Database Users

So, the FM radio can't be made to work?

Please forgive me/move thread if this is the inappropriate forum. I couldn't decide for 10 minutes, so I decided to go with the dev forum.
The FM radio: Is it going to be impossible to get it working on the N1? From what I understand the current state of play, devs have got the app working, it scans and finds stations, but it's as though the audio lines are physically not connected up (is this accurate?).
Could it be a limitation of the Alpha status of the Desire ROM being examined?

i think it is radio's fault
if google give us a new radio with fm and maybe some extra mb ram it will work just fine

eesmm said:
Please forgive me/move thread if this is the inappropriate forum. I couldn't decide for 10 minutes, so I decided to go with the dev forum.
The FM radio: Is it going to be impossible to get it working on the N1? From what I understand the current state of play, devs have got the app working, it scans and finds stations, but it's as though the audio lines are physically not connected up (is this accurate?).
Could it be a limitation of the Alpha status of the Desire ROM being examined?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure the N1 doesn't have an FM receiver in it.
And if you don't have the hardware, you don't have the hardware. Software can't magically make up for it.
It'd be like trying to get an FM signal out of a toaster.

Paul22000 said:
I'm pretty sure the N1 doesn't have an FM receiver in it.
And if you don't have the hardware, you don't have the hardware. Software can't magically make up for it.
It'd be like trying to get an FM signal out of a toaster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has the hardware...there is a Gizmodo (think it was them) teardown of N1. Discusses the FM capabilities. Also...Desire and N1 have same hardware on the inside (different trackball feature and buttons..but the same). There are posts around the forums confirming this by Modaco and some others.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/nexus-one-teardown-reveals-possible-802-11n-radio-and-fm-transmi/ was Ifixit.com, reported on engadget

Paul22000 said:
I'm pretty sure the N1 doesn't have an FM receiver in it.
[...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Nexus One features a Broadcom BCM4329 chipset with "IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n system (MAC/baseband/radio) with Bluetooth® 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), and FM radio receiver and transmitter" (according to Broadcom's product page).
It may not be fully connected up, or it may just be a software issue (hence my asking in this thread) but the hardware is in there.

eesmm said:
The Nexus One features a Broadcom BCM4329 chipset with "IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n system (MAC/baseband/radio) with Bluetooth® 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), and FM radio receiver and transmitter" (according to Broadcom's product page).
It may not be fully connected up, or it may just be a software issue (hence my asking in this thread) but the hardware is in there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What we need is the Desire's completed ROM, and might need it's headphone with built in FM receiver as well. When yo utry and open the FM radio app, it asks you to insert headphones with a FM receiver... well, some have tried and get it to lock on stations, but no sound. Which seems to mean it is a lack of a completed ROM/app, not hardware.

It's possible we may never get this feature working. Not a big deal to me, though. Pandora works fine!

pjcforpres said:
What we need is the Desire's completed ROM, and might need it's headphone with built in FM receiver as well. When yo utry and open the FM radio app, it asks you to insert headphones with a FM receiver... well, some have tried and get it to lock on stations, but no sound. Which seems to mean it is a lack of a completed ROM/app, not hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The headphones don't have the receiver in it. it simply uses the headphone cable as an Antenna just like the iPod Nano's built in radio.

pjcforpres said:
What we need is the Desire's completed ROM, and might need it's headphone with built in FM receiver as well. When yo utry and open the FM radio app, it asks you to insert headphones with a FM receiver... well, some have tried and get it to lock on stations, but no sound. Which seems to mean it is a lack of a completed ROM/app, not hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any headphone can act as radio antenna...at least it works in nokia symbian phone. no need to use specific headphone.

faizalmzain said:
any headphone can act as radio antenna...at least it works in nokia symbian phone. no need to use specific headphone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and no... if the chip set itself has FM, which the Nexus seems to have, then this is true. But for many "dumb" phones it is the head set itself. This is why I said may need the Desires headphones, and then went on to say it seems more like a lack of a completed ROM/app, since you can tune, just no sound.

