PC Radio

[LizardDefence]

You all seem like intelligent lads (and lasses), so can anyone tell me why the devil you can't hook up an antenna somewhere on your PC and receive radio transmissions. I would love to be able to listen to my favorite classic rock stations as I kick butt in some hot new game, but alas, this cannot be so. Anyone know of an add-on or DIY way to get local radio stations on the computer? Keep in mind I'm not looking for internet radio.

[neutron7]

there used to be such a thing as a usb radio. it was a little box with an antenna thet you can control the stations and stuff from a windows aplication. i havent seen one for a while.

also a lot of those USB flash drive things have FM radios on them but i dont know if they are any good. you could plug it in to your sound card input.

or you could get an old reciever and use the pre-out and plug that in to your sound card input. that would probably have the best reception and sound.

[Bill Fitzpatrick]

I've found the perfect solution for tunes while gaming. I turn on my stereo system.

[LizardDefence]

Oh aye, I have a stereo system...one which I love. Problem is, it isn't in the same room as my computer. Sure I could move one or the other, but there is no space for them in either room. I usually turn on one of the other stereos in the next room, but that doesn't fly well if the rest of the family is home.

[Mr Evil]

It's possible. A lot of TV tuner cards will also receive FM, and I think I have seen dedicated FM tuner cards too. If you're looking for DIY, then there is no reason you couldn't build a tuner onto a PCI card and hook up the audio output to one of your soundcard's internal inputs; just be sure to shield it well.

[LizardDefence]

Right, here is one of those USB Radios: http://www.averm.co.uk/avermedia/ave...a_usbradio.asp . They don't sell them in the U.S. though. A PCI Card is my top choice, now that I have a back up plan. As far as a DIY PCI Card...my expertise on such matters is certainly below the level needed for a project such as that, unless perhaps there were some instructions I could follow.

[Duo]

I have an old ISA tuner card for FM radio.

For some reason, I see a lot of these going around, but I've never seen the other types such as PCI and USB.

I expect that a DIY FM radio card for the computer would be a neat project.

How about a DAC controlling a variable capacitance diode in a simple FM tuner circuit? It could work out...

[I_Forgot]

How about putting a CD in the computer CDROM drive?

I_F

[audiousername]

PCI Tuner cards are fairly common and cheap (around here, at least) - they mostly are TV tuner cards with FM built in. So you get the added advantage of being able to watch and record TV on your computer

[LizardDefence]

Yeah, sure, CD's are wonderful...I have a load myself. But CD's tend to slow my computer down more then most other programs for some reason. I listen to CD's when I'm using programs that tend to be lighter on the RAM usage, but running a CD along with a game is wicked tough on the computer.