Hello Aerosavant,
Here are some tips to get your AM/FM Radio to put out some top notch audio. First of all the I assume the green indicator that you are speaking of is the the one that is located on the top information bar near the date and time. That indicator is actually for your internet connection. It will turn green when you have a WiFI signal or when you are connected to the cell phone data network of your service provider (i.e. Sprint Data Card). Second the SiLabs is a proven nightmare, since I have made a business of this hobby I have had the luxury to speak to the engineers that have created the device and they have told me themselves that while it may work in an automotive application the sentivity is not up to par for it. They do have some chips that are made for an automotive application its just that the one that is on the USB radio (which they had originally planned to use as samples for customers) is not the one you are looking for. You will also find dozens of other posts as well as some threads where other community members have tried and failed with the SiLabs. But that doesn't mean you can't have audiophile Am/FM in your vehicle
. One of the better solutions out there is the HD Radio solution. I myself use it on all my demo cars and plan to bundle it with my CarPC's once they are available for sale. The solution requires that you purchase an HD Radio cable which is only available from Mitch at MJS Gadgets (google it if you want to buy one) as well as a Directed Audio or a Infineon HDZ300 aftermarket HD Radio Kit (available on Ebay). Essentially you will toss the LCD that comes with the HD Radio Kit and use Mitch's cable to interface it from what would have been the LCD port with an open Comm port on your CarPC (DB9). If you don't have any serial ports then you can buy an inexpensive USB to Serial converter and you should be good to go. The solution is pretty much plug and play and the hardest part is finding a place to stash the small HD Radio box that comes with the HD Radio kit. Yes you are going to spend a little more money going this route but I promise you that once you hear the difference you will have wondered why you ever purchased the USB Silabs in the first place. If you do some more googling and even search thru the CF forums you will find more details to this solution. I hope this gets you started on the right track...
Linear Mode
