True.

At the same time, many of us who want one want to buy one because we don't have the skills or facilities to build it ourselves, which would tend to prevent building a larger box to house this one.

I understand the shipping problem, though. How about also designing an optional exterior case that this could fit into that's shipped unassembled. Then we could go and purchase some Gorilla Glue to put it together with. (It's all reconstituted wood, right, so no worries about expansion and contraction?) It needn't be any taller, so six sides with a hole in the front, a hole in the back, and a dado on the inside of the top and bottom to align the unit you've already made would make sense.

Of course, maybe no one else cares, and I could probably do that on my own, not to mention I'd consider using it at work (where I'd have to figure out a proper locking method).

Yah, I suppose I could include a larger meta enclosure as an option. The basic dock has to ship pre-assembled with its critical dimensions and wiring and stuff -- and wouldn't really be significantly smaller if unassembled.

But a larger enclosure in which the smaller dock can be inserted would be easy to flat pack for end-user assembly without much trouble.

But first.. the basic dock has to get moving!

Cheers

More photos in a day or so, once the pre-prod versions are built. These will look MUCH better than the current prototype, and I suppose I might even paint one up for use in the living room here..

Cheers

I would suggest that the docks be standard stereo-unit wide, even if that means having unused space. The problem with it not being that wide is that it then must be the top unit in a stack, which can limit placement.

My problem with a small docking station would be something completely different from that: weight. When building mine, I deliberately made them larger, and out of denser wood, so that they would be heavy and "stay put". That way, I could push/pull the player in and out of the sled with one hand and not have to hold the docking station in place with the other hand. Even as it stands right now, I wish I could weigh down my docking stations even more somehow, they still move a little bit. If your docking station is screwed into a rack somehow, it's a moot point, but if it's just sitting on a shelf or a desk then it becomes an issue.

With that said, though, Mark, I think your design is really excellent. I particularly like the clever use of the air channels.

Well, on the prototype, my empeg just slides in with only a slight amount of resistance -- a finger on top of the dock provides more than enough counter force. I think the conventional steel docking shells are the reason for the much greater force needed with your current dock.

Cheers

Greetings!

Very nice!!! Very nice! I do have a quick question:

The brace where the ethernet connector plugs into the player, near the fan - that that the full height of the case, or half height? I am just thinking about possible clearence issues with the digital out board installs. Just curious. Thanks!

Right now the rj45 dock is just slightly over half-height, about 1.125" tall I believe.

-ml

A thought on this, how about having some way to bolt/fix it down. At home its no problem, but at work 'everything' walks :-(

Don't need a special design for that. Just a drill and a screwdriver.

In reply to:

---

I am just thinking about possible clearence issues with the digital out board installs. Just curious. Thanks!

---

From the looks of things, it doesn't look like you can get an internal digital connection made with his home docking station , but it looks like the unit will PROBABLY fit. You would most likely have to run the digital out through the Mic In line as I did here.

Stu

Lots of ways to secure a box like this, including just looping a thin steel cable through the vent slots at the rear, and through the handle of the empeg when it's inserted into the unit. The other end of the steel cable needs to be attached to something BIG and HEAVY, like a pillar or desk.

-ml

I still want one for my MKl (if possible).

Don't need a special design for that. Just a drill and a screwdriver.

Better yet -- four little squares of sticky-back Velcro.

tanstaafl.

Okay, these are happening for real now!

I have the initial nine (9) units cut out and awaiting assembly in the workshop now -- still need the docking connectors from Digikey before I can complete their assembly.

So, I've just ordered fifty (50) sets of docking connectors and pins; delivery date unknown, but we should find out on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, I do have two docking connectors to play with, so I'll be assembling two units this week, and hopefully finding a buyer for one of them after I post photographs of the assembled unit.

Time to count the contents of your piggy-banks, folks!

-ml

How strong is your velcro!?! I'd say 4 bits of velcro won't stop the average person from "borrowing" it

- Trevor

Anyone who "borrows" it isn't human, they are sub-human.

Who do you want to prevent from taking it? How much time would they have and how much work would they be willing to go to? Even the best lock out there is just a deterrant. The better the security, the better the deterrant.

Something right in the middle of a busy office might be a little different than somewhere that is deserted half the day. You could always get one of those laptop lock, but you still need a way to lock the empeg into the box itself.

I'd say 4 bits of velcro won't stop the average person from "borrowing" it

Ah... I didn't realize you were looking for theft protection! I meant the Velcro would be good to keep it from sliding around on the desk when you insert and remove the player.

tanstaafl.

MDF isn't reconstituted wood.... There are potential issues with edge expansion depending on what type of liquid adhesive you use and how much of it. Mark could supply the pieces pre-drilled for screws though or pre-slotted for biscuits which will make gluing easy and solid.

