Worklog: Project TezzaPuta - 2006 Ford Territory Ghia (Melbourne, Australia) - Page 2

long.1 · 04-02-2007, 02:02 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by MrJamieR

You may want to consider renaming the project. I'm not certain but I'm pretty sure you're currently telling everyone that the Tezza has sex for money. (In Spanish.) A definite hurdle in obtaining SA.

Quote: Originally Posted by cederron

HAha that's true! In Spanish a Puta is a woman that has sex for money.

Hey fellas,

Thanks for that - I'll rename my project........
Heh heh - Only joking.....If my Tezza wants to drive to Spain and have sex for money, then thats just fine by me.

With respect to the project, I've purchased a 2nd hand DVD Rom / CDRW Combo. More details soon, once I get the pictures sorted.

Cheers,

Long.1

mrbean_phillip · 04-02-2007, 05:46 AM

Can hardly wait for this to take shape!

Keep us posted, Steve

long.1 · 04-04-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by long.1

......With respect to the project, I've purchased a 2nd hand DVD Rom / CDRW Combo. More details soon, once I get the pictures sorted.....

Thanks to eBay I've purchased:
- a 2nd hand Sony Slim DVD ROM / CDRW Combo (Model No: CRX830E) and
- a new JAE to IDE ROM Drive Adapter

Initial testing has been successful, so once again I'm pretty happy. Naturally I've also updated Post #2 with the latest components PDF: Project_TezzaPuta_B_PC_Components.pdf

So at the moment the absence of a VGA touchscreen is really all that's holding back my project. It's probably the most crucial component in my opinion and I won't be rushed into purchasing. I'm keeping a keen eye on the MP3Car store (and relevant threads) for any movements in the translective screens, because to put it bluntly in the next couple of months I'm no chance to spend the $1000+ AUD to get one of these monitors shipped to Australia.

My sister is going to the US for a few months soon, so I may be able to work something out via her, but we'll see. I'll still have to come up with the cash from somewhere !!

As a result, things will probably die down a bit over the next month. With the Easter break and the Aussie Rules footy starting, my time will be quite limited. Still, I'll see if I can get cracking on the custom CarPC case. Stay tuned, but don't go holding your breath.

Cheers,

Long.1

mrbean_phillip · 04-26-2007, 07:49 AM

We should meet up,l so I can show you what I have done

Looking good, working great.

Take care, hope to hear from you soon.

PM me so we can discuss a meet, if you have time!

long.1 · 04-28-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by mrbean_phillip

We should meet up, so I can show you what I have done

Looking good, working great.
Take care, hope to hear from you soon. PM me so we can discuss a meet, if you have time!

No worries Beanie,

I'm definitely keen to see your progress as well. I'm keeping a susbscribed-eye on your worklog and I'm eagerly awaiting your next update. Definitely keen to see the install in the flesh as well.

To be honest, I'm finding time a little limited at the moment. As I eluded to previously I play Aussie Rules Football, and unfortunately we've also had some health issues in the family.

On a positive note, I seem to have overcome one of my main concerns with very little effort. The other day my wife said something like "when the carputer goes in....". I was pretty pumped to hear that word "when". A minor victory, but a victory nonetheless.

Cheers,

Long.1

long.1 · 05-24-2007, 03:12 AM

Hey Guys,

It's been a while, so I thought I'd update the worklog with the latest on the project.

In short, I've encounted some sound quality issues with the external USB sound card (Creative SB Extigy). Hard to describe what's actually taking place, but it's like there's an echo or a reverberation. Basically, it sounds terrible, and that's just with the PC running on my normal desktop speakers.

One further annoying issue, is that once the Extigy is installed, it seems impossible to switch back to the onboard sound. Even when I unplug the Extigy (disable it / uninstall it) etc, I still can't get the motherboards onboard sound back into action. Windows says there are no Audio Playpack devices installed. Re-installing Via drivers does not correct the problem.

