FM CF Radio Now Available

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.expansys.us/product.asp?code=FM201' target='_blank'>http://www.expansys.us/product.asp?code=FM201</a><br /><br /></div>Ed reported on this <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2151">a while ago</a>, and now it's available from Expansys for $45. If it makes it to a direct US retailer I bet it'll be less, but still, that's not a bad deal. I wonder what the impact on battery life is, though...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/large_FM201.jpg" />

[KyleC]

If they can make one for SD, I'll get it. I think that the CF slot is too important for other accessories to be cluttered by a radio. Oh, and I don't have a CF slot. :oops:

[Ed Hansberry]

I still don't get this. This is liek a springboard module. Everything you need except for the battery and UI is on the card. Just get a bloody radio. Get a $20 headset with FM built in that will run a month on AA's. To me, this is about as useful as a CF garage door opener. My 2c.

[Janak Parekh]

I still don't get this. This is liek a springboard module. Everything you need except for the battery and UI is on the card. Just get a bloody radio. Get a $20 headset with FM built in that will run a month on AA's. To me, this is about as useful as a CF garage door opener. My 2c.
I guess (a) you don't have to worry about batteries; (b) you've got the flexible UI; (c) it's really compact. BTW, I hate the headsets with the built-in radio... they're too bulky for earbud-types like me. I have a tiny FM radio I carry around, but it cost something like this too, actually...

--janak

[KyleC]

I still don't get this. This is liek a springboard module. Everything you need except for the battery and UI is on the card. Just get a bloody radio. Get a $20 headset with FM built in that will run a month on AA's. To me, this is about as useful as a CF garage door opener. My 2c.

Ed, the ¢ symbol is Alt+0162. Let's try to use proper currency symbols from now on, ok? :roll:

Also, are you sure that the speaker is on the card? If not, that would make the device pretty Pocket PC-dependant. :wink:

[PPCWanderer]

I have a Jornada 548 with CF slot. According to the website, the 548 is not supported. Is this because it is meant to use only ARM chips or only the 2002 OS? Or is it just that they, like many companies I've seen lately, seem to have forgotten that the 54x is a real PPC? :? :lol: :x What is up with that? :?:

[KyleC]

I have a Jornada 548 with CF slot. According to the website, the 548 is not supported. Is this because it is meant to use only ARM chips or only the 2002 OS? Or is it just that they, like many companies I've seen lately, seem to have forgotten that the 54x is a real PPC? :? :lol: :x What is up with that? :?:

The two things you mentioned go hand in hand: ARM processors are different than other processors, so the vendor would have to code the application differently for your machine. However, apps for ARM handheld will work on XScale handhelds because Microsoft standardized the ARM processor in Pocket PC 2002 so that applications would have backward compatability. This is "what's up" with "that". :D

[ExtremeSIMS]

I am looking for a 1GB (3GB?) CF+ card with episodes of Coupling. That's a UK import worth my Toshiba's CF slot!

[JornadaJ]

Why can't this be built-in? I bought my brother a tiny FM radio for Christmas. Being an engineer-technical type, he took it apart. (It was cheap, I knew he'd do that...)

There wasn't a lot there. I don't see why the components couldn't be built in. Especially with versions like the new hp with all the wireless built in. The tuner and other stuff could be software.

Just an idea...

Jeff

[Dave Conger]

For some more pictures and a review, FoxPop has the whole story...
http://www.foxpop.ndirect.co.uk/PocketPC/prolink_01.htm

[Dave Conger]

Also, iBiz has it available in the US ($50)....
http://www.ibizcorp.com/pocketradio.html

And a review....
http://www.ibizcorp.com/pda_accessories/reviews/review_pocketradio.html

I think it is a good idea, but I would only pay $20 for it. Integrated would really be the way to go.

[normaldude]

AM radio would be more useful to me (news & traffic reports). And built-in to the PDA would be even better. I don't want a plastic block sticking out of my PDA.

[Steven Cedrone]

To me, this is about as useful as a CF garage door opener.

Hey, now there's an idea. Where can I get one of those!! :wink:

Steve

[Rirath]

I really like the concept... but I'd like to see it SD as well. I'm curious just how good the reception is... I don't want to be waving the thing around in the air trying to get the static out. My Nomad 2 mp3 player has radio abilities, but horrible reception.

Also, it'd be much cooler if this supported that new XM radio.

[RavenSBNC]

I really want to get this, but is there any place I can download the software? Cause from the FoxPop review it seems the come on a floppy disk, and my computer does not have a floppy drive.

