NOTE: The most recent updates are at the top.
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Top 2004/09/30 PM - Back to work

All of the parts [mentioned below] came in.

The IDE cable is slightly complicate...or rather, I am making it slightly complicated.
I think I have mentioned this before, but the C-134 Travla case is very cramped for airflow space.
So, to make my [below] long story short, I want to use the smaller 44-pin connectors as much as possible.

The "Primary IDE" socket on the MoBo is an IDC40 40-pin female socket.
So, my IDE cable has to start out with an IDC40 40-pin female connector.

My original plan was to make a custom length 40-pin IDE cable that has no wasted slack.
At each of the drives connectors I would tag on a 40-to-44-pin ribbon extension.

As I started to write this journal to explain things (mostly to myself) I realized an even simpler solution:

  • Build one very short 40-to-44-pin extension that connects to the motherboard.
    Female end connects to motherboard.
    Male end is available to connect custom length 44-pin cable to.
  • Just run a custom length 44-pin wire to both hard drives!

The 44-pin wire is much more compact/dense and results in better air flow.
And, I only have to run a single power connector to the short 40-to-44-pin ribbon extension.

So, I am placing yet another order for IDE cable parts at...

 

Top 2004/09/21 AM - Bought equipment so that it will arrive when I get back

I bought quite a bit of relatively inexpensive stuff Monday night:

  • IDE cables and parts that I can build the 40-pin to 44-pin Master/Slave cable with.
  • Canceled 1GB CF and repurchased it somewhere else cheaper.
    Got it for $96 after $30 mail in rebate.
  • D-Link DI-624 and DWF-G820 802.11g 108Mbps WiFi.
    DI-624 was $49 after $30 rebate, and DWF-G820 was $79.
    I have heard a few bad things about these devices, but I'm gonna give them a try anyways.
    I want 802.11g because 802.11b is too slow to copy MP3s over!
    I would rather tote a USB 2.0 Hard Drive out to my car than use 802.11b.

Hopefully this stuff will make it here by the time I am back from vacation.
No more updates until then...unless I get impulsive...which is highly likely...
 

Top 2004/09/20 PM - Preparing for CF install (after I get back from vacation on 9/28)

The CFIDE adapter came in from the UK...it took 2 days (going through Paris).
Two complaints:

  1. The shipping was outrageous (but boy did it get here fast)
  2. The CF housing and eject button are a flimsy plastic; I wonder how long it will last

I'm in a tiny predicament with the CF IDE cable, but I think I can easily solve this.

Usually, when I run in to problems I tend to see two ways to solve them:

  1. The way most everyone else in the world *would* solve the problem.
  2. The way I *want* to solve the problem (which usually is "the hard way").

Example: Powering the PC

  1. The vast majority of people with CarPCs probably just resort to using an AC power inverter.
    YUCK!
  2. I wanted to power my car w/ pure DC voltage...because it's the right/smart thing to do.
    This was undeniably difficult (back in early/mid 2003), but it was the right/better way to do things.

My whole CarPC project is full of these types of issues.
Hell, the concept of a CarPC itself *is* this type of issue! :)

So, my current "predicament" is...

I need to Master/Slave the hard-drive and CFIDE adapter.

Immediately the first question is: which is Master and which is Slave?
Since I am not [currently] using the CFIDE to boot, the hard-drive should be the Master.
(This will change if I ever decide to boot from CF)

Second question is: how to run the cable?
Because space and airflow is at a premium, the optimal "shortest-path" of the IDE cable is:

40-pin MOBO -> 44-pin HD -> 44-pin or 40-pin CFIDE

Otherwise, the IDE cable has to come out of the case to the CFIDE, and then back in to the HD.

The MOBO has a 40-pin header.
The HD has a 44-pin header.
The CFIDE accepts either 40-pin or 44-pin.

Now I get to the actual predicament:

I *want* to use the 44-pin connectors on both devices (the HD and the CFIDE).

They are smaller *and* carry power on them; Two bonuses!
More airflow and I don't have to run power to two separate devices.
The 40-pin connectors are definitively less desirable [in my eyes].

So, I need a 40-pin MOBO to 44-pin Master/Slave IDE cable.
Problem is, no one makes/sells this kind of cable!
This is the closest thing I can find:
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/cablesonline/182dr44la40d.html

This cable would actually work OK if the 44-pin connector was the middle connector.
The middle connector MUST be 44-pins.
Not 100% true; I *can* put in a 40-pin to 44-pin converter, but that is also "less desirable".
Not having a 44-pin middle connector makes having the 44-pin connector at the tip seem almost insulting.

*My* way would be to build a 40-pin to 44-pin Master/Slave IDE cable.
*My* way makes sense, but requires that I build the cable myself.

Most of the rest of the world would solve the problem this way:

Just use a standard 40-pin Master/Slave IDE cable.
Put a 40-pin to 44-pin adapter on the HD and separately run power to it.
(http://shop.store.yahoo.com/cablesonline/25hdmounkitw.html)
Put the 40-pin connector on the CFIDE and separately run power to it.

Fooey!  I hate it when I am right, but the rest of the world makes more sense! :)

[...1 hour later...]

Thinking about this more, I've decided just to do things my way and build the right kind of cable.
Jeeze!  It's just an IDE cable!  It won't be *that* expensive!

My final reasoning is this:
The 40-pin to 44-pin adapter comes with a large power connector.
I don't have one of these in my case (airflow space in the C134/Travla is at a premium).
So, I would have to either also get a power cable adapter or cut the connector off and wire a small one on.
Adding more cables is the last thing I want to do.
And, if I have to cut and solder something then I might as well just build the entire cable.
It'll probably be easier to build (no soldering).  It is just an IDE cable!
Building a 40-pin to 44-pin Master/Slave cable is the optimal solution, so that is what I will do; call me crazy.