would love to see FM radio working on my N1

zmalach said:
would love to see FM radio working on my N1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1... BUMP. And for all of you saying "why would you listen to FM radio? Pandora is way better" there is one show in particular here in town that I can only either stream over the internet (requires flash) or listen on the radio that would be kickass if I could catch over FM on my phone. If i want to listen to music then FM radio is definitely the last place I'll go lookin....

teleknEsis said:
+1... BUMP. And for all of you saying "why would you listen to FM radio? Pandora is way better" there is one show in particular here in town that I can only either stream over the internet (requires flash) or listen on the radio that would be kickass if I could catch over FM on my phone. If i want to listen to music then FM radio is definitely the last place I'll go lookin....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a good point.

Exactly why I have my ipod Nano..

KEVIN AND BEAN!! I MUST LISTEN TO YOU... oh yea and loveline... only reasons I would want an FM radio...

teleknEsis said:
+1... BUMP. And for all of you saying "why would you listen to FM radio? Pandora is way better" there is one show in particular here in town that I can only either stream over the internet (requires flash) or listen on the radio that would be kickass if I could catch over FM on my phone. If i want to listen to music then FM radio is definitely the last place I'll go lookin....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not available in the UK though.

i hope we can tune in on FM soon....

I'm not sure I would use the FM radio every day, sure, but it's an important feature nonetheless. For fast local news with minimal battery drain there's nothing like having a radio handy.
Many of the on-line radio services are great/better, but require you to use precious data bandwidth, and I resent that. I don't like the idea of my phone being a gateway for the phone company to make more money off me. I spend most of my life within wifi hotspots, and use the cellular web service as little as possible. Apps, audio books, and presynched RSS feeds can pass the remaining time.
For example, I was shopping for an iPhone in the final months of '09, and the cell companies all offered to "unlock" the GPS function of the iPhone "for three months for free". Hang on, I asked, the iPhone has its own GPS, so why a) would I need them to "unlock" the capability and b) I would have to pay for my own GPS after the first three months? I learned that, while the GPS coordinates come for free, the maps are the domain of the cell company. Screw that.
One of the best features of the N1 is the built-in Google maps, and while I might be willing to pay one-time for TomTom maps or software (the best GPS OS imho) but pay every month forever, no way.

Can audio come out of car stereo via FM Tuner

I can't remember where I saw it but I remember reading that the Incredible can use the built in FM Tuner to broadcast the sound out of the car speakers rather than just receive FM signal to play on the phone. Does anyone know anything about this?

you would need an FM transmitter to do that and I don't think it has one built-in.

Not sure it would probably need some type of application or hack to get it to do that not sure it does it put of the box though.

Supposedly the chip has that capability, but it may need an antenna which may or may not be installed, and it hasn't been advertised as a feature.
It is unlikely this will work out of the box, and may never work without opening the phone.
But we won't know until someone finds a way to turn on that part of the chip
EDIT: And for the naysayers, This has an FM tuner out of the box... we're talking about an FM modulator, which the chip *does* support, whether HTC implemented it is the unknown

fm tuner just means you can listen to the radio on your phone... if it said FM modulator then it would mean you can transmit fm signal out of it...

vilord said:
Supposedly the chip has that capability, but it may need an antenna which may or may not be installed, and it hasn't been advertised as a feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That same chip also could provide us 802.11n. They managed to get that portion working after the fact on the Nexus One. I remain hopeful for this as well.

