Copyright: 1997 Aarto Reponen
Citation: FMBox 1.0 Help


Welcome
 FMBox help contents

Thank you for using FMBox 1.1

What is FMBox

Hardware Requirements

Installation

Operation

How to register FMBox

FMBox home page:

http://www.algonet.se/~aarto/fmbox

Author:

Aarto Reponen (aarto@algonet.se)

http://www.algonet.se/~aarto

 	Aarto Reponen

Lars Kaggsgatan 35D

415 03 Gothenburg

Sweden


 What is FMBOX?

FMBox is a program that allows you to control FM-tuner ISA adapters from Radio Reveal and Aims Lab.

FMBox is a product of my frustration with the software included in the RadioReveal package. I decided there was nothing else i could do but to make my own application to control the tuner.

Enter: FMBox

The application is 32-bit all the way and can be minimized to the system tray. All the preset stations (100 of them) are easily accessible using buttons or menus and every single station can be given a descriptive name. I will continue to add featores to FMBox and registered users will get new versions for absolutely nothing.

This is a full version of FMBox. You are free to evaluate this product and redistribute it in its original package!. To remove the reminder screens, please register the product. (The registration fee is only $15 USD)

Any comments are thankfully accepted as i am continually developing this product.


 Hardware Requirements

FMBox  works ONLY with the following adapters:

Manufacturer	Product

Radio Reveal 	RA300

Aims Lab.	Radiotrack

FMBox can be configured to use I/O ports 0x30c (default) or 0x20c (alternative)

If you have not changed any hardware jumper settings when installing your FM-adapter, the default I/O address should work just fine

Do not try to control any other hardware using this product!


 Installation and uninstallation

Since you can read this help file, you propably have already installed FMBox The installation and uninstallation is fully automatic and no files are scattered around your storage space. All files FMBox uses are kept in a single directory. When you uninstall FMBox, all traces of it will be deleted.

(If you installed the drivers for Windows NT, you will have to manually remove it, using the control panel to first remove "giveio.sys" from the device list and then by removing the file "giveio.sys" from "c:\winnt\system32\drivers\" folder  (The actual windows directory may be differently named)

Files that are placed in the FMBox folder:;

fmbox.exe - The excecutable

fmset.exe - Setup program

fmbox.hlp- (this file)

license.txt - License agreement

register.exe - Registration program

mail.url - Internet shortcut - sends mail to the author

fmbox.url - Internet shortcut - FMBox home page

aarto.url - Internet shortcut - Authors home page

Support files for operation under Windows NT

   giveio,sys

   instdrv.exe

   ntreadme.txt

   tstio.exe

Information about how to install support files for Windows NT

Registry entries made by the setup program and FMBox:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\AARTOR

This is where FMBox stores all the settings. this registry key will be removed when you uninstall FMBox


 Installing drivers for Windows NT

   FMBox uses direct access to I/O port 30C alternativly 20C. In WindowsNT,

   that kind of access to hardware is not alloved without a driver. This is

   where "giveio.sys" comes in.

   In order for FMBox to gain access to the radio card under NT, the driver

   giveio.sys must be loaded before running FMBox!

   Installing the driver:

   1)  Copy the file "giveio.sys" to the \WinNT\System32\drivers\

       directory.  (The actual directory may vary depending on the directory where Windows NT is installed)

   2)  Use the following command at the system prompt to install the driver:

       example:

                "instdrv giveio c:\winnt35\system32\drivers\giveio.sys"

       Note: The "instdrv" utility is included with FMBox.  After

             executing the command you should get 3 "SUCCESS" related

             load messages.

       The driver should now be loaded.

   3)  Open the "Devices" applet inside control panel.  Scroll down

       until you find the givio driver in the list.  Change the

       StartUp mode to "Boot" if you want the driver loaded

       when your system boots.  Else you will have to load it each

       time you boot your system.

   4)  Run the "testio.exe" program to test the driver installation.

       If all goes well, you will hear some tones being played

       through your system speaker.  If you don't hear anything here

       are a few things to check:

       1) Make sure the driver is loaded by performing step 3 above.

          If the driver isn't in the list, try reloading it using

          the instdrv.exe program.

       2) Make sure your PC speaker works.  Verify that your mixer

          settings are correct, ie you don't have the line-in device

          muted if you are redirecting the output of the radio card

          into your sound card.

       3) If all else fails, E-Mail me (aarto@algonet.se) for assistance.

  5)  Execute FMBox.  If the driver is loaded, you should hear

      your radio card.  If the driver is not loaded, you will get

      a dialog box with an error message.  Recheck your driver installation.

