Well, I have received all of the parts from Digi-key and I'm ready to build a sled connector. I think I remember a pinout of the sled connector in a thread here but I don't seem to be able to find it. I do have two sleds that are complete but they are both mounted in vehicles. As the sleds are no longer available is this something that could be added to the FAQ's?

Also, Is there any reason why I can't rewire four of the pins inside of the Empeg to the Ethernet RX/TX wires so they are also connected to this connector? Such as the Mic wires or maybe the auto serial connector? Then you simple build the sled connector to include a cat5 pigtail with a RJ-45. I will never used these and it would be soooo much easier if everything was connected by one connector. Of course if there are any spare connections they would be the ones to use.


Thanks

Sled connector pinouts are detailed in the "Developer Info" section of www.riocar.org . Have fun!

Thank You, Tony

No problem. That'll be $20.00. I take PayPal.

Hey, you don't maintain the Developer Info section! I want at least $0.50 of that $20.00 for my contributions over there!

Oh, and to answer your other question:

Also, Is there any reason why I can't rewire four of the pins inside of the Empeg to the Ethernet RX/TX wires so they are also connected to this connector? Such as the Mic wires or maybe the auto serial connector?

I'm sure it's possible, but I can think of a few drawbacks:

1) It'll put the ethernet wiring closer to other wires, therefore increasing the chance for inductive noise. Both ways, too (ethernet noise appearing on the audio outputs and/or other electronic noise making the ethernet connection less reliable). I'm sure if you're careful, you could work around this, though.

2) You would never be able to plug that player into someone else's docking station.

3) You would never be able to plug someone else's player into your docking station.

4) You would be losing the functionality of whatever pins you stole. For instance, if you stole the serial port pins for this purpose, then you would never be able to perform a software upgrade from the docking station.

But if you're willing to live with that, then go for it.

On the other hand, I've just completed a home docking station with docked ethernet, and it doesn't need to use the sled connector at all. My sled connector is still pristine. It was very easy to do, using Jim Hogan's technique illustrated here. I used hot glue instead of RTV silicone, and it works great and is very reliable. In fact, it was one of the easiest parts of constructing the docking station. The hard part was all the woodworking.

Hey, you don't maintain the Developer Info section! I want at least $0.50 of that $20.00 for my contributions over there!

Oh, no, the $20.00 was just for the link itself. You think links are free?

Links are free

...Must supress urge to make lame Wham lyric related joke... =)

You make a strong argument and I bow to your logic. I'll follow your advice and glue the connector in place.

Thanks Again

Oh, about the 20 dollars. As I am not in a position to give you a financial offering all I can do is give financial advice......WorldCom.

I was kidding about the $20.00.

The docked ethernet trick is more than just glue. You have to get the plug in the right position to begin with (hence the plywood), and then you have to let the glue harden while the player is docked.

Don't forget to break off the keeper tab first.

Yeah, I knew you were. I was just kidding about the advice too, or maybe thats why I don't have an extra 20 bucks!

Hmmm....
It occurs to me that another option might work. Given that the docking connectors are available (or could even use a smaller, totally different male/female type), why not make a separate docking connector for the unit and sled?

From what pics I have seen, it looks like there might be sufficient room directly above the ethernet connector or perhaps just to one side of the USB connector. Adding another docking connector there might be possible. Would it work to wire the existing ethernet connector in parallel with another connector? So both co-exist?

Then adding the corresponding dock connector on a sled would be trivial. And the new connector on the unit would only connect to a suitably modded sled. An unmodded sled would have no problem with it.

Would this work?

Then adding the corresponding dock connector on a sled would be trivial.

I wouldn't call cutting a huge hole in the back of the player casing "trivial". That's some pretty thick stainless steel. Especially considering that it's an EOL unit and not easily replaced.

Since docked ethernet is so easy to do with the existing sled and ports, why not just do it that way? I'm telling you, setting up docked ethernet with Jim Hogan's method was absolute child's play, it works reliably (at least on mine), and doesn't require cutting a hole in the player. It doesn't even require modding the sled, I screwed the piece of wood to the hole in the back of the sled so it can be removed and returned to factory spec in seconds.

Fair enough. 'Twas just a thought.