Archive for the 'The Truck-Puter' Category

New Toys

Published
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Meta
on March 12, 2008
in Projects and The Truck-Puter
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There have been several times when I have been elsewhere other than my truck when I wished I had the carputer with me… if only for the navigation system.  During my trip to the U.K. last month, I was really impressed with the Garmin.  Though I had thought about it before and never pursued it, I finally opted to go for a mobile, multi-use navigation solution.

Along with upgrading the carputer’s navigation software to iGuidance 4.0, I also grabbed a new BT-359 BlueTooth GPS Receiver.  What’s nice about the whole solution is:

1. The software is leaps ahead of v2.1 I’ve been using since 2003.  Not only are the maps updated, but they’ve added text-to-speech for announcing street names and the interface is much, much better for in-car use with a touch-screen. 

2. The software now allows multiple device installation with a single license.  That means I can install it on the carputer (which is fully integrated with the truck and not very mobile), my laptop (which is mobile, but really only useful if I’m a passenger and if the trip is shorter than my battery life), and best of all… my SmartPhone (which, when coupled with the BlueTooth receiver, I can use just walking down a street or when geo-caching in the woods). As you can see from the picture next to my phone, the GPS receiver is pretty small and would fit inconspicuously into a jacket/shirt pocket, handbag or even inside a half-full pack of cigarettes.

3. Though I’ve sort of already mentioned it, but it deserves a mention in-itself, v4.0 includes a WindowsMobile 5 version for SmartPhones.  What’s better than having nationwide maps and voice-guided navigation in your car?  Having it on your phone!

It’s alive!

Published
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Meta
on April 25, 2006
in The Truck-Puter
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The new M2-ATX 160w DC-DC ATX Automotive Power Supply with Integrated Shutdown Controller has arrived. I installed it, and we’re back in business.

Now to see if I can power the Xenarc from here without blowing it up like I did the last one.

Problem solved… for now

Published
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Meta
on April 20, 2006
in The Truck-Puter
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After sleeping on it, I decided to hang on to the Opus for ‘future application’ and just buy a new M2-ATX power supply. The fried M1-ATX was 90 watts. The M2-ATX is 160 watts. Aside from that, they are apparently identical and therefore should work. So… perhaps next week I’ll be running again.

Quite pissed at myself…

Published
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Meta
on April 19, 2006
in The Truck-Puter
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Suddenly, he remembered why he did NOT get the Opus 120 PSU in the first place…

… the damn thing won’t fit!

If you look at the picture, the RED ring is the Opus 120 power supply itself. The GREEN ring is the 1/2" overlap on top of the IDE connectors and the YELLOW ring is the 1/2" overlap on top of the front-panel USB connectors.

I never thought to check the dimensions to make sure it would fit in my very-condensed, black Morex 3688 case. Dammit.

But now that I have the Opus 120w (better than the old M1-ATX), I’m debating whether I should send it back and get a replacement M1-ATX PSU, or just keep the Opus, and buy a bigger case.

If I get a new case for the TruckPuter, that will leave me with an extra case (the Morex 3688). I would only need a new motherboard, power supply and hard-drive to build CarPuter v2 for the Miata (which I’ve decided to keep). Keep in mind that, regarding the Miata, I also have an extra set of Infinity Kappa 5.25" components I could install there to replace the crappy OEM Bose speakers.

Decisions, decisions… I think I’ve died and gone to Geek-Hell.

Yay

Published
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Meta
on April 18, 2006
in The Truck-Puter
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My Opus 120w PSU will be here tomorrow!

I fried it

Published
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Meta
on April 16, 2006
in The Truck-Puter
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I did some investigating and I think I figured out what I did wrong.

If you recall, I built a custom connector to extend the power rails outside the PC. One is to connect the incoming power, and the other is to connect peripherals; specifically, the LCD monitor.

So I modified AdaptaPlug cable so that one end, using a Molex connector, would connect to the PC power output, and the other end I would attach an N tip, which would plug into the LCD.

Well, after taking care to build the cables with the correct polarity, I think I plugged the tip into the wire the wrong way. Doing so fried the 12v regulator chip on the power supply.

I just ordered a replacement PSU, which should be here Wednesday or Thursday.

Damn

Published
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Meta
on April 15, 2006
in The Truck-Puter
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Having Friday off, I thought I would finish the remaining details. The first of the last things remaining was to remove the temporary power solution for the monitor (where I had been using a multi-volt adapter in the lighter socket). I built a cable to attach the 12v input for the monitor to the 12v rail on the PC. I haven’t yet figured out what I did wrong, but apparently that’s what did it. Things worked fine early yesterday morning. But after plugging in the monitor and getting nothing… the going back the old way and still getting nothing… then bringing the PC in the house and hooking it up to the "in-house" power and still getting nothing… I knew I had a problem.

This morning, as a test to see if it was a problem with the power supply or the main board, I connected the board up to an old power supply I had laying around. I booted right up. Somehow, I managed to fry my M1-ATX "automotive" power supply.

So I’ll be ordering a replacement, and will double-check my monitor power connection before trying again.

Miracles

Published
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Meta
on April 10, 2006
in The Truck-Puter
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Very strange, and I’m not complaining. On the way to work this morning, I was without audio on the passenger’s side. It was kind of annoying. But early this afternoon I had to attend a meeting at a client’s main HQ building downtown. It caught me by surprise… but the passenger’s side was working!

I thought it was just luck until I finally left to head home for the night. It was STILL working, and did so all the way home. It rocks… and I haven’t even tweaked it yet!

Tweeter install… almost…

Published
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Meta
on April 9, 2006
in The Truck-Puter
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So… with the woofers in place, the last big thing was to install the tweeters. First, I measured how big the holes needed to be and where to put them, then, with my trusty Dremel tool, I hollowed out spots in each door. Then I flush-mounted the tweeters using the kit that came with them. I put the door panels back on, and that was that. Not too bad after-all. And it turned out nice, huh?

The problem I have now… hopefully just a short or a loose connection somewhere. The passengers side keeps going silent. But I’m too whipped to work on it anymore. Time for a beer.

Speaker Install (attempt #2)

Published
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Meta
on April 9, 2006
in The Truck-Puter
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Ok, I made some progress. After thinking things through a bit more, and trying some things out, I decided that instead of trying to run new speaker wire for the tweeters into the doors (which turns out to be next to impossible), I would relocate the crossovers to the doors. This way I could use the factory pair of speaker wires already there as the ‘input’ for the crossover, then make short runs within the door for the woofer and tweeter.

So first thing to do was test fit the 60.7’s with the Scosche brackets I ordered from Crutchfield. So far so good.

Next was to find a place for the crossover. I tried a lot of different places, but things just never fit right. There’s some funky stuff going on inside the door panel which doesn’t leave much room. But I finally found a spot. I was able to drill a small hole in the door and attach the crossover with a single screw. With that and the pressure of the door panel will hold it rock solid.

And now… to mount the tweeters…