This is a project for Arduino and Raspberry Pi to make an Internet Radio, aimed at intermediate skill level. Some familiarity with Linux usage will be beneficial (or access to someone who can help out if required).
Raspberry Pi runs mpd music player daemon to receive and decode the internet radio stream.
ALSA running on the Raspberry Pi provides the sound through either the Jack Socket or the HDMI output.
Arduino runs a nanpy interface code to interface with Python, providing Text output of the Radio Station playing and Button inputs to control Playback.
Objectives:
- Learn how to use the mpd/mpc on the Raspberry Pi
- Learn how to use the nanpy library for Python to interface the Pi to the Arduino
- Make a Cool Internet Radio
Step 1: You Will Need
You will need:
- Arduino UNO
- LCD / Keyboard Shield e.g. (http://goo.gl/XAhvx)
- Raspberry Pi
- USB and Ethernet cables
Step 2: Install the Required Packages for mpd/mpc
$ sudo apt-get update2. Install the mpd / mpc packages
$ sudo apt-get install mpc mpd
This installs the Music Player Daemon (mpd) and it’s client mpc.
You use the mpc client to configure mpd to add radio streams to the playlist, start and stop the player etc.
Step 3: Install the Required Packages for Python-nanpy
To do that, we need to install the nanpy library for Python and the nanpy firmware for Arduino.1. Install Arduino packages to build the nanpy firmware for Arduino
$ apt-get install arduino2. Get the nanpy library for Python and extract
from /home/pi
$ wget http://pypi.python.org/packages/source/n/nanpy/nanpy-v0.7.tar.gz
$ tar xvf nanpy-v0.7.tar.gz
3. Get setuptools for Python (a dependancy for nanpy) and extract
$ wget http://pypi.python.org/packages/source/s/setuptools/setuptools-0.6c11.tar.gz#md5=7df2a529a074f613b509fb44feefe74e
$ tar xvf setuptools-0.6c11.tar.gz
4. Get pyserial for Python (a dependancy for nanpy) and extract
$ wget http://pypi.python.org/packages/source/p/pyserial/pyserial-2.6.tar.gz
$ tar xvf pyserial-2.6.tar.gz
5. Go to the setuptools directory and install Python setuptools
$ cd setuptools-0.6c11
$ sudo python setup.py install
6. Go to the nanpy directory and install the Python nanpy library
$ cd ../nanpy
$ sudo python setup.py install
7. Go to the serial directory and install the Python serial library
$ cd ../pyserial-2.6
$ sudo python setup.py install
Now we’ve got the files we need let’s put the nanpy firmware on the Arduino.
Step 4: Put the nanpy Firmware on the Arduino
nanpy allows a Python program runing on the raspberry Pi to operate the Arduino using conventional Arduino-Sketch syntax e.g. the Python program to read an analogue input from Arduino might read:
int val = Arduino.analogRead(14)
nanpy has two components:
i) a library for Python that allows Arduino commands to be written in a familiar syntax and communicate with Arduino;
ii) firmware that runs on Arduino, communicating with Python on the Pi
We installed the Python part of nanpy, and downloaded the Arduino part of nanpy on the Pi in the last step.
Now we need to upload the nanpy firmware to Arduino.
Plug Arduino into the USB of the Raspberry Pi.
1. Go to the nanpy firmware directory and upload to Arduino
$ cd ../nanpy/firmware
$ export BOARD=uno
$ make
$ make upload
If you get a report that the device is not found on /dev/ttyACM0 , plug the Arduino into the other USB port.
Step 5: Add Radio Streams to mpd
The mpd music player daemon is controlled and configerd by its client, mpc.
Let’s add our first Radio Stream and get some music playing.
“Radio Paradise” is the first station we’ll add to get us off to a funky-retro start. To do that we use mpc add as follows:
$ cd
$ mpc add http://stream-sd.radioparadise.com:8056
and to play it:
$ mpc play 1
You should now hear Radio Paradise from the Pi and see on the Terminal Window that the station is playing. If you don’t hear anything try plugging a speaker or headphones into the Jack Socket.
Congratulations!!
Type mpc help to see other options available to you with mpc.
Other suggested radio streams are:
- RTE radio 1: $ mpc add http://icecast2.rte.ie/ieradio1
- Monkey Radio: $ mpc add http://76.73.3.245:6969
- The Smooth Lounge: $ mpc add http://listen.radionomy.com/the-smooth-lounge
- Radio Nova: $ mpc add http://radionova128.media.vistatec.ie:80
- Newstalk: $ mpc add http://newstalk.fmstreams.com:8080
Step 6: Python Program
To do that we need to write a Python Program running on the Pi that controls the Arduino.
Using nano or your favourite editor enter the following Python code.
Once entered and saved as radio.py , type
$ python radio. py &
You should now be able to control playback and station selection from the buttons on the Pi and see the selected station on the LCD.
Enjoy!!
import os
from nanpy import Arduino, Lcd
Arduino.pinMode(14, input)
lcd = Lcd([8,9,4,5,6,7],[16,2]) # Setup the LCD pins for the Sainsmart Shield
max_trax = 6 # It would be much better to determine this value from an mpc command
def getKey(): # Function to Translate the analogRead values from the Keys to a Command
val = Arduino.analogRead(14)
if val == 1023:
return “NONE”
elif val < 100:
return “RIGHT”
elif val < 150:
return “UP”
elif val < 330:
return “DOWN”
elif val < 510:
return “LEFT”
elif val < 750:
return “SEL”
else:
return “KBD_FAULT”
def getTrack():
L= [S.strip(‘\n’) for S in os.popen(‘mpc’).readlines()] # Get the Track info from the stdout of the mpc command
station = L[0][0:15] # Pick out the Station and Track info
track = L[0][-16:-1]
lcd.printString(16*” “, 0, 0) # Send it out to the LCD Display
lcd.printString(station, 0, 0)
lcd.printString(16*” “, 0, 1)
lcd.printString(track, 0, 1)
print L
print station
print track
track_num = 1 # Start off on Track number 1
os.system(“mpc play “+str(track_num)) # Tell the OS to Play it
getTrack() # Send the Track info to the LCD
while True:
key = getKey() # Do something if a key was pressed
if key == “RIGHT”:
track_num += 1
if track_num > max_trax:
track_num = max_trax
os.system(“mpc play ” + str(track_num))
getTrack()
elif key == “LEFT”:
track_num -= 1
if track_num < 1:
track_num = 1
os.system(“mpc play ” + str(track_num))
getTrack()
elif key == “SEL”:
os.system(“mpc toggle”)
getTrack()
