02 VW Golf TDI 7" Eee PC Budget Build - Page 2

hexxamillion · 11-04-2009, 10:14 AM

Yeah. My original project was using my EEEPC 2G Surf. It was fine and served its purpose. It also did well in hot weather. I can't speak for the cold since my winters are mild much like Florida. I eventually wanted something with a little more power (yet still small footprint) and expandability.

brianteel · 11-04-2009, 12:21 PM

the only issue i have really is centrafuse and how slow it is loading all the bits and pieces for it. when the new one is out this weekend i am going to switch to and see if i can get it to load faster and get hibernate and stuff to work. I am thinking about going to a EEE B202 still small but has a better bios for power settings

Scrambles · 11-04-2009, 07:56 PM

im excited to see this one as a fellow MKIV owner

firstorbit84 · 11-04-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrambles

im excited to see this one as a fellow MKIV owner

Thanks for the support!

Little Progress today: Guess-timated necessary length of extended wiring harness to be 3 feet, and then I proceeded to cut wires for extended harness. Will solder tomorrow (or late tonight). (Pics to come)

I also realized that I might need to get another cable/adapter to extend the antenna, if I don't want to cut into it. But I may just end up cutting into it as the cost is already getting up there.

firstorbit84 · 11-05-2009, 07:49 AM

Okay, so I've seriously been considering how I will implement bluetooth handsfree calling and after reading this 2008-subaru-impreza-wrx-car-pc-install-w-custom-faceplate-controls I am also seriously considering getting a Parrot CK3100..

The prices on eBay are now about $60-$80 shipped if you bid on the right auction and have some patience. Since this would be a little more difficult to implement later because it must be hardwired into the stereo, I'm also thinking of doing it now while I'll have everything apart.

One other good thing is that it will save the Eee's limited resources from working too hard, and it should be cheaper than the Andrea and SOHO combined...

Does anyone have experience with the Parrot CK3100?? Or, on the other hand, what about experience using a Eee to handle Bluetooth calling??

hexxamillion · 11-05-2009, 07:58 AM

Yeah. I also know that most new HU's already come with Bluetooth integration (A2DP).

brianteel · 11-05-2009, 08:00 AM

I am using blusoil with centrafuse and a usb dongle and seems to work just fine. I heard parrot is good no experience my self though

firstorbit84 · 11-05-2009, 08:45 AM

@hexx
Yeah, but not my headunit though... Clarion DB179MP

@brian
Which USB dongle are you using?? What phone do you have?? Do you have any problems with echo??
If I stick with the Eee and centrafuse/bluesoleil for BT HF calling, I was planning on seeing how the stock hardware (built-in audio outputs and built-in Mic) performed before I spent any more on new parts.

I've got a blackberry pearl 8120 and in the couple test calls I made, I was getting a pretty bad echo... But I should probably do some more testing/tweaking before I make a decision either way...

If I do go with the Parrot, which I've also heard good things about, it will be pretty easy to install because the connectors will already match up with my OEM and Clarion wiring harnesses... However, it will also put me over the $400 mark! :/

brianteel · 11-05-2009, 10:22 AM

i am using one that cost 3.99 on ebay. not even sure if there was a name on the box. I have the BB storm and so farm it connects and gets sound out but have not really dug in much further than that. i am going to get a mic this weekend and start cleaning it up.

firstorbit84 · 11-05-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by brianteel

i am using one that cost 3.99 on ebay. not even sure if there was a name on the box. I have the BB storm and so farm it connects and gets sound out but have not really dug in much further than that. i am going to get a mic this weekend and start cleaning it up.

Oh, no I thought you meant that you were using a USB Mic Adapter like the one from Andrea Electronics. I am also using a cheap USB BT adapter from Deal Extreme, but I don't think that's the problem.