      If your system hangs, you probably have a conflict with the I/O port

      address of the Radio card.  Try changing it to the other setting .

Removing the driver

The giveio.sys driver can be removed by using the instdrv.exe program.

For syntax of the command, type "instdrv" with no arguments.

This is cumbersome, yes, but will be automated in FMBox 1.1 once i get my

WindowsNT installed


 Operation

Click on the FMBox window to see what each element does or select the items below to find out how to operate FMBox

Selecting a preset station

Preset scan

Tuning manually

Scanning for stations

Storing new stations

Adjusting volume

The Snooze function

The Alarm function

Setting FMBox options

Controlling FMBox from the system tray

Command-line arguments


 Selecting preset stations

you can easily switch between stations using the preset buttons and the Channels menu . Up to 100 stations can be saved and you can give each preset station a descriptive name. The station name shows up in the channels menu for quick access.

feature. There's also a "Preset scan" -function

Keyboard shortcuts:

•	To browse through the preset stations, you can use PageUp and PageDown keys

•	You can use the numeric keys below your function keys to tune to corresponding preset station

Command-line argument PRE:XX where XX is the preset station number


 Manual tuning

You can tune to any station manually using the "Tune" buttons. When you have found a channel you can add it to your presets with the memory button. You can also use the Frequency slider or the Quick Jump to tune in to a station really fast.


 Quick Jump

Want to tune to a station really fast?

just type it in!  When you type the first number, a dialog box will open and let you type in the rest of the frequence. Press <ENTER> and you're tuned!


 Scanning for stations

You can automatically scan for all the stations in your area. Press the scan direction button and FMBox will automatically tune to the next station in that direction. When a station is found, FMBox will display a "T" in the status display


 Storing preset stations

You store a station in the presets by first tuning to the desired station and then clicking on the "MEMORY" button in the FMBox window. FMBox status display will now show a "W". You can now select in which slot you will save the station in  using the preset buttons.

When you have clicked on a preset button, you will be asked for a name you want to give to your new preset station. Type the name and press OK, or press "CANCEL" to cancel adding a new preset station


 Adjusting volume

FMBox allows you to choose between controlling the volume of the radio card or line-in channel of Windows mixer. Use "options/Volume control" menu to set the control method to suit your preferences.

You can set the volume in five ways.

•	Using the volume control buttons on the display

•	Using the volume control items in Options-menu

•	Using the volume control items in the System tray icon

•	Using the keyboard shortcut ("+" and "-")

•	Using Command-line arguments

VUP	Raise volume one notch

VDN	Lower volume one notch

VMT	Mute radio

VUM	Unmute radio


 Snooze function

You can set FMBox to automatically mute the radio after a certain amount of minutes.

The current status is shown in the display

Keyboard shortcut: "S"


 System tray icon

If you enabled "Minimize to system tray" in the settings dialog, you can control use the system tray icon to control FMBox

•	A single click on the icon mutes the radio

•	Right-clicking on the icon shows you this menu


 Turning off  FMBox

you can close FMBox in a number of ways

•	Click on the "POWER" button in the FMBox window

•	Click on "EXIT in the main "FILE" menu of the main window

•	Click on "EXIT" in the System tray icon

•	Use the Command-line argument DIE


 Alarm function

You can set FMBox to automatically wake up at any time you want.

You can set alarm time and what preset station you want FMBox to use

Use the ALARM button in the main window or the ALARM menu item in options menu

When alarm is active, an "A" is visible in the display

Keyboard shortcut: "A"


 Preset scan

You can cycle through all the preset stations using this feature. FMBox stays 4 seconds on each channel and moves then to the next station up/down. When FMBox has cycled through all the stations it will stop at the station tuned to before preset scan was started.

Right-click  on the "<<" or ">>" button to the right of preset buttons to start preset scan.

Click on the button below "<<" and ">>" to stop the scan.


 Settings dialog

General settings

Preset scan delay

The time, in seconds, that FMBox stays on each preset station when running Preset scan

Minimize to system tray

If this option is selected, FMBox window will be hidden when it is minimized. You can still control FMBox from the System tray icon

Hardware settings

Radio Adapter

Choose your radio adapter from this list

I/O Port address

If you didn't alter any jumper settings when you installed your FM-tuner, this should be set to the default (30c). 20c is the alternative port

Line-in device

FMBox can control volume on either the FM tuner adapter directly or using windows Mixer. Usualy you choose your soundcards line-in device from this list

Tuning

Coarse tuning

Set the unit in MHz to be used when coarse tuning

Fine tuning

Set the unit in MHz to be used when fine tuning

Frequency range 80-130 MHz

Check this box If you want to be able to tune outside the usual FM-band. However, not all adapters can tune in the entire range

Start/Close options

Tune to last station

If checked, FMBox will automatically tune in to the station that was current when last closed

Start minimized

If checked, FMBox will start in minimized mode

Mute audio

If checked, FMBox will automatically mute the audio when closed

Leave in current state

If checked, FMBox will leave the audio as is when closed.

