Hardware History

Start Up WDS_Info Antenna History PowerControl ver 1.4 Power Control ver 2.2 Jam Electronics History

 

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WDS_Info
Antenna History
PowerControl ver 1.4
Power Control ver 2.2
Jam Electronics History

 

 

(2009-07-31)

Started to fit the LCD panel into the 2'nd BM. Epoxy... More pictures

(2009-05-17)

I have replaced front speakers with DLS Iridium 6.2i. (Manual) The old DLS speakers lasted for 8 years. When I took it apart one of the speakers had rust on them....

(2009-02-28)

I have finished the boot to 99%. (The upholstery has to be put in place + mic power has to be connected)

(2009-02-22)

I have finally connected the mic in the ceiling.

(2009-02-08)

The mic is complete. A 5V source, a 1k series resistor and 47uF bipolar capacitor seems to make the BMW mic work. It gives 3.2V at the mic input, which gives 1,4V swing. I have tried it on my desktop computer. It will be interesting to see how it works in the car.

(2009-01-11)

Design of powercontrol is complete, and I have sent Adam and Amitava their units. I might make an MkIV with all changes in the pattern if somebody else want one. It takes to long to make the mods. Last trouble was what I would call a fault in the Trimble GPS module that needed a workaround.

I might also make a pcb for the dash with LED's and buttons and a gate for IBus so that I can block out the ignition off message to the Bordmonitor. Electronic design is made, and I've got 99% of the components but the code remains to be written.

I have made a simple application that will just send a message when started that will preempt the booting timer of the power control. Very handy, as the screen will be off just as long as the PC needs to boot.

(2008-11-02)

First GPS only module is ready to be shipped. The GPS module itself is not included as Per had his own, but I've included a nut and a washer:

(2008-10-26)

I have made cabling for the first PC&GPS modules.

 

(2008-10-12)

Built, but untested powercontrol and dead reckoning GPS with dual IBus interface. 
(ok ok, the cpu is missing as well as 2 transistors and a regulator... And the front panel is not done yet) 

 

(2008-09-19)

Schematics of powercontrol MkIII is updated and new layout is made. New BOM list is made and price is considerably lower than on version 2.

(2008-08-28)

This is what I think the amplifier in the mic looks like. So if feed thru a 1k resistor and 5V (that is available) probably work is probably the best. I can think of a better solution with an op amp for noise immunity, but it is probably not worth it. And the PC mic input probably has a capacitor at the input already so it can be connected right in.

(2008-08-24)

(2008-08-23)

   

Dashcommand is installed and working. 16€ license. I've connected the microphone in PC end, but I have problems with the mic end. It seem to contain a preamp, and I do not know how to connect it.

White +
Green - 
Brown shield

(2008-08-20)

My CCD camera arrived. It is slightly larger than the CMOS camera. Diameter is 32,1mm in stead of 27,7mm and it is much longer. 

(2008-08-24)

New box for powercontrol MkIII has arrived! So there will be an MkIII eventually!

(2008-08-07)

Tyre pressure sensors are mounted.

The instruction manual was not specific on how to place washers. I did not use my sense, and placed alu washer on wrong side first as I tried to do it as I could see from picture in manual. Alu washer goes on the outside...



I have also fitted a litter basket... :-)

(2008-08-01)

Third attempt do get a proper keyboard. I bought a Logitech diNovo 

I first bought a keyboard that was of poor quality. The buttons got stuck and fell off. The second one was excellent, but IR...

(2008-05-14)

Module is done! And the 26'th of May installation in car is going to start!

(2008-05-02)

The GPS works!

(2008-04-06)

I _was_ considering the rockford fosgate 3sixty.2. But its $700 and it only contains filters and equlizers. No time compensation or phase control. But it can be configured via Bluetooth. :-)

(2007-11-28)

The USB-DVD did not work so well on a hub, so I've connected the two USB boards that were left unconnected on the mobo to get 4 USB ports directly from the mobo. To them I've connected the two hubs as before and the DVD and the 3G modem.

(Why is it so difficult to convince a PC that the devices are the same. They are just connected on new ports!)