I suspect (wondering really) if the Via Epia EN12000EG is basically not powerful enough to run this device. I'd like to try the Extigy out on my P4 desktop to see the performance comparison, but I'm a little concerned about these side effects. I'll see if I can find a guinea pig PC somewhere.

So basically, it looks like a rebuild to address the sound issue. Not a big concern, and won't be the last time I'd suspect.

In other news, I've installed Road Runner (with default skin) and started playing around with it here and there. It's all good fun, and would be even better if I had a touchscreen !!

Cheers,

Long.1

mrbean_phillip · 05-24-2007, 07:01 AM

Hey Steve,
I could test it on one of my systems for you, just let me know...would'nt be a problem

Br,
Beanie.

BiGGy · 05-24-2007, 08:28 AM

Looking good! Keep it going.

long.1 · 06-02-2007, 01:33 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by mrbean_phillip

Hey Steve, I could test it on one of my systems for you, just let me know...would'nt be a problem

Br, Beanie.

Quote: Originally Posted by BiGGy

Looking good! Keep it going.

Thanks Beanie - Will let you know. For now, I've sacked it.
Cheers BiGGy !! Oi Oi Oi !! That symbol would make a good avatar.

Another Audio Update.

As I mentioned above I've rebuilt the CarPC - well, from an XP/software standpoint anyway. This time I've not installed the Creative SB Extigy at all and I've just relied on the onboard sound.

Now I know from all my reading that this probably means I'll need to get an amplifier, and to be honest I've been anticipating this anyway, and I've been I doing some research on amplifiers, distribution blocks, etc for a while now.

Now for those not really familiar with my car (Aussie Ford Territory), my Ghia model comes with the Premium ICC (Internal Command Centre), colour screen, and what they call a Premium audio system. Now many Territory/Ford owners believe that the word "Premium" is well and truly overkill. Whilst it's got a 6-disc in-dash CD player, a 150 watt amplifier, and sub-woofer, the concensus on the Australian Ford Forums is that the sound is far from mind blowing and certainly not "Premium". Anyway......I digress. What I will say is that the sound quality is more than acceptable to my inexperienced ears, and with two young kids, it's rare that I even want to turn it up.

However, there's one cool Ford accessory that I optioned when I purchased the car. The iPod/MP3 Audio Input is an adapter that allows your portable music device to be played through the car's sound system via a 3.5mm socket interfaced into the Auxillary Audio In. I got this little unit because I knew that someone in the family would eventually get an iPod or similar.

So I thought to myself, why not give it a go !! Expecting to be disappointed, I basically took the PC into the car and connected up the onboard sound to this iPod/MP3 Audio Adapter. See testing photos below:

My "Mobile" PC

Ford's Input Jack

To my surprise, the sound was not too bad at all. Now it's not exactly competition standard but it looks like it "could" be good enough for me/us. Apparently this adapter draws power from a mobile phone plug and can boost the audio via a small amplifier circuit. Much of that is over my head, but hey, if it works I'll be happy.

Here's a shot of the ICC playing music from the PC through the AUX In.

Volume settings would need to be tweaked between PC / Applications / and Car Stereo, but I believe it's achievable. We'll see.

The one down side (hence the roller coaster title of this post) is that the Onboard Audio occasionally turns itself into a FAX Machine !! It can start making some weird fax-like sounds, and then sometimes goes into an relentless high pitch ear piercing noise. This won't be acceptable if I can't get on top of it. I've had a quick search around the forum for similar issues without luck. I might start a new thread to see if anyone has had similar problems.

For now though I'm "reasonably" happy knowing that if I can get the PC side right, the car looks like it can accommodate things relatively easily.

Cheers,

Long.1

mrbean_phillip · 06-02-2007, 10:16 PM

Looking good there

And I have to agree, for now the Premium Sound is ok for me and my Wife (notice capital W in Wife

)

Rofl. Anyway, I tested my LCD yesterday, and where I finally mounted it, working quite well, now I have to wait for Travroute to release Laptop Version10 GPS software.

