DAB+ App: (real)zoulou's DAB-Z app (official support thread)

[DominicS65]

Hey everyone,
how is the current state of the "app asks for usb permissions dialog popping up on every start"?
I found some posts here, but they are more than 1 year old and on my HU I get this dialog on every start.

Sorry for not seeing this earlier but I replied on here about this. I feel the age of my reply is not relevant to whether I am correct.
Post in thread 'DAB+ App: (real)zoulou's DAB-Z app (official support thread)' https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...official-support-thread.3609608/post-84491753

 

[realzoulou]

@ndev2k Lots of devices don't allow for 3rd party apps to take part in the Android defined "audio focus" management. Reason: They implement their own audio focus management in a proprietary system app.

Typically I hear that DAB-Z does not duck when Navigation gives route guidance. This can be fixed by *not* setting any Navigation app in the Android Settings -> Car -> Navigation -> Navigation application (your Car settings may differ).
But even if all is good, the Speed Play app, which gives you Apple CarPlay, may not report any audio states to the Android system and thus DAB-Z does not know that it should duck/unduck.
Note: The driving backwards use case you mentioned, might be another exceptional case handled by a proprietary system app, which forcefully lowers any audio output of any app (Speed Play, or DAB-Z, or ...)

 

[kc1]

It's like the one on the right in the picture in this page https://android-headunits.com/usb-lead-has-a-6-pin-plug/

So I had a better look - the 6 pin is actually just a plug for 6 pins, with only the standard 4 wires running to it. In the picture below its the one with the grey tape round the wires next to the plug. It is wired in the same configuration as the the 4-pin plug next to it (plugged in in the picture)

For some reason, phones and DAB player only work when plugged into those 4 pins marked with the arrow, irrespective of whether its the with 4 pin plug or the cable with the 6 pin plug. Other devices, like a dash cam or USB stick work fine when they're connected to the 4 pin plug socket. Nothing works connected to either set of pins through either a powered or a non-powered USB hub. (The head unit is a Chinese EKIY T5 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003767850705.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.21ef18024hxSHs)

 

[IG_Vasilich]

description says that this unit supports USB Hub. What kinds of hubs have you already tried?
And what kind of DAB dongle do you have? normally phones acting as hosts, and all other devices (cams, flash drives, mices, keyboards) - as devices. So DAB Dongle should work on those USB sockets, where USB flash drives are working. I have USB hub, where DAB stick, USB dash cam and OBD2 adapter are working simultaneously without problems.

 

[kc1]

description says that this unit supports USB Hub. What kinds of hubs have you already tried?

I tried this one:

Portable 4 Port USB HUB 2.0 High Speed USB Laptop PC Slim Smallest HUB Mini USB Splitter Adapter For Phone Laptop PC Black: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy Portable 4 Port USB HUB 2.0 High Speed USB Laptop PC Slim Smallest HUB Mini USB Splitter Adapter For Phone Laptop PC Black at Amazon UK.

www.amazon.co.uk

And this one (powered):https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07TXFT75P

And what kind of DAB dongle do you have? normally phones acting as hosts, and all other devices

I have this one:

Hikity Car DAB/DAB+ Radio Receiver, DAB Digital Audio Transmission with Antenna, DAB Car Radio Adapter USB Dongle for Most Android Car Stereo: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Shop Hikity Car DAB/DAB+ Radio Receiver, DAB Digital Audio Transmission with Antenna, DAB Car Radio Adapter USB Dongle for Most Android Car Stereo. Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

And tried this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07BBGHL6Q

This one:. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B083Q7YG4F

And this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B09ST7FPNX

 

[realzoulou]

Nothing works connected to either set of pins through either a powered or a non-powered USB hub. (The head unit is a Chinese EKIY T5 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003767850705.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.21ef18024hxSHs)

Maybe they want you to buy their (specific?) Ekiy USB hub https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002883744622.html as indicated on the Aliexpress link above...

 

[kc1]

Maybe they want you to buy their (specific?) Ekiy USB hub https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002883744622.html as indicated on the Aliexpress link above...

I'm not sure how they'd be able to enable just for theirs and block all others, with just a 4 pin wiring

 

[okij]

I'm not sure how they'd be able to enable just for theirs and block all others, with just a 4 pin wiring

That would be possible without problems on software side and has nothing to do with the wiring.

USB devices identify themselves to the system with what type they are (like storage device, hub, input device and so on) and a device- and vendor-specific ID. So they could be blocked (i.e. not recognized) if the manufacturer decided to do so.

