Ambicom Releases FM Radio CompactFlash Card

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.ambicom.com' target='_blank'>http://www.ambicom.com</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/Radio card300.jpg" /> <br /><br />"Consumers can now listen to their favorite music or hear the latest news anytime, anywhere while working on their personal digital assistants, thanks to a new Compact Flash Type 1 radio card from AmbiCom. With a suggested retail price of $39.95, the AmbiCom Radio FM-CF is available immediately from the company (<a href="www.ambicom.com">www.ambicom.com</a>). It will be available at retail outlets and on-line at Amazon and Mobile Planet beginning December 10.<br /> <br />The new product, which includes stereo earphones and an audio line-in, has an easy-to-read graphical user interface that displays a wide variety of FM stations. The stations can be accessed simply by pointing to the station number. Output is 88MHz-108MHz in the U.S. The card also has an auto scan/auto memory pre-set with 18 presets. <br /><br />Other features include soft mute and volume adjust, analog audio interface with 3.54” ear phone jack, a PLL synthesized receiver, low power consumption, 3.3V voltage, and 52 mA maximum current. The card supports Windows XP/2000/ME, PPC 2000, PPC 2002, and Windows Mobile 2003 operating systems and any Pocket PC with CF Type I card slot or jacket."

[JonathanWardRogers]

Can you record audio?

[Vincent M Ferrari]

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GET A MEMO TO THESE PEOPLE THAT SOME PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET ACTUALLY LIKE LISTENING TO AM RADIO ALSO!!!!!

IF I WANT MUSIC I'LL LISTEN TO FREAKIN' MP3'S!

JEEZ! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Okay. I feel better now..

Seriously, though... What's with the Anti AM bias? Is it a technical issue with interference or something?

[Don Tolson]

This looks surprisingly similar to the PocketRadio from IBiz and others. I wonder who's actually making the hardware?

[GoldKey]

Is this like the other CF radios in that you have to plug the headphones into the CF card rather than routing the audio through your PPC speaker?

[PPCRules]

Is this like the other CF radios in that you have to plug the headphones into the CF card rather than routing the audio through your PPC speaker?
Yes.

Note, however, that desktop Windows is supported, so in a laptop, via PCMCIA/CF converter, you can connect to line in and and do things like record the radio output, or maybe streaming via WiFi. Which only gets me started again on "why can't anyone make a PPC with 'line-in' connections?"

[gorkon280]

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GET A MEMO TO THESE PEOPLE THAT SOME PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET ACTUALLY LIKE LISTENING TO AM RADIO ALSO!!!!!

IF I WANT MUSIC I'LL LISTEN TO FREAKIN' MP3'S!

JEEZ! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Okay. I feel better now..

Seriously, though... What's with the Anti AM bias? Is it a technical issue with interference or something?

Amen brother! I want AM MORE on my computer/pocket pc then I do FM. At least I get something other then the latest 16-20 something "pop" singer wearing barely enough clothes to be legal.

[Jason Lee]

hmm.. this one is cheaper than the iBiz... Best Buy carries Ambicom... I have wanted one of these for a while... My '69 El Camino has the original factory AM radio in it and it still works. I can't take that out. ;) This would be nice, wire up a little 12v sound system to run off the lighter.
Before I had to order one online or drive 400 miles to get one. If Best Buy has them soon this may be an impulse buy I cannnot pass up. :)

[Vincent M Ferrari]

At least I get seomthign other then the latest 16-20 something "pop" singer wearing barely enough clothes to be legal.

Not that that's a bad thing, but you can get it anywhere at any time :-)

[apeguero]

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GET A MEMO TO THESE PEOPLE THAT SOME PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET ACTUALLY LIKE LISTENING TO AM RADIO ALSO!!!!!

IF I WANT MUSIC I'LL LISTEN TO FREAKIN' MP3'S!

JEEZ! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Okay. I feel better now..

Seriously, though... What's with the Anti AM bias? Is it a technical issue with interference or something?

Amen brother! I want AM MORE on my computer/pocket pc then I do FM. At least I get something other then the latest 16-20 something "pop" singer wearing barely enough clothes to be legal.

I was about to say the same thing! What is it with these manufacturers forgetting the AM or Wide Band on their products? If it had AM then perhaps I may consider it. Otherwise, I'll listen to my own playlist too!

[Vincent M Ferrari]

Looks like I've started a movement... 8O

[bjornkeizers]

I just don't get it. Who would buy such a thing? You can buy a good, small radio, complete with memory, digital tuner etc. for less then $20, and certainly less then $40.

