Me experiences with the D-link USB radio

craigyb · 03-01-2004, 05:40 AM

OK, this weekend I took the plunge and wired in the D-link USB radio to use with Confused's radio skin and radiator within MediaCar.

I had the PC out of the car and on the bench, installed radiator, as I had Garry's latest skins, everything else worked fine. I saved several stations tested MediaCar functionality, all seemed fine.

Next I cut into my aerial lead just behind the HU and plit it in two, sent one to the HU and one up to the glove compartment for the D-Link. HU functioned fine, tested for signal, tuning etc all ok.

Installed the D-link into a 4 port HUB behind the glove compartment, attached the aerial lead (phono connector fitted) and sent the audio down a screened cable back to to the PC in the boot.

Hmm, how dissapointed was I, very poor reception and engine whine.

Now me thinks that the engine whine could be fixed by building the D-link into a metal project box and I have such a thing ready for next week, but what about the poor reception, has everyone else had this problem?

I seem to remember several threads regarding the radio reception quality.

Craig

Confused · 03-01-2004, 05:45 AM

I have yet to try this...but I quite probably will be next weekend.

One thing I seem to remember from reading here, is that the ground is actually on the inside of the phone connector, and the signal on the outside.

I'm glad all the functions worked...just apart from the reception

Garry

craigyb · 03-01-2004, 05:50 AM

Bugger, I seem to think your right. That all makes sense now. Anyhow, I will build it into the metal box and add a filter or two, I will be removing the phono socket, so I will be able to see what is ground and what is signal, thanks Garry.

Still got my shutdown controller to install, ran out of time this weekend.

Craig

lummox · 03-01-2004, 09:46 AM

Spliting the signal will cost you some reception quality

LESLIEx317537 · 03-02-2004, 11:23 PM

I did the same exact thing.

I should have taken pictures, mine has the standard car antenna male and female connections.

I did alot of testing on it. I took and grounded the outer conductor to the line out's outer conductor and it got rid of alot of the whine.

Next, I unplugged my headunit antenna and some more noise went away.

If you mute the line in the noise will go away. - I wonder if there is some program that mutes and unmutes the line in when the radio is in use and not.

gospeed.racer · 03-02-2004, 11:37 PM

I cut mine apart and the center pin is what is soldered to the base of the antenna. It is odd that there are people using it both ways and both seem to work

LESLIEx317537 · 03-02-2004, 11:41 PM

I tested mine and made sure which was the signal and ground.

00CericaRuss · 03-03-2004, 02:18 AM

i've found that i get a bit better reception w/the outer pin of the rca going to the ground of the antenna

LESLIEx317537 · 03-03-2004, 02:20 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by 00CericaRuss

i've found that i get a bit better reception w/the outer pin of the rca going to the ground of the antenna

Exactly what I did. Got rid of some whine I had.

LESLIEx317537 · 03-03-2004, 09:13 PM

OK, I need to know what everyone hooked up the center antenna conductor to and what they grounded the outer sheilding of the antenna wire.

I hooked what is circled in blue up to the center pin/wire on my cars antenna wire.

I also think I know why the whine is coming in... I'm going to see if I can make this thing work really nice now that I'm gonna go headunitless.

LESLIEx317537 · 03-06-2004, 06:35 PM

I did some more testing and found that the 1/8th line out shielding is not grounded at all.

I'm gonna bypass running the 1/8th audio line with the USB cable and make a hole in the unit and snake the wire out directly and ground the outer shielding.

Here's the exposed shielding that goes nowhere. (I think)

imprezive one · 03-14-2004, 01:45 AM

just tacking on here for future reference.

LESLIEx317537 · 03-14-2004, 05:12 PM

Another note.

I was reading this very helpful thread: http://forum.sounddomain.com/forum/u...c;f=5;t=008251

I now also think that powering the car antenna amp with the accessory on may also possibly cause noise? How many amps do you think it draws? I was possibly thinking of powering it with the PC power supply.

Another thing I might do is ground the dlink unit to the grounding distro block.

bankingdom · 03-16-2004, 03:27 AM

Guys, guys, guys, don't you search old threads??? I posted numerous times how bad the d-link reception is. Many people have tried putting metal boxes, soldering this, doing that, but why not go ahead and buy the hauphauge????

Whats so special about the d-link? The wintv is about the same price too!! I have both and I can tell you that the d-links reception sucks ***! Hauphauge is the way to go, Just my opinion from someone who has both.

http://www.bankingdom.com/carputer/carputer.html

Mastero · 03-16-2004, 04:15 AM

OK friends today i worked on my D-link result was no engine whine, amazing reception as good as a headunit.

Shall post full details from home at work right now.

Mastero