I will be getting my parts from here:
http://cablesonline.net/ribboncables.html
 

Top 2004/09/15 PM - CompactFlash stuff on its way

Well, I did it.
I broke down and paid $45 international shipping for a $35 CF-IDE adapter.
Here is what I bought:

Click image to purchase
CF2IDE Adapter + 1GB 80x (12MB/sec) CF Card
$35 + $96

I could have bought the following CF2IDE adapter locally from the US for $25 + shipping:

Notice that the $35 CF2IDE adapter that I bought is almost exactly the width of the IDE controller.
The $25 is a tiny bit wider.
I cannot believe that I think this width difference is worth $55, but I've wasted enough money on this project, so what's $55 more? :)
I convince myself this is acceptable by saying: "It was really only $10 more...(+ $45 shipping)"
I looked exhaustively for a cheaper/domestic version, but I could only find this outside the US and thus MUST pay international shipping.
$45 is a rip off...but that *IS* international priority shipping! :(
 

Top 2004/09/15 AM - CompactFlash enhancements

Now that the stereo is mostly completed (all except for sealing the 6.5" mids/rears) I am going to concentrate on enhancing my CarPC with CompactFlash hibernation and/or boot.
Presentation and looks are very important to me.
I want the CF card to mount vertically right beside the computer, like this...

There is one small problem...

The reason I am enhancing my computer with CompactFlash is so that it can hibernate and/or boot faster.
To do this requires a CF-to-IDE Adapter, NOT a USB CF reader!
These CF-to-IDE Adapters are NOT hot-swapable.
That is, you cannot remove the CF card while the computer is running.
It would be the exact same problem of removing your IDE hard drive while your computer is running.
The system will lock up and have unpredictable results.

So, presenting the CF card this way invites people to remove it.
It is not a HUGE deal, but I would like for this to not be an issue.
It would be nice if they made CF adapters that locked the media in place!

Also, to put a CF reader where I want requires a very narrow width CF adapter.
These definitely exist, but most of them are either not yet available, or are not sold in the US.
To buy one would cost me more in shipping than the device itself (ex: $45 shipping from mini-itx.com).
I prefer to avoid getting gouged by shipping if at all possible.

The adapter should also support power via the IDE 44-pin cable (so that I don't have to run a 2nd cable).

Here are most of my CF adapter options:

Again, most of these are not available in the US, or at all [yet].
Australia and UK seem to be the most popular places to buy these small/narrow ones from.
 

Top 2004/09/14 PM - Sub/Speaker Update and Site Maintenance

This weekend I moved some of the hardware around on my home systems.
I wanted to build a "gaming" machine that I can take to LAN parties without taking swooby.com down.
I had a 1.4GHz P4 CPU and Intel motherboard (w/ integrated video) laying around for nearly a year now.
So, I downgraded my web server from a 2.24GHz 120+80GB w/ GeForce4 Ti4600 to a 1.4GHz 80GB w/ integrated video.
This gave me a 2.24GHz, 120GB hard-drive and GeForce4 Ti4600 to build the game system with.
Swapping the hard-drives was the most time consuming part.

That's why you have had problems accessing this site over the weekend.

Sound Update:
The Sub sounds awesome.
At first I was hearing a noticeable amount of distortion at full volume.
I first thought this was coming from the Sub, but a quick investigation showed it was coming from the 6.5" rear/mids.
The sound fine up to about 95% volume, but beyond that they start to distort pretty bad.
They are "free-air" and have to tuned enclosure.
Their technical manual says "While the speakers do not require a sealed enclosure for optimum performance, it is important to isolate the sound coming off the front of the driver from the sound radiating from the back of the driver."
The "Graphs" page shows that they are running then in a 0.5ft^3 sealed enclosure.
Free-Air capable or not, a sealed enclosure would be the best way to set them up, so that is what I am going to do.
Sealing their housing should be pretty easy, but I will have to take part of my interior apart again! :(

Until then, the Pioneer DEQ-9200's active crossovers allows me to easily disabled the rear/mids.
When I do this, I can turn the system up to full volume and I get a very tight sound with no noticeable distortion.
I did tune the front component speakers down -4db so that they are not so overpowering...I like lots of tight bass.
 

Top 2004/09/11 AM - Full Spectrum Sound

Whew!  At last!  After over a year without Full Spectrum Sound, I finally have it again.

The Subwoofer fits like a glove, and it sounds like a recording studio!

All of my hard work has finally paid off; I'm going to bed.
 

Top 2004/09/09 - BOOM!  Not a half bad birthday present (even if I gave it to myself)!


Infinity Kappa Perfect 10.1 Subwoofer (10")
Custom 0.664ft^3 Enclosure

Now, the question is: Will it fit? :)

Friday I will spray paint the front [black] and then I will install it and see if it fits!
 

Top 2004/08/29 PM - Sub Enclosure v2.0

0.664 Cubic Feet
This should fit a decent 10" subwoofer.
 

Top 2004/08/22 PM - Sub enclosure coming along nicely


I will post dimensions once I get it complete.
I expected to make mistakes on the first version and so I plan to build a better second version.
I am going for something like this:
-or-
A 10" woofer with a sealed enclosure is probably only possible with fiberglass.
I might try a 10" (or 12"? :)) woofer facing straight down instead of out.
I don't know why people insist that the woofer cone point out and be visible.
Home stereo sub-woofers use face-down cones all of the time!
Something like this:

Yes, I realize I will need to tune the dynamics; I will deal with this after I have the enclosure built.

I might "paint" a fake subwoofer on the face-out side! :)
 

Top 2004/08/19 PM - Typical me; I start TWO major projects! :)

I am making decent progress in the Subwoofer project.
I'm not a specific timeline, so I have no goal date to complete the project.
I am just taking things one step at a time.
I have started drafting a CAD model of the subwoofer enclosure that would go behind the driver's seat.
As the model nears completion I will post it here.

The other project I am working on is this:
http://www.swooby.com/z/radar/dissection.htm
My goal is to determine how possible it is to decipher the communications that are going to/from the head/display unit over the RJ11 cable.
If I determine that it is possible to decipher these then I will look in to building an RJ11 to USB/Serial/Parallel device that will allow my PC to read what is being sent to the head unit.
This would integrate the radar detector in to my PC that is connected to the internet.

A radar detector connected to a PC and the internet; the possibilities are...interesting. <evil grin> :)
 

Top 2004/08/15 PM - Sub sub sub sub... (sung to the tune of Monty Python's "spam" song)

Ah, the last major hardware task that I have been putting off: The Subwoofer

As much time and energy as it will take [me] to do what I want to do, I may just settle for one of these:

You have to ask several questions when thinking about your sub solution:

  • Do you want to keep the look "stock"
  • Do you want to keep the spare tire?