If you want radio while using a PPC, chances are you'd need the card slot for memory or things like that. If you just want to listen to radio, why would you want to do it on a PPC? You'd drain your batterys pretty quick, and a PPC isn't exactly small compared to those cute little radios. I bought an aiwa radio a couple years ago, barely the size of a bic lighter, it's got a digital tuner, 7 presets and runs for ages on a single AAA battery. It also cost me less then $30...

The only possible defense is: W?BIC?

[Vincent M Ferrari]

The only possible defense is: W?BIC?

As if any other reason is necessary? :lol:

[JonathanWardRogers]

I just don't get it. Who would buy such a thing?

...

The only possible defense is: W?BIC?

I would buy it in a second if I could record radio to my device.

[brianchris]

I too can't understand why AM is such a problem. I willing to hear and understand, but there are no answers.

One reason why this solution *might* be better is, I already always have my PPC with me. With a seperate radio, although it may be a better radio solution, I'd have to add that little radio device (no matter how small) to my daily gadget arsenal of my PDA and bluetooth cellphone.

One solution to this no AM thing, is we can all save our money for the first manufacturer to have a CF (ohh, or even better SDIO) satellite radio card (i.e. XM or Sirius). My understanding is both of those have all of the content on both AM & FM, and often comercial free! Hey, I can dream, can't I?

-Brian

[Don't Panic!]

I want someone to make one that uses the Pocket PC's headphone jack and speakers, then I'll get one.

Don't Panic!
Bobby

[newbie2]

The reason didn't buy is because it didn't route the sound to my Ipaq headphone.

Ibiz radio is selling it at USD19.99 with freeshiping.

Go to this link:

http://store.yahoo.com/ibizpda/cfposp.html

[The Yaz]

I have wanted an all in one solution for am/fm on the pda for a while, but in the end I found this product was the best answer to my needs:

http://www.pogoproducts.com/radio_yourway.html

Radio Your Way allows you to listen to radio or stored mp3's and record the music right off the air.

The best part is that I can listen to music while playing a game on my pda without draining my battery in an hour.

Until I can get this on a pda, this is a great option.

Steve 8)

[davea]

The reason didn't buy is because it didn't route the sound to my Ipaq headphone.

Ibiz radio is selling it at USD19.99 with freeshiping.

Go to this link:

http://store.yahoo.com/ibizpda/cfposp.html

Note on the ibzpda summary the following:

NOT COMPATIBLE WITH DELL AXIM . iPAQ 54xx using Pocket PC 2003 and 55xx

If you need compatibility with Dell Axim X5, iPAQ 54xx upgraded to Pocket PC 2003 or iPAQ 55xx Series


I bought this unit from CompUSA and had to take it back (I have a Dell Axim - the curved top doesn't permit the original this original iBiz radio to plug all the way in.

[gorkon280]

NO not DRM(Digital Rights Management) but DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale). DRM is a Digital Radio service that goes over normal AM Shortwave broadcast band and uses AM as the base. It's actually between CD and FM in quality and since it's digital, it can also tell you what is playing by sending down the text. There are no sets that support DRM out of the box just yet, but you can hack into a small shortwave reciever and get the audio out, pump it into your PC and run software that decodes the signal. It's pretty damn cool. It's not satellite based, but has alot of the advantages of satellite. It's also sensative to standard HF propagation as well, but since it's digital, you need alot less signal to make it readable. Gets through just about as well as CW (Morse Code) does. Check out http://www.drm.org. If they could make a card/software combo for DRM, that would be the berries!

[stevew]

I listen mostly to talk radio and that's all AM for me. Not interested in listening to a few songs and then 10 minutes of comercials on FM when I can play my MP3's.

[foebea]

This looks surprisingly similar to the PocketRadio from IBiz and others. I wonder who's actually making the hardware?

When the 5555 first came out i found the ibiz radio did not work with it.
I contacted Ibiz support and they said two other people had reported the same thing. They asked for my mailing address and 5 days later they were betatesting the new hardware for 5555 with wm2003. They sent me a free radio of the new hardware (half a centimeter taller card than the one I bought, otherwise identical)

This leads me to believe Ibiz is selling these blank for other companies to put stickers on. I would like to see the software these guys are using for the card..

[kagayaki1]

It's all about talk radio. I second the movement for AM radio on PPC. I have for a few years now. It's either a technical limitation, or these people just don't understand their target market.