 

(2008-03-29)

I found a "power inserter" at www.kjell.com. Turns out my TV antenna is not active. 

(2008-03-24)

I have ordered 10 pcb's for the 8051 GPS system. I have also received the two Trimble GPS modules I've ordered about a month ago!

While I wait for the boards I will update the part list and order parts that I've missed or changed.

Not sure how to make holes in panel... Dremell I guess...

(2008-02-13) The PC is replaced. Out goes this MII12000 system:


The MII12000 motherBoard and the VoomBox case. GeForce MX4000 PCI 64MB VGA TV Out Video Card.

Once I got the thing running and want to install in car, I will probably buy a low-profile box and a motherboard that supports powerstrip or 480x800 without a graphics board.

The Voombox connector holds power input and remote control on/off of amp. 

Left Row   Right Row  
Red Battery Black GND
White Ignition Dark Blue GND remote
Black (thin) Not Used Orange Amp remote
Green Not Used No Lead -

 

The M1 ATX power supply from mini-box. As a matter of fact I found the source code in Epiacenter

The M1-ATX configuration: After ignition is turned on the mobo is started after 4s. When ignition is turned off the mobo is turned off after 5s. The standby 5V remains on for 45s. (Jumper A on J7). 45s will ensure that the PC goes into hibernation (about 15s) before USB 5V goes away. 5s is the time the user has to stop hibernation.


This pcb will connect the M1 Power to the ITX board. No cable! Better airflow. Neat. 

(2008-02-08) I will replace GPS USB device with dead reckoning device with external antenna

I did _not_ go with the u-blox alternative:

LEA-4R

And I did not go with the BMW alternative:

I will have to buy a GPS receiver with connector for external antenna, and a digital TV receiver also with connector for external antenna. Or maybe a 65 90 - 8 38 51 41 can be used. Connector X3372

I've just been informed that PPS is pulse per second and is a 1Hz signal meant for synchronization. Standard GPS technology. This makes it even more likely that BMW used standard components.

I qualified guess is also that TXD, TXDN, RXD, and RXDN is RS422 talking NMEA. Could also be two channels, one talking NMEA and the other TSIP (Trimble Standard Interface Protocol) or alike.

(2007-10-14) New Bordmonitor and DL065A

I've bough a second DL065A since I broke the first one. I've also bought another Bordmonitor, for TAPE this time.

 

The internal is very alike the CD version as expected. Apart from the cassette unit I believe that they are exactly compatible.

(2007-05-24) Buying stuff

Early April I bought a new apartment, and from then on I've been occupied by that. I even had to put all the carputer stuff away. I will start again in July or so. 

Only thing to do is to buy stuff and wait for it.

Like the Panda innovations monitor Pi650.

A HQCT-e

A USB connector 

A USB to ODB interface with BMW adapter (eBay) 

 

 

(2007-01-27) I have now sold the CIB on eBay

I now have VGA interface in my Bordmonitor.

 
The CIB with external power

Not available anymore. There is a similar unit that I personally have no experience in. (broken link)

(2007-01-25) I have broken the DL065A....... 

I don't think I will be able to fix it and have ordered a new unit... That was a $700 mistake, and I don't even know what I did. 2 weeks....

It wont be here for another couple of months so I have had to rethink my schedule. What is good is that I now know I will be able to fit it all into the Bordmonitor and how. Only some minor issues left like OSD and possibly CD in slot detection. 

(2007-01-09) I have received the DL065A from Panda.

It felt a bit insecure to wait 12 weeks for the Sharp display and then have no plan B. The DL065A was $705 + $100 in tax but it is the only 6,5" LCD with 480x800 that I've found that is easily obtainable. Read about it.

               (click to enlarge)

It is now in pieces. And surprise surprise. The LCD is a Sharp LQ065Y5DG01. The 01 at the end instead of 02 depends on viewing angle. So that panel is _still_ the only 6.5" with 480x800.

(2007-01-06) I received the Actisys Bluetooth + WLAN 802.11g Adapter

I discovered that my MSI 3x StarKey Bluetooth dongles did not support Wifi as well as BT as they had claimed in the store when I bought them. Today I received 2 of these babies from expansys instead. Unfortunately the BT part cannot be used. It has a BlueSoleil driver that does not support VoiceGate. Also its a spec 1.2 device and they are known for having interference issues. Fortunately it can coexist with the previous BT radio.

