Controlling and reading a usb radio

[Deron <de...@pa...>]

Hello,

I hope this is an appropriate things to post here. I have an AlertFM usb 
radio that is "windows only" that I want to use on my Ubuntu server. The 
plan is to set it up to listen for EAS warnings on our local radio 
station. (We live a long way from civilization and don't always have the 
TV on). If I can get the audio stream, I can do the rest easy enough 
(I've got that part written and tested using recordings of EAS audio 
messages).

Anyway, I have a windows computer and captured some channel changing 
data using their software, and digging around I found this software 
which actually recommends hidapi for HID devices. No problem, I have 
that installed along with libusb and I think I even have it changing 
channels (one report sets the channel, and another reads back the 
current channel. Still an input report I can't seem to grab which gives 
signal strength data etc, but I could live without that.)

What I don't have now is the audio stream. I'm not very familiar with 
USB, so this is a really basic question, but what do I do to read that 
data? I'm guessing that hidapi won't be able to read that data, and 
somehow need to mix in calls with libusb? I've not had much luck finding 
sample applications for hidapi, and if someone could just nudge me in 
the correct direction I would appreciate it or even basic info on USB 
that would fluff out my knowledge without have to read an encyclopedia 
on USB.

Thanks!

Deron