Keep the photos coming!

And we should meet up between all the Footie games

MIncorporated · 06-02-2007, 11:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by mrbean_phillip

Looking good there

now I have to wait for Travroute to release Laptop Version10 GPS software.

Are you sure it hasn't already been released, it's advertised at Organiser World in Latrobe Street as being available now. Link to Organiser World

Looking good there Long.1

I'll have to start on my install sometime soon, another few weeks and i'll be finished my exams so i might try and get into it then.

Cheers,
Mark

long.1 · 06-04-2007, 12:07 AM

Following on from my last post, there could be some audio concerns. Been doing some "High Pitch" research on the ViaArena forums today, and I've found quite a number of problem threads relating to the onboard sound of my EN12000EG (and twin EN15000G) motherboard.

There's a variety of "potential" workarounds listed from different members, but as far as I can tell, no conclusive solution and very little response/updates from Via. Many members have returned their merchandise which doesn't fill me full of confidence.

In any case, I'll work through some of the members suggestions and see what eventuates.

Cheers,

Long.1

long.1 · 06-19-2007, 01:28 PM

Video Update - DVD Playing on Multiple Screens

I've managed to perform some DVD testing on my rear headrest monitors. Everything is setup on my test workbench as you can see from the photos below. Here's a shot of Windows booting up (on all three screens):

All aspects of the rear headrest screens are connected to the computer.

1) The power/ground are connected to the 12v/Gnd via a hacked molex connector. I have no idea if my temporary wiring is acceptable or not - I've used ring terminals as my molex crimping tools/skills just aren't cutting it thus far.

2) The Video In is connected straight to the RCA jack on the back plate of the motherboard. This jack was the main reason I went for the motherboard given my rear screen intentions. At this stage I'm just using a "Y" adapter so that both screens are plugged in at once, and thus far the signal does not look like it needs boosting.

3) For the Audio In (there are little speakers on the headrests), I've also used a "Y" adapter to plug into the Green 3.5mm jack on the back of the motherboard. For now, I have some desktop speakers in there as well simulating the car's speakers. Notably, I've not been able to get the full surround sound working on the motherboard as yet, but this approach seems to work OK (at least on the test workbench).

Now to some DVD playback photos - for those that care, I'm playing "Curb Your Enthusiasm". As you can see from the shot below, the motherboard (Epia EN12000EG) seems to only be capable of outputting video via one output at a time (either VGA or RCA).

Then when displaying in full screen mode, the CRT (main monitor) goes blank.

I'm not sure how this will play out when a touchscreen and front end are introduced, but I'm hopeful this won't be a factor. I don't want video on the main screen anyway.

Lastly, on the previous "high Pitch" audio concerns, I have no idea of what I've changed, or whether it's related to MP3 files only, but I've not encountered it any more since testing the DVD/Video side of things. Fingers crossed.

Cheers,

Long.1

long.1 · 06-24-2007, 02:10 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MIncorporated

.......it's advertised at Organiser World in Latrobe Street as being available now. Link to Organiser World
......Looking good there Long.1 ......I'll have to start on my install sometime soon, another few weeks and i'll be finished my exams so i might try and get into it then.
Cheers,
Mark

Thanks for that Mark - most appreciated. Good luck with the exams, and I'll look forward to your worklog.

Cheers,

Long.1

mrbean_phillip · 06-25-2007, 08:09 AM

Looking good, Steve

Of course, if the sound issues persist, just go get a decent pci soundcard...if your setup allows for a pci-based card - would sort your issues.

Wrt CoPilot 10, just installed and activated mine, working great - and looking good too! Running like a dream on the MacMini setup I am currenty using (dualboot WinXP)

Keep us posted, would like to see your setup once complete