[Duncan]

Stuff AM - I want Longwave so I can listen to obsure farming programs and Shortwave so I can hear the news in Chinese...! :)

Seriously though - AM? Is that really the only way you can listen to decent talk radio in the US? My goodness - I can't think of the last time I needed to tune in to an AM station... even FM is taking a backseat now I have a digital radio...

[Vincent M Ferrari]

It's either a technical limitation, or these people just don't understand their target market.

It's gotta be a technical limitation. I don't think all these companies that are making similar FM only products would be this clueless...

Then again, you never know.

Hey Jason or Janak or Brad or Ed... Since you guys are the gods of all things Pocket PC, do you know someone at Ambicom or one of the other companies making these things you could ask?

[dh]

Stuff AM - I want Longwave so I can listen to obsure farming programs and Shortwave so I can hear the news in Chinese...! :)

Seriously though - AM? Is that really the only way you can listen to decent talk radio in the US? My goodness - I can't think of the last time I needed to tune in to an AM station... even FM is taking a backseat now I have a digital radio...
Sad but true. I can't believe the number of times I just give up because every FM station just stinks. Where I live I get Philadelphia and New York stations, hundreds of them mostly really terrible.
The radio media here have totally destroyed what should be a great resource. There are a few decent AM stations and at least in the summer we can listen to baseball which is the next best thing to Test Match Special.
Actually some of the Public Radio stations are OK, if you can handle the liberal bias. Some even have the World Service news at anti social times of the day.

[Janak Parekh]

Hey Jason or Janak or Brad or Ed... Since you guys are the gods of all things Pocket PC, do you know someone at Ambicom or one of the other companies making these things you could ask?
Not I. :|

Sad but true. I can't believe the number of times I just give up because every FM station just stinks. Where I live I get Philadelphia and New York stations, hundreds of them mostly really terrible.
Amen! Well, except classical -- we actually have a halfway decent classical music station in the NY area. I'm not sure it reaches you, dh, or if you even listen to that type of music. ;)

The radio media here have totally destroyed what should be a great resource. There are a few decent AM stations and at least in the summer we can listen to baseball which is the next best thing to Test Match Special.
Yes. Baseball as a game is made-for-radio. It's incredibly easy to visualize with a verbal description.

Actually some of the Public Radio stations are OK, if you can handle the liberal bias. Some even have the World Service news at anti social times of the day.
Hah, I think I know what you're referring to. :D Even if you can't stomach Fresh Air or All Things Considered, there's always some decent programming at certain times of the day. At least in my opinion.

--janak

[Vincent M Ferrari]

You know, let's think about this for a moment.

Look how many comments here are asking for the same damned feature.

Isn't it odd that these companies have never done it? It's a conspiracy, I say! ClearChannel must be buying these companies off! No alternatives! It's capitalism run amok I say! :-)

[mbranscum]

Is there an SD card version available?

[Sven Johannsen]

Anyone given any thought to the Line-in feature. What the heck is that for?...If you can't use it to record. If it just routes the line in to the earphone out, you have just turned your PPC into a very fancy amplifier. If you can do something with the Line-in, in the PPC then there is sound routing into the PPC and so why don't they use that for the radio, or do they?

[cpoole]

Seriously though - AM? Is that really the only way you can listen to decent talk radio in the US? My goodness - I can't think of the last time I needed to tune in to an AM station... even FM is taking a backseat now I have a digital radio...

Indeed AM radio is not for everyone... I only listen to one radio channel and it is AM. Canada has CBC Radio One which is what I would call information/entertainment radio - most of it is not the typical talk radio format although there is a couple of call in programs (but no one does a callin show like Rex Murphy) They do not play any top 40 and no advertising! If you are willing to sit up in the middle of the night, you get to listen to information broadcasts from Radio Sweden, BBC World Service, Radio Australia, Channel Africa, and many more.

Anyone wanting to give it a try can find the broadcasts at

http://www.cbc.ca/audio.html

I would gladly pay for an AM adapter for my IPAQ. Perhaps someone could build it into a case so that we can get enough antenna.

[damager]

Wow - I am glad I read this thread - I thought I was the only one who was constantly wondering why these things didn't offer AM!

[stitics]

Wow - I am glad I read this thread - I thought I was the only one who was constantly wondering why these things didn't offer AM!

Me too. Every time I have seen one of these FM receivers reviewed or advertised I have wondered if maybe I was just missing the reviews and ads for the AM ones. Apparently not.

