Someone here has be be able to crack this HDRadio for the car! - Page 14

xtremak · 04-27-2007, 01:10 AM

Alright guys hopefully will have an update out this weekend which will add the options of opening the com port automatically on startup, ability to have the software start minimized and also BMW specific options to control RR from the BMW steering buttons.

I am glad to hear that there are no nasty issues with the software so far. Please post your feature request so that I can add them in. Once the software becomes more user friendly, I will open it up and start writing VB code (will try and work with guino) so this can added into RR as that is my frontend of choice.

xtremak · 04-30-2007, 02:06 PM

I will be mailing out the next beta release to all the people on the beta list later tonight. All your contributions are greatly appreciated.

YellowMater · 04-30-2007, 05:17 PM

I finally installed my dice unit and hooked it up to my factory ant. The reception is very poor. I'm not in a HD area so I can't test the HD but my reception for regular fm is very poor. I used an smb to motorola adapter and Motorola to Chrysler. I only get 2 channels with static. I tried a different adapter that I made and no differance. If I unplug I get nothing. Any suggestions?

DaveDog · 05-01-2007, 03:31 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by xtremak

Once the software becomes more user friendly, I will open it up and start writing VB code (will try and work with guino) so this can added into RR as that is my frontend of choice.

This has been the problem with this project, no movement, seems like an extortion racket, well not quite, but just doesn't feel right with no updates for a few weeks.

My only request is support for RR, with all the features the hardware supports (aux audio input and iPod support)

Sorry to rant, as a token I'll be contributing in a larger manner, aka hardware wise, very soon.

rcubed3r · 05-01-2007, 09:44 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by YellowMater

I finally installed my dice unit and hooked it up to my factory ant. The reception is very poor. I'm not in a HD area so I can't test the HD but my reception for regular fm is very poor. I used an smb to motorola adapter and Motorola to Chrysler. I only get 2 channels with static. I tried a different adapter that I made and no differance. If I unplug I get nothing. Any suggestions?

I tried a lot of different ways to hook up mine to my factory antenna. The best method I found was using the Dice antenna before connecting to the car antenna. In other words, attach the Dice antenna (without the tape pigtail thing) to the unit, and then attach that to the car's antenna. The Dice antenna has a ground strap you'll use, and where the screw goes thru the little box is the other connection you'll need.

Ron

Kamakazie2 · 05-01-2007, 10:52 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by DaveDog

This has been the problem with this project, no movement, seems like an extortion racket, well not quite, but just doesn't feel right with no updates for a few weeks.

My only request is support for RR, with all the features the hardware supports (aux audio input and iPod support)

Sorry to rant, as a token I'll be contributing in a larger manner, aka hardware wise, very soon.

DD

Xtremak is still working on the software. Remember he was has only had his own unit for a short time, and I not being a programmer was only able to put the 3 devices together to see if they will work in the beginning. The beta software is out there and im sure X wants the software to work flawlessley. I have a wedding to finish planning in the next 60 days so i havent been around to test much of the software.

Kamakazie2 · 05-01-2007, 10:55 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by YellowMater

I finally installed my dice unit and hooked it up to my factory ant. The reception is very poor. I'm not in a HD area so I can't test the HD but my reception for regular fm is very poor. I used an smb to motorola adapter and Motorola to Chrysler. I only get 2 channels with static. I tried a different adapter that I made and no differance. If I unplug I get nothing. Any suggestions?

I think the issue may be the multitude of adapters. Also, do you know of your radio uses an amplified antenna? My Chrysler had a power lead going to a box that my antenna hooked it up to. It had no reception until i gave it power. The DICE anteanna worked alright for me but it wasnt until i hooked it up to my stock 300C antenna that i got all my stations and even a bunch of HD.

xtremak · 05-02-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by DaveDog

This has been the problem with this project, no movement, seems like an extortion racket, well not quite, but just doesn't feel right with no updates for a few weeks.

