For Guino: USB Radio FM with RDS from Silabs

**RRMobile** · 09-14-2006, 10:08 AM

I received yesterday 2 USBRadio and I may say that even with the wire antenna the receiption is quite good maybe is not at the level of HQCT but at least I didn't see problems using it.

The RDS data is cool! also becouse from the source code you can access to a lot of information more.

I also received the VC++ souce code of the standard application from Wickerswammie (thanks!) and actually I'm playing with the code to find I way to convert in VB6...

I have to admit that is a Hell of job!!!! C++ is quite cryptic to interpratate.

I'll let you know...

**guino** · 09-14-2006, 11:21 AM

I've done plenty of work with VC++ so, feel free to ask for any help. Dare I say, the Cinergy600 interface is all in VC++ -- All I did was get their sample software and integrate it to send/receive info from/to RR. I think that anything beyond the listed bellow would not really be necessary for in-car usage:

-Direct Tune of Freq.
-Polling of current frequency
-Seek Up and Down (possibly with a seek level option)
-Tune Up/Tune Down, Fine Tune Up/Down (normally just using the Tune Freq, but some cards have faster functions for those)
-Stereo Indicator
-RDS Text Display (and Station Name)

Everything else is pretty much handled by RR.

Originally Posted by RRMobile

I received yesterday 2 USBRadio and I may say that even with the wire antenna the receiption is quite good maybe is not at the level of HQCT but at least I didn't see problems using it.

The RDS data is cool! also becouse from the source code you can access to a lot of information more.

I also received the VC++ souce code of the standard application from Wickerswammie (thanks!) and actually I'm playing with the code to find I way to convert in VB6...

I have to admit that is a Hell of job!!!! C++ is quite cryptic to interpratate.

I'll let you know...

**ReflexNPG** · 09-14-2006, 11:34 AM

what about TA and switch to tuner - will this work when you only get RDS text and station name?

**Wickerswammie** · 09-14-2006, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by guino

I've done plenty of work with VC++ so, feel free to ask for any help. Dare I say, the Cinergy600 interface is all in VC++ -- All I did was get their sample software and integrate it to send/receive info from/to RR. I think that anything beyond the listed bellow would not really be necessary for in-car usage:

-Direct Tune of Freq.
-Polling of current frequency
-Seek Up and Down (possibly with a seek level option)
-Tune Up/Tune Down, Fine Tune Up/Down (normally just using the Tune Freq, but some cards have faster functions for those)
-Stereo Indicator
-RDS Text Display (and Station Name)

Everything else is pretty much handled by RR.

I've actually already modified the source SiLabs used to supply, to create a DLL that exports functions which do all of those things. It currently has a Radiator interface, but just about anything can be added.

RRMobile wants to add the ability to control two of these devices for some reason, so I may make some modifications to my source to allow that.

I'll post my source if I get a chance when I get home from work.

**Griff1** · 09-14-2006, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by RRMobile

I received yesterday 2 USBRadio and I may say that even with the wire antenna the receiption is quite good maybe is not at the level of HQCT but at least I didn't see problems using it.

The RDS data is cool! also becouse from the source code you can access to a lot of information more.

I also received the VC++ souce code of the standard application from Wickerswammie (thanks!) and actually I'm playing with the code to find I way to convert in VB6...

I have to admit that is a Hell of job!!!! C++ is quite cryptic to interpratate.

I'll let you know...

Good news,now i just need to find an outlet so i can join in.
Off to ebay

**Griff1** · 09-15-2006, 04:24 AM

I can't find these anywhere.

**RRMobile** · 09-15-2006, 05:32 AM

At the end is not so devasting to port C++ code to a VB6 "testbed" application.
I found on the net a wonderful example to how controll USB HID devices and i'm using it toi make a SilabTest.vbp project.

Here is code found.

**RRMobile** · 09-15-2006, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by guino

I've done plenty of work with VC++ so, feel free to ask for any help. Dare I say, the Cinergy600 interface is all in VC++ -- All I did was get their sample software and integrate it to send/receive info from/to RR. I think that anything beyond the listed bellow would not really be necessary for in-car usage:

-Direct Tune of Freq.
-Polling of current frequency
-Seek Up and Down (possibly with a seek level option)
-Tune Up/Tune Down, Fine Tune Up/Down (normally just using the Tune Freq, but some cards have faster functions for those)
-Stereo Indicator
-RDS Text Display (and Station Name)

Everything else is pretty much handled by RR.

Yes Guino but RDS data can be used in many ways beside the Station name:
- Traffic Alert
- TMC information (i have a C++ example to how decode that info )
- Using 2 USB sticks in parallel be able to select the station and favourite program from a list of available ones instead to use the freq up/down.
- ...

This obviously depend on how the Silabs guy did the firmware job!!

**StealthRT** · 09-16-2006, 12:58 AM

Did anyone ever end up porting the source to VB????

Thanks!
David

**Evo** · 09-16-2006, 06:25 AM

So in summary do people think that the Silab usb fm tuner audio quality is good? and what connector type is used for the external aerial as it will need adapting to fit a car motorola aerial?

I am an experienced programmer in C++ and VB6 and .Net, so if this radio is viable from a quality perspective I will help develop the code required to get it working with the frontends e.g. Centrafuse