[element]

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GET A MEMO TO THESE PEOPLE THAT SOME PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET ACTUALLY LIKE LISTENING TO AM RADIO ALSO!!!!!

IF I WANT MUSIC I'LL LISTEN TO FREAKIN' MP3'S!

JEEZ! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Okay. I feel better now..

Seriously, though... What's with the Anti AM bias? Is it a technical issue with interference or something?


I would love to be able to listen to Hendrie (sp?) and Savage on the way home from work. Amen~~

[jeffmd]

ambicom prolly figured only old foggies and old sports fans looking for the football game listen to AM and they are not likely to have a pocket pc. ;)

[Video11]

...Indeed AM radio is not for everyone... I only listen to one radio channel and it is AM. Canada has CBC Radio One ...

It might trouble you to know that, in Ontario at least, CBC Radio One has moved to FM. There are still a few on AM, Windsor is one, but for the most part the transmitters are all on the FM side.

[element]

ambicom prolly figured only old foggies and old sports fans looking for the football game listen to AM and they are not likely to have a pocket pc. ;)

Either you were born after the turn of the millenium, or you're a complete metal head! AM radio is the source from which all knowledge and wisdom doth flow. Haven't you heard of Rush! Come on peoples.

[Vincent M Ferrari]

Well, he did wink after he said it!

[crdiddle]

You did not see AM radio cards in desktops because AM is more susceptible to noise then FM and with a switching power supply and high speed digital buses there is a lot of electrical noise in a PC. As a test I held my cheap portable AM radio close to an iPAQ and all I could hear is a loud buzz. When you add shielding and filters to reduce the ambient noise the price and size are such that it is prohibitive.

[jher]

I bought my prolink FM201 CF radio card for $19.

www.prolink.com.tw

Looks EXACTLY like this new card. I'm pretty certain ambicom just OEM'd it.

[Rocketeer]

I have wanted an all in one solution for am/fm on the pda for a while, but in the end I found this product was the best answer to my needs:

http://www.pogoproducts.com/radio_yourway.html



I went with this option too. I really like the Radio Your Way device. I got it before I got my 2210 and put a 256MB SD card in it. It would record 40 hours of AM radio on that SD card! I cannibalized the SD card for my 2210, however. As an alternative, I have been recording my favorite radio shows on the PC using Total Recorder found here:

http://www.highcriteria.com/

I record them to MP3 and load them to the SD card on the iPAQ for listening the next day. This has been working well for me. :wink:

I'd buy a radio card for the iPAQ though if it were built to be a programmable "scanner" of sorts... with extended frequency reception up to 1+ Gigahertz with at least a hundred channels. Now that would be cool! :D

[GoldKey]

Anyone given any thought to the Line-in feature. What the heck is that for?...If you can't use it to record. If it just routes the line in to the earphone out, you have just turned your PPC into a very fancy amplifier. If you can do something with the Line-in, in the PPC then there is sound routing into the PPC and so why don't they use that for the radio, or do they?

I thought the same thing, so I contacted the company, here is what I got back:

"I think what you are refering to is the Line-in Cord in the pakaging. The
cord is for you to connect the Radio Card output to a PC speaker or to your
Line-in jack of your PC sound card.

Best Regards,
AmbiCom Support Team
3150 Coronado Dr. Suite A
Santa Clara CA 95054 "

Their press release could probably use a little clarification on this issue.

[Vincent M Ferrari]

Replay radio is my preferred program for "Tivo'ing" radio, but truthfully, it's not the same as listening live...

[PPCRules]

Anyone given any thought to the Line-in feature. What the heck is that for?...

I thought the same thing, ...

See my earlier post. You use it on your laptop.

I had contacted iBiz after I got their model cheap at CompUSA, and suggested the desktop windows drivers so it could be used in a laptop to record from the radio and they responded "we're on it already; check in a few months". Well, still nothing from them, but now if we can get these from AmbiCom ...

[element]

Well, he did wink after he said it!

I should have winked after my post too I guess! :wink:

[dh]

Hah, I think I know what you're referring to. :D Even if you can't stomach Fresh Air or All Things Considered, there's always some decent programming at certain times of the day. At least in my opinion.

--janak
Yes I agree, there is some good programming on NPR. I like a lot of types of music, classical, Opera too. I've started a collection of Benjamin Britten's operas which I really like. Especially Peter Grimes.

[fireflyrsmr]

does anyone know what the reception is like with this or a clone of this radio? Does the radio signal have to be strong and clear?