My answer is "yes" to both (I am impossible to satisfy)

Here are some nice sub installs:
(sorry, but you will have to subscribe to my350z.com to read these)

Lots more subs can be seen in this thread: http://www.my350z.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=18952
The images are broken; you will have to follow the links to see the images.

I have boiled my decision down to one of these three styles:

  • (I would tighten up the enclosure size a bit)

Now I need to pick one and design my slight mods to it...
 

Top 2004/08/14 PM - Washed and waxed and detailed my baby!

Spent over 4 hours on the car cleaning her up nice!
I didn't even get around to the polish!
She was real dirty!
In fact, she was so dirty that I may just wash and wax her a 2nd time tomorrow before I polish her.

I also fixed a problem I had with my trunk not raising automatically.
 

Top 2004/08/10 PM - I wish this had been out last year...

2DINs of heaven!
That 1DIN computer looks saweeeeeet!

Can't wait for them to come to market so that I can get more info on them.

Thanks to Dan Munro-Lynch, a co-worker, for the pointers!
 

Top 2004/08/09 PM - Don't mistake this to mean that I am done w/ my car!

Hell no!  I'm really only just getting started! :)
See my 2004/07/10 entry for the projects that I still have lined up.

My next biggest project is the stereo; I still have never set it up correctly.
This is what I want (maximize the use of my speakers' ranges):

  • Fronts: 38Hz to 32KHz (Full Range)
  • Rears: 30Hz to 500Hz (Mid Range)
  • Sub: 20Hz to 100Hz (Low Range)

This is what I have (due to the equipment that I use):

  • Fronts: 2.5KHz to 32KHz (effectively wasting the 6.5" cones)
  • Rears: 50Hz to 2.5KHz (way outside of the intended range of these speakers)
  • Sub: none

The reason for this horrible setup is that the DEQ-9200 has to operate in one of two modes:

  1. DSP
    This segments your 3 speaker groups in to Front, Rear, and Sub
    You have an optional high-pass filter on the Front and Rear, and a low-pass filter on the Sub
  2. Pro - what I am currently using
    This segments your 3 speaker groups in to Low, Mid, and High
    You have a mandatory low-pass filter on the Sub, mid-pass on the Mid, and high-pass on the High
    There are a several other cool options that make Pro worth highly desirable, the coolest of which is the ability to set the driver and passenger listening/ear positions down to the 1/2 inch!

The Pro mode is highly preferred, but it absolutely will not let the high-pass filter be less than 2.5Khz!!!
Again, this effectively removes the 6.5" cone from my two-way speakers.
The DSP mode is less preferred, but it will let me set the front and rear high-pass filters very low.
And, my amp will let me set a rear low-pass filter...
...but only up to 200Hz; not up to 500Hz like I want!
So, in DSP mode I cannot optimally use the 200Hz to 500Hz range of the 6.5" mid-ranges...the exact range where these puppies shine!

And then, yes, I have no sub! :(

By writing the above entry I have basically convinced myself to put my DEQ back in to DSP mode and set the Front and Rear high-pass filters to a low value.
Then I would need to find/make a low-pass filter of 500Hz for the Rears (active or passive, I'm starting not to care any more).
While I am doing this I will also be specing and building a sub enclosure.

I really liked the DEQ's pro mode, but for my setup it just doesn't make sense. :(

And oh yeah, I don't plan for any of this to require me to take my car apart again! :)
 

Top 2004/08/08 PM - After nearly 9 months, my car is finally back together!

This is monumental!

I *HATE* putting the car back together because Murphy's Law says that as soon as I do I will find some reason to take it back apart!
Taking the car apart is a pain, and every time I do I weaken the connectors that hold the panels in place.

Thus, is it monumental when I decide that it is time for my car to be reassembled.
This means that I am done with all foreseeable tasks [that would require taking the car apart]!

To be honest, I bet I have been riding around with my car torn up for *MORE* than 9 months!
I've had the back panels out so long that I forgot when I last took them out.
I think it was last December that I removed these panels, but something tells me they were removed long before that.

I have worked on several tasks since December, but the last tasks that have been delaying the reassembly of the car are:

  1. I wanted to put a cooling fan above the computer to reduce the chances of it overheating on hot days.
    Last summer when I drove around on warm days I noticed that the case's front face plate was hot...VERY hot!
    Not enough to destroy the system, but ever since I noticed this I have wanted to remedy it.
    There should be enough empty air space in the body panels to allow an effective cooling fan.
    To install the fan I would need to dremmel out a square for it...
    ...and I just knew my cordless dremmel would never handle this task.
    Today I was going through my parts bin and I found a super-duper nice variable cooling fan.
    That and today's nice/hot weather was enough to set me in motion.
    I broke down and bought a corded dremmel and wore through 7 metal cutting blades!
    It would have taken me several days of recharging to do that with my cordless.
    I set it up so that I can adjust the fan speed without having to remove the computer.
    I'll have to see if the fan is audible...or if it does anything for the heat.
  2. I wanted to move the power distribution blocks to the other side of the car.
    The distribution blocks were directly underneath the computer (on the passenger's side).
    To get to them I would have to remove the computer...and this bothered me for some reason.
    It definitely makes more sense to locate the blocks underneath the "mailbox" cubby (on the driver's side).
    This makes it very easy to access the blocks without the need to remove any equipment.
    To do this I would need to buy a few feet of 4AWG wire, and I hate the thought of paying >$2.00/ft for simple wire.
    I gave up trying find some free wire, so I broke down and bought 6ft of 4AWG wire to complete the task...
    ...I just never got around to installing it until now.
  3. I wanted to spray paint [black] the wooden base that I had for my amp [in the glove compartment].
    The wood isn't MDF or even sanded, so it looked bad and there were wood splinters/shards all over the place.
    I took the amp completely out last night and sanded down the wood to remove the splinters/shards.
    I bought some ultra-flat black spray paint and gave it a nice even paint job.
    It now looks pretty dope in the glove compartment, and now my car smells like fresh paint...mmmmm! :)

I did all of that last night and today.
Now that the car is all reassembled I promised her that I will give it a deluxe detailing job in the next week.
I have to give her the detail job because she is jealous of me riding the bike all of the time! :)

Yes, I talk to my car. :)
 

Top 2004/07/11 PM - Community Service

There...I archived my 2003 journal to http://www.swooby.com/z/navpc/journal 2003.htm
 

Top 2004/07/11 PM - Obviously, I'm still in love with my car...

