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#245228 - 02/01/2005 23:33 XM on empeg?
lopan
old hand

Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
I know there was talk of XM radio via the xmpcr but never materialised due to the serial to usb deal happening with the xmpcr, however the newer XM Direct modules have a standard serial interface. Has anyone looked into programming something for this? I would but I'm no programmer. The bennefits would rock, the XM direct units are only about 40-50 bucks, and would possibly provide a sollution for those that didn't get a tuner?
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#245229 - 03/01/2005 17:15 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: lopan]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3582
Loc: Columbus, OH
I was looking at tackling the project (including hacking the xmpcr to do serial), but they EOL'ed it very quickly after someone came up with some software to do timeshifting (think TiVo for XM). I've not seen the XM Direct units. I'll take a look.
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~ John

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#245230 - 03/01/2005 18:40 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: JBjorgen]
lopan
old hand

Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
From what i've read on other sites, software that works with xmpcr works with xm direct... so same interface and command set I guess... just no serial to usb converter...

BTW I have an xmpcr right here... I love it... but as far as timeshifting goes doesn't quite seem worth the hassle, tivo I can understand, but radio? don't think so...


Edited by lopan (03/01/2005 18:57)
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Brett 60Gb MK2a with Led's

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#245231 - 03/01/2005 19:01 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: JBjorgen]
lopan
old hand

Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
Here is a link for the xm direct, the link in the post above has a lot of useful info for the pinouts and how to build a serial cable for the xm direct, I think there's probably even linux source floating around that you could port somehow (talking out my rear there but who knows), because as stated earlier if it worked with xmpcr chances are it works with xm direct.
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Brett 60Gb MK2a with Led's

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#245232 - 04/01/2005 22:07 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: lopan]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
I'd be very interested in this also. My brother-in-law has me sold on XM because of the lower rate you can get if you are related to another subscribor. But he was selling me on the portable units... (MyXM?)
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Brad B.

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#245233 - 05/01/2005 02:46 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: lopan]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
xmpcr software works with xmdirect by a hack. the xmpcr had digital audio out; xmd has analog out and you use a debug connector to decode the song name. lame.

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#245234 - 05/01/2005 02:47 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Daria]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
(though an xmpcr would be useless with an empeg, while an xmd could be used via auxin)

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#245235 - 05/01/2005 03:40 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Daria]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
I've been trolling though the XM Fan and MP3 Car Audio forums after seeing this thread. I was under the impression that XM Direct can be controlled and interogated with the same serial codes as the XM PCR by sending it 3 serial commands prior to launching the PCR software. At that point it behaves like a PCR.

XM Direct has analog outs as you said but I believe it's possible to add digital outs (Coax or Toslink) for about $35.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. I was actually interested enough with the concept to order in a XMD tuner.

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#245236 - 05/01/2005 12:34 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Daria]
lopan
old hand

Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
Quote:
xmpcr software works with xmdirect by a hack. the xmpcr had digital audio out; xmd has analog out and you use a debug connector to decode the song name. lame.


Digital out on the XMPCR was a hack... XMPCR units were analog as well from the factory, I thought unless i'm missing something? All I know is I had to solder a digital out card into my xmpcr before I had optical connection...

But regardless, XM on the empeg whether it be analog or digital in my opinion would be worth it's weight in gold.
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Brett 60Gb MK2a with Led's

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#245237 - 05/01/2005 14:13 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Mach]
lopan
old hand

Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
Quote:
Please correct me if I'm wrong. I was actually interested enough with the concept to order in a XMD tuner.

Sounds in line with what I've been reading, can you code? I've been holding off on getting one being that if I got one and no one was able to write anything I'd be left with a nice XM paperweight.
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Brett 60Gb MK2a with Led's

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#245238 - 05/01/2005 14:22 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Mach]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
Didn't the XMPCR send the audio as well as the data about what was being played over the usb cable to the PC? Anything going over the usb cable is digital; Not all digital audio is toslink or whatever. When you extract audio directly from (rip) a CD, that's... digital audio.

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#245239 - 05/01/2005 14:33 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Daria]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
Apparently not. It was a serial XM module with a FTDI USB->serial dongle built into it. The audio output was just via line out unless you added a little PCB to get digital.

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#245240 - 05/01/2005 14:50 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Daria]
lopan
old hand

Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
Uh, yeah what Trevor said no audio comes from the USB, you have to plug straight in to the PCR itself, computer see's the device as a usb serial port. and I have to say there is a very noticable sound improvement on the PCR when you add the optical output...

Wondering now if eutronix has any plans to add an optical or coax input on the empeg....


Edited by lopan (05/01/2005 14:54)
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#245241 - 05/01/2005 14:57 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: lopan]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
There is a digital input on the empeg already. The tuner interface can be switched over to be a I2S input but it's never been tested and we don't know how to enable it.

I think at one point Stuart was looking into making a digital input board? Not sure what happened to it. Probably lack of interest.