FM Transmitter/Receiver Broadcom BCM4329EKUBG

I was trying to do a little research in to if I could get the FM transmitter/reciever to work or if it would be even possible. A little google searching around I found this. And the person who had been doing the most work on that part of android was an actual broadcom employee. So I sent him a quick, polite email asking him about FM support in the Nexus one. It is as follows:
"Mr. Harte,
I noticed your commits here. Will Broadcom provide support/drivers for the FM transmitter/receiver in the Nexus One and other Android devices?
Sincerely,
Will"
And his surprisingly helpful and quick response:
"Hello,
The FM receiver is supported in the HTC Incredible and HTC EVO 4G. I’m not sure if the Nexus One hardware supports FM. The 4329 chip has FM, but I don’t know if the external components required for the FM Antenna are populated on the board. I believe there is also some work needed in the kernel to enable the audio path for FM, but if/when HTC open-sources the kernel for the EVO or Incredible, this should be evident. Also, the EVO and Incredible use the Broadcom Bluetooth stack, while the Nexus One uses BlueZ. I don’t think there is any support in BlueZ for FM. I have no idea about FM Transmit, but I would highly doubt it is possible to get that to work…
-Howard"
That makes me sad but at least now I know. Hopefully though this will provide some light to any crafty developers interested tinkering with this.

Shorthand.
Even if the hardware says fm/transmit/receive, we would have to solder, replace the bluetooth stack, and possibly replace the chip firmware to get it to work.
Short, short hand.. NO FM on nexus one.

No really, somehow he neglected to mention the sister Desire.

Regarding the antenna portion, it's been proven that the nexus can find stations. . .just not output any sound from them.

Mi|enko said:
Regarding the antenna portion, it's been proven that the nexus can find stations. . .just not output any sound from them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do remember reading about that. Can you find the source? If thats true, then we know the only problem is the stack.

williamthrilliam said:
I do remember reading about that. Can you find the source? If thats true, then we know the only problem is the stack.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check the notes from Modaco's Desire ROM port. I think it's there. But since FM radio is analog, there may be a lot more to it than a stack.

attn1 said:
Check the notes from Modaco's Desire ROM port. I think it's there. But since FM radio is analog, there may be a lot more to it than a stack.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, his bluetooth doesn't work because he is using the Nexus One kernel. Well, we now know what part of the kernel isn't allowing the bluetooth to work; Bluez vs the Broadcom Stack. I don't know the legal implications of using it, but it seems like it would be possible.

Devastatin said:
Shorthand.
Even if the hardware says fm/transmit/receive, we would have to solder, replace the bluetooth stack, and possibly replace the chip firmware to get it to work.
Short, short hand.. NO FM on nexus one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Patently FALSE.
All we need is a kernel with FM support and the FM driver. Receive is definitely possible.
I do believe however that the power amplifier chips for transmitting are absent, so that won't be a possibility.

williamthrilliam said:
Yup, his bluetooth doesn't work because he is using the Nexus One kernel. Well, we now know what part of the kernel isn't allowing the bluetooth to work; Bluez vs the Broadcom Stack. I don't know the legal implications of using it, but it seems like it would be possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Getting an analog tuner that isn't connected to anything to tune is not much help. I don't care what software you write, if there is no output to be captured, it's not going to happen. It's like a cable box with no television connection. It tunes just fine. If the rest of the connecting hardware is there, then there's a shot. But Google has never said there would be FM in the Nexus One at any point. I am less than optimistic.
GldRush98 said:
Patently FALSE.
All we need is a kernel with FM support and the FM driver. Receive is definitely possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That still has not been determined.

or you can go to your favorite radio station's website and click on "listen in" or whatever and now your listening to FM on your phone. =D
or maybe not, thats how it works on my pc..

i dont understand what the bluetooth has anything to do with this? why does it matter the blueZ vs broadcom bluetooth hardware? it sounds like the fm radio portion is there and can even pick up stations with an antenna, just routing the audio. but that doesnt need to happen thru bluetooh, it could happen through the headset or loudspeaker.