(2006-11-23) Rear and Front view camera

Available as NTCS or PAL, mirrored or not, with or without IR LED's. Mine are NTCS mirrored. Composite output. 510x492 pixels. Interlaced, 60Hz, 15734Hz vertical, 380 lines resolution. Max 150mA, 12VDC. 

2006-10-31) GPS Reception

The GPS mouse have no reception in my flat. Therefore I downloaded Franson GPSGate 2.0. I checked GoogleEarth for the exact position of where I live, and the Franson app generate data consistent with me driving up and down my street at 18 km/h. Beautiful! (I have logged that data so that I resend it when the 14 days trial license has expired) 

(2006-10-20) CPU Performance

Turns out the cpu performance is an issue... Media player alone loads the cpu 67% cpu load with 256kbit mp3 files. 90% if the graphical VU meter is visible. Yes, I mean the tiny little thing to the right of the volume control. VNC does takes from a few percent opto 40% with the graphical VU meter visible.

(2006-06-15) Today I bought myself a 3G Blue Tooth telephone. A Nokia 6280. 

(2006-06-12) Note about the USB DVD

It can be very slow... Together with the start-up problem (have to unplug and reconnect for windows to find it) I'm not 100% happy with it. Hoping for a driver upgrade..

(2006-06-12) USB to RS232

I have also got myself a USB RS232adapter to debug IBusComM from host. (with a full size screen) The new motherboard I got when the old one broke does not have a single RS232 port!!!!

(2006-06-09)

Setting up the PC

The mini-ITX is a MII12000 with a e-GeForce MX4000 Pci board. The onboard graphics controller is not supported by the PowerStrip driver. The pci board is set in Bios to be preferred against AGP, but then you also have to boot in safe mode and disable the onboard controller all together from the control panel.

First I set the mini-ITX car pc up with my desktop monitor. 

Second I switch to the Board monitor screen and control the ITX from the desktop PC via VNC. Virtual network computing. 

The HDD Drive assembly

I cut (advised by carputer) a standard IDE cable to get a short one with only connectors in the ends. 

The power connectors from the ITX power pcb is also removed and the power cable to the disk soldered right in. (Can still be detached at disk)

Observation 1) The red 1960's LED on the VoomPC front has to go, and is now replaced by blue one!
Observation 2) It is a whole lot slower than my desktop PC 

Graphics board assembly

In order to fit  the graphics board into the VoomPC I first had to make a mounting plate for it.

The plate drawing

 

An over view. On top is the graphics board on its simple painted steel plate connected with a flexible pci riser. (I had to remove the PCMCIA unit to fit the graphics board in)

Then I put alu h-profiles (?) to rise the ceiling in the VoomPC. It is now 12mm higher to house the graphics board.

 

The left profile seen from front. Wide enough to lean on the motherboard nuts. Simply glued with epoxy. 

The big heat-sink is here mounted 12mm higher than before on the new edge made by the alu profile. The new front is not that beautiful, but has got the right holes in the right places. An the graphics board is screwed onto it for mechanical release. It makes a rugged impression.

 

(2006-05-23) USB DVD

The USB DVD did not work right away. I had to make a new cable, and I can still not set it as a boot first device. Then the pc does not boot at all. That does not matter much since I want the boot to be as fast as possible. 

And the PC does not detect the USB device every time. I have to unplug the USB cable...

Some small bits and pieces left.

(2006-05-14) PSU

I had problems with the PSU but it turned out to be just me! did not connect a power switch to the motherboard! Embarrassing!

(060317) Dual Audio Outputs not possible

Unfortunately there is no way of having two audio outputs. If my son is seeing a film or even playing a game he cannot have that sound in headphones and I'd be listening to mp3's... Shame.

People at Creative have said that this cannot be done as the source for the audio is the same in both cases. (But what about the USB Radio.... hm...) There are difficult solutions like using QuBase and getting one sound out of the PC and back in again at line in. Well. I thought that everything was possible with computers :-)