OK, so here's the deal:
I really want to build an MP3 player for my car out of old computer parts. I figure a P166 should be OK for it with a 20 gig hard drive and a cordless keyboard and mouse. The only problem is a screen. I want to use an LCD or something like that in the dash, but I'm no electronics wiz and I don't know how to wire up an LCD to a VGA plug. So, if anybody knows where I can get a screen for this bad boy, let me know!
So, no anwer here - just another question - I've got a Rio MP3 player that recently spent the evening in the car, which got pretty darn cold (not frost, but chilly). The next AM, the battery was toast, and the the player has been really screwy... I'm starting to thing I've destroyed it.
With that in mind: How good of an idea are computer-base car mp3 players? I don't know of many harddrives that will be very happy in that environment for very long. Think about the pretty drastic heating/cooling cycle along with the lack of humidity control. I think most people building these systems will be pretty disappointed when they die in a month.
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Originally posted by doodle: OK, so here's the deal:
I really want to build an MP3 player for my car out of old computer parts. I figure a P166 should be OK for it with a 20 gig hard drive and a cordless keyboard and mouse. The only problem is a screen. I want to use an LCD or something like that in the dash, but I'm no electronics wiz and I don't know how to wire up an LCD to a VGA plug. So, if anybody knows where I can get a screen for this bad boy, let me know!
Ummm, I'm curious to know why you dont just buy an mp3 portable and run its output through a cassette adaptor to your current car stereo. Or, even better, buy one of those new Kenwood/Aiwa car stereos that read cd-r's encoded with mp3s. I have a feeling that hard drive you are planning on using wont work for long being jostled around constantly in your car, unless maybe you were planning on using a laptop.
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Pat D.
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Pat D.
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Originally posted by rock: So, no anwer here - just another question - I've got a Rio MP3 player that recently spent the evening in the car, which got pretty darn cold (not frost, but chilly). The next AM, the battery was toast, and the the player has been really screwy... I'm starting to thing I've destroyed it.
With that in mind: How good of an idea are computer-base car mp3 players? I don't know of many harddrives that will be very happy in that environment for very long. Think about the pretty drastic heating/cooling cycle along with the lack of humidity control. I think most people building these systems will be pretty disappointed when they die in a month.
Well, an Aiwa cd player is $299, which is about $300 more than I plan to invest in this system Same goes for a portable MP3 player. There are a lot of sites on the web that tell how they did this very same thing, but I can't find a decent LCD screen. I saw how one guy did it with a 6", 640x480 color LCD and had it hooked up thru a cheapo $30 graphics card with a TV out, and I just happen to have a TNT card with TV out! He built the LCD power supply and connections himself for about $100, but I don't want to be building one. If I could just find an LCD with the right connections, I could do this. And just think, I could play Quake 3 when I'm sitting a stop light. Hell, I could throw in a DVD player, too. Seriously with a cordless key board and mouse, with a 6" screen in the dash, the passenger could do all of his computing on the road, for a helluvalot less $$ than a laptop! Anyway, any help is greatly appreciated.
Doodle
[This message has been edited by doodle (edited October 23, 2000).]
goto www.techtv.com they have info on MP3 car players that are up to $2,000
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Doug Bunker
Doug Bunker
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Many people has doen it before and htere are many websites about it. Just search the freaking web. Other than that I'm just kinda curious how are you going to drive your car AND have a keyboard and a mouse (lol) on your lap ?! Nuh youdon't wanna do that. Get a remote control www.x10.com ($25) and a plugin for winamp. An lcd screen with backlight is your best choice. I'd go with alpha-numeric rather than graphical. They are easier to hookup and to use. Goto www.eio.com they sell 40x4 (40 segments x 4 lines) with LED backlight for about $20. they also have ton's of information how to conect them to a parallel port. BTW this 40x4 in a bezel is just about the size of a standard dash slot. So it may even look nice. the x10 remote is RF, so you can put your comp in the trunk. The other thing is you are gonna hev to make a new power supply. The computer needs +-12, +-5 V @about 5Ampers. www.maximic.com makes IC's that convert 12 volt and other voltages to what ever you want (almost). So there ya go. If you have good hands and you can build stuff, it's a pretty good project. :-)
When you are done, let us know.
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car MP3 player
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Same goes for a portable MP3 player. There are a lot of sites on the web that tell how they did this very same thing, but I can't find a decent LCD screen. I saw how one guy did it with a 6", 640x480 color LCD and had it hooked up thru a cheapo $30 graphics card with a TV out, and I just happen to have a TNT card with TV out! He built the LCD power supply and connections himself for about $100, but I don't want to be building one. If I could just find an LCD with the right connections, I could do this. And just think, I could play Quake 3 when I'm sitting a stop light. Hell, I could throw in a DVD player, too. Seriously with a cordless key board and mouse, with a 6" screen in the dash, the passenger could do all of his computing on the road, for a helluvalot less $$ than a laptop! Anyway, any help is greatly appreciated.
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