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

[IG_Vasilich]

@naira1
here they are

 

[naira1]

@naira1
here they are

Awesome. Worked like a charm. Thanks mate.

 

[neo61uk]

Hi all

Just installed latest version of 1.9.117 on my headunit. My old one was 4-5 months old so not sure what version exactly. But it used to start on every usb detection upon boot.
But now it won’t do that.
I have to manually start it every time.

Any idea why it won’t start even when selected in settings?

Thanks for help

 

[BruggC]

Thanks for noticing this problem. Indeed, I must have broken this some time back. I will this is a next release (no date planned yet)

Thx!

 

[realzoulou]

Now it is getting weird... I can only reproduce this with my PX5 and PX6 devices, not on any other Android version and not on Android 10 Emulators. Don't know currently how to workaround this...

@BruggC I hope you had also seen this post. Means: I will not be able to fix it.

 

[realzoulou]

Anyway, pls set this information you posted above on first post of this topic, so the people can easily find it

Done.

 

[bigburd05]

Hi,
Having trouble with my USB DAB+ on XTRONS PX5 unit (model PB78HGT)running Android 8. It's been working for 3 years but now failing every time I start up the DAB Z app with "No dab usb hardware". I've checked the USB cable, and it is ok with a memory stick (can browse files with ES file Explorer app). I swapped the USB cable with a new XTRONS USB cable, same result. I also swapped the DAB dongle (USBDAB01) with a new dongle with its own antenna (USBDAB03) and it failed the same way. I updated DAB Z app to the latest version too, same result, although it's a little more verbose about the 5 attempts it makes to connect.

I was going to follow the instructions on the original post on this thread to set up logging on the DAB Z app, but I can't get to the settings of the app, because it exits as soon as it displays the "no DAB USB" error.

Can someone advise on next steps for me, please?
Is there another way to set up DAB Z to log details or not to exit on that error, or some other way to understand the reason for the error?
Does the Android USB mode need to be set to some specific mode to work for DAB?
Is it likely I have a hardware issue with the USB socket on the head unit?

Cheers

Iain

 

[realzoulou]

@bigburd05 : If a USB memory stick is working fine, then it means that:
1. USB mode is already setup correctly: Head Unit is the host, USB DAB adapter is the device.
2. "In principle" all involved HW is doing ok: USB host controller within the HU, USB cable/plug from HU to DAB device.
Android logs of DAB-Z will not help. Save your time for sth else.

Questions:
a) On SW:
- Have you installed any app at the time when DAB-Z started failing to find the DAB adapter? If yes, which ones.
- Do you use any "Projection" App (like ZLink, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto), which allow you to bring the phone's screen onto the HU display?

b) On HW:
Have you tried using a USB hub in between HU and USB DAB adapter?

 

[IG_Vasilich]

c) have you tried to connect (temporarily) DAB hardware to your smartphone or tablet? Will DAB-Z on phone recognize that stick?

 

[bigburd05]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions guys. I've tried as best i can to follow up...

Questions:
a) On SW:
- Have you installed any app at the time when DAB-Z started failing to find the DAB adapter? If yes, which ones.
- Do you use any "Projection" App (like ZLink, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto), which allow you to bring the phone's screen onto the HU display?

* I don't recall any app installs at the time it started failing - the only install I've done is after it started to fail I updated DAB Z to latest (1.9.117)
* I don't use any projection or mirroring apps. I have started using the A2DP app to stream music from my phone to the head unit while I cannot use DAB Z.
* I use CarWebGuru as my launcher for the head unit.
* I have used ES File Explorer a few times - I wonder it is plays with the USB settings at all that might upset things for DAB?

b) On HW:
Have you tried using a USB hub in between HU and USB DAB adapter?

Yes, had a hub in between originally. Removed it (still worked). Have tried both with and without since it started failing, without success.

c) have you tried to connect (temporarily) DAB hardware to your smartphone or tablet? Will DAB-Z on phone recognize that stick?

I tried, but my Samsung s10 is awkward to get to USB settings. I had to enable developer mode and it still wouldn't offer me options very easily.