Check out this bitch:


Sony WX-7700MDX
[USA purchase here or here]

No, that is NOT my car.
I want one! :)
Actually, if it does NOT have a nice active crossover setting then I may not care for it.
Still, 'tis dope lookin!

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/282525/
I have been watching Cheston for awhile now; he probably has *THE* most incredible setup there is.
Almost everything you can name, including Defi BF & V.S.D. Heads Up Display; all he is missing is Lambo doors! :)
Cheston's site is also the best for information; If it is a Z mod then he either has it or has seen it and documented it.

Hmmmm: http://www.defi-shop.com and http://www.nitosport.co.uk/ <evil thoughts are lurking inside of my head>
 

Top 2004/07/11 PM - Blast from the past...

Someone reading my journal today mentioned that they too had been in a SunRayce.
That got me all nostalgic and so I went lookin for our old web sites and info:

http://www.physics.montana.edu/faculty/caditz/html/solar_car.html
http://home.comcast.net/~andy.springer/solarstory.html

In car news, I rewired the Radar Detector so that I can remove it if I want to (now NOTHING will be visible on the dash) and I also integrated the radar's speaker output in to my stereo; DAMN THAT THING BEEPS LOUD!
 

Top 2004/07/11 AM - Researching...

I must peruse this site next time I get a chance: http://www.usbgear.com/

Also, I just set up some pages to track any progress I make on my motorcycle:

http://www.swooby.com/moto/
 

Top 2004/07/10 AM - People being confused

First of all, does anyone really read this section?
If so I would appreciate it if you send me an email to let me know this page is still important.

I am considering redesigning the site slightly because it seems like some people that email me are confused about what I do or do not have in my Z.  I get about an email a day from this site, which I consider healthy, so I wonder how much traffic I REALLY get and how much confusion I am spreading.

  • Some people think I am still using the GEX; I am not (no touch screen and video quality was poor)
  • Some people think I have a TV in my car; I do not [but I *DO* have the wires for one]
  • Some people think I am still using my original Nissan Navigation system; I am not
  • Some people think I am still using the original screen in my car; I am not.
  • Some people think that I have some complex video conversion going on in my car;  I do not.
    This graphic is the best way that I know of to explain what is in my car:

The only other things I plan to add are:

  1. Subwoofer (including enclosure)

  2. Better midpass crossover network

  3. 3 to 4 USB Video Capture adapters

  4. 3 to 4 video cameras (1 front [IR/night]; 2 side [1 left, 1 right], 1 rear [birdseye])

  5. ChatterBox GMRS-X1 integration

  6. External MP3 player integration

  7. Slightly better wiring integration in to the car (display closed switch, radar sound output, etc)

  8. Radar detector integration

  9. Bluetooth transceiver and bluetooth headset

  10. Cell phone integration

  11. Microphone array (and better software and/or hardware echo cancellation)

  12. [internet] remote controlled PTZ camera

  13. TV (although I can't really justify this...I never watch TV)

Confusion itself is harmless; if people think the wrong thing about my Z, yet somehow it motivates or encourages them to try the same then so much the better.  Still, I prefer to not mislead people about what my car can and cannot do.

The best way to clarify this would maybe be to redesign at least the Overview page.  I could also remove the confusing "legacy" information from the front page (Display #1, GEX, etc).  Its just very difficult to convey exactly what I have in my car without your seeing it in person.  I can think of several methods; an interactive 3D/panoramic view of the car showing the features.  But this is a little bit unreal and daunting for me to work on; I'd rather just work on the car itself.

If you have any suggestions on things you would like to see please let me know.

Damn, and I really need to archive this page...it's getting very long (1m:59s load time over 56k connection).

Oh, and an update on the motorcycle:

  • I got a ChatterBox GMRS-X1 radio system and integrated my MP3 player, cellphone, and 12V power in to it.
    There's really nothing to the integration (the system was designed to do it), but that makes for a lot of cables.
    I am working on a single [waterproof?] plug that connects MP3, Cell, Power, and PTT all in one cable.
    There is no need to make a cable for the headphone/microphone; they are nicely integrated in to the helmet.
    The GMRS-X1 cost me $236; I got it from http://www.mwsbike.com/x1.html.

 

Top 2004/06/26 AM - Whoa!  2 months since an update!

I'm still here!

I bought a motorcycle on 05/03/2004 and I have pretty much been riding it every day that I can.
It's a 2000 SV650, yellow:

I've put over 2000 miles on the bike and about 200 miles on the car in the last 2 months! :)
It's 17 miles to work one way (and I took a week off for vacation)...so you do the math! :)

I have already been asked a dozen time "when are you going to put a PC on the bike?"
Patience grasshopper!
I actually may do something pretty slick with the bike one day, but it may be the usual stuff:

Not much you can do on a bike...but I'm thinkin...I'm thinkin...

Back to the car:
No, I haven't forgotten about it.
I am just definitely doing things at "my own pace", which is pretty slow considering the nice weather...and the motorcycle! :)
I want to move a few wires around and rewire the power w/ this neato bridge:

I'm also looking more seriously at cameras (especially one for the motorcycle) and may get a few soon (left, right, rear, IR/day/night front).
I would need a USB video capture solution for each camera (trying to rig a PCI capture card in to the Travla case is going to be too much work and too problematic).

I am looking at some of the recent software that came out:

And finally, the biggest tragedy of them all, I am thinking more seriously about trading in The Z.
Seriously! :(
The biggest reason is because I will have to plead guilty to a reckless driving charge in July for a completely bullshit incident from back in November 2003.
As a result of the reckless guilty my insurance for this sports car might go up too much for my tastes.
I will most likely hold off until I know for sure:

  1. If my insurance company will increase my rates (this may not happen for many many months)
  2. How much they increase my rates
  3. If this rate is too much for my taste

If I don't like my insurance rate then I will be looking to get rid of The Z. :(
I've had a helluva lot of fun w/ The Z, but it's a flashy car and the cops/system/Man cut you ZERO slack for driving it...especially in Washington.
I have *ZERO* respect for *all 3 branches* of the Washington government now; FUCKING BASTARDS/BITCHES!