[stitics]

I really like the Radio Your Way device. I got it before I got my 2210 and put a 256MB SD card in it. It would record 40 hours of AM radio on that SD card! I cannibalized the SD card for my 2210, however.

What format does it store that in? Is there a way to utilize the "40 hours of AM radio on that SD card" on your PPC? That would be enough for me. Maybe the people that make it (or someone else) could be persuaded to write software to "read" those files, with bookmarks, the ability to skip ahead approximately the length of time of a commercial break, etc. I could live with record today, listen tomorrow, and don't miss a thing.

[Rocketeer]

[quote="stitics What format does it store that in? Is there a way to utilize the "40 hours of AM radio on that SD card" on your PPC? That would be enough for me. Maybe the people that make it (or someone else) could be persuaded to write software to "read" those files, with bookmarks, the ability to skip ahead approximately the length of time of a commercial break, etc. I could live with record today, listen tomorrow, and don't miss a thing.[/quote]

The Radio Your Way device has a propriatary format :evil: for recording off the air. It has a program that resides on the PC that will transform it to a WAV file, though. It's a bit of a pain, but you can transform them to WAV and then to MP3 or OGG if you like on the PC then download to the PPC. I didn't want to go through that much hassle, so I use the Total Recorder program which will record off the internet streaming of the shows I'm interested in and converts them directly to MP3 or OGG for use on the PPC. You set it like a VCR and collect the files after the show. :) \

The main program I record is overnight, while I'm asleep anyway (Coast to Coast AM), so listening at a later time is better for me.

[EPol29]

Note on the ibzpda summary the following:

NOT COMPATIBLE WITH DELL AXIM . iPAQ 54xx using Pocket PC 2003 and 55xx

If you need compatibility with Dell Axim X5, iPAQ 54xx upgraded to Pocket PC 2003 or iPAQ 55xx Series


I bought this unit from CompUSA and had to take it back (I have a Dell Axim - the curved top doesn't permit the original this original iBiz radio to plug all the way in.

I'm not sure why you had problem with IBiz - I also have an Axim5 with Pocket PC 2002 and don't have any problems with this radio.

[mrkablooey]

Having listened to XM for over a year now, AM is the only other option (since it typically provides the "best" local news & traffic). Otherwise, it's XM all the way :way to go:

[jimxenus]

For those that want an teeny, tiny AM radio, check this link out:

http://www.freedom-mobiles.co.uk/z1radio.html

The radio actually fits in your ear like an earbud headpones.

http://www.freedom-mobiles.co.uk/images/gadgets/sinc_z1.jpg

I don't know if there is a US distributor of this product.

[Sven Johannsen]

Note on the ibzpda summary the following:

NOT COMPATIBLE WITH DELL AXIM . iPAQ 54xx using Pocket PC 2003 and 55xx

If you need compatibility with Dell Axim X5, iPAQ 54xx upgraded to Pocket PC 2003 or iPAQ 55xx Series


I bought this unit from CompUSA and had to take it back (I have a Dell Axim - the curved top doesn't permit the original this original iBiz radio to plug all the way in.

I'm not sure why you had problem with IBiz - I also have an Axim5 with Pocket PC 2002 and don't have any problems with this radio.

The earlier iBiz ones were just a hair to short, given the curve at the top of the Axim, to fit all the way down and connect. They have since extended the length of the flat portion that goes in the CF slot enough to clear. Just make sure you get one that says, compatible with Axim, if you plan to use it with one. The older ones are still out there.

[yellowsaiyan]

Does anyone know how good the reception is on any of these devices. I wanna get one but I dont want it to be all staticky or anything.

[Rocketeer]

Does anyone know how good the reception is on any of these devices. I wanna get one but I dont want it to be all staticky or anything.

I would rate the Radio Your Way device as only fair on the AM reception. If the signal is good, however, it's sound is good. Distant stations tend to fade especially at night. It can sometimes be cleared up to a much better signal by moving the device in different directions so that the built in bar antenna gets the best signal. For my purposes, it works well and I'm relatively happy with it.

[Len Egan]

I got this for Christmas and it works great. I wish that A.M. was included for those summer baseball games. But who's complaining.

[Len Egan]

Does anyone know how good the reception is on any of these devices. I wanna get one but I dont want it to be all staticky or anything.

The Ambicom FM radio (CF) is clear and in stereo. If you want a good FM radio, you can't get much more portable than this.