QN8066 FM Transmitter

[aaronross]

Bear with me a bit folks as I have been under the FPP rock since Rpi2 was the latest and greatest and I am working to make my comeback into the space since my show has grown into it and forced my hand a bit. 

I am looking to run FPP on my show this year on a Rpi4. I just got to playing with FPP 8.5.1 and noticed the plug in for the FM transmitter, here is where my question lies. Are you actually able to buy the QN8066 anywhere? I saw a couple on ebay, but no assembled units anywhere else. Am I missing something or is this old news?

[MikeKrebs]

Are you looking for https://github.com/thomastech/PixelRadio/tree/main ?

It's a DIY radio. Some folks might have parts laying around from when they DIYed them. It was pretty popular the first year it came out and then not much news.

[aaronross]

I am referring to this one https://github.com/ShadowLight8/Dynamic_RDS

[Poporacer]

and noticed the plug in for the FM transmitter

That plugin is for people that have an FM transmitter that is built using the QN8066 chip and is only needed if you want to display RDS data from your show onto the radio of the listener.

Are you actually able to buy the QN8066 anywhere?

Yes, but you will have to buy a BUNCH more components to build the FM transmitter.

Am I missing something or is this old news?

I think you are missing something because there is a link for the transmitter in the Plugins page that you posted.

But do you need the RDS or just an FM transmitter?

[aaronross]

I understand the use of the plug in. I was hoping to upgrade my FM transmitter to have the capability have the RDS data.

I can find just the chip, which I know will need more components, however, the plugin page links to a fully assembled transmitter from aliexpress, which is not able to be shipped to the US (perhaps due to the recent tariffs). Apologies for not pointing that out sooner. That is what led me to a wider search and the inability to find anyone selling the fully assembled version. 

So I am looking for a fully assembled transmitter that uses the QN8066 chip. That is what I am unable to find and am seeking assistance on.

[Poporacer]

Why not use one of the more common plugins like the Si4713/Vast V-FMT212R? And I think KulpLights.com sells the transmitters as well.

[aaronross]

Perhaps I am mistaken, but it wasn't clear to me that the support for the SI4713 was live per the github. I will do some more digging there. 

As for the kulplights stuff, I am running a Rpi4 not a beagle based FPP and the Vast transmitter seems to have the same availability as the QN transmitter based on a quick search.

Thanks for the help