I tested the BlueSoleil Bluetooth in Centrafuse again this morning and I was told that the built-in Mic on the Eee made me sound a little reverberated and the caller also said they could hear their own voice repeated to them after everything they said. But, on my end it seemed fine... Also, BlueSoleil doesn't automatically sync with my BB's phonebook, but this can easily be done through importing a vcard file. Nonetheless, it is a nuisance... So, I think I will eventually look for another stand-alone BT solution such as the Parrot CK3100. Plus the Parrot would work regardless of whether or not the computer was running, i.e. if I was just listening to the Radio or a CD through the Head-Unit.

Update: My first bloodshed for the CarPC!

Here are all the wires cut and stripped, ready to solder together later tonight:

You'll notice in the other larger close-up pic of the two harnesses that I posted earlier that two blue wires in the harness on the right are taped off and they are missing altogether from the harness on the left. That is done on purpose to defeat an issue that all MkIV VW owners with an aftermarket head unit should be aware of, called the K-Line issue. Basically, the wire that VW scan tools use to talk to the OEM radio (called the K-line) is often shorted to +12V by aftermarket radios. You'd never know unless you or a dealer hooked up a scan tool or anything else to the OBD port, because it will likely damage the scan tool or other device. The best way to prevent this is just leave that pin in the radio harness not hooked up, which is what I'm doing here. More details can be found over at Ross-Tech, makers of VAG-Com: http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/aftermarket-radio.html

Also, If anyone missed the custom Centrafuse skin that I created and posted over in the Centrafuse topic area, here is a screen shot for you:

brianteel · 11-05-2009, 11:13 AM

i am going to be using a mic plugged into a 3.5mm port on the external card i am using. I had alot of issues getting sound right for sirius because the built in sound card and the mic. you are going to have to use a external one with sound noise canceling and other things.

did you post the file for the skin you made. i would to give a try and see how it looks on mine.

firstorbit84 · 11-05-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by brianteel

i am going to be using a mic plugged into a 3.5mm port on the external card i am using. I had alot of issues getting sound right for sirius because the built in sound card and the mic. you are going to have to use a external one with sound noise canceling and other things.

Ya, with the cost of all those things adding up, I'm really leaning toward a stand-alone BT HF calling solution.

Quote:

did you post the file for the skin you made. i would to give a try and see how it looks on mine.

Yup... Check out this post for the files and installation instructions: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/cf-s...ml#post1352344

firstorbit84 · 11-06-2009, 12:50 AM

Progress:

Got the 3 foot Head Unit Wiring harness extension made.. Double checked all connections. Main 12V connection was reading very slightly higher resistance than other wires, but that could have possibly been from the inline fuse.

Friday: Test Eee in car with audio cable from headphone output to Aux input on head unit, and test car charger. Check for any noise in lines...

Weekend: Remove Glove box and mount head unit inside. Set up PAC IR-X infrared repeater? Look for materials to make side panels of LCD bezel out of. Secure touch screen to Eee's bezel?

Also, does anyone know what the best way to control volume would be: low input volume from Eee and control through head unit, or leave head unit volume near middle and control volume from Eee??? I can also adjust the head unit's Aux input to a low, med, or hi source volume... I think I'm just going to have to play around with what works best...

firstorbit84 · 11-06-2009, 11:27 AM

Progress: Tested Deal Extreme Laptop Battery Charger (12V->9.5V DC-DC Converter), Aux Input on Clarion Head Unit, and PAC IR-X Infrared repeater, as well as checked brightness of screen in full sunlight.

Pictures:

As you can see the brightness in full sun isn't great, but it is still somewhat readable by my standards. Plus this situation shouldn't happen so often to be a nuisance. BTW, this is with the screen on the "Ultra Bright" setting offered by eeectl, which actually makes the screen about 50% brighter than it can go normally.

The results of the other testing were good and not so good. The good was that each of the components worked, the battery charger and the infrared repeater both worked well, and the Aux in on the Clarion worked. The not so good was that with the Eee plugged into the charger, I got some noise in the line. When it was not plugged into the charger: crystal clear. So, I'm left with yet another problem to trouble shoot.

How do you guys keep noise out of your lines??

Scrambles · 11-06-2009, 11:35 AM

awww, that is an easy fix!

You need a Ground Loop Isolator, keeps feedback from going back into the sound card.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062214

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