just finished setup 3 days ago, tested all weekend, here's the feedback

**derbis** · 12-18-2005, 03:53 PM

stats:
planning: 3 months
implementation: 20 hours
equipment:
2 x 6.5 infinity component
200w Punch
carnetix p1900
700ts xenarc
dell latitude d600 notebook
1.7Ghz Pentium M
1.25 GB ram
32MB ATi Radeon mobile
40 GB primary disk
80 GB modular bay secondary hard disk
internal intel pro set wireless
snapstream firefly remote

i'm not yet using a frontend. the setup basically consists of a few commands programmed into girder that aid in operating iTunes while driving. so, i guess, iTunes is my frontend.

FEEDBACK

1. I love it. It was all worth it.
2. I've learned a hell of a lot.
3. I don't understand why anyone would choose to integrate a headunit.

PROBLEMS

I've encountered only one problem, but it seems this may be a major one as i dont have a clue where to start resolution.

While I'm driving with iTunes open and I select a song to play, it begins playing fine. Sometimes, after a minute or so, the audio begins to sound as though it is being ran through the blades of a helicopter. I'm not sure how to describe this. It continues to sound like this until the song is restarted or until a new song is chosen. Also, sometimes it skips for just a brief second at random. I have not been able to duplicate these problems sitting in my garage stationary.

Prior to placing a computer in this mix, i drove around for a month with an ipod connected directly to an amp, no problems.

This points me towards vibration of the hard drive, but this would counter all knowledge i previously thought i held regarding the way disks operate.

Any thoughts? I'm currently digging up previous threads regarding hard drive shock protection. fun. Thanks for any comments and thanks to everyone for the help in getting this from idea to fruition.

**PURDooM** · 12-18-2005, 04:37 PM

Did you ground your computers ground wire to your cars ground wire?

**derbis** · 12-19-2005, 10:11 AM

the laptop is grounded by way of the barrel connector from the carnetix p1900 connected to a grounding distribution block

**ITL** · 12-19-2005, 10:17 AM

Why use a distribution block for a ground? This seems unnecessary.

**derbis** · 12-19-2005, 10:34 AM

i used a distribution block because it seemed to be a cleaner way to ground 1) the amp, 2) the p1900, and 3) a possible future amp

you guys really thinking this might have something to do with my electrical setup? it's not a ground loop sound or a buzzing or anything and mp3s sometimes sound crystal clear for the first 60 seconds or so.

maybe i'll try to record this sound, it's tough to describe

**JC-S60** · 12-19-2005, 11:04 AM

This sounds more like a software-issue, not a grounding problem.

How would one explain things changing when skipping to the next song?

Or maybe something with the HDD, but I don't think so....

**ITL** · 12-19-2005, 11:27 AM

it DOES sound like a software/driver problem.

I was just wondering why not just use a common grounding point rather than a distribution point. It seems like the distr. block would only add more resistance.

**derbis** · 12-19-2005, 03:47 PM

this may have something to do with it: http://www.mp3.com/stories/1826.html...&ref_type_id=8

i've just got so much invested into iTunes (iTMS purchases, audiobooks, podcasts, video) i cant imagine not being able to use this as my poor man's frontend

**sirgeoph** · 12-21-2005, 11:42 PM

iTunes on my home PC does this fairly often. It stopped doing it and then when I reinstalled Windows, it started doing it again. I wanna say it's because my motherboard's (which has integrated audio) drivers rollback when I reinstall windows. I'd say, update your motherboard/soundcard drivers and see if that helps.

**ddriggers2** · 12-22-2005, 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by ITL

it DOES sound like a software/driver problem.

I was just wondering why not just use a common grounding point rather than a distribution point. It seems like the distr. block would only add more resistance.

Using a distro block is still a common ground, just a cleaner way to get everything to the same grounding point. As long as his final ground wire is of sufficient size, and the grounding point is solid, he should have no problems. Grounds are usually short enough that resistance is not an issue anyways.

Thread: just finished setup 3 days ago, tested all weekend, here's the feedback

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