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#143610 - 15/02/2003 16:16 Mark Lord's Docking Station #003
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Just received my docking station in the mail today, and it's everything you'd expect from a guy who's such a perfectionist that he released a Hijack version just to correct the version number.

The wood is all put together very well, and all of the components on the back are very tight and in the exact right place you'd want them. The wood is qute sturdy, and the empeg slides into the dock very easily. It also stays in the dock very well, even before tweaking the two adjustable screws which help keep it in place. It's clear Mark spent a lot of time getting this thing right, and it's worth every penny I spent for it.

Overall I give it a 9.5 out of 10, the only thing that could make it better would be if it were already rack-mounted so I could put it *in* my stereo rack instead of *on top* of it.

I'll attach a few pics I snapped to some follow-up posts.
_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#143611 - 15/02/2003 16:17 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: tonyc]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
The "before picture." Cables strewn about, a big ol' mess.



Attachments
141508-dock-before.jpg (914 downloads)

_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#143612 - 15/02/2003 16:17 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: tonyc]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
The "after picture." Much better, no?



Attachments
141509-dock-after.jpg (956 downloads)

_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#143613 - 15/02/2003 16:18 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: tonyc]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
The fan holes are right where they should be.



Attachments
141510-dock-vent.jpg (902 downloads)

_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#143614 - 15/02/2003 16:19 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: tonyc]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
And finally, the connections on the back. (Works model with serial.)



Attachments
141511-dock-connections.jpg (1004 downloads)

_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#143615 - 15/02/2003 18:04 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: tonyc]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
It looks great. I've got mine just sitting on the top of the sub at the moment with the cables dangling off the back. Only thing would be that I need to find a way of wiring in the extra wires necessary for the tuner as I've got one for home use as well. I don't mind it hanging off the back however.
Just one question, what's the big rack mounted mixer for?

- Trevor

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#143616 - 15/02/2003 18:56 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: tman]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Just one question, what's the big rack mounted mixer for?

I did some DJing back in college, but nowadays, I just use it so I can play my TV, PC, Empeg, and electronic drums through the same system without having to switch inputs.
_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#143617 - 15/02/2003 19:23 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: tman]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Haha, I was getting ready to dispose of the box my docking station came in, and I decided to peruse the newspaper which was used for packing material, and I saw this:



That, along with the hockey news displayed prominently on the front page is enough to make me think Canada isn't so bad, after all!


Attachments
141525-belly.jpg (1079 downloads)

_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#143618 - 15/02/2003 23:11 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: tonyc]
justinlarsen
old hand

Registered: 31/12/2001
Posts: 1109
Loc: Petaluma, CA
LOL thats great, i might order one just for the newspaper.
_________________________
---- Justin Larsen

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#143619 - 18/02/2003 18:58 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: tman]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
At least one other person has asked about dangling a tuner from the rear -- he's sent me his tuner "extension cable" (included with factory tuners) to chop up for the purpose.

To do it yourself, you'll need some extra pins for the docking connector.

And eventually I'll have to add "tuner ID" detection into Hijack as a method for distinguishing between docked and car modes, since when a tuner is plugged in Hijack won't be able to use the "tuner loopback" test for detecting the dock.

Factory tuners have a small dial on the exterior to set the "tuner ID"; Patrick's new tuners have a pair of jumper pins on the logic board for the same purpose. The idea is to use one "Tuner ID" for the tuner in the car, and a different one for the docking station, and then tell Hijack (not implemented yet) which ID means "dock".

Cheers

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#143620 - 20/02/2003 09:09 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: tonyc]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
What do the innards of the unit look like, could you take a piccie of the unit without the empeg docked?
_________________________
Cheers,

Andy M

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#143621 - 20/02/2003 12:00 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: andym]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada


Edited by mlord (20/02/2003 12:00)

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#143622 - 22/02/2003 12:45 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: mlord]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Greetings!

I just received my dock today. Wow!!! I just want to congratulate Mark on his workmanship. Excellent! And, if anyone has the digital out boards installed, the connectors do not interfere with the docking at all. The first photos had me a little concerned, but there was no trouble at all.

Now the hard part - do I bring this one to work, where I constantly plug and unplug the empeg, or use it in the stereo cabinet, where the home unit sits, but just has lots of visible wiring... Decisions, decisions...
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

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#143623 - 22/02/2003 13:50 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: pgrzelak]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Do you think the box could be modded to take the output from the S/PDIF board ??? I could consider getting on of those boards then.

Cheers

Cris.

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#143624 - 22/02/2003 14:07 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: pgrzelak]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Decisions, decisions...

The answer, of course, is to buy a second dock. Though with the current queue, I think you might be waiting until *next* winter.
_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#143625 - 22/02/2003 14:15 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: tonyc]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Do you think the box could be modded to take the output from the S/PDIF board ??? I could consider getting on of those boards then.

I am not certain if the regular outputs that S/PDIF uses would work. However, I remember Stu saying something about routing the signal out through the microphone in line, or another docking connector line. If that is the case, I would say that it could be modified.

The answer, of course, is to buy a second dock. Though with the current queue, I think you might be waiting until *next* winter.