[R K]

Julie from The-Gadgeteer did a review on this a while ago as well.
I generally agree with all of her points. If it integrated the sound into the Pocket PC, and if it had some cool recording functions, then it would make this a killer accessory.

http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/ibiz-pocketradio-review.html

[Sparkomatic]

I really want to get this, but is there any place I can download the software? Cause from the FoxPop review it seems the come on a floppy disk, and my computer does not have a floppy drive.

No floppy?! :lol: The floppy isn't dead... yet! Long live the floppy!! Hmmm... maybe I just like saying "floppy".

I think this could be kinda cool while your PPC is docked. But it's a little too expensive IMHO.

[Steven Cedrone]

Fatboy55 just posted about this in the Dell forum: It doesn't fit in his Axim...

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6760&highlight=

Steve

[RavenSBNC]

Wait, it can't play out of the pocketpcs speaker? Totally useless to me if thats the case.

[WillyG]

This is one thing i dont want to use up my CF slot for. Why cant the device manufacturers just build it into the devices if its such high demand?
Nokia does that for most of their new phones (and those are small).
This for example:
http://www.nokia.com/pics/phones/phone_models/enhancements/popups/enhancements_skr_335_pop.jpg
The radio must be just a small chip

[DrtyBlvd]

I still don't get this. This is liek a springboard module. Everything you need except for the battery and UI is on the card. Just get a bloody radio. Get a $20 headset with FM built in that will run a month on AA's. To me, this is about as useful as a CF garage door opener. My 2c.

Ed, the ¢ symbol is Alt+0162. Let's try to use proper currency symbols from now on, ok? :roll:

Also, are you sure that the speaker is on the card? If not, that would make the device pretty Pocket PC-dependant. :wink:

:rofl: - And, just to be clear, what's the spacing rule for currency signs again?

[T-Will]

Also, is there some technical problem with making it an AM/FM radio and not just an FM radio? Personally I listen to a lot of talk radio, but I do like to ocassionally listen to FM.

[bkerrins]

I love the idea, but I agree with JornadaJ. Why isn't it just built into the unit and AM/FM? I've seen tiny little FM radio's at Walgreens for $2.99 so I'm just not going to part with $45 so I can use my Ipaq. I recall a while back that if one ordered it would be $35 as an introductory offer. Get rid of the head phone jack on top of the CF card so I can just plug it into my regular jack on the Ipaq and get the price point down to less than $20. Better yet, as I said before...just build it into the unit in the first place.

[gadi]

I just got my radio card (found it was available in israel, had it sent over by my father) and it works pretty nice. did not find any significant differences from std walkman radio as far as reception goes and sound quality is decent. I have still to test for battery life.

one suggestion for home radio - for those who listen to internet radio, you can use the media player as your radio unit, combined with a wifi card, this is a pretty nice home radio solution (at least it work for me).

[Bill Gunn]

Also, is there some technical problem with making it an AM/FM radio and not just an FM radio? Personally I listen to a lot of talk radio, but I do like to ocassionally listen to FM.

Tune a small AM portable radio to a strong clear station. Now hold it very close to your CRT or if you're adventurous open your computer case and set it in there. Nothing but whine and static.

BTW $45 is crazy. You can buy a small FM radio at Walmart for about $10.

[cherring]

I have a Jornada 548 with CF slot. According to the website, the 548 is not supported. Is this because it is meant to use only ARM chips or only the 2002 OS? Or is it just that they, like many companies I've seen lately, seem to have forgotten that the 54x is a real PPC? :? :lol: :x What is up with that? :?:

I think I'd blame HP for making device specific hardware that won't even work on other devices with the same spec (like the HP CF Camera.) With that it was just the driver that needed to be tweaked. Maybe it's the same with this or some other types of hardware.

[GoldKey]

Like many others have said, kind of a neat idea as long as it uses the PDA speaker, but I would only pay $10-$20 for this functionality. Since Sony bills their PDAs as having entertainment features, I would say they if anyone would be the first to integrate this function in.

[vincentsiaw]

anybody owned this stuff yet?

[Timothy Rapson]

I would really like an AM/FM radio built-in. Cybiko has it. Several V-Techs have had it. Numerous phones and $20 organizers from Royal and even lesser known makers have had this for a couple of years. But they're all terrible PDAs.

What I want is the rechargable batteries and not having to carry a radio as well as a PDA. Hope we do get this built in eventually. I would pay $50 extra for it built in.

[st63z]

That huge CF card just for FM radio? Doesn't seem the smartest idea in the world... I remember my $10 digital-tuning ear-nub FM radio (looks like a hearing aid w/ a tiny antenna wire)...

Now if it was an XM + Sirius receiver combo...

