Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

So after the PR1.2 firmware, my n900 is not letting me use the fm transmitter while charging in the car. it shows a message as soon as i connect the usb charger saying "Unplug USB to continue using fm transmitter"

I am guessing that this is a choice made by Nokia because the USB cable acts as an antenna and amplifies the signal (which is what i need). in addition to amplifying the signal, I want to charge my phone at the same time.

The Question: is there any way to hack/modify something on the phone to allow fm transmitter and USB at the same time??

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

hm.. my unit run fm transmitter when charging connected either to wall socket charger or car charger (with attached jack-usb adapter). before and after 1.2 upgrade. the only (and annoying) issue is a noise heared in fm radio and cb radio. didn't researched yet is this noise propagated by radio waves or power supply cables

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

II have no problem with mine, despite the annoying while charging it interference with with the FM transmittion. It causing the FM to lose it's strength.

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

I think if you download and use the FM-Boost script it will help... IIRC.

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

Charging the N900 causes interference with the FM transmitter, s there is no point in using it while charging anyway.

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

I sometimes get a similar error, but only on my car charger, and I'm pretty sure it's because my car charger sucks. Haven't tested my wall charger.

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

There absolutely is a point to charge while using the transmitter.

Mine is playing over FM right now while charging.

Plug in charger. Start FM-Boost widget/script. Play music.

Works great!

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

mine works plugged in to wall.

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

I've never noticed any difference in listening to the N900 via the FM transmitter while charging or not. If you get some noise in the music, try to change stations. Works for me!

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

I'm still on pr1.1 , I can't use the fm transmitter while using the nokia car charger due to noise generated.

Need to get a filter in there somewhere.
As to why this is a big deal, I wanna use pandora or listen to mp3s on a road trip. Pretend you are a trucker, how would you feel then?

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

It is not noise so much as it is an actual reduction of transmit power when anything USB is plugged in. >> Check it out <<

Transmit power OEM is at about 114 on a scale from 0 to 120. When the charger or USB cable is plugged in it drops to as low as 88. Hence the noise that is always there becomes more prevalent (signal to noise ratio and what have you).

To Boost the transmit power to 118 (120 seems to degrade in quality after about an hours use) use the FM-Boost app that can now be found in extras >> HERE <<

That thread I first linked to above is where the FM-Boost applet was actually developed using input from various members from around the world.

(Shhhh! Don't tell anyone but this forum actually does get things done when the nay sayers, ne'er do wells, malcontents, and run of the mill anus weasels are kept at bay. :D )

Regard, even when FM-Boost and Media player are already activated plugging in a USB cable will still cause a drop in power. Simply reactivate FM-Boost after plugging in or changing the FM frequency and you will be rockin' once again @ full tilt boogie (118).

For more advanced users you can follow along as a more pervasive method is being developed by qwerty12 in >> THIS << thread.

But please leave any anus weasles at the door when you come in. :)

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

I get the same thing. If I try to use the FM while charging it pops up a yellow message in the middle of the screen that says

Unable to use FM transmitter while USB is connected.
Unplug USB to continue using the FM transmitter.

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

Are you using a Nokia OEM charger or a generic one?

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

So far only tried it with the USB cable connected to my computer, have not tested it yet with a wall charger.

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

I too get the same error with 1A car charger bought from ebay. Why is n900 thinking a usb is connected when it is infact the charger. any way to make it think that there is no usb connected?

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

i have the nokia dc10 charger and have no problems using fm transmitter while charging pr1.2. i did have the nokia dc6 charger on pr1.1 and again had to problems. both were oem.
mark.

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

when i connect the charger and then start fm it gives error that that usb is connected. however when i have fm trans running then plugin in the charger it does not give an error. may be something wrong is going on when charger is connected and then the fm trans is switched on.

can you confirm?

in case you experience the issue, confirm in this bug. https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=6792

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

Thanks guys for the replies. Just recently, it started working again. So now the FM transmitter works while charging using the wall and the car chargers. I have no idea how it happened, but it just started working like before. The PC usb cable still doesn't allow to use the FM transmitter though, but that's ok.

mehulrajput, as I said, for me the transmitter doesn't work just with the PC usb cable, and when I try to do what you said ( fm trans running then plugin in the charger), it gives me a message saying that I should unplug the usb to use the transmitter. So I don't experience your bug.

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

From a very vague memory I have, some chargers don't work (non-OEM) because there is a chance the poor build quality will result in the charger acting as an antenna to boost the power of the FM transmitter to levels that are considered illegal in some countries... (re: requiring a broadcast license)

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

For the record, FM-boost worked wonders for me, I highly recommend it for anyone experiencing quality issues with the FM transmitter.

I was able to use a third party car charger while playing FLACs with a level of clarity unexpected for an FM transmitter.

I'm all for boosting the power levels, illegal or not - I can assure you that my mp3 collection is better than almost all the crap they play over the radio anyway, as far as I'm concerned broadcasting it would be a public service! ;-)

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

OK.. so here is what i did, and now it seems to be working perfectly fine, even with the charger connected i can switch on and off at any time.. no issues.

just follow this thread http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=60567

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

i get the same problem... for some reason if i plug in my car charger 1st, th transmitter will noy work. but if i start the transmitter 1st and then plug in the charger, i have no problem..

i also have another similar problem im curious to know if anybody else is experiencing... many times i'll connect a usb cable to the n900 (whether it may be the wall charger, data cable, or car charger) and i know the fm transmitter will not work. but many times, i will unplug the cable and i still get the same error message... it would be as if the cable was still connected. the only way to fix this would be to reboot, which can be inconvenient..
im just wondering if this is a bug, hopefully with a fix, or if theres something i do wrong...

Re: Any way to modify the n900 to allow FM transmitter while charging?
 

^ What he said :D
You got here before me lol.
Or click on my signature below.