 

[realzoulou]

DAB-Z release 1.9.123 BETA

Change log: compared to 1.9.121 BETA
* Fix: Favorite station list includes all stations
* Fix: Splash screen Settings button not reacting
(both introduced in 1.9.121 BETA)

 

[Chrisu02]

@realzoulou

I reinstalled my machine due to an update and installed now the latest version of DAB-Z
Unfortunately with the idrive controller i can only scroll/select within the Stationlist anymore.
I can not move sideways and more to select the "Play" button when paused, or to select the lower menu buttons

I guess that the FIX "6. Fix: Too many UI controls are focus-able with rotary controller ("iDrive")" is the reason for this ?

Any chance this may be at least selectable between the old/new behavior ?

Sincerely Chri

 

[NogenLunde]

I can not move sideways and more to select the "Play" button when paused, or to select the lower menu buttons

I guess that the FIX "6. Fix: Too many UI controls are focus-able with rotary controller ("iDrive")" is the reason for this ?

You're right about that. I suggested to implement iDrive right/left click to tab in and out of the menu row. We have touch screens, so no big deal? But people without touch screen are in trouble ...

 

[Chrisu02]

You're right about that. I suggested to implement iDrive right/left click to tab in and out of the menu row. We have touch screens, so no big deal? But people without touch screen are in trouble ...

For BMW one and 3 E Series the display is very far away of the driver, thats why the idrive controller is much better for using it.

I nearly have everything on the HU modded to be selectable via Tasker/touchtask Scripts to simulate touch controls, which also does give the whole system a much more OEM feeling and also does not distract as much anymore

Before the update DAB-Z was controllable by 98% via the idrive, now it feels like its only 10% anymore.

doing the left/right to only switch to menu / Image (Play Button) Tile, sounds like a good idea

sincerely Chri

 

[realzoulou]

@Chrisu02 , @NogenLunde I will bring the old behavior back and update the current Beta version

 

[Chrisu02]

@Chrisu02 , @NogenLunde I will bring the old behavior back and update the current Beta version

Thank you very much

Sincerely Chri

 

[nihonjin]

I like the interface of this app and for the most part it works really well. However, reception on the road to work does have many drop outs. Yet another app that is nowhere near as polished as this one seems to have far less drop outs. Same route, car and dab hardware just different apps. Is there any setting or way to make this app less sensitive to low reception areas or why else does the other app more consistently keep signal and not drop out?

This is the other app just so you know which one I am talking about. I much prefer to be able to use DAB-Z.

DAB+ Radio USB - Apps on Google Play

Radio app for USB DAB+ receivers (not SDR), optimized for car headunits

play.google.com

Thanks.

 

[realzoulou]

@nihonjin Sorry, to read that you face issues with DAB-Z. No, there is no setting to avoid signal drop outs. Usually only the antenna and coverage at the location decides how well DAB is received. In super rare cases, it is also a combination of a) head unit, b) Android version, c) DAB USB adapter. Which one it is actually, is virtually impossible to find out, except when you would be able to exchange one after the other.

Btw. the other app has it's own thread in XDA: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/app-dab-radio-for-usb-modules.4280741/ but seems to be out of regular maintenance already.
It is up to you to decide, which app to use.

 

[thommy4]

Is it possible to sort the channels into multiplex folders? The channel list can become very confusing with over 100 channels.

 

[realzoulou]

Some hints on the UI...
What you are looking for is to mark certain stations as favorite and then only use the favorite list from that point on. Note: Only favorite list can be "sorted". Switch between full / favorite list with the button between "<<" and ">>"

 

[pwood999]

After using this for several years in my car, I just installed DAB-Z in my wife's Freelander on new Joying android 10 head unit. All works well, especially now I installed a decent amplified antenna to replace the FL antenna.

Found 123 channels (in UK), but having a strange issue with Favourites (Favorites). some channels like BBC Radio 1 & 2 will not save. Did the usual Long Press & select the Star, but BBC channels don't save. All other channels I tried seem to work ?

[EDIT] Just tried deleting all channels & re-scanning. Now I can add any station to Fav list, but when displaying all channel list, some don't have a star even though they are in the Fav list ?? (but wife happy because her favourites work)

Pete

 

[realzoulou]

I suspect that you have several "BBC Radio 1" entries in the main list, right?
Note that DAB-Z does not combine services that are transmitted in different ensembles or frequencies to one, but keeps them separate. So, you might expect that selecting one specific BBC Radio 1 in the main list makes all BBC Radio 1 appear in the fav list. If I got you wrong, let me know.