Best Si Labs AM/FM radio chip? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: Symax
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 03:45:21 pm
content: I am looking for feedback on which AM/FM chip is the best for a Raspberry Pi radio:https://www.silabs.com/products/audio-and-radio/multi-band-radios/si4822-26-27-40-44-radio-receiversBased on the chart and datasheets on that page, I am considering one of the Si4826, Si4827, or Si4844 chips and am looking for feedback as to which one would be best in this application as I'm unable to discern any of the differences between them.

author: Farley
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 04:11:00 pm
content: Of the products listed in the original post, it appears that they all have a monophonic output except for the Si4840/44 which has stereo out. Note that these receiver's are mechanically tuned with a potentiometer.Silicon Labs has a line of digitally tuned receivers. For instance:https://www.silabs.com/products/audio-and-radio/multi-band-radios/si4734-35-radio-receiversI've used the Si4831 (mechanically tuned, no shortwave) in a project. It works very well.

author: Symax
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 04:44:41 pm
content: Thanks for your reply. While I do like the idea of using a potentiometer for tuning, with this project digital tuning would be optimal for this project.So far from what I have read, most of the other AM/FM chips are being discontinued. I'm trying to stick with chips that will be readily available for as long as possible in the future. I also like the idea of getting the extra SW bands in a car radio project.

author: MasterT
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 06:02:26 pm
content: For myself, as a hobbyist, I usually look what is the packaging, if it's made in a SOIC.

author: Symax
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 06:16:08 pm
content: Quote from: Farley on January 01, 2019, 04:11:00 pmBased on your suggestion, I like the idea of Si4735-D60-GU in this application. I will continue to look at others and I guess for my purposes, Analog tuning is a bad idea and stick with digital tuning.

author: Symax
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 06:59:31 pm
content: I just did a little more digging and found theSi4767which is designed for Car radios. I am a little concerned that there is only basic documentation via their web site and am hoping that I can find more details. I did notice other chip options that said they were behind a NDA, but I don't know if that would apply for the purchasing process.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2019, 02:00:03 am
content: What about a RTLSDR plus a LNA/filter for the AM band?

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2025, 07:59:43 am
content: It seem the are not sell any of the Radio Chips anymore.Do the sold the Technology to an other Company?Thanks

author: RoV
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2025, 05:20:56 pm
content: Quote from: Lord of nothing on April 21, 2025, 07:59:43 amhttps://www.mouser.it/c/?q=Si4735

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2025, 05:51:11 pm
content: Quote from: Lord of nothing on April 21, 2025, 07:59:43 amhttps://www.skyworksinc.com/Products/Audio-and-Radio-Consumer-Digital-Radioshttps://www.skyworksinc.com/Products/Audio-and-Radio-Multiband-Radioshttps://www.skyworksinc.com/Products/Audio-and-Radio-FM-Radioshttps://www.skyworksinc.com/Products/Audio-and-Radio-Automotive-Tuners

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2025, 11:34:04 pm
content: I dont know why I dont got any replay message?! Never mind. Does anyone here work with such Chips?The price is damn insane <3€ a Chip. Sadly I must order there 2500 of them that is a bit to much for a possible smal project.I heard someone, some company use an Down Converter or what ever to get the Airband down to the Freq who the Chip can deal with.Another good idea to monitor a Freq 24/7 as cheap as possible. It would be interesting what the performance is in comparission with an "cheap" Noelec or the official RTL SDR is.

author: Rafiki
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2025, 12:21:35 pm
content: Quote from: Lord of nothing on May 02, 2025, 11:34:04 pmTo "Hinterholz 8 Fanboy" - once made a design with Si4705. Dam good chips.

author: jwet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2025, 06:34:33 am
content: I played with them a while back before they sold to Skyworks. SiLabs had some Eval boards. My main interest was in HF SSB single side band. The chips are really pretty amazing- if you look at alternatives, 3 euro is not really that bad. You might be able to find some of them on Ebay or Shenzen type sellers on Alibaba, etc.What application are you looking at? The chips are pretty closely related- they might come out of a few base die types with some metal customization for the external parts numbers.I can help if you have specific problems.

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2025, 10:14:12 pm
content: HiThe idea is to use them insted of an SDR for thinks who should be recorded 24/7 as some People do it for example for Air Traffic.I learnd during my "Research" that with an Mixer the VHF Signals could be down converted so that the Chip think he play HF Radio.Sadly the dont support officially SSB. I had the same idea as you.https://skyworksinc-21688857.hs-sites.com/new-from-skyworks-si469xx-automotive-digital-radio-coprocessorQuoteDRM on HF Bands are interesting for me to. Sadly its very very hard for me to get a good enough signal to Decode them into anything usefull.https://www.skyworksinc.com/Products/Audio-and-Radio/Si469xx-Automotive-Digital-Radio-Coprocessors/Si46944CQuotehttps://www.skyworksinc.com/en/Products/Audio-and-Radio/Si4790x-Automotive-Tuners

author: Rafiki
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 10:20:59 am
content: QuoteDid you try to contact skyworks for samples? When I worked on these chips a few years ago the Silabs people gave me very good support. Including samples of course. Although our devices using these chips are still in production I never had a need to contact Skyworks. So can't help on that.P.S. Have you checked DigiKey. They seem to sell small quantities too. Of course not that cheap. And delivery costs are not negligable. But it worked flawless to our country last time I tried.

author: jwet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 01:50:57 pm
content: The 4735-D60 will do SSB and NBFM. There is an addendum to the programming notes about it- here's the header that out in public- see if you can get the real docs from Skyworks.-------------------AN332 REV 0.8 UNIVERSAL PROGRAMMING GUIDEAMENDMENT FOR SI4735-D60 SSB AND NBFM PATCHES1. Introduction1.1. ScopeThis amendment document provides an overview of the programming requirements for a SSB and NBFM specificpatches which add SSB/NBFM receiver capabilities to the Si4735-D60 parts.2. OverviewPlease refer to AN332 Rev 0.8 Universal Programming Guide Chapter 2 for details.---------------------SiLabs used to be very secretive about data sheets and programming internals. The only reason that I bought the Eval kits was to get some of the programming data. I had to sign a big NDA and I can't (won't) share the docs. They won't give you enough info to write your own code but the docs do show you how to load patches and play with registers, etc.On availability- they shouldn't be hard to find- Mouser has some in stock. If you're serious at all, buy the EV-Kit for a few hundred bucks if they're still around. These parts were kind of a flop. Other than Chinese Shortwave Radios, they didn't sell. The business plan at SiLabs was to sell to Automotive but their AM section wasn't good enough. Automotive AM is still important especially in the US. Think West Texas with tumbleweeds and Jack Rabbits for 300 miles...

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 02:09:35 pm
content: ssb/nbfm doc & patches

author: jwet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 02:16:13 pm
content: Great- It sounds like Skyworks eased up a bit- that's great. Browse the docs- there is a lot of good stuff.

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2025, 05:23:46 am
content: I bough the Radio:---------- (Down converter)

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2025, 08:31:58 am
content: The Tecsun PL-330 portable radio has FM/LW/MW and shortwave with SSB it uses the SI4735-D60SJ