Thread: Kontron 986LCD-M/mITX, and 800x480 LVDS.

just wondering about something. I'm trying to purchase this board, but Kontron said that my order got rejected due to using a personal credit card. Did anyone else who ordered one have an issue?

Have anyone managed to get SPDIF output from this board, I have noticed an onboard 26 pin AUDIO header, in the manual Kontron desceibes how there are SPDIF-OUT + GND pins on the header. I have been able to locate the pins, but I have no idear how to get the signal to and RCA cable to my amplifier, could I just solder a RCA cable to the pins, or is it more complicated than that?

Originally Posted by grandanois

Have anyone managed to get SPDIF output from this board, I have noticed an onboard 26 pin AUDIO header, in the manual Kontron desceibes how there are SPDIF-OUT + GND pins on the header. I have been able to locate the pins, but I have no idear how to get the signal to and RCA cable to my amplifier, could I just solder a RCA cable to the pins, or is it more complicated than that?

Most likely the SPDIF will be digital over an RCA connector, like this:

FRONTX - Bulkhead RCA Video (Composite Video) / SPDIF Coaxial Cable - panel mount RCA female to header/pinout

FrontX is pretty good for various connectors, I have a bunch of them.

You can get them in either a modular form for insertion into their device carrier, or alone as a panel-mount type. Highly recommended for all those odd-shaped connectors.


Never ever solder anything to a motherboard directly.. good way to damage it.


Like the manual says, the SPDIF Out + Ground pins are for SPDIF audio out to your receiver (not just an amp, I think, but a 5.1 receiver), and the SPDIF IN is for a input to the motherboard.


From there, you may just have to install the audio drivers and configure it for audio out through SPDIF.


But definitely get the connector.. you could probably just drill a few holes in your case to mount the connector, plug in your RCA cable, and go.

Thanks for you suggestion Giuliano, the problem is that I dont think the FRONTX connector will fit the pins on the motherboard. The pins SPDIF-OUT & GND are located right next to each other without the NC PIN, and the pin sice is smaller than the standard sice. The PIN connector is some odd size connector with 26 pins.


The red rectangle indicated the two pins for the SPDIF output, the other pins in the picture are standard size.

Originally Posted by grandanois

Thanks for you suggestion Giuliano, the problem is that I dont think the FRONTX connector will fit the pins on the motherboard. The pins SPDIF-OUT & GND are located right next to each other without the NC PIN, and the pin sice is smaller than the standard sice. The PIN connector is some odd size connector with 26 pins.


The red rectangle indicated the two pins for the SPDIF output, the other pins in the picture are standard size.

The manual for the motherboard has a list of the matching connectors on page 58, for reference.


The pins on the AUDIO_HEAD connector are spaced 0.079" or 2.00 mm apart, which is slightly narrower than the standard 0.100" or 2.54 spacing.

The matching 26-pin connector is a Molex 51110-2651, which can be obtained from Mouser Electronics for about $0.50 each (50 cents USD).


If you only want 4 pins for the SPDIF-IN and SPDIF-OUT, then the part number is 51110-0450, and costs about 30 cents.

Mouser Catalog page for Molex 2.00 mm connectors:
http://www.mouser.com/catalog/629/1187.pdf


I should note that the connectors above are only the plastic housings - you still need the crimp terminals, which are part number 50394-8100 - 12 cents each.


Can you do soldering? The terminals are really small, and are meant for a $200 crimping tool.


Also, the (expensive) accessory kit for the motherboard has a 12" cable pigtail assembly (connector + wire) to fit the AUDIO_HEAD connector.


I'll see if I can find some 2.00 mm pitched cable assemblies elsewhere.


Some of the other connectors on the board, like the LVDS port, are half-pitch, 0.050" or 1.27 mm, which makes it even more difficult.

Thanks once again,

It seems to me that I would be a lot more easy just to buy an USB soundcard with SPDIF (the boring solution), does any of you have any experience with these? I'm really just trying to get the DTS signal to my sourround reciewer.

I picked up an Intel Mini PCI Express 802.11 a/b/g WiFi card on eBay for $18, and it arrived today.

Here's one of the cards:

eBay: Intel WIRELESS Mini PCI-E Express card Wireless 3945abg (item 110107725908 end time Apr-01-07 18:58:12 PDT)


The card is TINY.. about an inch wide, maybe 2 inches long.


Looks to be one of the good uses of the Mini PCI Express slot on the bottom of this board.. perhaps the only good use.

The other option I had was to get a EVDO card on eBay for cell access through Verizon.. but I didn't want to have to fork up the extra $80 per month for the service.


This card can take two antennas for the best reception, otherwise known as antenna diversity. Technically I don't think you NEED to have two, but it would help.

In order to connect it to an antenna, you'll need the pigtail cable adapters to go from the tiny u.FL connectors on the card to a larger connector.

I chose u.FL to RP-SMA, but you can choose any connector that works for your antenna(s).


I got two of these pigtail adapters:

Wireless LAN Pigtail Cable: RP-SMA Jack Bulkhead to U.FL (Hirose/iPax/Mini-PCI Compatible), 1.13 Cable, 7.9 Inch $15.95 Each.


This WiFi card can do the 5Ghz 802.11A in addition to 2.4Ghz 802.11b/g, so you'll need a dual-band capable antenna.


I chose two of these:

3 / 5 dBi RP-SMA Dual Band Rubber Duck Antenna $16.95 Each.


These antennas are internal only, not suitable for mounting on the outside of the car. They're also capable of not just WiFi, so they have re-use potential.

I'm planning on just having them inside the trunk, and see what kind of reception I can get.


I also got a pair of these magnetic mounts in case I need to move them to the inside of the passenger cabin:

RP-SMA Jack Magnetic Rubber Duck Mount with RP-SMA Plug Connector $14.99 each.


Total: $135.35 - however, you could cut that price in half by only using 1 antenna / cable / mount.

Spark Fun also has U.FL to SMA connectors for super cheap ($8.95):

Spark Fun Electronics

Thanks for the link..

Those pigtails are a little too short for my taste, only 4"..