Thread: 2005 Volkswagen GTI

Originally Posted by simon_C

i suggest sticking with the powermate. mounting it in the center of the dash would be an ideal place and its kinda fun having such a large knob for volume.

One of the "restrictions" I've placed on myself for this project is that thing look pretty OEM. The Powermate fails that test. In my interior, it sticks out like a sore thumb. Originally, I wanted to have a non-touchscreen and use a Powermate/ShuttleXpress as the only input. I might still go that route, but not yet. I still would like a volume knob, but I think I would do better with hacking up a mouse and finding a knob that matched better.

Man, I love the Internet and shopping by mail. I get free/cheap shipping, no tax, and both directron and monarch computers is getting my gear to me quickly. They should both be arriving today. I'll return the "old" parts to Fry's tommorow, saving myself $110.

Now, I really want to run Linux on this. I'm comfortable in that environment and I'd really like to see it see better options for Linux based carPCs. I can't really see myself helping out with PyCar or other Linux software if I'm not eating my own dogfood (running Linux myself). Since this is just an mp3 player for now, I should be OK, right? Do Linux people usually run PyCar? IIRC, I tried it out and it doesn't do id3 tag based browsing, so that would be the first thing I would add before installing. I also need to help see how GizmoDaemon works with pycar and the Shuttle, but that's not really a priority.

How do others do BIOS updates? I had trouble with the files sitting on a NTFS partition, I imagine I'll have the same trouble with them on an ext3 partition. I couldn't find anything on the net that was a "here's a DR DOS boot disk, here's how to add AWDFLASH and ***.BIN files to it.

So, I guess I'm updating the BIOS and installing Debian and PyCar this weekend.

I did get my new gear. Monarch Computer had about 5 notices warning me that if I'm being paid to reship my order out of the country, I'm probably helping commit credit card fraud. Seriously, two stickers on the box, a sticker on each of the individual item's box and a flyer on the inside. Interestingly they shipped the m10000 and RAM in a different motherboard's box. It was bigger and they padded the hell out of my stuff, but I was getting all worked up when I saw, "DFI AD77 PRO KT400". No actual problems though.

I installed Debian and flashed the BIOS. I thought of the idea of setting aside a 10mb partition just for BIOS flashing. It should boot Dr-DOS or FreeDOS or something. My first attempt didn't work, so I asked on the Linux forum here.

I returned the other gear to Fry's. My return clerk inspected everything. He asked me if I had opened the RAM, I said yes, it works fine, I just don't want it. The return clerk looked carefully at the RAM and said, "Are you sure? It looks factory sealed and it would be easier on us if you hadn't opened it". I mubled something about being sure I opened it. He needed to match up some serial number on the actual memory module with a a number on the package and with a number on my reciept. Seems like a reasonable system to protect themselves. It turns out, that on any given item, the "serial number" , can really be any number on the item, even a substring of something stamped on the item. So, my clerk needed help. Rhe supervisor came over and said, "This looks new, he didn't open it, no problem" and walked away. My clerk explained that they don't repackage and resell (for those that have never experienced the joys of Fry's Electronics, they resell returned items for a slightly lower price, yes they mark them as returned) RAM because no one buys it. So, my returned RAM is out there somewhere being sold as new. I'm pretty sure that's no legal. On the other hand, I was careful with it and it works just fine.

Finally, I returned the Powermate and the ShuttleXpress. I had planned on seeing how it worked under Linux, but I think I'd rather have a working system (just and mp3 player for now) installed before getting fancy.

Next, I'm going to copy over my mp3 collection, and try out the various Linux front ends. At first glance PyCar looks to be the best supported. IIRC, it doesn't have a music database, just a file/directory browser. That's no good, maybe I'll write the Python to do it. I like iTunes (and my iPod), I was thinking of just syncing my collection and iTunesDB to my carPC whenever I'm in range of my homre AP. The music browser could just use the iTunesDB, and also update it with playcounts and such. Some thread on here asked for someone to make a clone of the iPod interface for a carPC. The more I think about it, the more I like it. That UI works well, I just want it in my dash. Hmmm.... I wonder how open the PyCar author is to other developers, I need to look.

There's an EPIA Linux site I need to go through and make sure I'm using all the latest and greatest drivers. I also need to decide on location of my install in the car. I wonder if it'll fit under one of the front seats? Finally, I need to buy the screen and M1-ATX

Cool. I'm going to do my install with just a touchscreen, but I think just the layout and heiarchical menus of the iPod still works. I'll let you know if I actually write anything

Got my radio removal keys yesterday from http://www.42draftdesigns.com/ These guys rock. They're active on the MkIV forum at vwvortex. When looking for keys I ran into a lot of sketchy sites that didn't make it clear they keys would actually fit my year radio. Also lots of places wanted $20 for a set and I had to buy two sets (VW double din radio takes four keys). The 42 Draft Design guys charged me $8, shipping included for all four keys. They look nice too, there's a rubber coated loop for a handle and everything.

So, now I can pull my head unit and look around in there.

I tried installing pycar this morning. Uggg.. It was hard, and it still doesn't work yet. When I installed it on Windows it was easy. Why am I using Linux again? I don't know, I figured there would be a need to do all kinds of little scripting (to sync songs when I'm in range of my AP), etc and the environment and design of Linux excels at those kinds of things. At some point, I just want this to work. I'll try a few more Linux front ends.

Not to derail you, you've already got the M10000 but did you consider the Mac Mini? Unix fo r scriptability, OSX for the "just want this to work" part.

Not criticizing, just wondering.

Not to derail you, you've already got the M10000 but did you consider the Mac Mini? Unix for scriptability, OSX for the "just want this to work" part.

Not criticizing, just wondering.

Originally Posted by Bugbyte

Not to derail you, you've already got the M10000 but did you consider the Mac Mini? Unix for scriptability, OSX for the "just want this to work" part.
Not criticizing, just wondering.

No criticism taken. I didn't really. I've done a tiny bit of Mac programming, but never anything on OSX. I figured I really knew my way around Linux, and Debian specifically, so that would be the best bet. I'm sure this carpc project will have a few revisions, maybe 2.0 will be a Mac Mini.

Now, back to the ranting:
- Pulled my headunit last night to look around. It's surprisingly clean in there. For some reason I didn't need to enter the security code when I plugged it all back in. huh. While it was out, my wife suggested the "cute little motherboard" might fit in that space. It does! But, it's not deep enough. Theres some plastic bits at the back, although it looks like I could rip out the whole pastic radio cage. Any Golf/Jetta people done this? It would be tight, and I'm not sure it'll be worth it, so I probably won't put it there, just the screen.

- Thought about locating everything under the front seats. I checked clearances, and it seems to work, depending on how high the m1-atx is. I'm not sure what I would use for a case, I could get a way with just a shell to put over the whole thing.

- I found sporthatch.com, it's not really related to carpcs, but it's another mod I've been thinking about. If I do this, I think I'll end up with some more nice enclosed spaces that would be perfect homes for a motherboard and it's friends.

- I'm still fighthing pycar. Actually, that's not fair. I haven't done any more since my last post. I did start looking at other front ends.