I now have two DAB adapters. The original USBDAB01 (UAB A connector) is still fitted to the car and HU and a new USBDAB03 (USB C) connector which is not connected and which I tried when the original setup started failing (thinking the adapter was the fault). The USBDAB03 has a red light on the adapter (whereas USBDAB01 has no indicator of any kind), which lights up when I connect it from my phone (nice positive sign that "something" is working, maybe!), but when I start the DAB Z app with my phone , it fails with "No DAB USB Device" the same as for the HU setup etc. I tried fiddling with the USB settings on the phone, for example,
1. set to USB mode = MIDI. Made no difference - still just seems to be in charge mode. Also tried setting to File Transfer etc, but no difference.
2. setting the phone to be the controller (default seems to be the device as controller), but it always fails to change to make the controller the phone (the phone gives me an error changing and reverts to the device as controller).

I also tried using a hub between phone and DAB adapter but this failed the same way (red light on, but DAB Z fails to connect on startup).
I tried the USBDAB01 in the car connected to my phone (with, and without a hub in between) and DAB Z fails to connect on startup as per usual

I tried connecting the USBDAB03 to the head unit (with, and without a hub in between) , and I don't see the red light on the adapter (and DAB Z fails to connect on startup).

I kinda think the way the samsung s10 setup hides the USB functionality is a bit of a barrier to using it to test the dongle (unless you guys know how to set the phone up reliably).

My unit is installed with the following (might be a bit old - have not changed this in a while)
Model is: PB78HGT Android 8.0.0
ROM: 4.4.93+ rocky@hctr930 #319 Sat Jun 9 2018
build Number px5-userdebug 8.0.0 OPR5.170623.007 eng.hct.20180703.094228 test--ke....
MCU: MTCE_GS_V2.90c_4 Aug 13 2018 17:42:12

Any more ideas?
Cheers
Iain

 

[smilie1964]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions guys. I've tried as best i can to follow up...

* I don't recall any app installs at the time it started failing - the only install I've done is after it started to fail I updated DAB Z to latest (1.9.117)
* I don't use any projection or mirroring apps. I have started using the A2DP app to stream music from my phone to the head unit while I cannot use DAB Z.
* I use CarWebGuru as my launcher for the head unit.
* I have used ES File Explorer a few times - I wonder it is plays with the USB settings at all that might upset things for DAB?



Yes, had a hub in between originally. Removed it (still worked). Have tried both with and without since it started failing, without success.


I tried, but my Samsung s10 is awkward to get to USB settings. I had to enable developer mode and it still wouldn't offer me options very easily.

I now have two DAB adapters. The original USBDAB01 (UAB A connector) is still fitted to the car and HU and a new USBDAB03 (USB C) connector which is not connected and which I tried when the original setup started failing (thinking the adapter was the fault). The USBDAB03 has a red light on the adapter (whereas USBDAB01 has no indicator of any kind), which lights up when I connect it from my phone (nice positive sign that "something" is working, maybe!), but when I start the DAB Z app with my phone , it fails with "No DAB USB Device" the same as for the HU setup etc. I tried fiddling with the USB settings on the phone, for example,
1. set to USB mode = MIDI. Made no difference - still just seems to be in charge mode. Also tried setting to File Transfer etc, but no difference.
2. setting the phone to be the controller (default seems to be the device as controller), but it always fails to change to make the controller the phone (the phone gives me an error changing and reverts to the device as controller).

I also tried using a hub between phone and DAB adapter but this failed the same way (red light on, but DAB Z fails to connect on startup).
I tried the USBDAB01 in the car connected to my phone (with, and without a hub in between) and DAB Z fails to connect on startup as per usual

I tried connecting the USBDAB03 to the head unit (with, and without a hub in between) , and I don't see the red light on the adapter (and DAB Z fails to connect on startup).

I kinda think the way the samsung s10 setup hides the USB functionality is a bit of a barrier to using it to test the dongle (unless you guys know how to set the phone up reliably).

My unit is installed with the following (might be a bit old - have not changed this in a while)
Model is: PB78HGT Android 8.0.0
ROM: 4.4.93+ rocky@hctr930 #319 Sat Jun 9 2018
build Number px5-userdebug 8.0.0 OPR5.170623.007 eng.hct.20180703.094228 test--ke....
MCU: MTCE_GS_V2.90c_4 Aug 13 2018 17:42:12

Any more ideas?
Cheers
Iain

Try with an active hub. Maybe the USB Power is to less.

