Lemmie get this straight, 'cos /me is pretty thick sometimes...

This will work independantly of the Empeg's main display, so you can have visuals on the Empeg and track info on the extended display?

If this is so I will deffo sign up!

Yes, but refresh rate will be limited for visuals depending on the choice of displays.

refresh rate will be limited for visuals depending on the choice of displays.

Actually, he wanted to just run track info on the extended display, so the refresh rate isn't a big deal.

Major_Sarcasm: The point was that the extended display will be slower to respond than the built in one. That and it won't necessarily be able to provide as much information as the standard player software.

Is there any way to look at the next songs in the running order in software, to create something like a now and next mode?

John

Is there any way to look at the next songs in the running order in software, to create something like a now and next mode?

Yes, I've done it. However, the empeg guys keep insisting the format of the dynamic data partition is going to change soon, at which point what I have will break. At that time, I'll need to either reverse-engineer the changes or beg them to provide me with the new specs.

*bump*

Any word on the boards or progress with the kits?

I'm also interested if any progress has been made in recent weeks especially with the progress V99 has made in controlling the empeg remotely.

Thinking about this with the other thread in Techincal, I'm starting to want to do a mock fascia design. You use an old fascia, or one of tims NewFace's, recreate the buttons, and add the VFD. All still connected via serial of course. It could much easier to mount anywhere you want if you wanted to do other stuff in your dash. It could even be possible to do illuminated buttons again, maybe run off the car's lighting system. Just an idea to throw out there! I don't have the knowledge or skills for it, but maybe someone else thinks this is a good idea.

Sorry guys. I admit, I've been slacking, mostly because of other projects (admittedly non-Empeg) that have been sucking up all my freetime (and worktime - heck, my BBS visits here have been less frequent.)

I am ready to have the final boards made, and this week I will have a few set-in-stone prices for kits/PCBs/etc.

However, the downside is that between Oct11th and Oct26th, I'll be completely out of reach. (I have to drag two 1200lb, 27-feet tall masts from Oregon to Georgia.)

SO. As soon as I get back, I will start taking orders, fillin' them, and shipping them. The only thing left is to bug a programmer on here and get them to make it actually DISPLAY something. (I had started a small program, and it works.. kinda. But I'm not that good at makin' things from scratch, only changin' them afterwards.. )

Me.

SO. As soon as I get back, I will start taking orders, fillin' them, and shipping them. The only thing left is to bug a programmer on here and get them to make it actually DISPLAY something. (I had started a small program, and it works.. kinda. But I'm not that good at makin' things from scratch, only changin' them afterwards.. )

Fantastic news. I can sense my HU display fast approaching ...

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Fantastic news. I can sense my HU display fast approaching ...

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Yeah.. I was approached by a coworker that does machining, and he saw the display, was interested, and after a short talk, he's making me a little custom enclosure to fit the display in my Mini.

Me.

Got a call from my roomie today saying that my package from the PCB manufacturer is in. Meaning that it's probably the final to the PCB I've been waiting for. (Second final, actually. First final had the friggin' holes too small. Impossible to DO anything with it!)

I won't be home until a week from today, and once I get home, I'm ripping the package open and then will post on here, and start taking order. *happy dance*.

Sorry for taking so, SO friggin' long (what.. 8-9 months, now?). Having never done this, I now know what NOT to do, and to do differently in the future. (If I ever have a lapse of judgement again and take on another project, that is. )

Thanks for peing paitent, ya'll!

Mike.

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Thanks for peing paitent, ya'll!

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Reminds me of a moment last Friday eve while i was 'watering mother nature'...

Sean in NC

Mike,

Any news on the programing side of the project?

This sounds pretty cool. My new car has absolutely no way of fitting a normal DIN-sized headunit without serious modifications to the console, so a solution like this that lets me mount the empeg in the glovebox is exactly what the doctor ordered!

Keep me posted with progress!

When someone has one ready to use I'll put together basic software to drive the k610a. My software for the 9000-series works fine, it could (and someday will) draw a lot faster but it's plenty usable in my car every day.

Sounds great Vincent. Hopefully we'll here from Mike soon. In the meantime I'm trying to get my empeg installed in the trunk of my Saab with the sound and remote control working. Then I'll be able to help test the VFD set up. How many wires would I have to run from the serial to TTL adapter up to the front of the car to attach to the VFD? 1 or 2 for serial communications , ground, power, any others? I'd like to get these wires run ahead of time.

Bob

I just ran a long serial cable to mine, but I supply the power from the dash and not the trunk/empeg.. The only other thing you might want is one extra for the display's busy line, it may or may not end up being needed.