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#245242 - 05/01/2005 15:00 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Mach]
lopan
old hand

Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
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#245243 - 05/01/2005 17:03 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: lopan]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
But then I need a coax in on my computer. I don't have one. I *do* have a USB.... I see no reason not to use it.

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#245244 - 05/01/2005 17:13 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Daria]
lopan
old hand

Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
ummm but... uh, the usb is only for changing the station and getting the song data and stuff. Doesn't produce sound or anything..

I just posted that link for Mach and the possibility that perhaps if we could enable or install digital input on the empeg.... well then we'd have a cool setup. baby steps though, we have to find someone capable and willing to build the app!
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#245245 - 05/01/2005 17:17 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: lopan]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
So there is not a copy of the digital audio coming over the usb, and decoded on the PC and sent directly to the sound card, with XMPCR?

I'm suspicious.

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#245246 - 05/01/2005 17:19 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: lopan]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
"Coding" no, brute force trial and error, yes. There's enough open source code running around for XM that it should be a decent empeg project to learn on. I wouldn't buy a tuner based on that though.

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#245247 - 05/01/2005 17:22 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Daria]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
(If not, then the XMDirect solution is fine)

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#245248 - 05/01/2005 19:08 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: lopan]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
The PG amp that I have on (back) order has mutliple ins including TOS and Coax. I'm thinking that I don't need to necessarily route it back through the empeg, just control and display.

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#245249 - 06/01/2005 00:45 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Daria]
lopan
old hand

Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
Quote:
So there is not a copy of the digital audio coming over the usb, and decoded on the PC and sent directly to the sound card, with XMPCR?

No, I'm 100% positive on that one, it's just a plain old serial interface with no audio. It's really not that complicated of a device... When you crack it open theres really not much there...
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Brett 60Gb MK2a with Led's

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#245250 - 06/01/2005 00:48 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: lopan]
lopan
old hand

Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
Quote:
The PG amp that I have on (back) order has mutliple ins including TOS and Coax. I'm thinking that I don't need to necessarily route it back through the empeg, just control and display.


Still might be nice to at least be able to have it hijack the aux in, is that do-able?
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Brett 60Gb MK2a with Led's

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#245251 - 06/01/2005 00:51 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: lopan]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3582
Loc: Columbus, OH
That's what I was thinking...maybe with some help from emphatic.
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~ John

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#245252 - 06/01/2005 04:55 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: lopan]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
If you've seen inside, you're doing better than me. They are too rich for my blood.

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#245253 - 06/01/2005 12:03 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Daria]
lopan
old hand

Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
You can still find them for 90-100 bucks, when I got mine I think it was around 70 bucks? It was about a month before they EOL'd them...

Here's a link
And here's a link...

But really when the xm direct is half the price and pretty much the same thing except without a serial to usb converter, whats the point...
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Brett 60Gb MK2a with Led's

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#245254 - 06/01/2005 14:09 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: lopan]
Jemmi
member

Registered: 03/05/2003
Posts: 131
After reading this thread and a bit of research, I'm very excited... Unfortunately I am a mechanical engineer and can't code. It certainly appears like someone could program this control into the Empeg which as another said would be priceless. I currently have a carputer with 7" monitor installed also and use it more for GPS and playing movies for my daughter than anything else. There are some changes I'd love to make to add more functionality on Empegface but alas don't know enough. Anyway, being able to control an XM setup with the Empeg would be more desireable than a temporary approach I am probably going to take - using the Carputer serial port and software and the line in on the Empeg.

I'm sure it's well known, but if not here is a link to some Windows front end software (mostly for cars) that has XM control in it.

http://www.frodoplayer.com/nuke/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=1

If I could help anyone in any way with this project, let me know... I am hoping to buy the XM direct soon to integrate into my car system

Jemmi

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#245255 - 06/01/2005 15:57 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Jemmi]
lopan
old hand

Registered: 28/01/2002
Posts: 970
Loc: Manassas VA
Yup, Frodoplayer, MMC and a few others all have XM support, for windows...

Something like xmd-xmfe, or Ximba would probably be more useful, but then again, I'm no programmer either.

Hey... just found mmxmpcr the description says "MMXMPCR is a kernel module and commandline program for playing the XM Radio PCR satellite radio receiver" could that be raped and twisted into what we need?
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Brett 60Gb MK2a with Led's

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#245256 - 06/01/2005 15:59 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: Daria]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Would there be anyway to install the XM Direct so that I could take it from car to car (assuming both cars had receivers with XM controls)?
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Brad B.

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#245257 - 06/01/2005 17:07 Re: XM on empeg? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
Jemmi
member

Registered: 03/05/2003
Posts: 131
From what I've been reading... yes. Both cars would need antennas and somewhere to locate the box... then could take it from car to car, plug in 1 8 pin DIN and the antenna and you're good to go. I was just looking and they have through glass antennas also (I already have GPS receiver mounted where the antenna goes on most cars)

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