What would I get in its place?
Well, first of all I would require that the vehicle have a location for a navigation console.
Second of all, The Z is the only sports car I am interested in owning.
I've had a helluva fun time with my Z, but the "sports car chapter" of my life may be coming to an end.
So...no sports car...no sedan...no mini-van...

...that leaves SUVs and Trucks.

The two specific vehicles I have in mind are:

  • 2005 Nissan Titan
    The Titan is just a big bad ass truck, and it's perfect for a big bad ass CarPC.
    I could have a LOT of fun in the Titan and would probably spend an insane amount of money setting it up! :)
    This may NOT be a good thing! :)
  • 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid
    Yes, you read that right...don't laugh!
    I've always been environmentally conscious (I worked on the Montana State University Solar Vehicle Project back in college and participated in SunRayce 95).
    The Escape Hybrid would be a more socially agreeable setup.
    We are already breaking enough stigmas by putting a "distracting" [to some] interactive PC in a vehicle.
    We might as well make it an environmentally friendly vehicle.
    Plus, I will get a tax break, save lots on gas (although not as good as the 50mpg on my bike), and will be able to carry more than pizza box in the back of the car.
    Also, Ford parts are generally easy to work with, but the hybrid part might complicate things.

Both vehicles are a far cry from The Z.
I've learned a lot putting a CarPC in The Z, and I made a lot of mistakes and dumb decisions in the process.
I think it would be a lot of fun to try another vehicle.

One catch w/ selling my Z is that it may be difficult to find a buyer due to what I have done to some of the wiring in it.
Know of anyone interested in buying a 2003 Nissan 350Z with no stereo and all of the stock stereo and navigation wiring ripped out of it? :)
Actually, that's not a bad situation; the existing stereo system sucked!  I should charge extra for removing that crappy system and wiring! :)
One shopping spree at Crutchfield (actually, I prefer http://www.cardomain.com) and you be pimpin! :)
 

Top 2004/04/25 AM - Long time no update, again

I've been takin it easy enjoyin my CarPC for the past month or two.

xCar software is coming along slowly, but at an acceptable pace for my needs.
I now have it running at 800x600 resolution (it was hard coded for a weird 848x400 resolution).
I will be modifying the Media portion of it to allow Internet Streaming Radio.
I have a small list of other modifications I need to make to the Media portion.

A friend of mine whipped together a cool MapPoint app that makes route tracking easy.
I have yet to play w/ the xCar's MapPoint abilities yet (there is enough there to prove a usable product).

I suppose next on my list will be finally putting in some Bullet cameras.
These are functionally silly, but they also prove a usable product.

I'll post screen shots of the xCar software once I confirm w/ my friends that this is OK.
 

Top 2004/03/22 AM - Sync, again

Seems like I am re-visiting a lot of issues! :)

Well, I am getting ready to pave my machine's XP OS so that I can install XP embedded and get the xCar software up and running.
To do this I want to back up the schtuf that is in the car, so now is a great time to try to solve the file syncing dilemma:

  • 307885 HOW TO- Use the Briefcase Feature in Windows XP
  • 307853 HOW TO: Use Offline Files in Windows XP
  • 314512 Synchronize Mobile Devices and Desktop Computers with Synchronization Manager
  • 312171 Configure Offline Files to Synchronize When a Particular Network Connection Becomes Active

I think I have tried all of these in the past, but I am going to try one last time to see if there is a built in OS way to sync files [the way I want them to be synced].
If I don't like the results then I may have to write my own syncing software.
This may sound simple, but it is actually a fairly monumental task.
 

Top 2004/03/21 PM - Nano, again

"CeBIT, Hannover, Germany, 19 March 2004 - VIA Technologies, Inc., a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today launched the VIA EPIA N-Series Nano-ITX Mainboard at CeBIT 2004, the world's smallest and most highly integrated standard x86 platform."

The Nano's have been released!  12cm x 12cm!
Well, actually they won't be available until Q2 2004! :(

I will definitely look in to upgrading my Mini-ITX C134 to a Nano once I learn more about their availability, pricing, and packaging/case options
All I could find for now are these links:

Silverstone Mapower VIA Embedded VIA Embedded ADR and Scythe

 

Top 2004/03/18 AM - Mutha Truckin WOOT!

It's finally happened!
Back in August I discovered 3 co-workers that have been working on a very nice CarPC shell.
Ever since then I have been trying to get either their binaries or source code.
My patience paid off; they gave me the source code today.
I compiled it and it had no errors and it runs like a champ!

I will not be spotlighting this software just yet; there may still be some legal issues to work out.
Screen shots may soon start to accidentally trickle in to this web site; shit happens! :)

Do not ask for the source code; you will never get it (I don't care to have my employer sue me).
 

Top 2004/03/14 - Enjoying doing nothing

Well, not really.
I still need to finish the sound dampening.
I am buying some DynaMat today from ebay.

Here's some pointers on how to get your Windows XP SP1 installation down to 185MB or less:
http://jdeboeck.msfnhosting.com/

Random: http://www.roadraceengineering.com/suitcasecar.htm
 

Top 2004/02/29 - Alas!  Pictures!

Without further adieu...

I did the following things to my car today:

  • Sanded down the "cubby hole finishing plate" and installed it.
  • Insulated the Kicker mid-range speakers w/ cotton insulation
  • Fixed the stereo dynamics
    • Switched the DEQ-9200 from "Standard" to "Pro" mode
    • Set the following crossover settings:
      • Sub-Woofer LPF: <100Hz, -12db slope
      • Mid LPF: >100Hz, -18db slope
      • Mid HPF: <2.5kHz, -18db slope
      • High HPF: >2.5kHz, -6db slope
    • Set the speaker time phases.
      This is a REALLY cool feature of the DEQ-9200.
      You can set the distance from your ear to the low-left, low-right, mid-left, mid-right, and high-left, high-right speakers!
      This will theoretically have all of the sound converge on your ear at the same time: time phasing!
      It is a definite improvement, even if it does not precisely apply to a real world environment.
      The DEQ-9200 has a "Position" that allows you to toggle time phasing from:
      • The Driver
      • The Passenger (the inverse position of the driver)
      • Both (the average of the Driver and Passenger positions)
  • Filled the empty/hollow body panels with "Great Stuff", mostly concentrating over the rear wheel wells.