RogerPodacter said:
i dont understand what the bluetooth has anything to do with this? why does it matter the blueZ vs broadcom bluetooth hardware? it sounds like the fm radio portion is there and can even pick up stations with an antenna, just routing the audio. but that doesnt need to happen thru bluetooh, it could happen through the headset or loudspeaker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Broadcom BCM4329EKUBG has all of these functions built in. FM, 802.11, bluetooth.
http://www.broadcom.com/products/Bluetooth/Bluetooth-RF-Silicon-and-Software-Solutions/BCM4329

RogerPodacter said:
i dont understand what the bluetooth has anything to do with this? why does it matter the blueZ vs broadcom bluetooth hardware? it sounds like the fm radio portion is there and can even pick up stations with an antenna, just routing the audio. but that doesnt need to happen thru bluetooh, it could happen through the headset or loudspeaker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bluetooth/fm/wifi are all on one chipset.

ChillRays said:
or you can go to your favorite radio station's website and click on "listen in" or whatever and now your listening to FM on your phone. =D
or maybe not, thats how it works on my pc..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the most part yes (esp. with those of us with froyo and flas ). But what made me start searching for this was a tornado that past by me by only a few miles. I luckily was in the car and able to tune in to a station broadcasting the Emergency Broadcasting Systems's message, but I thought it would be nice to be able to do that on my phone.

RogerPodacter said:
i dont understand what the bluetooth has anything to do with this? why does it matter the blueZ vs broadcom bluetooth hardware? it sounds like the fm radio portion is there and can even pick up stations with an antenna, just routing the audio. but that doesnt need to happen thru bluetooh, it could happen through the headset or loudspeaker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Integrated circuits perform multiple functions. That broadcom chip could do a lot more than blue tooth. FM is analog. If all you have is the tuner and there is no connecting hardware, then yeah, you receive a signal, but it's going nowhere. If you can't capture the output, you can't use it. Do we know if the FM radio signal in the Desire is ever digitized? It could work like a regular FM radio and the digital/software part is for tuning purposes only and radio itself is analog. I read somewhere is that the HTC FM radios require wired headset use - and don't play back through blue tooth. Irony there, I think. Speculation is that is because they are used for an antenna, but I think it could also be that it's because it's an analog output. I am guessing the N1 is missing all the required circuits - except the tuner.

attn1 said:
Integrated circuits perform multiple functions. That broadcom chip could do a lot more than blue tooth. FM is analog. If all you have is the tuner and there is no connecting hardware, then yeah, you receive a signal, but it's going nowhere. If you can't capture the output, you can't use it. Do we know if the FM radio signal in the Desire is ever digitized? It could work like a regular FM radio and the digital/software part is for tuning purposes only and radio itself is analog. I read somewhere is that the HTC FM radios require wired headset use - and don't play back through blue tooth. Irony there, I think. Speculation is that is because they are used for an antenna, but I think it could also be that it's because it's an analog output. I am guessing the N1 is missing all the required circuits - except the tuner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is true of the Touch Pro hardware at least. The FM Radio wouldn't function with out the headphones plugged in. It used the headphone wire as the antenna.

there is a great thread going in the nexus development area where some people are trying to write the kernel so that the sound has an output. It sounds like they are making great progress maybe anyone reading this thread who has some technical skills can help. I believe they too have been able to tune the phone to a station but not output the sound yet.

It seems to me we need definitive answers to the following 2 questions from HTC / Google ...
Q1. Does the nexus one have the necessary hardware and interconnections for FM radio reception and output through either the speaker or headphones. YES/NO?
Q2. Does the nexus one have the necessary hardware and interconnections for FM radio transmission of any type (music / voice). YES/NO?
If both answers are a definitive NO, we can move on. If there is a YES then the clever people here, who make the magic happen, have some hope of success.
Does anyone know the correct ppl at HTC / Google to ask these questions of?

