Thread: Brainstorm - a distributed car install

Or just log into the plug and "sudo apt-get install mediatomb"

Gary (-;

Thanks for that, chunky. I've installed mediatomb on the Sheeva plug and it actually let me log on to the server from my desktop machine.

Now, I'm looking at the plugplayer app that Tidder pointed out. I don't really know how this stuff works but I presume I ought to be able to load it on the iPhone/iPad and if I'm on my WiFi network it will discover the mediatomb server?

I'll let you know.

Damn! That worked waaay too easily!. Mplayer lite was free on the app store so I downloaded it to my iPad, launched it and it found the plug instantly. I added an mp3 to mediatomb via ftp as a test and not only did it show up but the tags were read properly, giving me a pretty decent interface right off the bat.

When my external drive arrives, I'll put all the music and video there and point mediatomb to it. That should solve my music player issue through local streaming. I need to look into the docs to see if I can stream music from a web location like a PC at home. I'd be surprised if you can't do that.

Yay!

Gary (-;

standards compliant software rocks!

I'll say!

Next, I'll connect the Sheeva to the WiFi router I'm going to put in the car to make sure it works with that setup. Perhaps later I'll use the iPhone as the WiFi router to reduce the number of components...

Following that, I'll need to convert my plug to run on 12v power. I've got a Carnetix POL laying around that I'll use to convert it. Once that's working, I'll need to rip the stereo out of the car and rewire to get rid of that stinking ground loop. Then, I'll try modifying the bluetooth receiver I have to run off of car power rather then the battery it has inside it so I don't have to constantly charge it.


Then, I'll turn to software, and try getting obdgpslogger to run in the car. It will be much easier to test out if I can find a terminal app that will run on the iPad.

So again, not to ask the entirely silly questions, but...

Why not use the sheeva *as* the wireless router? It might be a little more work, but you'd save a whole block of hardware.

Alternatively, whatever your access point is, I highly recommend running dd-wrt on it. I've been using dd-wrt at home, and it's really great.

Gary (-;

Originally Posted by chunkyks

So again, not to ask the entirely silly questions, but...

Why not use the sheeva *as* the wireless router? It might be a little more work, but you'd save a whole block of hardware.

Alternatively, whatever your access point is, I highly recommend running dd-wrt on it. I've been using dd-wrt at home, and it's really great.

Gary (-;

I'm wondering the same thing. There are lots of atheros wifi chipsets that can be used as a wireless AP thingy.

This idea of yours is really close to what I ultimately want to do with my PC + sheeva. I think i just broke my mobo on the PC so I may do a guruplug or gumstix as a replacement. Maybe I'll get a meego tablet or something.

I love the mediatomb idea.

Originally Posted by chunkyks

So again, not to ask the entirely silly questions, but...

Why not use the sheeva *as* the wireless router? It might be a little more work, but you'd save a whole block of hardware.

Alternatively, whatever your access point is, I highly recommend running dd-wrt on it. I've been using dd-wrt at home, and it's really great.

Gary (-;

Hadn't thought of it. But to do that, I'll have to do ....what? Figure out how to get a WiFi USB device to work on the plug, then figure out how dd-wrt works, right?

It's not a *bad* idea, just seems like a lot more work than plugging in the netgear router I have laying around as spare.