HQCT Module (new thread following HU RDS/RDBS)

**0l33l** · 02-16-2006, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by Kriss

Question: will the radio/tuner unit function as well without the USB connected? I plan on some installation build around a portable pc. I would like the radio to function even on small trips where the pc is not in the docking station.

Hope you know how to use the i2c bus

**JC-S60** · 02-17-2006, 08:32 AM

There's no way of controlling the radio without USB for the moment (no buttons), so how would you plan on using it?

The current prototypes play a preset frequency at a preset volume when connected to power.

Production models will probably play the last selected frequency at the last chosen volume or will mute when no USB is detected.

Depends on details and choices in the firmware.

**Kriss** · 02-17-2006, 10:06 AM

Would be OK to me.
If it works 'stand-alone', playing last station on last (or default) volume setting, that's just perfect.

I won't change radio stations every minute, so 'control' is not really needed.

In wiring-option B, I guess the car kit/GPS doesn't really need the USB connected either and will function as configured??
Or am I going a bit TOO optimistic here?

mmmm... can hardly wait to file that order.....

**AlienEclipse** · 02-20-2006, 05:23 AM

OK this post is more or less to bring it back to the top.

ADMIN'S please sticky this!

Also, Where are we at?

**TheLlama** · 02-21-2006, 11:37 AM

I'm surprised this thread isn't stickified. If anything this should be sticky and the original tuner thread should be unstuck.

**0l33l** · 02-21-2006, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by TheLlama

I'm surprised this thread isn't stickified. If anything this should be sticky and the original tuner thread should be unstuck.

PM a mod. They don't go through all the threads... just the ones that gain over 100 posts in less than an hour

**skeeter007** · 02-21-2006, 06:59 PM

There aren't any plans to make this completely USB, are there (i.e. power, control, and audio)? It would be nice to have a completely isolated USB radio module.

**rando** · 02-21-2006, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by TheLlama

I'm surprised this thread isn't stickified. If anything this should be sticky and the original tuner thread should be unstuck.

Why unstick the original?

**emumanXM** · 02-21-2006, 10:06 PM

Philips was kind enough to send me some sweet software. It's control software for the TEA6849 in the microtune tuner module, the TEF6892 audio processor with an RDS decoder. It uncludes all the i2c divers too. I purchased the $500 evaluation board from microtune which connects the i2c bus directly to the parallel port. If these HQCT modules has an i2c port one can use some logic to connect it to the parallel port. Attached is a pic of the software running.

As you can see the tuner can tune AM/FM/WX/SW in US mode. SW is pretty damn neat, but I think everything about this software is pretty damn neat. The microtune tuner software was full of bugs and always misaligned it. The philips software works perfectly as it aligns the tuner perfectly and all bands sound excellent. This really is one super kick *** tuner. I'd upload the software but there is a 200k limit and it's around 2MB. I put it on my geo****ies site but it only allows 4MB per day of bandwidth. It can be found here.

With this tuner and the TEF6892, autogate of the i2c bus isn't possible according to the documentation. In US mode, FM 87.9MHz - 107.9MHz, AM 520kHz - 1720kHz, WX 162.400MHz - 162.550MHz, and SW 5730kHz - 6295kHz. I guess the philips software somehow includes SW tuning where microtune forgot. Once can DX with this radio. Imagine doing that in a car.

Really neat. Note in the pic that the radio station is playing one of the best songs of one of the best bands of all time.

Jonathan