What makes you think I haven't already? I ordered them all at the same time, but asked Mark to delay the additional ones until others had a shot at their first dock. The others are in queue, and will be sent when they are done.
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

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#143626 - 23/02/2003 11:37 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: tonyc]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
Naw.. I gotta finish them all before rock-climbing season gets too intense..

Of course, with new orders being added daily, an me currently 2400 miles from my workshop, there will be a slight delay until production resumes..

Cheers

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#143627 - 23/02/2003 21:53 Mark Lord's Docking Station #004 [Re: tonyc]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
Looks like it's been sitting at my post office since the 18th, since I didn't notice they left a "we missed you" slip.

Sigh. Guess I have a new toy to play with in the office tomorrow.

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#143628 - 23/02/2003 22:46 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #004 [Re: Daria]
genixia
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 08/02/2002
Posts: 3411
Look on the bright side...you would have probably bust your back rushing to get all that snow shovelled had you known.
_________________________
Mk2a 60GB Blue. Serial 030102962 sig.mp3: File Format not Valid.

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#143629 - 23/02/2003 22:49 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #004 [Re: genixia]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
By the 18th things were "functional" and our sidewalk was clear on the 17th. The post office is 2.5 blocks from my house.

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#143630 - 24/02/2003 09:36 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #004 [Re: Daria]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
It's now on my desk, with my empeg docked in it. The question now is whether I come to my office often enough to leave it here (or need one here at all) or if I should take it home.

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#143631 - 24/02/2003 12:27 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #004 [Re: Daria]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31594
Loc: Seattle, WA
The question now is whether I come to my office often enough to leave it here (or need one here at all) or if I should take it home.
Best option is to have one dock in each place. That's what I do.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#143632 - 24/02/2003 12:46 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #004 [Re: tfabris]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Yeah, I've been thinking I really need one at work now. Couldn't afford it at the time I had to place my first order, though. Wonder if I'd get mine done if I submitted another order..
_________________________
- Tony C
my empeg stuff

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#143633 - 24/02/2003 15:55 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #004 [Re: tfabris]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
I'm more of a slacker than that. I'm in my office now and have probably been here more today than in the last 2 weeks. Well, maybe not.

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#143634 - 24/02/2003 16:32 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #004 [Re: tonyc]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
If you order the second one now, you *might* get in.. there's a current backlog of 71 docks, and I have parts for 72 of them.

-ml

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#143635 - 25/02/2003 10:38 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: pgrzelak]
maczrool
pooh-bah

Registered: 13/01/2002
Posts: 1649
Loc: Louisiana, USA
In reply to:


I am not certain if the regular outputs that S/PDIF uses would work. However, I remember Stu saying something about routing the signal out through the microphone in line, or another docking connector line. If that is the case, I would say that it could be modified.




Please see here for info on that issue.

Stu
_________________________
If you want it to break, buy Sony!

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#143636 - 06/04/2003 16:16 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: maczrool]
empegLover
new poster

Registered: 21/09/2000
Posts: 8
Loc: Wisconsin
So Stu, do you currently sell the docking connectors with the Monster cable attached? As I understand it, if I were to purchase several of those from you for inclusion in my Mark Lord docking stations then that would allow digital output docking is that correct? Are you also willing for an extra fee to do the internal wiring mods on two players to connect to the mike wires at the time of installation of the digital out boards? I really want to get digital docking for my two players but am unable to do any soldering myself.
_________________________
Tom Hitchcock

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#143637 - 06/04/2003 16:51 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #003 [Re: empegLover]
maczrool
pooh-bah

Registered: 13/01/2002
Posts: 1649
Loc: Louisiana, USA
Well, that custom Monster Cable I made is really for car use or a free standing Empeg, because the female Monster Cable connector is not panel mount. I could however use the same digital Monster Cable wiring and terminate it with a panel mount RCA (not Monster Cable brand) and mount it to the back of a dock. And yes, I could do the internal wiring mods as well. Doing the above would indeed allow you to dock and undock a coaxial S/PDIF connection. PM me if interested.

Stu
_________________________
If you want it to break, buy Sony!

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#143638 - 24/07/2004 14:59 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #004 [Re: mlord]
SonicSnoop
addict

Registered: 29/06/2002
Posts: 531
Loc: Triangle, VA
I know im real late on this, but I keep missing when you do them, I was wondering if you plan on doing any more docks any time soon if ever. I desperatly want one. PLEASE!!!
_________________________
-D Modifying and Tweaking is a journey, not a destination................................ MKIIa : 60gig - 040103286 - Blue - v2 + PCATS tuner MKIIa : 20gig - 040103260 - Blue - v3a8 + Mark Lord Special Edition Cherry Dock

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#143639 - 26/07/2004 22:57 Re: Mark Lord's Docking Station #004 [Re: SonicSnoop]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
Yes, I hope to do another run. The plan was to make them in August 2004, but I just got a work email that may change my life that month. So we'll see. In the meanwhile, keep a sharp eye on the ForSale forum, as docks sometimes show up there (very briefly).

Cheers

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