Mark's use of biscuits is a really good idea for a very solid (and clean) finish. The biggest pitfalls of using MDF are the fragility of its edges. Once rounded, sealed and painted, the top should not be a problem. Painting a cut or sanded MDF edge can be pretty ugly depending on paint selection. Sealing with some type of primer will be highly recommended.

My main concern with MDF will be the front edges where the player might impact during insertion. The repeated wear on those spots will likely damage the finish and may also start to break down the MDF. I haven't read the thread in such detail to find out if Mark is going to somehow reinforce this area.

All in all, very smart design for a small enclosure without using a metal sled. Very creative air-flow channel on the top as well.

I wish I had enough space for a workshop where I'm renting now. I have a perfectly nice (and new) metal bender sitting near my front door right now just begging to be bolted down. All my larger shop tools are up at my parent's house right now too. Uuuugh... I just have some basic stuff on me at the moment. And I don't think I'm going to be building too many enclosures with a hammer, a handful of pliers, wrenches and cutters, a hack saw and a cordless hammer drill. Oh, I also have a nice plunge/fixed router, but my work table is up at my parents - so nowhere to mount it. I was up on the weekend (it takes a bit over an hour) and managed to squeze in some wood cutting and routing for a small mod I'm doing to my Wusthof knife block.

BTW, Papst make some small, very low db fans. I actually need a couple to replace the stock fans in my Shuttle system (and its twin which will be here soon).

Friggen IR keybrd and tpos...

Bruno

I wouldn't mind being one of the first buyers!!! Just let me know where to send the $$$. I've been waiting for one of these for a while. If I really like it, I'll buy a second one.

All of the speaker boxes I build are made out of particle board, or MDF or both. We use Formica Laminate to cover the boxes. This gives a very nice finish, and isn't expensive at all.

I've got my hammer ready to break open my piggybank

Looks AWESOME. That is SUCH a slick design! And it looks like it would be pretty easy to attach to a rack-mount unit like the one Loren used.

So are you still open to the idea of offering serial on the back as an "optional extra" like you had originally mentioned?

My piggy bank is wide open. I'll probably take two when they're available.

Okay, here is the pricing for the Home Docking Stations:

US$115 The basic unit, with audio out, ethernet, but no fan or serial port.
US$130 Dock with integrated fan (w/ Hijack on/off control if I can manage it).
US$150 Dock with fan (as above) and fully wired serial port.

Shipping is extra, likely about US$15-20 for fast mail, perhaps less for slow mail (we'll find out more exactly when after the first few go to the post office).

I will have the first two of these ready to ship by next week, and more to follow in a week or two, after the rest of the connectors and stuff arrive.

So, who wants to be the lucky first customer?

In particular, I would like to barter the first two docks together, as follows:

I send two docks your way, with fans in both, and a serial port in one, and you send me two the following two exact items in exchange:

(1) D-Link AirPlus DWL-2000AP Xtreme G 54Mbps Access Point, and
(2) D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G DWL-G650 Wireless CardBus Adapter

That's it, no transfers of funds, just the loot, we each cover our shipping costs.

Takers? yn0t?

I will set up an email ordering system for the rest, as the production slowly ramps up.

Cheers

I'm on it!

Edit: Every site I've found which sells these products has the 2000AP listed as out of stock. Grr. I don't want to deal with back-orders...

Edit #2: Are these released yet? I'm seeing several retailers showing both items as a "pre-order."

Edit #3: Oh yeah, and I need to find a place that ships to Canada, or pay two times the shipping expenses.... This is a harder homework assignment than I originally anticipated!

Mark, while your at the post office any chance you could find out the airmail cost to South Africa?

Btw, how are you connecting the fan up to allow hijack control? (mic/phone connector)?

Thanks

I dunno if they're out yet, but they should be soon. Best bet for shipping is to send them to yourself using the incredibly cheap within-USA shipping that most places offer, and then MAIL them to me by fastest-mail, also cheap.

Cheers

Well, here's the problem, Mark. I went to D-Link's page and clicked through to order from their online store, and they say "item expected on 03/01/03." I would imagine the delay would be even longer for other retailers. So If I placed an order for you now, I wouldn't get it until mid-March. You trust me enough to send me the sleds and have me send you the network gear when it arrives chez moi?

D-links website seemed to sell it to me ok, i would have done it already but i just ordered Darkstorms box a few days before you announced yours. still debating on ordering those 2 items or not.

"Seemed to sell it to you" means pre-order, right?

Did you actually get the items shipped??

it said in stock and all i had to do was put my credit card in, im not srue maybe i went to a differnt site. I just did a google search for it and ended up in d-link's store.