HQCT Module (new thread following HU RDS/RDBS)

[BLOWNZO6_pc]

The module works for me like a charm. It is 100% working without any flaws now. Here is what I did....
- I removed the 5 pin SMB antenna connector from the pcb (took some effort because I had a simple solder gun and not that powerful)
- I bought a GOLD plated SMA female connector (5 pin right angle PCB mount style) and soldered it on the pcb. (part # ARFX1232-ND from www.digikey.com). The reason for replacing SMB with SMA is because the SMB jack is a clip on type and has a lock mechanism which makes it very hard to remove the cable once put on. I broke my cable while removing it from the module. But the SMA connector is a screw on type so you can connect it and disconnect it effortlessly.
- Since my car (G35) has a built-in antenna in the rear windshield and it was not giving good reception with this module, I decided to buy a new roof-mount antenna (i used the one that comes on Infiniti FX-35.... i think it looks cool). I had to drill a hole on my G35 roof and install the new antenna. BTW this antenna has a built-in signal amplifier, so I had to power it from car's 12V.
- I had bad experience with the SMB to motorolla type adapter, so this time I decided to eliminate using any type of adapters. I bought RG316 Cable with SMA Male (gold) connectors on both end, 10.0 ft (part# CCSHR316-10 from www.L-com.com).
- I cut off the SMA connector from one end of the cable and I also cut off the connector from the roof-mount antenna cable. I then very carefully crimped those two cables together (eleminating the need of any cheap quality adapters).
- I connected the cable to the new SMA connector on the radio module.
- Before doing this modification I was receiving only 2 radio stations and those with very very bad reception as well. I crossed my fingures and turned on the car. I was only expecting to see some better reception and may be few more radio stations. Guess what? I was blown away by the result. I was getting like 25 stations out of which 22 had 100% streo quality reception. No breaking up either. I went to work and back home (about 120 miles) and through out the entire ride not even once I lost any reception. Throught the ride I just kept on saying HOLLY ****... HOLLY F****** ****!

I now have way better reception and many more stations than what the original car radio got.

Sorry guys for the long post, but I am very exicited and had to share it with all of you. May be you guys can try making your own cables and solder SMA GOLD connectors on your radio pcb!

That is good news. This is the only thing I lack with mine.

Where did you even find a SMB to Motorola adapter?

I have a few option I am setting up... going to put the pc in the Vette this weekend and try my options.

[Vish]

That is good news. This is the only thing I lack with mine.

Where did you even find a SMB to Motorola adapter?

I have a few option I am setting up... going to put the pc in the Vette this weekend and try my options.

in my original setup i used smb to motorola adapter (i bought it from www.xtronic.be when i bought my radio module from them). But that adapter cable broke when i tried to remove it from the board.

So in my current setup I am not using any adapter cables. I made my own cable and go from radio antenna to rg316 cable. and the other end of rg316 cable has an SMA male connector which connects to the SMA female connector that I soldered on the radio module.

i did this to eleminate any cheap adapter cables. And also I think two other things helped in excellent reception were the GOLD SMA connectors I used and the RG316 cable, which is low-loss cable of much higher quality than the black pigtail cables, which are RG174. RG316 is about 5x the cost and quality of RG174. The higher quality of the cable of this antenna translates into lower loss/better performance.

[Ti-ejtsch]

@Vish

Have you any pictures with the new connectors?

Ti-ejtsch

[Vish]

@Vish

Have you any pictures with the new connectors?

Ti-ejtsch

not yet but will take some this weekend and post them.

[lifeboat]

The current state of software for the HQCT is not so good. I know it's supported in RoadRunner now, but those of us who don't use RR need a solution.

If anyone is making progress on a good app for the HQCT, can you please post an update on your project here? Thanks!

[Diogenes]

Originally Posted by lifeboat
The current state of software for the HQCT is not so good ...

it might be an idea to start a list of wanted/needed/desired features as well as a list of things to be improved or removed from the HQCT software.

Diogenes.

btw, centrafuse is working on it as well...

[Frankino]

I continue to miss the point
why not simply develope a really BASIC application with a UGLY graphic which can access ALL the function of the HQCT and pass ALL the variables to another application? something like radiator does with his rc.exe (if I remember correctly)
in this way it should be very easy to implement this piece of hardware into every frontend avoiding the need to hardcode the HQCT funcions in it

[froop]

I continue to miss the point
why not simply develope a really BASIC application with a UGLY graphic which can access ALL the function of the HQCT and pass ALL the variables to another application? something like radiator does with his rc.exe (if I remember correctly)
in this way it should be very easy to implement this piece of hardware into every frontend avoiding the need to hardcode the HQCT funcions in it

That's basically what I suggested a few posts back - using a DLL for all the functions.

I can't remember if I raised this issue previously, and I'm not sure where the problem lies - in the HQCT, firmware or otherwise. Whenever my PC comes out of hibernate, I only get audio out of the left speaker. Hitting the HQCT software's volume up or down button return sound to left and right. As I keep Incrementing or decrementing the volume, some increments play only the left speaker, others both.

[lifeboat]

it might be an idea to start a list of wanted/needed/desired features as well as a list of things to be improved or removed from the HQCT software.

Diogenes.

btw, centrafuse is working on it as well...

I'm not much of a programmer but the dll idea seems to make sense, that would pave the way for the coders in the community to come up with something. I'm sure Centrafuse will be good but my hunch is it will be a long wait.

I would like something that duplicates the functions and ease of use of a normal head unit at least. Easy tuning and easy memory channels. Touchscreen friendly with large tuning display and controls. There seem to be some advanced features available with the hardware, but for now I just need a simple useable radio with good reception.

Some suggestions for a quick fix to the existing software:
Bigger buttons
Bigger tuning display
Number pad for entering frequencies

And some way to control what the HQCT does at power on, it's somewhat annoying. The radio is blaring the whole time the machine is booting, I'm stuck with it for a good 30 seconds while I wait for XP to resume and give me some volume control.

[TheLlama]

And some way to control what the HQCT does at power on, it's somewhat annoying. The radio is blaring the whole time the machine is booting, I'm stuck with it for a good 30 seconds while I wait for XP to resume and give me some volume control.

Odd, my unit keeps the same volume after recycling power. In fact, it keeps all of the settings. Do you have the HQCT running through the soundcard? My guess is that the soundcard's hardware volume is too high.