    This is my 2nd application of "Great Stuff", and hopefully the last.
    I am being careful to fill the hollows slowly in stages because I don't want to warp any body panels.

The stereo is sounding great now!
Well, as great as MP3s and no sub-woofer will allow.
(There is, admittedly, a noticeable amount of static when the volume is loud and the music is soft).
I can actually listen to my stereo at full volume and enjoy it!
Time to start driving my neighbors crazy! :)

I need to add this to my list of things I like:
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/ibizpda/vike.html

 

Top 2004/02/21 - Still tinkering

I've been playing with the GPS software and have also been really busy at work.
Thus, my NavPC project has slowed down a bit, but I am still tinkering with it (and I realize I need better pics).

Software, software, software.
I need to get some traction on this (get it?  "traction"?  "carpc"?  hyuck hyuck)
I still cannot show you any pictures of the xCar software that I will be installing.
But, I did find this web site that reminds me a lot of the xCar software:
http://www.carpc.nl/software.php
The xCar software is a lot more polished, and offers a better Windows XP shell integration.

Here is another decent looking power supply I found online:
http://www.whitebream.com/e311.shtml

I also submitted my site to http://www.travla.com/News/News.html for a possible listing on their site.
 

Top 2004/02/03 - Looking in to Windows XP Embedded

I got a copy of XP Embedded from work the other week.
I am starting to build my own base platform for the VIA EPIA M Mini-ITX Motherboard.
Here are my two main references:

Hopefully these two pages can help me build up the smallest base platform possible.
I will then install the other software as needed (MapPoint, Windows Media Player, drivers, etc).

Some of my co-workers say that a CompactFlash drive will not boot be faster than a hard drive.
They say the bandwidth difference in the media is the limiting factor.
I say this is fooey, and it is worth trying to boot to CF anyway (it'll be fun at least).
The only problem I see w/ CF is that XP needs to be configured to issue a minimum number of writes to the media.
CF media can wear out after a few hundred thousand writes; there are stories of people burning up their CF cards in a matter of days.
This link will explain more:

Top 2004/01/23 - Starting GPS software

My task of coding a MapPoint GPS add-in has been long due for many months now.
With most of the hardware out of the way I am ready to start concentrating on the software.
The MapPoint GPS add-in will be my first task.
I have created a separate journal on the GPS page to track its progress.
It will be slow going at first but hopefully, as I learn more about MapPoint programming, the pace will pick up.

I will be having lunch w/ my friend in the xCar project on Monday.
We will discuss what his progress is and what his plans are.
I want to use his software that already has a custom UI and MP3 player.
I will see if I am allowed to post screen shots here, but I highly doubt that I will be allowed to [and keep my job].

I might use his MapPoint add-in, but I want to do some specific things that his software may not support.
Besides, most of his app/shell/UI is written in VB I think (yeah, laugh it up).
I would want it rewritten in C++ (which I hope is his plan anyways).

After I get the GPS done I will want to integrate the following in to the UI/shell:

  • Sprint PCS dialer
  • Microsoft Broadband
  • MSN Messenger
  • Internet Explorer
  • OBDII

And I also hope to find a way to run this all on WinXP Embedded (fast booting from a CompactFlash IDE drive, probably 512MB, maybe 256MB)

Top 2004/01/18 - One word: Woot!


I have achieved victory!

Well, not 100%, but it looks nice! :)
It turns out that the Pioneer DEQ-9200 has 500mv line level inputs.
Now I need to adjust the line signal in some way...grrr!

On another note...

Found this site today:
http://www.hybridmobilesolutions.com/
All flash, and not much meat (literally).
Although they do have some pics if you poke around their site enough:
http://www.hybridmobilesolutions.com/Maxima/
Looks like they are more interested in showing off the WinAmp visuals in their car than truly pushing the edge of telematics.
(They have 10 screen shots of WinAmp and its visuals alone!  ooooooh!  pretty pretty!  I've never seen that before! :))
Most of the stuff on their site is not original and has been done before...but kudos to them for their slick presentation (although, again, it has no real meat).
I don't like those tiny Picara/Cappuccino/Latte PCs because they look like they would be hard to upgrade or fix/replace parts.
It is also a bit insulting that these people are making it look like the equipment that they are using is their invention.
I bet they will never voluntarily disclaim/disclose that they are using anything called a Picara PC.
These type of people really tick me off.
Take this guy, for example:
http://www.image-engineering.com/
(there are several other examples out there too, thus the main reason I am venting here)
One of his many "bragging" threads about "his" invention is here:
http://www.my350z.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41696
The dude will NOT disclose that the "Smart" power supply is really just an Opus: http://www.opussolutions.com
He is also going to try to patent the "In Z PC"! (good luck with that one dude!)
Like hybridmobilesolutions, I think this dude is more interested in trying to look smart and profit from "his" idea than he is in expanding it in to something that is truly original.
This dude's web site has not changed in many many many months; lots of things are still "coming soon"...that also pisses me off.
From his threads I get the impression that this dude thinks he is going to be the next Bill Gates or something.
The CarPC is not [yet] ready for prime time, and you will not get filthy rich selling it.
In fact, you make go broke providing support after the sale (these things were not designed to go in to an automobile).
The majority of people that are interested in putting a CarPC in to their car already know where to buy all of the right parts for cheap.
These folks are just preying on those people that don't have a clue where to start.
Most of the people that buy from these companies will be clueless about what to do when they run in to problems.

Anyone that can admit that a CarPC is NOT an original idea is alright in my book!
Anyone that claims their CarPC is "original" better be willing to step up to the plate.
I have seen very few CarPCs that are truly original.

