fm-boost v0.2-2fremantle1

This is a nice hack, and encourage me to poke around in /sys a bit (also some other nifty things in there :P). For that matter, it gives me an excuse to use the phrase "boost the power!" in a serious conversation. Hehe. In regards to the people wondering whether it's harmful, I looked up the FM transmitter's datasheet, and 118 was listed as "typical". Thus, while it may be lowered by Nokia for regulatory reasons, etc., I doubt that it is problematic for the N900. Obviously I don't know this as fact (not being on the N900 design team), but I wouldn't lose sleep over it. @Radu Capitanu: Woah, calm down there. First of all, this "app" is a one liner shell script, which fiddles with a value in the i2c driver for the FM chip. What this means is that it isn't messing with desktop or applications at all, but is dealing directly with a fairly low-level abstraction of the hardware. For that reason, I find it a bit hard to believe your claims. If you're seriously concerned, please post a rational discussion in the forums.

My verbose description is repeatedly erased by whatever automated script created and maintains this page.

Here it is, for the next time it is erased above:

Simple, small script to boost the strength of the N900's FM transmitter to the device's limit of 118. Choose the FM Boost icon after starting the FM transmitter to boost the signal. If the device is connected to a charging cable, the script will have to be run again.

The effects of this script are temporary, and there are no known adverse effects.

Hi Viliam, no worries on the question. No one should simply believe online comments without doing a bit of their own research... ;)

Some links to verify my earlier statements: -Related Bug Report https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=6792 -Talk page for related project: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=41859&highlight=boost -Very long forum discussion on the topic: http://forums.internettablettalk.com/showthread.php?t=38582 -Nokia's standalone FM transmitter (note the regulatory comments in the transmitter specs) http://www.nokia-asia.com/find-products/accessories/all-accessories/car-solutions/car-accessories/nokia-fm-transmitter-ca-300/technical-specifications

Note that levels higher than 118 can be used, but the hardware will not recognize anything higher than 118 (I believe 112 or 113 is default). The fact that the hardware has been given an upper limit that is quite close to the default limit makes it reasonable to assume that the hardware manufacturers are not aware of any problems at this level.

Now can I guarantee there will be no downsides to this? No. As mentioned before, battery life will likely be shortened, and anything that increases EMF interference may reduce other signal strengths (3G, etc.). But in terms of damaging your phone, there appears to be minimal risk.

(Disclaimer: do your own research if you have additional concerns. I do not represent Nokia.)

@Tanner Helland

I'm sorry would you care to include some references/reasons as to why this might be the case(i.e. not just speculations about Nokia and EU laws)? Or maybe your qualifications/expertise level to give your statement some credibility? I'm not trying to demoralize you I'm just trying to establish whether this is an opinion I (and other) can believe.

Wow, immensely useful little app. I can finally get decent FM reception in all of my vehicles! Thanks!

Suggestion: as others have noted, it would be nice if it noticed frequency changes automatically.

Long-term use: there is unlikely to be any long-term negative consequences for the phone as far as boosting FM transmission strength is concerned. Nokia likely waters down the native transmission strength due to the complex legal issues regarding FM transmission (particularly in Europe, though other countries have similar problems - see http://www.nprlabs.org/reports/FMModulatorUsage.pdf for example). About the only potential negative of this add-on is reduced battery life (a fair trade-off for quality reception, IMO).

Reply to Emanuele Cassioli.

Yes I know about Media Player widget. I posted that bug. As I sayd before the Fm Boost app affect media Player and other widget. Without the app instaled all it's fine. I use only subtitle support and zip add-on from extras-devel. The rest of my apps are from maemo and ovi.

Offtopic. I will try to flash my phone using maemo flasher. This will turn him back to the factory settings? If so I will do it and then I will test again Fm Booster. Thanks!

Like others, are there any implications to raising this limit ? Or something that says it's OK to do so (it's a valid knob to turn, but Nokia didn't expose it for user experience reasons for instance) ?

Also, it would be nice if it could notice the frequency change and reset the power itself.

Media player widget play button bug is a known problem and it's not related to FM Boost. Don't know about other widgets disappearing, but I haven't encountered this bug, neither all the other testers in Extras-Testing, so maybe is your fault (some other app from Devel maybe?).

However, great app, the only defect is that you have to launch it every time you change the frequency you are transmitting on.

PLEASE DO NOT INSTALL! PLEASE REMOVE IT FROM HERE! It should be still in Extras_Devel repository. This application f*** up all my desktop widgets(all disappeared)and makes media player widget play button not to work! How it's possible to post here such a buggy app? After removing all it's back to normal!

I too would like to know if there are any potential adverse long term effects on the FM TX?

You can find the FM transmitter option on the menu of media player app while playing music.

Works fine, gives the extra boost to help the signal break through my car roof, up to the antenna!

Do you have any idea if this stresses the FM transmitter, or is it still used "within the limits"?

can you please tell me how to use the FM transmitter, iknow it's a good app. but i don't know how to use it thanks in advance

FMTX = FM Transmitter