VOGONS


First post, by edlin

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After a long time lurking, I have finally decided to assemble my first retro PC... and here's the ESS ES1868F sound card I just got from eBay (click to enlarge):

front.jpg back.jpg

Here's my first question: can anyone identify this card? I don't see any FCC id, and I don't recognise the symbol in the "one year warranty" sticker. I am particularly curious about the two jumpers on the top-left corner of the card, marked "JP3"...

The only bits of information I have found are about the add-on board labelled "GEMTEK FR-101A": it is a radio module, and it plugs on the two female headers above and below the chip labelled "GemTek FM DECODER 9714". The other side of the module is covered by what looks like an RF shield, so there is nothing interesting to see.

Here is what I have found about the radio module... Does anyone know more?

Last edited by edlin on 2021-02-03, 15:31. Edited 2 times in total.

Reply 1 of 3, by Pierre32

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Curious little card! Looks to be PnP. Some trial and error might be in order to learn what those jumpers do. The positioning is somewhat odd.

As for the antenna, you'll probably get some kind of result just with a length of wire connected to the jack. Maybe even just a pair of earbuds.

Reply 2 of 3, by jmarsh

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edlin wrote on 2021-02-02, 22:18:

The first connector below the game port seems to take a 3.5mm minijack, and it is labelled ANT (antenna?)... But I don't know what kind of antenna I should plug there.

Something similar to this (with the 3.5mm adapter attached): https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/outdoorline-FM-D … PRD2LS787J10JZY

Reply 3 of 3, by edlin

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Pierre32 and jmarsh, thanks for your replies!

Meanwhile I am finding more info about the radio module (e.g., it seems still supported on Linux!). I will update my opening post as I find more.