USB FM RDS Solution with sofware - Page 27

NiSlo · 12-04-2007, 11:24 PM

It should also be noted that the Brando USB Radio(cheaper than the Silabs) is actually just the Silabs module in a different case and with an aerial as discussed in this thread.

I'll also help test this new .dll as the main problem I've been having is the sounds not cutting off when changine between radio and media in CF

martkrui · 12-05-2007, 02:43 AM

Currently we are working on a new version so please hold on for a day or two before testing.

If you don't use resume you'll be fine with the original plugin I think. But you should hear noise after you've been using the radio.

SmoL · 12-09-2007, 01:20 AM

hey guys,
i've been playing with my skins lately and now i've stuffed up my presets list somehow. I'm using the simplistique skin, can any1 tell me what i need to look for to get the presets to work? everytime i add one via the skin the list is blank the next time i getback to it

petb · 01-15-2008, 11:12 AM

What i think is wierd is that when you attach a external antenna the recieption only gets good just like a original radio.

could it be that the pc is the bottleneck because it cannot transfer the radio signal fast enough to the usb radio adapter while the cars is moving?..

DigitalVampire · 01-15-2008, 12:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by petb

What i think is wierd is that when you attach a external antenna the recieption only gets good just like a original radio.

could it be that the pc is the bottleneck because it cannot transfer the radio signal fast enough to the usb radio adapter while the cars is moving?..

The behavior of the USB radio when you connect an external antenna should not be any different from your original radio since the RF front-end and hence the sensitivity is more or less the same. The sensitivity may be even worse for a USB radio but it all depends on the hardware implementation of the front-end RF amp/pre-amp.

portreathbeach · 01-30-2008, 12:06 PM

I would like to know if anyone has had a problem with the USB radio. mine worked fine for about two months, then the computer kept making the 'USB device connected/disconnected' sound and now all I have is an orange LED on the USB radio and the computer will not recognize it.

I emailed Silabs about my problem, and they replied.....

----------
Hello,

Sorry for the delay in answering your email. The problem you are seeing is probably due to flash corruption which means that the contents of the flash has been accidentally modified. In this case you should reflash the device.

To upload again the flash with the correct firmware you will have to do the following:

1. download the latest version of the FM Radio RD firmware from our website:
http://www.silabs.com/tgwWebApp/publ...USBFMRadio.htm

2. connect to the USB FM Radio (you need an USB Debug Adapter for this):
- on the debug adapter's connector, the pin 1 is the one corresponding to the red wire or to the arrow on the connector
- take the FM Radio board out of its casing
- near the MCU are three holes which are the GND (written next to it C12), C2CLK (written R18) and C2DAT (written C17). These holes can be used to connect to the device using the debug adapter as follows
- connect pin 9 of the Debug adapter to GND (hole with C12)
- connect pin 7 of the debug adapter to C2CLK (hole with R18)
- connect pin 4 of the debug adapter to C2DAT (hole with C17)

3. connect the USB FM radio to the USB port and the USB Debug Adapter to another USB port

4. open the silabs ide and press the connect button. The device should get connected

5. extract the zip file you have downloaded

6. open the F320_FM_Radio.wsp project with the silabs ide

7. compile the project and download it to the device.

8. disconnect all wires and everything should be working properly

You will need the full keil compiler to compile this project since it is bigger than the standard 2K. In case you do not have the full keil compiler, I have attached the compiled hex file which can be uploaded to the MCU as is.

Please let us know if you have further questions.

----------
So I have to buy more stuff from them to reflash a product that I bought from them and stopped working! Surely this can't be?

Anyone else had to do this?