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Mike,
Any news on the programing side of the project?

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Absolutely not.
I can't program worth a crap(*), and with the sites I do mastering for taking up more and more time, I haven't been able to get around the little hurdle I'm stuck at now.. There are much better programmers out there, I'll let one of them tackle it.

(*)= I actually HAVE a smallish program. It works, save for one thing. As soon as my program goes to read /proc/empeg_notify, Hijack stops capturing the player's once-a-second output notifications, which screws up any commands I'm trying to send the display.. :/

Me.

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How many wires would I have to run from the serial to TTL adapter up to the front of the car to attach to the VFD? 1 or 2 for serial communications , ground, power, any others? I'd like to get these wires run ahead of time.

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If you don't need my board to supply power, then just two - Rx/Tx. You'll have to do a TINY mod to the display itself, tho. Power would be Ground and +5v. (I use a 10-pin ribbon cable from the board to the VFD, pins 9&10 are shorted on the board for the VFD.)

Me.

Okay ya'll. The board's ready for me to order a set. I will order them in batches of 25. The proto they sent me they used a 'black' solder mask, which looks pretty cool. Since the price difference is only slightly variant, I thought I'd ask -
Green okay? Or would ya want it in Red, Blue, or Black?

(The prices - NOT final, just for the PCB - are $12/green to the most expensive, $16/black.)

Ferget it, actually.
Just got a great quote from a different manufacturer of $10/board for standard green.

If anyone WANTS a different color lemme know, I'll order them one-on-one at the end of the standard run. (I'm only offering this because the colors are just too cool. )

Me.

(Okay, this is going to be short. I have a whole PAGE of stuff written out, and IE crashed. Rrrg.)

In short, the prices are slightly inflated from what they can be ordered from on Digikey. This is to cover shipping charges. Don't like it, don't order. I'm not making any money offa this, and if you take the time I spent, I'm losing alot.

VFD prices my change SLIGHTLY, can't find my e-mail on the set price for these. (I'll update if need be.) KIT - You solder up yourself. ASSMB - I assemble it for you. Either way, you need a ribbon cable, a VFD, and an Empeg. If you want ribbon cable, I will supply on the side for extra $. (Don't know exactly how much yet.) Assembled boards will be tested.
Will accept PayPal ($, £, and € - for the latter two an extra 5% will be tacked on to cover 'conversion' charges. Standard paypal fees, I eat.), MO/CC, COD (Fedex - Secured payment: CC/MO).
Kits will ship first, the assembled units. (Faster for everybody.) Kits will have instructions (I'll post them online when they're ready.) Prices don't include shipping, I will ship over to you english blokes, no fear.

PCB-KIT: $35
PCB-ASSM: $65
PDC-KIT-VFD: $135
PCB-ASSM-VFD: $165

If you want a colored PCB (like a Red on, to mact your Empeg Screen!) and/or a ribbon cable, PM me.

In short, I had fin with this - new learning experience. I hope someone can make a useable software for it. I started, but ran into a few stumbling blocks along the way (and because my webdesign services are stepping up, I don't have time to sit and argue with the program.)

Check your PM !

Heh.

Everyone, hold off ordering just yet.. I need to verify VFD prices first.

I will then go thru people who 'preordered' and let then comfirm/deny that they still want it. (Hey, it's only fair..)

I'll be shipping via Fedex (easier and faster for me), overseas will get EMS (unless they would like Fedex as well.)

Mike.

> (Okay, this is going to be short. I have a whole PAGE of
> stuff written out, and IE crashed. Rrrg.)

I've come to the conclusion that I need to copy any large web-form submission to the clipboard (or clipboard, then notepad) before submitting, to prevent browser crashes or, more commonly, credential expiration from taking out my submission. Annoying, yes.

-brendan

Yeah, I think it does it on purpose. Like a randomization thing.. If you're over your median # of characters in a textbox, give them a 25% of crasihing when they click a submit button.

Me.

Awesome news! Any pictures of the final product - i.e., what we get through the mail? (Or when we've built it)

Is anyone working on software? (this is not an offer of help - I have no knowledge in this area)

Glad to hear you're willing to ship over here though!

I can supply a pic, sure. Gimme a day and I'll get it posted..

The board size is 2in x 3in, in case I forgot to mention it..

Me.

Someone asked for pics, so.. here's pic 1. (Need it bigger? Lemme know..)

...and pic 2.

(How do you insert something into the post itself? I can't seem to remember, and can't find anything on it..)