USB FM RDS Solution with sofware - Page 19

SmoL · 05-10-2007, 03:20 AM

Muldrick, was it ok when you tested in inside and got worse in the car? or is it the same as before?

muldrick · 05-10-2007, 05:24 AM

I never tested inside. But it works ok when setting still, just not very well when moving.

grayvader · 05-10-2007, 06:26 PM

What kind of car do you have? (ok, I see you have a Hyundai) I've read more about the stock antennas in some of the non-US cars and have seen the results myself. My brother's Infinity doesn't work well at all with the Silabs because of his stock "diversity" antenna. We're going to try getting a regular antenna to see if that helps.
The thing works GREAT in my F150.

muldrick · 05-10-2007, 08:11 PM

Grayvader. You are saying that the same unit works good in your F150?
I'm asking because maybe you did a better soldering job on the truck unit, compared to the Infinity unit?????

I know I soldering mine correctly, otherwise I wouldn't have a signal at all, and it is better then just the plain wire that came with it, just not good enough.

"diversity" antenna. Would 2 antennas on my car act as a "diversity".

I tried a different length antenna (about 1-2 inches longer)...no better.
On that "diversity" note, if I run 2 antennas, should I have them at different lengths?

What about FM signal boosters (I "heard" they are useless) or signal "amplifiers" (not cheap).

grayvader · 05-10-2007, 09:03 PM

Actually I tried both units in my truck and they both worked equally well so I know the solder job was ok on his.

And, yes, if you have 2 antennas, then you probably have a diversity antenna setup and your stock head unit has a tuner that knows what to do with two antennas. That's all I really know -- I don't know how to make it work. Hence, my brother trying a cheapo regular antenna. I'll you guys know how that works out.

I'm only regurgitating what I found doing a google search on reception problems with infinity/nissan cars. Apparently, aftermarket radios don't like the diversity setup either.

(I suspect the impedence mismatch of the "diverity" setup is part of the problem, but don't really know for sure)

muldrick · 05-11-2007, 06:39 PM

Thanks.
No, I don't (currently) have 2 antennas, I was just wondering if that would help. (If I added another stock antenna on the right rear)

Yes...please let me (us) know how that regular antenna works for you.

Dwaine · 05-11-2007, 06:54 PM

My unit just came in and I have started testing. What amazing reception and audio quality!

I would agree with people that this is the best usb fm tuner so far. I can move the string antenna around without any flutter. It does help I can see the CN Tower from my house. 8*)

Just plug the usb radio into the usb port and fired up the software and it worked just fine under Vista.

RDS even works great...... Now off to Canadian Tire to soldier an antenna cable for the car...

I'm surprised that people have not mentioned the little LED that glows red then green. I though it was a nice indicator to see if the radio is player or not.

It's has better reception than my wintv usb device that is sitting beside it.

Dwaine

jwlionking · 05-15-2007, 08:01 AM

Wow, they ship fast! I received it two days later! I see what everyone is talking about in regards to reception. I will try soldering a antenna adapter to this and hook up to my factory antenna.

Quote: Originally Posted by jwlionking

Just ordered mine from Mouser.

FYI :

Stock: 36 Can Ship Immediately

On Order: 47 On Order View Delivery Dates

$35.00 each

I checked Digi-Key and they didn't have any in stock.

Sal R. · 05-18-2007, 08:07 PM

Anyone use an antenna adaptor that takes a +12V input yet?

The antenna adaptor I need to use has it. I've already tried using just a standard adaptor modified and soldered to the USB board, but the reception still sucked.

According the car forum I hang out at also, the amplified antenna adaptor is what I would use in an aftermarket HU install.

I'm a little concerned how the additional +12V load would affect the board seeing that I would be soldering the ground for the antenna onto it.

Anyone have any thoughts?

grayvader · 05-19-2007, 11:48 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Sal R.

Anyone use an antenna adaptor that takes a +12V input yet?

The antenna adaptor I need to use has it. I've already tried using just a standard adaptor modified and soldered to the USB board, but the reception still sucked.

According the car forum I hang out at also, the amplified antenna adaptor is what I would use in an aftermarket HU install.

I'm a little concerned how the additional +12V load would affect the board seeing that I would be soldering the ground for the antenna onto it.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Attaching the ground shouldn't affect anything on the USB dongle.

lez · 05-20-2007, 03:58 PM

If you mean your worried about the 12v going back into the dongle, dont connect the coax/aerial inner to the dongle direct, cut it and add a capacitor, value will be 'unimportant' but you want a less than 1uF value, or if a 1 or 2 uF make sure the (+) end is away from the dongle, this will decouple the 12v supply.

I have done this before, its how amplified head end TV aerial amps work, but if you dont know how to do this safely seek help etc, I have limited liabilty............limited to what you do your responsible for.........

Nerd2 · 05-20-2007, 04:15 PM

Does the silabs not already have a capacitor on the input of the aerial?

lez · 05-20-2007, 04:38 PM

It probably does, most do, because its good design practice.

But I posted that just in case it does not, if it does, it should not need one adding, I can have a look at mine later.

Nerd2 · 05-20-2007, 04:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by lez

It probably does, most do, because its good design practice.

But I posted that just in case it does not, if it does, it should not need one adding, I can have a look at mine later.

Mine had one, but i've broken it off with my fantastic soldering

Sal R. · 05-20-2007, 05:16 PM

Well, got it all working. Didn't add the cap as lez suggested and didn't seem to affect anything.

Results: Still not as good as my afermarket HU. In the area where i live/work, is just about the range where you barely get any good reception from the popular local stations. Drive a few miles and radio reception gets as good as a HU.

I wouldn't say it's the end-all be-all solution, but perhaps if I lived/work just a few miles closer from where I am currently, I'd say that this was the perfect solution. I'm talking about 5 mi. max.