USB FM RDS Solution with sofware - Page 11

NiSlo · 02-09-2007, 05:57 PM

I've noticed that if I plug the unit into the usb port then open the program, the sound is distorted and undistinguishable. If I open the program first then plug the unit into the usb port, it works perfectly.

Clear reception with no skipping. That's with the aerial wire laying on the floor next to the computer...

Besides the aforementioned issue, I'm very impressed.

SmoL · 02-09-2007, 06:10 PM

I havent had that problem, works fine if i plug it in first and then open the program.

I did have that prob the first time i opened radiator but once i setup the dll it was fine...

Bj · 02-12-2007, 06:29 AM

Don't use the flakey radio that comes with it, it's not as stable as the USB vb6 example I ended up using. Don't know why, but it does what you describe, yet the vb6 example and the radiator plugin is fine.

SmoL · 02-13-2007, 02:44 AM

huh? myne didnt come with software I downloaded it, is that what your talking about? vb6??

Bj · 02-13-2007, 03:12 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by SmoL

huh? myne didnt come with software I downloaded it, is that what your talking about? vb6??

Let me rephrase that for you. The software that silabs supplies for use with the usb radio isn't very good, whether you download it or got it from your grandma on floppies I don't really care

I'm referring to the software "that comes with it" as the software designed by the manufacturer for use with the supplied hardware. The vb6 (visual basic version 6) example source code that is mentioned in this thread is another version of software you can use as well as the radiator dll (dynamic link library) for road runner etc. Hope that clears that bit up.

SmoL · 02-14-2007, 02:48 AM

gotcha, i wasn't aware there was a vb6 version posted previously, the radiator dll runs perfectly!! HOwever i would like to know how to write a dll so that i could cross check it with the source code provided for the device, just for my own peace of mind really to make sure all functionality is catered for.

emumanXM · 02-14-2007, 02:53 AM

I received my USB radio from mouser today. As of Feb. of 2007 it's ROHS compliant. I downloaded the latest software and the issue that I have is that it says "Error opening USB FM Radio audio input, try again?". I'm running Windows 2003. I also tried it on a Windows 2000 Pro machine and it said output instead of input in the error message. I e-mailed Silabs because the docs say nothing, hopefully I'll get a reply. It looks like the antenna input is optimized for 50 ohm impedance. The IC in is is honestly one of the best on the market. SiLabs makes a damn good FM tuner. If the antenna wire that comes with it doesn't cut it, just attach a 50 or 75 ohm antenna and you'll get better performance. But remember, this USB Radio is not an end user product; it's an evaluation vehicle for the Si4701. It's whole purpose is to evaluate the performance of the tuner without an NDA. I suspect SiLabs does it that way to compete with Philips and also keep their data secret. You can easily evaluate it without an NDA to steer you towards it instead of Philips TEA5764, which is the competing product with the same exact features. It is also a way to evaluate it without exposing the docs.

The old Philips part is the TEA5767/68. It has no RDS, but has a high impedance MPX output as well as audio to connect to the SAA6588T RDS/RBDS decoder. I could not purchase the demo board from Philips to evaluate it so I had to build my own. It's still missing parts, but so far my demo board is noisy as hell. I need a 560pF capacitor for the SAA6588T and a 3.3V regulator for radio power. It'll run on 5V which is what I had it running on, maybe thats why it was so noisy, but I'm not sure.

If you guys want a kick *** radio then get the HQCT module. It's the best damn radio out there and is even better than most HUs out there. It uses a Philips car radio tuner and audio processor. Microtune makes the tuner module. It uses their highest end tuner module. Microtune's demo board includes the tuner module, the same Philips audio processor, a BTL car audio amp, and i2c singlemaster interface to control it with PC software. I have their demo board and let me tell you, it's the best damn radio I've ever used. At all costs get the HQCT. The Silabs USB radio is a neat toy, but for a damn kick *** radio, get the HQCT.

Jonathan

SmoL · 02-14-2007, 03:10 AM

Sorry I've been monitoring the HQCT thread since its inception and its just not reliable enough for me to substantiate the expense in comparison with the silab price nad reputation. Alot of the stuff is undocumented (worse than silabs) for the HCQT and is still to buggy (IMHO) for them to substantiate charging such a large price for it. Don't get me wrong it was a finished and polished procut I would be more thna happy to spend that amount on it, but not when i'm not gauranteed a product to deliver and is still very early in the R&D piece in comparison to silabs.

Secondly, I really don't like that idea of having to configure multiple audio outputs when I really just want it to use the pc cound card rather than having aux straight to the speakers. Just not good (IMHO) from an integration perspective.

It's for these reasons I decided to go with the silabs product, and I have to say i'm extreemly pleased with it so far in price, performance, ease of use and integration with my existing setup. No bugs to speak of to date for me. So i guess I can't really ask for more...

hari-bhari · 02-14-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by SmoL

gotcha, i wasn't aware there was a vb6 version posted previously, the radiator dll runs perfectly!! HOwever i would like to know how to write a dll so that i could cross check it with the source code provided for the device, just for my own peace of mind really to make sure all functionality is catered for.

Man I feel so stupid, I can't find the DLL!! I looked all over this thread, can someone please direct me?

NiSlo · 02-14-2007, 06:02 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by hari-bhari

Man I feel so stupid, I can't find the DLL!! I looked all over this thread, can someone please direct me?

It's in another thread regarding the silabs radio here

emumanXM · 02-15-2007, 03:12 AM

SmoL,

The hardware design is completely finished on the HQCT. It uses one of the best available tuners and audio processors. The audio processor is designed to integrate everything into one piece of silicon making design a lot easier. Thats why it has so many inputs. Though I never use the software on this forum. I connect mine to my PC through i2c using a Philips Dual Single Master interface I built from a schematic they provided. I use the Philips control software too, which in my opinion is the best because it has all the options that radio nerds like myself love to play with.

But I will say, the Silabs unit is really nice in terms of performance. Connect a decent antenna and you are good to go. It's designed as a high performance receiver in low power portable applications with varying receiving conditions. For it's size and low power requirement it's quite amazing what it does. But again, the USB FM radio is designed as an evaluation vehicle to evaluate it's performance, not an end user product. It seems to me like it has the performance of a high-end end user product, but the software does not work in my situation, and the stock antenna isn't the best in weak signal conditions.

Jonathan

SmoL · 02-16-2007, 03:56 AM

I agree you cant expect good reception with the stock antenna, one you connect it to your car antenna though it is a totally different sotry. And sorry but if HCQT is finalised then i willnot buy it. I just see to much user unhappyness on the thread for it to be swayed to buy it...

Iceman_jkh · 02-16-2007, 05:49 AM

The HQCT also does not support audio-over-usb, which is a big drawback.
Therefore you must mount it near your pc, or run an audio cable all the way back into your soundcard. Not ideal. I much prefer SiLabs approach.

You can mount the USB unit right next to the antenna and run USB the rest of the way. A much better way to deal with tiny analogue signals in an electrically noisey environment!

SmoL · 02-16-2007, 07:02 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Iceman_jkh

The HQCT also does not support audio-over-usb, which is a big drawback.
Therefore you must mount it near your pc, or run an audio cable all the way back into your soundcard. Not ideal. I much prefer SiLabs approach.

You can mount the USB unit right next to the antenna and run USB the rest of the way. A much better way to deal with tiny analogue signals in an electrically noisey environment!

Totally agree, if only the HCQT had this, maybee they should join or look into the silabs R&D work and integrate it into theirs...