Product Details
Designed in Australia, the Professional DAB+ FM Digital Radio Development Board is an excellent platform for developing and evaluating DAB+, SlideShow, and FM receivers. It features a Keystone T2_L4A_8650C DAB/FM module and a Microchip PIC18F14K50 microcontroller. The T2_L4A_8650C module is an ultra - low - power DAB/FM receiver with great features. It's an ETSI EN 300 401 compliant receiver, has a DAB/DAB+ sensitivity of up to - 99dBm (typical), and can decode multiple audio services up to 256kbps without external RAM. The FM supports RDS, and it has a combined antenna input for FM / Band3. It also supports DAB L - Band reception, though some soldering work is needed. The module has a serial control interface, is RoHS compliant, and offers SlideShow and EPG (with hardware support and software under development). The Microchip PIC18F14K50 provides a USB to Serial interface for the module to communicate with the host PC. Users can rewrite the firmware on it to implement a driverless HID protocol. The board now supports SlideShow with an upgrade module, enhancing digital radio with visual content in JPEG or PNG format. It measures 78mm x 45mm. You can use it to build a PC - controlled DAB+ FM Digital Radio with SlideShow, a CAR PC DAB+ FM Digital Radio with SlideShow, or a standalone DAB+ FM Digital Radio (requiring an external microcontroller). The board has many features like a 12 Mhz crystal, a standard ICSP programming port, an EXT port for external audio control, status and power LEDs, a bootloader push button, LDOs for different voltages, a 3.5mm stereo jack, and an SMA antenna connector. The power supply circuit typically gets 5VDC from USB, and the power is distributed to the module through LDOs controlled by the SHDN pin. The microcontroller provides a Virtual Serial Port and controls the module's power, reset, and audio shunt. The reset is done by the RESET pin emulated by DTR. The ICSP port is compatible with Microchip's PICkit, and the EXT port controls external audio circuitry. The push button triggers the USB HID bootloader in programming mode. The packing list includes 1 unit of the board with the KeyStone T2_L4A_8650C and 1 retractable antenna. Pre - installed software includes Microchip's USB bootloader and CDC RS - 232 emulation firmware.
Using this DAB+ FM Digital Radio Development Board is quite straightforward. First, connect the retractable antenna to the SMA antenna connector. Then, power the board using a USB cable to provide 5VDC. Once powered, the board is ready to start developing and evaluating DAB+, SlideShow, and FM receivers. If you want to program the PIC18F14K50 microcontroller, use the standard ICSP programming port with a compatible device like Microchip's PICkit. To trigger the USB HID bootloader in programming mode, press the push button during power - up. When using the SlideShow feature, make sure the images you use are in JPEG or PNG format. For the FM RDS reception, keep in mind that it depends on the power level and frequency deviation of the station. When it comes to L - Band reception, you'll need to solder a separate antenna and other passive components. As for maintenance, keep the board in a clean and dry environment. Avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures or moisture. If you're not using the board for a long time, disconnect the power supply. Also, be careful when handling the board to prevent any physical damage to the components.