I don’t have anything to add but would like to encourage you guys in your endeavour to get FM radio working on the N1 and also point you too or remind you what androidpolice reported at Google I/O
If this is true then perhaps all the building blocks are in place.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/0...nity-as-our-best-bet-post-google-io-coverage/

sd00 said:
It seems to me we need definitive answers to the following 2 questions from HTC / Google ...
Q1. Does the nexus one have the necessary hardware and interconnections for FM radio reception and output through either the speaker or headphones. YES/NO?
Q2. Does the nexus one have the necessary hardware and interconnections for FM radio transmission of any type (music / voice). YES/NO?
If both answers are a definitive NO, we can move on. If there is a YES then the clever people here, who make the magic happen, have some hope of success.
Does anyone know the correct ppl at HTC / Google to ask these questions of?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or maybe we just need to think and use the info that we have in other threads on the subject. But I'll repeat things written in another thread, by myself and other guys:
Q1. Broadcom chip brief (the best doc available for it on the net) clearly shows the radio having no separate connections but using BT's high speed UART and I2C. The interconnects are the same, and since Paul's Desire port has radio control working - that means I2C is working too, so the answer is YES.
Q2. The stated output power of the chip is good enough for short-range transmission w/o a dedicated antenna, using headphone cord. The control and data are given in the same way as in Q1. So, the answer is YES again, but with more trouble - while there is a working device utilizing FM receiver functionality, which can at least theoretically be ported completely using its source, there is no device with FM transmitter, which means - if someone wants to use transmitter, that someone needs to acquire specific Broadcom documents for the chip.
So I guess the thread can be laid to rest, and anyone that can really help - for example, to go over Desire source and figure out the correct setting for QSD UART to receive FM audio and the procedures to stream it to the speaker - are welcome to head over to Dev section.

FM Radio?

Has anyone been able to find out if the PRO has a radio in it like the X and D2?
http://androidcommunity.com/activate-the-droid-2’s-fm-radio-yes-it-has-one-20100927/

Common sites say Yes for FM Radio, but after I checked pdadb.net and motorola's developer site for Droid Pro specs - both the sites do NOT indicated FM Radio.
Now it all remains on someone who's bought the device and can let us know.

I own a Moto Pro
How can I check? (Without opening it or voiding my warrany)

willdogs said:
I own a Moto Pro
How can I check? (Without opening it or voiding my warrany)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just plug in your headset and look for the FM Radio app in Menu. If it exists then Yes there is a FM Radio if NOT we have the answers.

FM Radio within TI wlan/bluetooth chipset
Hi Droid Pro Users!
There is a light in the dark for FM Radio fans.
I just found this info from TI about the on board chipset TI 1271
----------------
There are four solutions in the WiLink 6.0 product
offering. The WL1271 supports 802.11b/g/n in
the 2.4-GHz band, while the WL1273 supports
802.11a/b/g/n with 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz band
support. Both single-chip solutions support
Bluetooth 2.1 Release, ANT and FM transmit and
receive. The WL1271/3L support in addition to
the above, Bluetooth Low Energy Specification
4.0 + EDR.
---------
You will find all info here:
focus.ti.com/general/docs/wtbu/wtbuproductcontent.tsp?templateId=6123&navigationId=12762&contentId=29993&DCMP=WTBU&HQS=ProductBulletin+OT+wilink_6
That means the Droid Pro hardware is able to receive FM Radio and maybe also to send, but receiving would be good enough for me.
Now... who is able to build the necessary drivers?
I would love to do it but I have no idea how ;-)
Maik

Very interesting indeed!
When/if built the software and drivers would be brilliant. Maybe moto can do it if requested by many of us?
In the meantime I use tunein radio app from market, which works well using my data connection, network or wifi.
Sent from my DROID PRO using XDA App

I could bet that Motorla don't care about it.
As far as my experience with Moto is...
- they know that the chip is able to do it.
- they thought they can make it work
Result...
- maybe reception is too bad because of design flaws (chip or antenna position) -> they decided not to offer it
- maybe the marketing gang thought a FM radio is nothing for a business phone...
Anyway... I would take it even with a bad reception, but I'm sure they will not offer it.
An internet radio is not allways a good solution. You need an unlimited data plan and also a good reception. I made bad experiences during train travel and also in areas with lower reception. It sucks...
I want a real radio, please

If the transistor which taks care for FM radio is phisicaly connected, so that can use headphones as the anttena, then it is possible to have FM radio on your phone. Here is some new stuff that XDA user mikereidis have discovered about TI WL 127x chip. Maybe some developer is interested.

