                    FM Player for Tekram TV-Tuners
                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. What the @!$# is this?
This program turns your Tekram TV-tuner into your Tekram FM-tuner.

2. Is any tampering with hardware required?
No.

3. What do i need to run it?
 a) x86 based computer;
 a) Tekram M230/250 TV Tuner (may work with others - see note below);
 b) Windows 95/98;
 c) TV tuner Video player software installed and working properly.
 Note: Program will [hopefully] work with any Tekram TV-tuner that
       provides int 65h interface via vxd (v230d.vxd for my tuner)
       Alternatively, you may run it under DOS with my hardware
       interface driver (read on).

4. How do i make it work?
 I.Under Win95/98:
  a) launch fmplay.exe - you will see a menu with channel buttons;
     if you don't see the menu and it throws at you something like `cannot
     initialize', then you probably have some hardware/software problems.
  b) press `S' to tune the highlighted channel to your local FM station;
     use mouse and/or cursor keys and TAB button to navigave, Enter to
     save settings for the selected channel, ESC-cancel.
     Note: program is pre-tuned to my local fm-stations, i doubt, however,
     that it will do you any good, unless you live in Poltava or somewhere
     else in Ukraine.
  c) enjoy.
 II.Under DOS:
  a) make sure you have VCPI server such as EMM386/QEMM running
  a) run tuner.com - it should say "installed."
  b) go to step I.a)

Note: Program WILL CRASH if tuner VxD / tuner.com is not installed.
~~~~  The reason for that is that there's no easy and reliable way
      to check if API is installed from V86 other than call int 65h,
      since this vector is handled by V86 PM Monitor, hence
      [dword ptr 0:65h*4] is inadequate. Yeah, i could switch
      to PM and trace it in IDT, but i don't feel like it.

5. How does it work?
It uses Tekram's native VxD's int 65h API when running under win95;
under DOS pseudo-resident driver tuner.com emulates API. Tuner.com
does not take up ANY conventional memory, nor does it use UMBs/HMAs.
It installs itself into a 4K page of extended memory requested from
VCPI server. Driver has been tested and found compatible with
EMM386.EXE (version that ships with win95/98 - didn't test on others)
and QEMM'97.
VCPI servers from other vendors might not be compatible (386MAX, for
instance) because of VCPI protocol implementation differences.
The common rule is: VCPI server MUST allow reading CR3 in V86, and
the value read MUST contain physical address pointing to valid page
table catalog, in which the first page maps current v86 address space;
linear address mappings for the 1st Meg must be identical to physical
addresses.

6. Is it safe to use it?
I don't know. I don't have any technical documentation on the hardware;
this program is a result of my own research. It works for me, but it may
not work for you - who knows? I do, however, disclaim all liability,
etc., etc... In other words, don't blame me if anything blows up while
you use or misuse this program.

7. What may i do with the program?
This program is freeware, you may do whatever you want with it.
(If Tekram doesn't object -- i asked them but never got an answer)

8. Additional features.
Program may as well be used to fine-tune TV or FM channels and/or do
manual scan for channels not detected by VideoPlayer's AutoScan.
Frequency code that appears in the `Setup channel' dialog box
is a 32-bit unsigned int that may be used in VideoPlayer's
channel.dat file.

9. How do i contact the author?
  mailto:gunky9@geocities.com, put `FM player' in the subject line.
  Bug reports/comments are welcome.