Davedog I can understand your frustration, but at the same time you have to realize that I am not working full time on developing the software for the unit, I do have a full time job and a life outside of all of this. Also, I do not want to release something to the community which does not work flawlessly.

In case any of the contributors are not happy with the progress please let me know and I will return your money. I did not start this to make money, I did this to get a decent radio solution in my car.

Also, if overall people feel that there is no progress being made, I am going to stop work on this project and just keep it to myself. No point in dissappointing people.

Quote: Originally Posted by DaveDog

My only request is support for RR, with all the features the hardware supports (aux audio input and iPod support)

Sorry to rant, as a token I'll be contributing in a larger manner, aka hardware wise, very soon.

The software was written to be very generic and at the moment one can use all of the features of the dice unit exactly as stated in the DICE manual.
eg: If you were to press 5 then go back to hit < to go to CD 05-01 you would get the IPOD to work.

The IPOD / AUX / AM / FM buttons do not work as I am yet to figure out the right combinations of commands / responses to send to the unit all at once when the buttons are pressed.

DaveDog · 05-02-2007, 05:52 PM

Don't take my comments as a guage for what the community is thinking. I was just frustrated.

Looks like you have things progressing, an occasional update would be nice.

YellowMater · 05-02-2007, 10:46 PM

I am in a larger radio market this week. I'm getting more stations but I have not had time to look for an ant amp. I'm also having issues with my soundblaster x-fi extreme gamer pci card. Sometimes when I hit play in the alpha version all I get is a pop from my speakers and other times I get sound. I'm running my dice and Ibus adapter from my 12v rail. Should I try an unregulated 12v source? It seems the creative software is an issue somewhat but reception is not what I had expected. I will try to see if my original unit had an ant amp but I doubt it did as a near base factory head unit was in this truck.

rcubed3r · 05-03-2007, 01:50 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by xtremak

Davedog I can understand your frustration, but at the same time you have to realize that I am not working full time on developing the software for the unit

I don't know how you guys do this at all. The only way I even got my carputer put together was because I was out of work for a few weeks due to foot/ankle surgery.
Keep up the good work!
I, for one, appreciate it greatly!

Ron

YellowMater · 05-03-2007, 09:38 PM

I agree with rcubed3r.

Kamakazie2 · 05-04-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by YellowMater

I am in a larger radio market this week. I'm getting more stations but I have not had time to look for an ant amp. I'm also having issues with my soundblaster x-fi extreme gamer pci card. Sometimes when I hit play in the alpha version all I get is a pop from my speakers and other times I get sound. I'm running my dice and Ibus adapter from my 12v rail. Should I try an unregulated 12v source? It seems the creative software is an issue somewhat but reception is not what I had expected. I will try to see if my original unit had an ant amp but I doubt it did as a near base factory head unit was in this truck.

This is somewhat of an anomoly. Its the timing of the Ibus unit itself. When i had the IBUS software running i had to send the init command 2-3 times for it to initialize, you will hear pop then a hiss then it will kick in. Ive been looking at my HEX dumps from the unit to see what exactly happens when it powers up. Im running an unregulated source to my unit, i figure that since it was made for the car you dont need to give it stable 12 voltage. Also, do you have a window antenna or do you have a real Arial wick.

YellowMater · 05-05-2007, 09:04 AM

Quote:

do you have a window antenna or do you have a real Arial wick

.

I have a real arial wick. If I don't have an amp I may add one.

YellowMater · 05-05-2007, 03:38 PM

Does anyone know what type of connector the chrysler uses after 2002? I know the Dice uses an SMB. And many cars use Motorola but I would like to make my own with either my own crimp or solder on connections and not have to use two adapters or splice the cable. I cut off the Dice antenna connector and soldered it to a Chrysler adapter. The reception is the same as using 2 adapters. I do not like it because the center wire on the dice is so small.