T-mo version has FM radio active and working

FYI for those who care, despite what most reviews I read said, my T-mo S8 FM radio works fine: just download next radio from Google, plug in headphones for antenna and you all set.

pete4k said:
FYI for those who care, despite what most reviews I read said, my T-mo S8 FM radio works fine: just download next radio from Google, plug in headphones for antenna and you all set.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Thanks for that find! What a pleasant surprise to find that a FM radio tuner is included in my Galaxy S8! I just installed that "next radio" app and receiving all my local FM radio stations here in NYC area using the AKG supplied earphone cord plugged in as the antenna. The tuner even seems to be really sensitive picking up the signals really well.
What a nice bonus to have built into this T-Mobile S8 phone. I would suspect that all the other S8 variants have the radio built in also...?

AT&T here and works like a charm.

Most excellent! Kudos

If its in a tmobile phone isnt it in all of them?? seems really really odd if samsung made a phone specifically just for tmobile with different hardware in it

ewokuk said:
If its in a tmobile phone isnt it in all of them?? seems really really odd if samsung made a phone specifically just for tmobile with different hardware in it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes they all have but some carriers lock the the chip(fm receiver)

gemini002 said:
Yes they all have but some carriers lock the the chip(fm receiver)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
great, so if i have sim free then i have fm radio!! didnt even know it had one, didnt see it in any of the specs!!
I can't see next radio on the play store though. i googled it on my pc and play store said it was not compatible with any of my devices, and refused to install. im using S8+ sim free G955F! I guess exynos doesn't have the fm receiver

I saw at least one review where it said no FM radio. Now, as far as I know all Qualcom Snapdragons have radio build in, but often they're disabled. I do not know if Exynos have it? Being on 9/11 in Manhattan and during znd after Hurricane Sandy on Long Island, having FM radio in your phone could be more than just convenience, especially that I do not have battery operated radio anymore except in a car and now in the phone.

Verizon here. FM radio is working

Anyway to get this working with bluetooth headset ?

You need wired headset to act as antenna. You could get old headphones, cut them off and try using shorter wire alone as antenna, but I do not know if you can reroute sound from headphones to speakers or BT. I used to have old phone that had a switch in menu, where sound could bypass headphones and go to speaker or BT even with headphones plugged in, but don't think S8 has this capability and it would have to be hacked somehow.

mkalbarc said:
AT&T here and works like a charm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works because carrier specific S8's are actually the same model but have different software on then.

androidbuff123 said:
Verizon here. FM radio is working
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was surprised. Verizon stepped up. The carriers must have made a deal with NextRadio to get a commission when you buy a song.

Actually I think this time it was Samsung who put the foot down and told carriers how they wanted to sell their phones through them. This is why you don't have any carrier branding either

I hate how carriers can dictate their own stupid model hardware. They should all have the same hardware regardless of which carrier you have but have different software. I still hate all the carrier bloatware though.

If you flash factory binary there is an app that lets you listen without headphones, I've been trying to think of a way to get that to install on stock or get the ability to launch it since it seems to be already installed on stock. Doubt it can be done without root, but maybe someone can figure it out?

What is the name of the app?

Just says fm radio, you can just Google Samsung fm radio all the ones I try says that it conflicts with a package of the same name on stock, probably need to wait for root if it ever happens to make it work

Ddan
It's working on my S7 edge as well not only the S8. I flashed factory binary on my S8 plus and did a backup of the fm radio app and transferred to my s7 edge and guess what? Working perfectly without any problem. Thanks samsung for snapdragon chipset.

richierich118 said:
Anyway to get this working with bluetooth headset ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A wired headphones should be plugged in for the FM chip to work because it acts as an antenna.