Looking for an AM/FM Radio IC

[apelly]

Has anyone, by any chance, recently done any research on ICs for receiving AM/FM radio?

If so, perhaps you would be kind enough to link me to a couple of items on your short-list, if you have them handy.

I'll tell you right now that I have not done more than a few minutes research at this stage. There seem to be heaps of these, and I am hoping to draw on some community experience to send me in the right direction before I waste 3 days.

I do not know what my requirements are, because I am not aware of how much tech will fit on one of these ICs. Considerations (that I am aware of) are auto-tuning, signal integrity, versatility of interface with uC.

[tom66]

Something like one of these:
http://www.silabs.com/products/audio/fm-am-receiver/Pages/si473435.aspx

It requires a microcontroller to tune it and set it up, but it's a fairly simply serial interface.

[apelly]

Yes, Like that! That's a pretty classy little unit.

However, it doesn't seem very widely stocked. Not by a long shot.

It's also about $16, which is fine in the absence of alternatives.

[Sebastian]

I used the Silicon Labs SI4735 recently. You can control it via I²C or SPI which is pretty straightforward. It has everything on board you could think of, starting from worldwide band support for FM, AM, SW and LW, seek tuning, digital audio output, support for different antenna types and even RBDS/RDS decoding. But just see the datasheet. There is a separate app-note for the programming which is well written. I hope I could help you.

[apelly]

Yea. That's what I looked up. Datasheet looks very cool.

Maybe the reason only digikey has stock, and only a hundred odd, is because this really is everyone's go-to solution?

[gibbled]

I've been playing around with silicon labs si4836 chips.  Awesome little chips,  easy to use, 100k pot and multi position switch with 1‰ resistors for tuning.  Fm reception is really good.

http://ca.mouser.com/Search/m_ProductDetail.aspx?Silicon-Labs/Si4836-A10-GSR/&qs=RoJ6g%252bB9NxJJuHbuxlapsQ==

$2.40 Canadian at mouser.

[dannyf]

is because this really is everyone's go-to solution?

Very few people buy them.

[apelly]

https://www.silabs.com/Support%20Documents/TechnicalDocs/Si4732-A10-short.pdf

Still sfa in stock anywhere, but under 3 bucks in low quantities from mouser.

Looks promising.

[amyk]

Is FM-only OK?

If so, look into TEA5767/SP3767/RDA5807 modules. These were extremely popular a few years ago and could be found in just about any media player with FM radio functionality. Philips seems to have stopped making the '5767 and the '3767 similarly looks extinct but the compatible RDA5807 continues to be available today:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-FM-Stereo-Module-Radio-Module-RDA5807M-RRD-102V2-0-good-/121235689837?forcev4exp=true
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/FM-Radio-Module-RDA5807M-RRD-102-V2-0-Stereo-Radio-Module/1285323456.html

[oilburner]

The Si4732 chip looks cool, with the wide band coverage...  does anyone know of a cheap consumer radio with this chip we could buy to hack?

Greg

https://www.silabs.com/Support%20Documents/TechnicalDocs/Si4732-A10-short.pdf

Still sfa in stock anywhere, but under 3 bucks in low quantities from mouser.

Looks promising.

[dannyf]

does anyone know of a cheap consumer radio with this chip we could buy to hack?

Tecsun makes a lot of radios using silab chips.

Whether they are cheap to you is another questions.

[tinytim]

http://www.hanssummers.com/poundshop.html

you got a poundshop equiv near you??
tim

[Fraser]

Unisonic CXA1191 (CD1191) AM/FM Receiver on a chip

I found some very cheap AM/FM radios that included ShortWave at my local Superdrug store (UK). They had been sold at Christmas 2010 and in the January Sales the excess stock was sold off. I paid GBP1.00 each for them !   I bought a complete crate of 20 for experimentation. They contain a CD1191 AM/FM 'receiver on a chip' and a frequency counter that can be used independantly of the receiver. The receivers come in many varients but contain the same circuitry. It is worth keeping your eyes open for receivers that have teh same display and button format. I have seen them selling for as much as GBP20.00 under the 'GO' travel products branding.

Details here:

http://www.hanssummers.com/superdrg.html

Unisonic CXA1191 Datasheet here:

http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/33384/UTC/CXA1191.html