[Sven Johannsen]

I have a Jornada 548 with CF slot. According to the website, the 548 is not supported. Is this because it is meant to use only ARM chips or only the 2002 OS? Or is it just that they, like many companies I've seen lately, seem to have forgotten that the 54x is a real PPC? :? :lol: :x What is up with that? :?:

I think I'd blame HP for making device specific hardware that won't even work on other devices with the same spec (like the HP CF Camera.) With that it was just the driver that needed to be tweaked. Maybe it's the same with this or some other types of hardware.

Not true. The HP camera hardware is not device specific. HP just didn't write software that would run on any other PPC. The camera works fine with Microsoft Portrait using HP's driver (ARM/PPC) on iPAQs and my AXIM. Even takes snapshots.

The deal on the 548 is them having to create SH3 drivers, not a hardware issue.

[chapter]

Most Digital radios do not work on both continents.

See this page:

http://www.epanorama.net/documents/radio/radio_differences.html

[gadi]

luckily, the FM CF Radio card software steps stations in 100Khz increments.

[KyleC]

Janak,
Your link to Ed's previous story includes a suffix of "&highlight=radio" which make every occurance of the word "radio" in the thread appear in boldface. Apparently you searched for "radio" and just copy & pasted the URL. If you could - please remove "&highlight=radio" so that it is a bit easier to read than .....radio.....radio.... :wink:

[szamot]

People - it is a radio for crying outloud. Just what I need someone telling me what I can listen to an any given time - sorry but I have issues with that. I have not listen to the radio in at least 18 years not even a minute and I can't say that I even missed it. Radio = LAME! At this pace there should be an 8 Track attachment in about 2 years Weee heee. Just imagine the possiblilities 8 track.

[Fzara]

I honestly dont understand why you all *require* a radio add-on to your PPC. Honestly, there is nothing good on the radio anymore. The only useful thing a radio is for is if you need the weather or traffic, from the AM stations. Otherwise, FM is next to useless.

I'd def. take a PPC with a built-in radio, but I wouldnt make it my top priority. Even the people with the add-on radio cards are crazy for actually paying extra for a next to useless (and obsolete) radio network.
Just my .02- (I dont have a numpad on my Inspiron)

[JA]

Janak,
Your link to Ed's previous story includes a suffix of "&highlight=radio" which make every occurance of the word "radio" in the thread appear in boldface. Apparently you searched for "radio" and just copy & pasted the URL. If you could - please remove "&highlight=radio" so that it is a bit easier to read than .....radio.....radio.... :wink:

Geez, as a lurker here (for the most part) I have to ask: Aside from adding to your post count, what exactly is your point???? :roll:

~JA~

[rap2792]

I honestly dont understand why you all *require* a radio add-on to your PPC. Honestly, there is nothing good on the radio anymore. The only useful thing a radio is for is if you need the weather or traffic, from the AM stations. Otherwise, FM is next to useless.

I'd def. take a PPC with a built-in radio, but I wouldnt make it my top priority. Even the people with the add-on radio cards are crazy for actually paying extra for a next to useless (and obsolete) radio network.
Just my .02- (I dont have a numpad on my Inspiron)

Don't know how many consider him good. But can't get Stern via the web... So, need a radio at work.

[Janak Parekh]

If you could - please remove "&highlight=radio" so that it is a bit easier to read than .....radio.....radio.... :wink:
Done. However, you could have just edited the URL if it was really bothering you, or PM'ed me instead - those would have been faster.

Back ontopic: you guys are really critical of this thing! :D I think it's a cute idea, and while I agree it's not really going to sell, for people that like not having to worry about multiple sets of battery it's an attractive option IMHO.

--janak

[ux4484]

why would I pay money to hear commercials on my PDA?

now an XM CF card......THAT would be something, and would generate monthly income for the provider......cause that's where the money is.

[KyleC]

Janak,
Your link to Ed's previous story includes a suffix of "&highlight=radio" which make every occurance of the word "radio" in the thread appear in boldface. Apparently you searched for "radio" and just copy & pasted the URL. If you could - please remove "&highlight=radio" so that it is a bit easier to read than .....radio.....radio.... :wink:

Geez, as a lurker here (for the most part) I have to ask: Aside from adding to your post count, what exactly is your point???? :roll:

~JA~

As a "lurker" you might want to get out and post more. Don't criticize people for being picky. As for my point, I thought that it was rather simple: link to the article directly, not a search result that modifies the look of the thread.
If you could - please remove "&highlight=radio" so that it is a bit easier to read than .....radio.....radio.... :wink:
Done. However, you could have just edited the URL if it was really bothering you, or PM'ed me instead - those would have been faster.