Ask at shutdown

If checked, FMBox will ask whether to mute the audio or leave it on when closed


 Preset buttons

There are 10 preset buttons. you can use the [image] browse buttons in order to see more presets.

•	Click on a button to select a preset station.

•	Right click on a button to display the menu

•	To change the name of the preset station, select "NAME"

•	To remove the preset station, select "CLEAR"

To automatically cycle through the preset stations, click with the right mouse button on the browse buttons (preset scan)

Keyboard shortcut:

Press the numeric keys below the function keys to select corresponding preset

station button (1-10)


 Volume controls

Allows you to control the volume or mute the radio

Right-clicking on the buttons will display a popup menu that allows you ro choose between controling the volue settings of the radio card or Windows mixer

Keyboard shortcut: "+" and "-" to change the volume, "M" to mute the radio. When radio is muted, a "M" is shown in the display


 Tune buttons

Use these buttons to manually tune to a station.

You can also use the automatic scanning feature


 Scan buttons

Use these buttons to automatically scan up or down to the next station


 Sleep button

This button activates and deactivates the Snooze feature

Keyboard shortcut: "S"


 Memory button

This allows you to add a new preset station.


 Alarm button

Activeates/deactivates the alarm

Keyboard shortcut: "A":


 Frequency slider

Using the slider you can quickly tune to a desired frequency. Hold the left button depressed while you drag the slider to change the frequency.

The frequency slider can be toggled on and off in the options menu FMBox window will be automatically resized accordingly. You can also toggle frequency slider by double-clicking on any free space in FMBox window


 Keyboard shortcuts

Numeric keys below function keys

 -  Tune to corresponding preset station

Numeric keys on the right side of your keyboard

-  Tune to a frequency. A dialog box will appear to allow you to type in the frequency

PageUP / PageDown

- Browse through preset stations

"+" and "-" keys

- Adjust voume up/down

"M" Key

- Mute/unmute audio

"A" Key

- Turn the alarm on/off

"S" key

- Turn the Snooze on/off


 Command line arguments

Syntax:  	"fmbox argument1 argument2 argument3"

You can use the following command-line parameters the automate your FMBox operations.

Please note that the parameters are case sensitive. Use only uppercase characters.

  VUM	- Volume up (1 click)	"C:\> fmbox VUM"

  VDN	- Volume down (1 click)	"C:\> fmbox VDN"

  VMT	- Mute	"C:\> fmbox VMT"

  VUM	- Unmute	"C:\> fmbox VUM"

  PRE:XX	- Tune to preset station XX	"C:\> fmbox PRE:3"

  DIE	- Close FMBox	"C:\> fmbox DIE"

You can also combine several arguments on one command line, i.e "C:\fmbox PRE:3 VUP DIE" would tune the radio to the preset channel 3, raise the volume one notch and then close FMBox

(That is the line i use in my System Agent to wake me up each morning)

Note that multiple copies of FMBox are never loaded.  When FMBox is started, it first checkcs if a copy of it is already running. If a previous instance is found, all eventual command-line arguments are passed to the already running copy and the second instance will terminate. This makes it possible to automate your FMBox operations from any scheduler application without loading up multiple copies of FMBox.


 Actions menu

Quick jump

enter the station frequency manually

Minimize

Minimize FMBox window

Volume up	Raises volume on notch

Mute	Mutes radio

Volume down	Lowers colume one notch

Snooze

Activate/Deactivate the Snooze function

Alarm

Activate/deactive the Alarm

Launch MiniFM

Closes FMBox and launches MiniFM, a small application that sits on the system tray and has a subset of FMBox features.

Exit

Click on "Exit" to close FMBox


 Options menu

Settings

Change FMBox settings

Display / Always on top

If checked, causes FMBox window to always be the topmost window.

Display / Minimal window

If checked, shrinks FMBox window so that only the menus and the display are visible.