And I discovered this organization:
http://www.sema.org/
It looks like they cover most of the generic things you can do to enhance cars...maybe one day they will learn! :)

Oh, look!  Fun for the whole family!
http://www.pjrc.com/store/mp3_pcb_kit.html
DAMN!  This thing makes the little RadioShack electronic project kits look like tinker toys!
Ya definitely might want to learn this technique if you want to build this:
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/200006/oven_art.htm
 

Top 2004/01/16 - Woo, lots of toys to play with!

The Pioneer DEQ-9200 came in on Monday or Tuesday (I don't rem which).
The following items came in today:

  • CF IDE adapter - Now I get to start the process of finding a way to install WinXP (or XP Embedded) to boot from CF.
    I also need a case for the adapter.
    Here is more about Windows XP Embedded (I think this will be my only option, unless I want to get a 1GB-2GB CF card).
  • PCI Extension Cable - I plan to use this if I cannot find a nice USB2.0 Video Capture solution.
    I also need to find a case that will hold a PCI card.
  • 350Z Stereo Face Plate from Metra
    I had one of these already from American International.
    There are two main manufacturers of these: Metra (99-7402) and American International (ND-K740)
    I originally bought the AI one, 'cause I heard it looks best.
    The Pioneer DEQ-9200 crossover does not ideally fit in this kit.
    So, I decided to evaluate the Metra kit to see how it fits the crossover.
    The Metra kit actually looks worse.
    I will be going back to the AI one and will rig up a small spacer that makes things line up and look real nice.
    Pics will follow shortly.

I wasn't felling well today, so I decided to take the day off of work (before I ever knew that this stuff was showing up today).
It's amazing how therapeutic it is to get new toys! :)
So, basically I have the day off work and I am going to try to get this stuff installed today...
...SO WHAT THE FUCK AM I DOING SITTING HERE TYPING THIS SHIT FOR?!?!?! :)

And just when I thought they didn't make ITX computers smaller than the Travla C-134...
http://www.jkmicro.com/products/thinclient-t.html - w/ CDRom and Hard Disk
http://www.jkmicro.com/products/thinclient.html - w/o CDRom or Hard Disk

Damn, despite being ugly, those things are pretty damn nice!
 

Top 2004/01/11 - Things to do in Seattle when you are bored

Waiting for a package is like waiting for water boil.
I am waiting for my new crossover before I truly tackle the "pop"ing problem.
So, I have a bit of idle time on my hands.
I have been browsing http://www.mp3car.com, and I am amazed at what some people are trying to do:

  • Biometric ignition
  • Head-Unit Keypads
  • Voice command
  • Front-end/Shell UI

There are lots of other ideas, but those are the more original ideas I have seen.
This sort of stuff encourages me to press on w/ my car...

Once the hardware is finished (will it ever?) I am going to start concentrating on the PC's software.
I have seen or played with DashPC, MediaEngine, MediaCar (soon http://www.mediacar.org), and several of the other CarPC software front-ends out there.
In my personal opinion, none of these UIs are as nice as my friend's xCar project.

I don't know yet what I can or cannot say about my friend's xCar project, so I am being intentionally vague.
It is a pretty slick UI that does to CarPC UI what Windows 95 did to desktop UI.
I consider all of the other projects very amateur; xCar is professional looking CarPC software.
I say "looking", because it is currently a hack-job and hard-coded.
Recent events have given my friend the resources to change all of this.
Over the next few months I should begin the process of being one of his first guinea pigs.

One of the goals of the xCar is to give [the appearance of] tight PC-to-Car integration.
Two great ways to start this off are:

  • Custom startup logo of your car
  • Extremely short boot time (less than 5 seconds)

I will be toying with these two areas while I wait for my friend's new xCar software to stabilize.

I ordered these two gizmos today:
http://www.caseoutlet.com/Accessory/images/4617-1-comb-400-600.jpg
http://www.caseoutlet.com/Accessory/images/riser-ribbon-600.jpg
Related to expanding the C134's pci slot, this is kind of cool:
http://www.mobl.com/expansion/pci/1slot/index.html
Maybe I can find a better external pci expansion card enclosure/chassis

Picture of the day:

Me likey!
 

Top 2004/01/09 - Music is the absence of silence

While I am waiting on my fancy crossover, I am looking more in to the "pop"ing problem.
I am not 100% confident that the crossover will fix the problem, so I am investigating some other alternatives.

This thread looks promising:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=7414
Basically, an NT service raises DTR at startup and lowers DTR and shutdown.

Tonight I started to write my own NT Service, but then I got to thinking (damn, I hate it when I do that)...
According to the boards, the DTR voltage is enough to turn on an amp, but it does not provide enough current to sustain a relay.
I would like a more generic solution; something that I can apply to a relay to toggle other devices if I need to.

One of my friends, J.P. Stewart, is starting to work on a PC for his car.
We were talking tonight and he got me to thinking about the relay controllers that I had once been investigating.
With the proper software, a USB SPDT Relay Controller would be ideal to turn on a stereo.
It would ideally run as an NT Service, with some sort of a UI that interfaces with the service.

So, I search the ultimate site: http://www.mp3car.com
Here's a thread about some findings:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=17126&highlight=relay+usb
And here is one of the links in that thread:
http://www.j-works.com/jsb218.html

This is a good start, and it may be how I end up solving the "pop"ing problem.
 

Top 2004/01/08 - Soapbox

Yes, I know about the following article:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/projects/new_laws/story/8021182p-8957372c.html
Here is the CA legal text (that I can find):
http://www.itsa.org/resources.nsf/Files/AB%20301-chaptered/$file/AB%20301-chaptered.pdf
(thanks for the links J.P.)

Here is my opinion:
The law CLEARLY allows GPS, navigation, and other visual aides in the car.
Thus, the INTENT of the law is to bar television and movies, motion video, from distracting the driver.
I never view movies or TV in the car.
I sometimes interact with my computer to hit the "play" or "next" buttons on my screen, but that is no more distracting than doing the same on my stereo.
Thus, I am operating my vehicle in accordance with the INTENT of the CA laws.

And then the article says this:

"According to the bill, inattention was cited as a factor in 6,807 collisions in 2001 in the state, including 48 deaths."

"inattention" cause by what?