NiSlo · 01-30-2008, 05:03 PM

The Silabs module isn't a 'consumer product' so to speak. It's more of a demonstration of the hardware produced by Silabs that is used by resellers etc.

trinky2000 · 02-27-2008, 04:59 AM

I can't get my silabs to work good in my car, probably because the car antenna is powered.. If I plug the connector from the silabs to the car antenna it work intermittent, if I unpluggit and try with a simple wire 30cm long work but no very good signal.. so I think the problem is the car antenna..
How can I know id is a powered antenna?
If is powered how can i connect my silabs to it??
My car is New Hyundai santa fe.

portreathbeach · 02-27-2008, 04:42 PM

After a few more e-mails to Silib Labs and a few tests carried out on my USB radio, they found that it is a fault with the device and are going to send me a new one. Can't wait to try it in the van.

trinky2000, when you say 'powered' do you mean with an amplifier, because every car ariel that I know that is called 'powered' simply means that it is a telescopic ariel which can be powered up and down by the ignition or radio.

trinky2000 · 02-28-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by portreathbeach

trinky2000, when you say 'powered' do you mean with an amplifier, because every car ariel that I know that is called 'powered' simply means that it is a telescopic ariel which can be powered up and down by the ignition or radio.

I mean amplified...
Any way something strange happened..
I've the cable an the shield soldered to the silabs and I've a connector female connected to the car antenna male connector...
I connected a simple 1 meter wire to the shield by the hole on the plastic of the silabs (a little spot was not covered), this cable is non connected to anything.. then I folded that cable and everithing and place it in the back of the monitor... Everything work great!!!
How that could be???
I'm still not sure if my car antenna is amplified, is a New Hyundai Santa Fe...

portreathbeach · 03-06-2008, 03:10 PM

I have read this thread and lots of people are asking what the reception is like while driving. I have installed my USB radio in my van and use the factory fitted ariel. I used an ariel connector (which happened to be connected on the end of a wire) from an old head unit and soldered it directly to the USB radio:

I have written my own front-end, and with the use of Wickerswammie's USBRadio.dll and a VB6 sample code 'SilabTest' I managed to implement the radio in my VB.net project. I find the reception excellent, not quite as good a quality as listening to the CD player or MP3 player, but radios never are.

The RDS is a little bit slow at displaying the station you are tuned too, but the radio text is jumbled. Apart from that the radio works very well, and the signal strength data that can be obtained from the radio is always about 75%. For for the price, it is a must for all car computers. Even with 50Gb of MP3's, it's always nice to listen to the radio now and again.

I'm only speaking from experience in England, it might not be as good in America and other countries, but over here it works fine

portreathbeach · 03-10-2008, 12:24 PM

Right, I have an update. In bad wind and rain the RDS is very poor on the USB radio, but the sound quality stays the same.

Beezer · 03-16-2008, 04:20 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by portreathbeach

I have written my own front-end, and with the use of Wickerswammie's USBRadio.dll and a VB6 sample code 'SilabTest' I managed to implement the radio in my VB.net project. I find the reception excellent, not quite as good a quality as listening to the CD player or MP3 player, but radios never are.

The RDS is a little bit slow at displaying the station you are tuned too, but the radio text is jumbled. Apart from that the radio works very well, and the signal strength data that can be obtained from the radio is always about 75%.

Try my new radio.dll here http://code.google.com/p/silabsradiodll/

You must check the SilabsTest app & implement the new commands.

portreathbeach · 03-17-2008, 05:51 PM

Hi Beezer,

I have just downloaded the new usbradio.dll and the source code. After re-programming the FM Radio form of my front-end, I have now implemented RDS text and get the Station name coming up much more quickly than before. I never used Radio Text before, as it was all jumbled. This new USBRadio.dll is far better than the previous one and when programming in VB.NET, the RDS is a lot easier to get hold of (simpler commands and functions)

The Radio mute works much better now. Before I had to turn the USB radio off when going to my MP3 player because of the hiss in the background. Then sometimes when I went back to use the radio, it wouldn't start properly. The radio mute works fine now

Thanks for the great DLL

Beezer · 03-17-2008, 06:57 PM

Another satisfied customer