unit monitors and makes logical decisions on which antenna to use. There is no way to replicate this without a homebrew type setup (i don't know gow to do it), so you would have to try both and just pick the best one for now.

I suggest looking at your head unit and see how many antenna connections you have, either way its a cheap and good radio so no harm in trying

**dudeness** · 03-28-2007, 07:47 AM

Yes, but a univerity access is needed. They want so see your confirmation of enrollment (dont know if its the right translation). I sent it via fax and hope i have the silabs soon.

**dudeness** · 03-30-2007, 07:34 AM

Ok i recieved my Silabs Radio. Works better then the ADS one, without this replug bug.

But i have a question:

Im using Radiator, its working good. But after hibernate the Radiator freezes and i have to restart it. Any Ideas? Hom i can start a radiator muted via console command? So i can fix my problem with HibernateTrigger.

**AyrtonSennaD** · 03-30-2007, 08:59 AM

so what is the product number on mouser.com ???

**henkbliek** · 03-30-2007, 09:05 AM

Mouser: USBFMRADIO-RD
Farnell: 1186925
Newark: 98K2140

**davidingermany** · 04-01-2007, 01:24 PM

Ok stupid question time.. How do I get the SILABS to work in RR?

**jjnit** · 04-01-2007, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by davidingermany

Ok stupid question time.. How do I get the SILABS to work in RR?

Install Radiator and use the USBRadio.dll file from this post: (http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/927410-post44.html) as the plugin. I think it was just a matter of unrarring the dll and copying it to the plugins folder under Radiator, restarting Radiator and selecting it in the Radiator options screen as the plugin.

I'm not in front of my Carpc right now but I think it was pretty self-explanatory when I did it.

**crispyrabbi** · 04-01-2007, 03:50 PM

How to make it work has been described as above a couple of times and people claim that it work. I have tried it on 2 pc:s with just minor success.
Now I have got it installed in my carpc but its very slow when you go to the radio menu. The tuner may or may not work when you finally get to the radio menu. I also get a lot of mp3 songs in the playlist instead of radiostations.
Think the problem is with radiator and would like an integration of the original software that compared to radiator is fast to start, always works and tunes fast.
Someone has proposed that to guino so maybe it will be so in a not to distant future.
Good luck with radiatorinstall!

**jjnit** · 04-01-2007, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by grayvader

I ended up buying another one. The board is very delicate -- I probably trashed something under a part because it was just too intermittant.

This time i soldered the antenna extension on carefully and managed to get it to fit perfectly in the hole on the side of the plastic housing. The housing holds it secure and I taped it all up nice and tight. All is GREAT now.

Now, about your dual antenna setup -- I have no idea. Is there a way to plug into one or the other to test?

Cool - I just snapped up another one too... will be much more careful this time around soldering. Did you solder your antenna directly in or use a disconnect in between?

My radio only had one connection to the setup even though it uses dual antennas, so I'm going to assume that mine will work fine wired directly in.

Results when I get my replacement in...

**grayvader** · 04-01-2007, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by jjnit

Cool - I just snapped up another one too... will be much more careful this time around soldering. Did you solder your antenna directly in or use a disconnect in between?

My radio only had one connection to the setup even though it uses dual antennas, so I'm going to assume that mine will work fine wired directly in.

Results when I get my replacement in...

I bought an antenna extension cable at Fry's and cut off the pointy end. That left just the socket and about 14" of cable. Then I stripped some insulation and soldered the tiny antenna wire to the antenna hole and the shield to the big ground hole right next to it.