Back ontopic: you guys are really critical of this thing! :D I think it's a cute idea, and while I agree it's not really going to sell, for people that like not having to worry about multiple sets of battery it's an attractive option IMHO.

--janak

Thank you! I will keep in mind that perhaps PMing is faster. :D

[cherring]

Not true. The HP camera hardware is not device specific. HP just didn't write software that would run on any other PPC. The camera works fine with Microsoft Portrait using HP's driver (ARM/PPC) on iPAQs and my AXIM. Even takes snapshots.

The deal on the 548 is them having to create SH3 drivers, not a hardware issue.

That's exactly what I was saying, it may just be the case of them writing the correct driver. In the case of the HP camera, the software actually looks for specific devices when it initialises. Once this is overcome, the device would work on any PPC. In the case of MS portrait, they had rewritten the driver hpcamdrv.dll based on the one that HP wrote. If you're unaware, HP had actually supplied an SDK for their camera. You'll find that if you have an HP device, after installing the MSportrait software, the normal software will no longer work. It's because all the driver interfaces are no longer exposed. The point here being the MS Portrait driver is different from the original one.

[esunday]

forget this, check out Pretek's solution to all life's problems, letting you "easily capture instant happiness" on their DC201 CF camera ....

8) :P :) :D :wink:

[Ed Hansberry]

If you could - please remove "&highlight=radio" so that it is a bit easier to read than .....radio.....radio.... :wink:
Done. However, you could have just edited the URL if it was really bothering you, or PM'ed me instead - those would have been faster.
Or instead of worrying about netnannies, coulda just left it alone. Sort of demonstrated how our search engine works. :D

[CharlesWilcox]

I have no idea about the possiblity of such a device, but what I would love to see is a CF card that narrowcasted the audio from my PPC on an FM frequency that I could pick up with my car (or other) FM radio. Kind of like the chip from a Mr. Microphone on a CF card. How about that? :lol:

[msprague]

I have no idea about the possiblity of such a device, but what I would love to see is a CF card that narrowcasted the audio from my PPC on an FM frequency that I could pick up with my car (or other) FM radio. Kind of like the chip from a Mr. Microphone on a CF card. How about that? :lol:
Well this is not a CF card, but it is a device with the functionality you are talking about. http://www.arkon.com/sf.html

[daS]

I still don't get this. This is liek a springboard module. Everything you need except for the battery and UI is on the card. Just get a bloody radio. Get a $20 headset with FM built in that will run a month on AA's. To me, this is about as useful as a CF garage door opener. My 2c.

I agree with you on this one but for another reason:

When I’m home, I can listen to a HiFi, when I’m in the car, I also have a much better radio/tape/CD. The only time this would be useful would be when I’m walking, running, cycling, or at the gym. In those cases, I don’t want my, relatively fragile, $700 Pocket PC with a $40 radio card sticking out to be used where a much more rugged (and small) MP3/FM radio unit can do the job as well or better. The Pocket PC is too important and too expensive to be used as a radio.

Your point about the batteries does apply when I’m on a business trip: I don’t want to take the chance of running down my PPC batteries by using it as a radio.

[Santa Fe]

A Radio Shack fm/am radio goes for under $20. Looks like a Segway to me.

[wrightca]

Most Digital radios do not work on both continents.

See this page:

http://www.epanorama.net/documents/radio/radio_differences.html

While the article was about regular analog radio, it is correct. AFN Radio (American Forces Network) here in Kaiserslautern, Germany, is broadcast at 100.2MHz. I still can't figure out why the would put something at an even multiple when most people listening are Americans with automobiles built for Americans that only tune to odd multiples.

As for digital, Sirius and XM don't have a footprint over here at all. Those are solely an American luxury.

[Duncan]

This radio would be sold to me if, and only if, it was a DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) receiver. For everyday analogue radio broadcasts I can buy a credit card sized radio that will last month on a watch battery!

A DAB radio - like the Psion Wavefinder - now that would be worth having!!! :)

[Don Tolson]

This looks strikingly similar to the format and configuration of the IBiz Pocket Radio....hmmmmmm I wonder if there is a hardware engineer out there somewhere flogging this????

BTW, the IBiz Pocket Radio is also CF and seems to work in almost all PocketPC2002 models with a type 1 slot.

[GoldKey]

I have no idea about the possiblity of such a device, but what I would love to see is a CF card that narrowcasted the audio from my PPC on an FM frequency that I could pick up with my car (or other) FM radio. Kind of like the chip from a Mr. Microphone on a CF card. How about that? :lol:

There are quite a few devices that do just that, except you just plug them into the headphone jack. I have one, but found that the sound quality was better using a cassette adapter.