HQCT Control/Media Manager

aeroanderz · 10-04-2007, 04:31 AM

Mission:
HQCT Control from Streetdeck (c# .NET addin)

Reason:
Radio support in StreetDeck is almost nonexistant. For me, Radio will be THE most used feature. I want a full featured radio (The HQCT) and full support in StreetDeck for it.

Hookup:
Audio from PC to CD Input on HQCT to be able to use the excellent vol/treble/bass/loudness/balance/fader functions of the HQCT. 4-channel audio from HQCT to stock amp/speakers.
(This seems to be a very rare hookup, but the plugin should also work for other hookups)

Done so far:
Media Manager for the HQCT Radio exits.
Mixer settings module for controlling the functions above (vol/tre/bass/loud/bal/fad)
Source Mixing module for controlling how to mix in the audio of NAV input and BEEPs (might need some graphical rework)
Tray Overlay for the Media Manager (display RDS tite, band, stereo, AF, TMC etc..) 90% done (Dynamic Label/Image issue)

Todo:
Media Control Overlay (10% done)
Extended Overlay (10% done)
Connect all buttons and functions to a HQCT controlling interface (easy, dlls exist and I also have my own HQCT code, but..)

Problems:
Is it possible to rise events in c# like MediaChanged etc. to mimic the overlays when music files change? (With a solid Java background I can get this to work in Java but not in C#..)

StreetDeck issues/problems:
Unable to modify/poke/update skin items (panels, buttons, lables) created in StreetDeck Dev Env from a .Net Addin (will essentially make the plugin unskinnable..)
Like others have stated, it is not possible to use the controls that exist in StreetDeck for a .Net app..
The Dev Env is SO buggy. Now, it refuses to update my skin files.. for some reason. Save message is (ERROR: The skin files were saved successfully... !?)
How do I make an INVISIBLE button of custom size? Which skin class do I use?
How Do one create Dynamic Lables / Dynamic Images? How do one set the type of these? (as selectable in the Dev Env)

As most addin developers, 90% of the work is struggling with the streetdeck API and the graphical components interface in particular, but at a quick glance, StreetDeck is the nicest Front End out there. Don't get me wrong, I woldn't spend this much time and effort into a product in which I don not believe.. StreetDeck has the possibility of being GREAT if we could just give it a hand in the right direction. The market plans for StreetDeck does not seem to prioritize the "DIY" way, but rather "buy this whole kit and connect a cable and it works". We need some of the old chuck back.. Keep up the good work!

I know that official support for creating Addins is VERY limited, but I will happily receive tips, comments, solutions from any person.

If putput reads this, an expansion of the HQCT dll may convince me to use it from my code, separating HQCT code from Front End code. (a la FMode style..)

Screens:

Tray

ControlOverlay

ExtendedControlOverlay

RadioModule

MixerModule

SourceMixing

/anders

JC-S60 · 10-04-2007, 07:49 AM

Hi Aero,

Great work you're doing there!

What do you mean about the DLL? Maybe I can be of some help interfacing between your demands and Luc (PutPut), as I still own him a dinner

Regards,
Joachim

aeroanderz · 10-04-2007, 08:52 AM

The DLL list from putput's page:

Code:

*  The following parameters can be set to the HQCT module:
          o HQCT on/off
          o Mute on/off
          o Set HQCT AM or FM frequency
          o AM/FM switching
          o Frequency step up/down
          o Set scan sensitivity
          o Frequency scan next station up/down
          o Select sound source (Tuner, CD, Phone, Navigation)
          o Set HQCT output volume
          o Set HQCT bass level
          o Set HQCT treble level
          o Set HQCT loudness level
    * The following parameters can be obtained from the HQCT module:
          o RDS station name
          o RDS text
          o Actual FM frequency
          o Actual AM frequency
          o Stereo
          o Mute
          o Scan sensitivity
          o Reception level
          o Actual sound source
          o Actual band (AM/FM)

On the top of my head I miss:

Set:

Setting Vol/Tre/Bas/Loud/Fad/Bal should be in interval 0 to 100 %.
Set Balance
Set Fader
SourceMixing (How to mix in Nav input and Beeps)
Beep support (generate beeps Hz + time)
Enable/Disable TP (Traffic Program)
Enable/Disable EON
Enable/disable AF
Allow only local AF switching (opposed to regional+local)
character table support for radiotext (as in RDS Spec) (I have code for swedish support)

Receive:

AF Status (on/off)
EON status (on/off)
TA (active traffic announcment) (this includes switching to the station sending in case of EON)
Nav input indication
Phone Input indication

How is radio muted? By disabling audio processing?
These are functions I currently use every day in my "stock" radio (Blaupunkt)

So my Idea is that if the HQCT dll handles all frequency switching etc depending on the settings above, all that the frontends need to do is send frequencies to the HQCT as presets are selected or sending tune up/down command when seeking.

Oh, have I mentioned that I just love the HQCT. It's been entertaining me at work for over a year now.. most expensive desk radio ever.. everyone is instantly impressed!

If we can have all the above and If my media Manager can be completed, It will be unbeatable... If I could just get some help or support for generating streetdeck media events in my .net app, tuning to new frequencies will be SOOOOOO cool.. Just like switching songs in music manager...

Functions from my own code: (sorry about the colors, but..)

main

rds details

signal processor

JC-S60 · 10-04-2007, 10:56 AM

Ok, now I understand better

Quote:

1. Set Balance
2. Set Fader
4. Beep support (generate beeps Hz + time)

Should be easy to add that to the DLL (not sure about the beep frequency)...

Quote:

3. SourceMixing

Mixing is only possible with the nav-input, so you should connect your pc-output to the cd-input AND one channel to the nav-input (because it's mono, but outputs to all channels). Should be fairly easy to add that one to the dll too.

Quote:

5. Enable/Disable TP (Traffic Program)
6. Enable/Disable EON
7. Enable/disable AF
8. Allow only local AF switching (opposed to regional+local)
9. character table support for radiotext (as in RDS Spec) (I have code for swedish support)

Receive:

* AF Status (on/off)
* EON status (on/off)
* TA (active traffic announcment) (this includes switching to the station sending in case of EON)
* Nav input indication
* Phone Input indication

A lot of the RDS stuff is already being tested by Luc, I'll ask him how soon it's ready to go public.

Quote:

How is radio muted? By disabling audio processing?

Don't know what method is used by the dll, I'll ask Luc to contact you to handle all dll issues further...

Joachim

aeroanderz · 10-05-2007, 01:42 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by JC-S60

(not sure about the beep frequency)...

It's just bits representing a frequency in the control message... no problem for Luc I would guess.. I think I tried it once as well..

Quote: Originally Posted by JC-S60

Mixing is only possible with the nav-input, so you should connect your pc-output to the cd-input AND one channel to the nav-input (because it's mono, but outputs to all channels). Should be fairly easy to add that one to the dll too.

The only problem is that one needs to indicate that there is action on the nav-input by pulling up or down a nav active input... NOT so easy without extra hardware.. :/

Quote: Originally Posted by JC-S60

A lot of the RDS stuff is already being tested by Luc, I'll ask him how soon it's ready to go public.

Sounds wonderful!

Luc seems to be quite busy these days, but I think that the driver is an excellent startingpoint for creating good frintend integration.

Thanks Joachim!

RedGTiVR6 · 10-05-2007, 11:52 AM

I'm not sure if you've seen this thread yet, but once you have this digital mod completed, would you mind following this thread: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/digi...tml#post981860

Thanks!

aeroanderz · 10-10-2007, 08:14 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

I'm not sure if you've seen this thread yet, but once you have this digital mod completed, would you mind following this thread: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/digi...tml#post981860

I sure will.

Some updates:
Radio Module is now somewhat more useful. Still need to save settings and presets between runs.

To the streetdeck gurus: It is only possible to define one module as "default" for an addin. Is it possible to have TWO modules from the same addin to show up under digimods? I want one for the RadioManager (RadioModule) and one for the MixerModule (which has nothing to do with Radio, but uses the same code in the same addin...)?