3/18 UPDATE: THE RACE FOR STANDALONE SOFTWARE HAS BEGUN! We know we can do it we have the resources, all we need now is some time. I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the project so far. Mitchjc and Xtremak are working on their software interfaces and rr integration.
As for me, I have been running the unit with the hard to control RRIBUS software for a month now. I get great reception, great sound quality and the HD Radio (when available) sounds amazing.
2/16 UPDATE:
I have taken a test drive all the way to Atlantic City (120 miles round trip) and back using just the radio. I had amazing reception the entire way. No alternator noise, no static , a few times it dropped out of HD but the Standard FM radio sounds great as well.
So just to confirm some FAQ:
1. HEADUNIT QUALITY RECEPTION WHILE MOVING INSTALLED IN A CAR (BOTH HD AND STD RADIO)
2. HD RADIO when available Standard Radio when not
3. Multi Cast capable
4. RDS text both AM and FM
5. NO DIRECT TUNING only Tune up/dn Seek up/dn
2/11 UPDATE:
WOW!! I removed the Dice antenna and hooked it up to my factory antenna... FM in HD AM in HD stations from Philly i cant even pick up with the factory radio!!!
I was able to pick up like 15 HD radio staitons in FM alone! The sound is amazing.. some of the older stations in regular FM came in crystal CLEAR!
This is THE solution for the CAR PC RADIO both HD and NON HD! The sound quality in HD is better then XM! AM sounds outstanding...
Software integration to come..
2/9 UPDATE:
I have confirmed communication and control of the unit. as well as sound!
1/23 UPDATE:
The GOOD: Between Davedog and myself we should be able to get this running. Davedog has discovered that this possibly be controlled buy an I2C interface directly to the HD radio bypassing the Car interface. Rolf Resler has shipped my Ibus interface yesterday and i should get it this weekend. Then we hook it up and go. We have confirmed that the IBUS interface can exist outside of the car by adding a resistor (1k) and 12v to the ibus line. Roadrunner has plugin support for controling the IBUS interface. All we need now is a modified skin in RR and we are all set.
The BAD: There is no direct tune ability as of yet. You have to scroll up or dn in order to tune. You do however have the ability of using presets and preset buttons.
The UGLY: Once again we have managed to take the oldest part of in car entertainment (Radio) and make it one of the most expensive components for the CAR PC. Est $250
1/10 UPDATE: I will be ordering the HD Radio unit and the IBUS to USB adapter. We have the init code and the response code. Now we just need the button codes and were all set to control.
I was looking around and it seems that Dice electronics has created an add on HDRADIO for OEM radio systems.
http://www.diceelectronics.com/hd_integration.htm
The HD DICE™ is an external HD Radio™ tuner that integrates to the factory car radio the same way as an external SAT radio tuner would. The HD DICE integration allows users to change and select HD Radio stations using the buttons on their existing car radio or using the controls found on the steering wheel. This thing also has an ipod interface too as well as an aux input also.. If we can hack this we will gain soo much.
It displays HD data on the radio. It must use some real basic protocols to be compatable with alot of factory radios..
A simple serial connection and we may be in...
Linear Mode