 

[Th0m4s88]

I found a small problem with a relatively new android 10 px5 head unit.

MCU: SF0-px5_C55_whd01a-aAaAaA_C8_20201202-10:45

When the head unit shuts down and wakes up again DAB-Z seems to have problems receiving signals from the DAB stick. There's no error message but the app shows no signal from all the radio stations. As soon as I restart DAB-Z everything is back to normal and all the radio stations have good signal strength again.

 

[bigburd05]

Try with an active hub. Maybe the USB Power is to less.

OK, folks, I had to get some cables and adapters to try the next steps but it's still failing. I have tried:

(new )USBDAB03 adapter attached through powered USB hub and hooked up to my existing roof antenna (needed an MCX to SMB adapter for that) and the red light comes on on the USBDAB03 dongle (power indicator, I guess?), but when I start up DAB Z it goes through its 5 attempts to connect, but fails in the usual way ("No DAB USB device").

Having tried hooking up the dongle to my Samsung S10 phone, I'm a bit reluctant to continue with that option, as the phone USB settings seem so difficult to manage.

I'm a bit stuck again. Is it time to consider a factory reset on the HU, or an update to MCU or system? Any other ideas before I start down that route? Reluctant to do that as it takes a while and drains the car battery while it's in progress.

Cheers
Iain

 

[realzoulou]

USBDAB03 to the head unit (with, and without a hub in between) , and I don't see the red light on the adapter

This is reliably showing the issue! Your head unit does not power the DAB USB adapter. That's strange because you wrote previously, that a USB memory stick is working fine. Did you for sure use the same USB port?

 

[bigburd05]

This is reliably showing the issue! Your head unit does not power the DAB USB adapter. That's strange because you wrote previously, that a USB memory stick is working fine. Did you for sure use the same USB port?

HI, Thanks again. Yes, I only have one USB socket wired in to my XTRONS currently, and it successfully allowed the USB memory stick to work but did not power the USBDAB03 dongle when wired directly. If I am using a powered hub, as suggested by another forum article, I see the power light on USBDAB03 dongle working ok, but still, there is no connection when starting DAB Z. Should the connection work if the power light it on, or is the hub a potential barrier to the DAB functionality/connection?

If DAB reception is poor at the time, would that show this behaviour, or is connection independent of reception?
Cheers
Iain

 

[realzoulou]

Hi Iain, a powered hub provides 5V to all attached devices from its own power supply. Such USB hubs are also called "active". Without a powered hub, the 5V are supplied by the host (=HU). 5V alone does not do much, it only allows the device to be charged (of course DAB adapters cannot be charged). When 5V are present, then the host polls all the devices periodically using the data lines (D+ and D- when USB 2.0).
The DAB signal strength ("DAB reception") does not have any influence at all on the USB connection.

So... you wrote previously that a previous version of DAB-Z has worked well. Just after the update to 1.9.117, the issue started, right? Try older versions from apkpure going backwards.
I suggest trying in this order: 1.9.110, 1.8.105, 1.8.96

 

[NogenLunde]

HI, Thanks again. Yes, I only have one USB socket wired in to my XTRONS currently, and it successfully allowed the USB memory stick to work but did not power the USBDAB03 dongle when wired directly.

Make sure USB Host is selected in the settings of your HU.

 

[denization]

i know i cannot provide a lot of information, but im curious about the overall picture. maybe someone has a clue. is a non-functioning SWC related to DAB-Z or my OS? the SWC used to work with DAB-Z until some point last year and then stopped working. dont know if its due to an OS update or app update. for other 3rd party music players the SWC still works. regards

 

[bigburd05]

Make sure USB Host is selected in the settings of your HU.

Hi, thanks, that sounds worth a check. How to I find the settings for "USB Host" in the HU? I checked the developer settings for USB Mode but that offers me Media Transfer Protocol (selected), Picture Transfer Protocol, RNDIS (USB Ethernet), Audio Source, MIDI and Charging. Does one of those imply USB Host, or is the setting exposed somewhere else? My HU is running Android 8

 

[NogenLunde]

Hi, thanks, that sounds worth a check. How to I find the settings for "USB Host" in the HU?

Depends on your unit, of course, on my Android 9/10 KSW SnapDragon unit (not in the Android specific settings): Factory Settings, Function, USB-Host.