Thread: Alpha Release: XMPC-CAR for XM

That is soooo cool!
As soon as I get an XM PCR, I will be installing your interface.
Thanks!

I havn't been around long enough to have any credibility, but what the hell, gork "you da man"

Too often those pushing the envelope have a bit of a L33T attitude, thanks for the sharing and the help.

I might just have to go out and get me an XM PCR setup,! Looks good so far!

Well, you can't just use any antenna to get XM...

Thanks, everyone for the compliments. I guess no problems with the software working yet? I have uncovered a few little problems in my abuse over here, but I'm working on them and also working on interface things finally..

dhowse, skeemr4:

I got a very small blitzsafe antenna from xmfanstore that is only about 1.75x1.75x.5". If you *really* wanted the BMW sharkfin, you would have to crack it open and stuff one of the tiny XM antennas inside, but IMO the sharkfin is uglier than the blitzsafe. I had mine on the rear decklid inside the car and it worked OK but still cut out a lot. After putting it outside it never cuts out. I think it might be my window tint. XM is pretty high frequency and pretty weak signal, so almost any object in the way is problematic.

EBJUSTIN:

As I said, the interface isn't finished yet.. The final interface will probably be Macromedia Flash so it will scale and stretch to any resolution quite nicely and also make things easier to "stretch" around for the end user. MS's ListView control is kind of a pain.. Thank you for the suggestions, though. I am running on a 7" 16:9 in 800x600 and the fonts are still really small just to glance down and see. I thought they looked HUGE on my desktop monitor

As for the integration into ME2.0, at this point it doesn't look like the license will be compatible, but someone could definately stuff it into ME1.7. I am releasing under the GPL in the hopes that maybe if I make some nice components that people want to include, they'll want to include them enough to change their own licenses so that they are able to. In the end, hopefully this will lead to some really nice open-source windows carpc software that people can customize as easily as they have been able to customize their hardware.

Gork - Awesomely cool! I have been using XM-PCR on my Truckputer for about 6 weeks. It rocks. I have the antennae on the left hand side of the dask in my Avalanche. I loved the capabilities but the font sizes not being configureable is really a draw back.

One thing that is a SEVERE problem that I hope you can address with your software is the ability to output to multiple sound card/deivces. I have built in MB sound and USB (to limit noise)... but the current software will not reconginize it.

Also, ME will not take the start up string necessary to start XM PCR, how do you handle that?

I just saw this thread today (while at work ) but will be downloading and installing as soon as I get home. Can't wait!!!!

Maybe you can make it skinnable?

QuickCarl:

I don't understand what you mean by "output to multiple sound cards" .. Neither the stock software nor mine do anything to soundcards.. If you mean you want to have it plugged into your motherboard line-in and output via your USB sound, that's actually a pretty complicated problem... You have to record from one interface and playback to the other. I don't plan on adding any features like that as recording the signal in any way (even if just to play it back at the same time) is a violation of the XM agreement. Can you not just feed the output of the XMPCR to both cards with a Y splitter or something?

Also, what do you mean about ME and the "Start up" string for XMPCR? It's not making any sense. I guess I don't handle it at all... If you can clarify, maybe I can help you out...

Gork - I will post the start up string that is necessary for XM PCR to work properly... ME will not allow it, or it parses incorrectly. It won't accept the command line parms....

As for multiple sound cards here is the problem. I have on board AC 97 sound (all three connectors, line in, mic, speakers) and I have a Sound Blaster USB sound device. It has all 3 connectors as well, but I am only interested in the speaker output....

I am using the on board for output of the Street Atlas GPS software and want to use the USB for the XM PCR out put...

BUT even if I disable the AC 97, the XM PCR will not output to the USB sound device... there must be a way to direct the output to an enabled sound device. They are available as drop downs in Control Panel/Sound Devices so it should available as a call, right?

As for multiple sound cards here is the problem. I have on board AC 97 sound (all three connectors, line in, mic, speakers) and I have a Sound Blaster USB sound device. It has all 3 connectors as well, but I am only interested in the speaker output....

I am using the on board for output of the Street Atlas GPS software and want to use the USB for the XM PCR out put...

Just plug the XMPCR's audio out into the USB SoundBlaster's line in jack. Unmute the sound blaster line in in the mixer and adjust the volume. The audio is coming out of the onboard sound because that's where you have your XMPCR plugged in. The computer isn't processing the audio at all.. You can't just redirect the inputs and outputs of soundcards arbitrarily between cards.. Sound cards don't work that way unfortunately.

As for ME not being able to launch the stock software, You'd really have to ask in the Mediaengine forum. It should launch mine just fine.. just go and select the exe file in ME's setup. I was not aware that the standard software required any commandline parameters to run correctly...