Solution to PC controlled Radio

NiN^_^NiN · 02-11-2005, 07:09 AM

I'm curious as everyone wants headunit quality FM why not try this:

People who are connected directly to the amps and are headunitless why not get a cheap radio headunit and then store it under the seat and have the audio going into the line in on the PC and have a relay card to short the contacts of he radio stations

So you control the buttons pushed in software and you have each button setup for a radio station

So say you select Nova 100 in software this sends the signal for the relays to push button 2 on the radio to switch to that station.

This way you get Headunit Quality and the headunit can be hidden

What do you think?

Scouse Monkey · 02-11-2005, 07:26 AM

yeah i had an idea liek that but no one was interested. http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/car-audio/35980-linking-headunit-car-radio.html

i am going it the other way round now. I decided to buy a HU when i was originally gonna use an AMP.

jcdillin · 02-11-2005, 07:27 AM

I think it's a good idea, but I wouldnt want to drag the headunit out everytime I disconnected the battery to reset the presets, and what happens when I take a trip out of the state and I have to reset all the stations again.

NiN^_^NiN · 02-11-2005, 08:36 AM

Well on my headunit it has 6 FM stations and then it has FM2 which lets you select another 6 FM stations you could have FM1 as presets for normal then interstate can be FM2 and you can just scan back and forth to what station you like.

If your going interstate it shouldnt be for 2 long

You could in theory hook all buttons up and have it all mapped out

Scouse

I'm surprised no1 replyed its a good idea i think

rando · 02-11-2005, 04:48 PM

With a bit more tinkering, you can probably do better than just pusing the buttons. It's very likely that ANY HU you crack open will have a MCU inside controlling some form of tuner IC. If you can figure out the control interface, you can subsitute your own MCU with an interface back to your PC. I have an old Kenwood deck that I started to do this with.

Ultimately though it will be more than a small bit of work that will produce one-off hack. I decided to focus my efforts upon better things -- but it's still in the bakck of mind.

cjastram · 02-11-2005, 04:57 PM

Or you could get a USB radio dongle.

http://www.engadget.com/entry/8143838859548140/

Is there something wrong with them that I don't know about?

Christopher Jastram
http://www.livingresource.net/
cej102937

Danceheaven · 02-11-2005, 05:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by cjastram

Or you could get a USB radio dongle.

http://www.engadget.com/entry/8143838859548140/

Is there something wrong with them that I don't know about?

Christopher Jastram
http://www.livingresource.net/
cej102937

Yes unfortunatly there ****
Reception is bad enough from standing still let alone in a moving vehicle
same goes for most PCI type cards, or USB connected Radios / Sticks there all bad in terms of reception only good thing about them is the fact there software controlled, keep an eye out for Seth and Randos RDS unit thats what we all want and need