03 VW Jetta GLI

Hans Delbruck · 11-30-2005, 03:43 PM

I've been looking over these threads for the past couple months and I have a troublesome dichotomy brewing inside :

Can I justify spending the cash on this project when it could be a future house payment ?

Can I justify spending the cash on this project when I just spend $1300 on winter wheels and tires for both my wife's car and my own car ?

I know the project will bring me great satisfaction.

I'm going to do it anyway !!!

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Here's the whip:

You can see where I'm going to install the LCD - the stock double DIN slot. Much similar to the main image on the mp3car.com index page.

The project is underway and I hope to have Phases 1-2 complete by April '06 and Phase 3 complete by August '06.

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Phased Approach :

Phase 1
5 Volt Voltage Regulator ----- COMPLETE (1/06)
Ground Loop Isolator --------- COMPLETE (1/06)
Adapter - Headphone to RCA - COMPLETE (1/06)
Project Box ------------------ COMPLETE (1/06)
RCA Connectors - Female (2) - COMPLETE (1/06)
Monsoon Amp Wiring Harness

Phase 2
Extension Cable - VGA
Extension Cable - USB 2.0
Touchscreen 7" (diag.)
Remote Power On/Off Device - COMPLETE (1/06)
Wireless 802.11g NIC - COMPLETE (USB Stick) (1/06)
Wireless 5db Antenna

Phase 3
USB Hub - 2.0 (PCMCIA Card 32 bit Type II(Maybe not compatible w/ current laptop))
(I already have a USB 1.1 Hub (D-Link DSB-H4) Might get this Here
Slot Loading DVD Drive
Media Reader
GPS - USB Tracking Device
GPS - Software

Phase 4
Web Cam - USB
XM/Sirius Satellite Radio Connection
5.1 Surround Audio (Might move this to Phase 2)

Phase 5
OBD-II Port
???

drizzt81 · 12-16-2005, 12:52 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

Questions :

DVD Drive - can you run the remote DVD Slot Loading drive on USB 1.0 ?

Is FrodoPlayer what I want to use as my Front End ?

USB1.0 is 12 Mbps per channel, if there are no other devices on it, you will get <1.5 MBps

from http://www.videohelp.com/dvd
Single Layer (4.7GB) read speeds
1x read speed is 1.321MB/s = ~56 minutes

I would say that it is possible, but may not be the best option.

Hans Delbruck · 01-25-2006, 10:34 PM

So I bit the bullet.

I went into Radio Shack and bought some odds and ends to begin creating my Monsoon Project Box: (http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/faq-emporium/63879-faq-connecting-your-soundcard-volkswagen-monsoon-amp.html)

I bought the following items :

Soldering Iron (Dual Temp) $10.49
Solder .050 $ 2.99
Ground Loop Isolator $16.99
5v Regulator $ 1.59
Power Connectors (2-Position) $ 1.99
Project Box (5" x 2 1/2" x 2") $ 3.69
Coil of 20 GA Wire $ 4.99

Hans Delbruck · 01-25-2006, 10:55 PM

Step 001 - Cut hole in project box for Power Connectors

Step 002 - Insert 12v and Ground wire into Internal Power Connector

Step 003 - Insert 12v and Ground wire into External Power Connector
12v cable will eventually connect to existing Remote Turn-on wire from Sub Amp

Step 003a - Closeup of ground wire of external Power Connector

Step 004 - Line up 5v Regulator with Internal Power Connector wires to begin soldering

Step 005 - Solder 12v and Ground wire to 5v Regulator

Step 006 - Create 5v wire that splits into two wires that will connect to the negative portion of the female RCA connector

Step 007 - Solder 5v wire to 5v Regulator

Step 008 - Tape the three connections on the 5v Regulator to avoid any shorts.

Step 009 - Remove Male RCA Ends from the Ground Loop Isolator (All 4)

Step 009a - Closeup of RCA Cable - Negative is on the outside of the cable and Positive is in the center.

I need to get some more parts to finish the Monsoon Box.

RCA Female connectors (x4) to provide connection to Amp and 1/8" Soundcard Jack.

More to come after that...

Hans Delbruck · 01-26-2006, 07:53 AM

Continuation...

Got the parts ---

Step 010 - Splice 5v Wire into the negative GLI wire

Step 011 - Both 5v wires spliced in

Step 012 - Internal view of RCA jacks

Step 012a - External view of RCA jacks

Step 013 - Solder the Positive GLI wire to the center post and the Negative wire to the outside plate

Step 014 - Just needs a cover

Step 015 - COMPLETE !

Hans Delbruck · 01-26-2006, 07:56 AM

This morning I tackled the task of how to get a "Remote Turn-on Solution."

I was a bit worried as I had already tore apart my laptop previously, and hadn't seen an easy solution. Well it turns out that I gave up just a bit to easily.

Thanks to help of mercydevoid :
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...5&postcount=29

I attempted to "jump" start the laptop by "shorting" two of the three connections to the manual power button and to my surprise, the very first two that I tried - SUCCESS !

The next step was to solder a wire to each of these leads, run the wires out an opening in the rear of the laptop so they could be run to the front of the Jetta. I'm not sure what I'll use yet as the switch or toggle for these wires, and I'm up for any suggestions.

So I tore apart the laptop again and got down to the nitty-gritty (****ed I didnt take a pic before I starting soldering) and after about 20 minutes of trying to solder a wire onto a 1 mm by 2 mm lead, I got both connected.

As you can see here the top lead has it's own wire as does the bottom lead :

Another from a different angle :

Let the re-assemble begin :

Remote Turn-On Wires out the back :

Close-up of Remote Turn-On Wires :

The most important thing - I tested after re-assembly and it still works. The laptop sits there, you cross the wires and viola, it's booting up. It's probably nothing to get excited about, but i thought this would be one of my toughest obstacles. Well either way, the hard part of it is done, now I just need to decide on a tight way (simple and stealth) to implement it.

Hans Delbruck · 01-26-2006, 08:31 PM

I think the project might resume. Once again, I'm at the crossroads.

The options :

Big screen TV
OR
CarPC

I guess the thought process is that I've already got a TV, but I don't have a CarPC. Also, I'd like to think that I'll be able to get by with a budget of at least half of what I'd spend on a LCD Projection TV.

Off the bat - I'll need the 7" Touchscreen display. It's kind of hard to think about the fact that I could buy a 50" LCD TV for $1000 but still pay $300 for a 7" LCD Touchscreen. Economies of scale do not apply.

So, off a quick mental list, I'll need :

Touchscreen - $300
5.1 Soundcard - $80
Slot-Loading DVD Drive - $80
Misc - $140
TOTAL - $600

See if I can swing it.