All keyboard shortcuts are still working

Display / Clock

If checked, shows the current time in the display

Display / Slider

If checked, expands FMBox wndow to show the  frequency slider

Volume Control / Radio card

If checked, uses the radio card hardware to control the volume

Volume Control / Line in

If checked, uses the line-in channel of Windows mixer to control the volume


 Channel menu

Allows you to select one of the preset channels

•


 Help menu

Contents	Shows the help file contents

Search for help on...	Opens the help file search dialog

About	Shows miscellaneous information about FMBox

Register	Runs the registration program


 Restore FMBox window

Restores the FMBox window


 About

Shows miscellaneous information about FMBox 1.0 and allows you to enter your license number you received when registering this program


 Exit

Exits FMBox. You have the option of leaving the radio on.


 Mute

Mutes/unmutes the radio. Current status is indicated on the FMBox display


 The Display

FMbox 1.0 has a display that shows you the current channel, frequency, time and various status inormation. Click on the display for detailed description of each element.


 Frequency

Displays the current frequency the radio is tuned to


 Station name

Shows the descriptive station name. This is assigned when storing new preset stations


 Status

This shows you the current status of FMBox

Blank	Not tuned to a channel

T 	Tuned to a channel

W 	Storing a new station. When you click on a preset button, the current frequency is stored as a preset channel

<	Scanning down

> 	Scaning up


 Mute-indicator

Displays a "M" if the radio is muted


 Snooze-indicator

Displays a "Z" if the Snooze-function is activated


 Clock

Shows the current time. You can hide/unhide the clock form Options/Display menu


 Alarm indicator

Displays a "A" is an alarm is active


 How to register FMBox

This version of FMBox requires a license key in order to remove the reminder messages that appear when you run/close FMBox .

To obtain a license key, please run the registration program and follow the instructions.

After registering, you will be sent a license key by email.

The registration fee of FMBox is only $15 USD

Benefits of registering:

(apart from getting rid of the nag-screens)

•	Registered users receive upgrades for free

•	The shareware concept depends on registered users. Lots of great applications would never have been released without this concept.

•	Registered users have peace of mind!

•	I need the money

•	Additional reasons included in the next version of FMBox


 About FMBox 1.1

I have coded FMBox on my spare time using Delphi 2.0

As i'm not a wealthy man, i appreciate all registrations of this product since it allows me to develop this product even further

License information

How to register

FMBox home page:

http://www.algonet.se/~aarto/fmbox

Author:

Aarto Reponen (aarto@algonet.se)

http://www.algonet.se/~aarto


HelpFmBox

HelpFmBox is a help authoring tool written by Jan Goyvaerts. This help file was created with the unregistered version of HelpFmBox, which is why you can read this ad. Once the author of this help file is so honest to register the shareware he uses, you will not see this ad again in his help files.

Recompiling the help project with the registered version is all it takes to get rid of this ad.

HelpFmBox is a stand-alone help authoring tool. It does not require an expensive word processor. (Only a help compiler as Microsoft likes keeping the .hlp format secret. Not my fault.)

Here are some of HelpFmBox's features:

•	The Setup program will properly install and uninstall HelpFmBox and all of its components, including registry keys.

•	Create, edit and navigate through topics right in the main window. No need to mess with heaps of dialog boxes.

•	All topics are listed in a grid in the main window so you won't lose track in big help projects. You can even set bookmarks.

•	Use the built-in Browse Sequence Editor to easily create browse sequences.

•	Use the built-in Window Editor to change the look of your help window and create secondary windows.

•	Use the built-in Contents Editor to create Windows 95-style contents files. Works a lot better than Microsoft's HCW.

•	No need to mess with Microsoft's SHED: use the built-in SHG Editor to create hotspot bitmaps. Draw your hotspots on the bitmap and pick the topic to link to from the list.

•	With the built-in Macro Editor you can easily compose WinHelp macros whenever needed. It will tell you what the correct parameters are and provide information on them.

•	If you have a problem, just consult the online help. The help file was completely created with HelpFmBox, of course.

•	HelpFmBox is shareware. However, the unregistered version is not crippled in any way. It will only add a small note to your help topics to encourage you to be honest and to register the shareware you use.

These options are very interesting for Delphi developers:

•	If you are a component writer, use the Delphi Parser to build an outline help file for your component. Just fill in the spaces and you are done. (Try it if you do not believe me or just look at the help file you are reading now.)

•	If you are an application writer, HelpFmBox provides you with a property editor for the HelpContext property. You can select the topic you need from a list of topic titles or simply instruct to create a new topic. No need to remember obscure numbers.

•	The property editor also provides a tree view of all the components on your form and their HelpContext properties. This works very intuitively. (Much nicer than those help tools that simply mess with your .dfm files.)

•	HelpFmBox can perform syntax highlighting on any Delphi source code in your help file.

HelpFmBox is shareware, so feel free to grab your copy today from my web site at http://www.tornado.be/~johnfg/