  • Changing the radio station?
    (I, in fact, have a friend that died from doing just this)
  • Eating?
  • Rubber-necking?
  • Paying attention to your passengers?
  • Putting on makeup?
  • Changing clothes?
  • Cell-phones?
  • Navigation?
  • Computers?
  • TV?
  • Movies?
  • etc...

Yes, it is horrible; there are scores of things that can distract us while driving a car.
Wake up and get with the 21st century!
None of these distractions should be singled out as illegal activities.
There should only be one general law that says "it is illegal to drive a vehicle if you are distracted".
The problem is that this law cannot be enforced.

48 deaths were caused by inattention in California in 2001.
48!
How many people drove cars THROUGH California in 2001?
5 million?  10 million?  100 million?  500 million?
48 deaths!

There is not enough of a risk with these devices to justify this law as a means of protecting the public.
A person driving under the influence *IS* a threat to the general public. (granted: even this may be debatable)
Stop these people as soon as they are detected!
A person momentarily distracted in their car *IS NOT* a threat to the general public.
Assume people with distracting equipment in their car know how to operate the equipment.
Wait until they are in an accident and THEN determine if the equipment was causing the distraction AND the distraction cause the accident.

Thus, the only real law should be:
"If you are in an accident AND you are found to have been inattentive then you will be liable for the accident"
This falls in to the realm of the judicial branch, which should make the lawyers happy!

Basically, the government should get the fuck out of my car! :)
This is America dammit, and the government is unduly burdening my life, liberty, and pursuit for happiness.
<sigh>
Unfortunately, the Declaration of Independence is enforced by neither The Constitution nor The Bill Of Rights
</sigh>

Of course, I live in WA, so this only applies to me if I visit CA (or, I assume, some other states...but how am I supposed to know?).
WA's laws still state that only televisions are illegal:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/RCW/index.cfm?fuseaction=section&section=46.37.480
I won't care too much about this until WA starts an initiative to change the text of this law.
Until then I will continue to keep a copy of the wording of RCW 46.37.480 in my car with me at all times.
 

Top 2004/01/06 - Sound solution on its way

After much deliberation I have finally settled on the electronic/active crossover I will be using.


Pioneer DEQ-9200

Yeah, a bit overkill, I know! :)
But, it does follow in tradition w/ the rest of the Car and the PC! :)
I bought it today and it should hopefully be here within a week.
Yet again, pictures will have to wait until I have this installed.
It is going to look VERY nice!

Presently I have no "head unit" in my car, so the front console looks a little "vacant".
While this spartan look is kind-of cool, it is a bit TOO bland.
A traditional car stereo gizmo up front is desirable.

The deciding factor was the 1DIN faceplate that allows me to control Volume, Balance, Fade, etc.
This will make the PC's stereo look, act, feel, and sound like a traditional car stereo (albeit, with mostly MP3 quality).
Without a faceplate I would have to use the screen to control only volume (balance is not as easily accessible).
In the future I would design a software UI to control Volume and Balance, but Fade and the other controls would be nearly impossible.
Screen software controls are cool and all, but these traditional car stereo controls are hard to turn down.
The CarPC of the future will need a 1DIN keypad of some sort; part integrated with the PC (USB), part integrated with the stereo (front/rear/sub/etc).

It also has Front/Rear/Sub outs, which will meld nicely with my amps front/rear/sub inputs.
The digital crossover (yes, digital) supports Mid-Pass on the "Rear" channel, which is what I *need*.

It also allows a ton of custom sound tuning and presets...which is always nice...especially when playing crappy MP3s.

The spectrum analyzer is also swooby! :)
 

Top 2004/01/01 - Happy New Year!

So, it's the Holidays!  Things naturally slow down a bit: so did my car's progress.
I've just been enjoying the Z's setup is all; and YES, I do realize that I still have yet to take pictures of the setup.
I still have not picked up a tiny plastic finishing piece that will make the display all nice and pretty looking.
There is no need to take pictures of it until it is pretty now, right?

Sound Quality: That's my next thing to work on.
I have my new stereo in (two windows later), but the sound is a little bit whack.
There are several problems:

  1. I intentionally have the amp stay powered on until after the PC shuts down.
    I think it is kind of cool to be able to hear the Windows shutdown tune.
    It adds a feel of "integration" in to the CarPC.
    It's also pretty pimp to get out of the car, lock it, and walk away and still have the music blaring (the shutdown is delayed 15 seconds).
    The problem with this is that when the PC powers down the voltage on the PC's line out surges and causes the amp to sound a "pop".
    Same thing for when the PC powers on.
    This is damned annoying, but it should be easily resolved once I fix the next two problems...
  2. The Kenwood amp's inputs are very sensitive and are not the easiest things to tune (ex: dynamically adjusting fade).
    The sound sensitivity is obvious from the "pop" problem [above].
    I also cannot easily "fade" the sound so that the front speakers produce most of the sound (the mids are meant for ambiance only).
  3. The Kenwood amp cannot "mid-pass" filter to the rear mids.
    The most it can do is crossover a single frequency above 50Hz or below 200Hz.
    This ain't desirable.
    I want the mids to get a faded 30Hz-500Hz (not effectively 0Hz-200Hz).
    I want the fronts to get a boosted 40Hz-20kHz.
  4. I can hear the whine of the alternator in the sound.
    The simple fix for this is to add a nice magnetic choke to the amp's power.
  5. I have not added the subwoofer yet.
    The simple fix for this is to just build the damn thing.

As a result the sound is kind of cloudy and whiney (but it sure is music to my ears for right now).
An "active crossover" would solve the first 3 problems.
#1 would go away because the crossover would maintain a proper line voltage to the amp.
#2 would go away because the crossover would have nice fade adjustments (hopefully with upfront dash controls).
#3 would go away because the crossover would have nice band-pass abilities.
An active crossover also has better sound fidelity than the passive crossover that I planned to build.

So, I'm looking for a nice active crossover while I tolerate my car "pop"ing soon after I turn it off.

If the active crossover does not solve the "pop"ing problem then I will probably have to build a circuit that powers down the amp precisely between the PC's software shutdown and hard power down.
This might be useful for other people out there w/ a similar problem.
Maybe I will check out the http://www.mp3car.com forum to see if other people have this same problem and what solutions they have come up w/.

2003 Journal Archive