Is there a way I can update the songs on my empeg from inside my car using a laptop?

I was thinking I could just have a ethernet cable attached, and plug that into my laptop and transfer the songs over?
Any suggestions?

There's no reason you couldn't do this. You'll need a crossover ethernet cable probably. The empeg can't do Auto MDI-X and the laptop probably can't either.

You'd need to modify the sled though since the ethernet port is covered by the back of the sled. Also, whenever you remove the empeg from the sled, you'd need to unclip the ethernet cable. You could do something like the docks Mark Lord did, with the clip on the ethernet cable removed so you wouldn't need to unclip each time.

Is it really too much effort to take the empeg out of the car?

The problem lies in the fact that the dashboard of my Buick prevents the removal of the empeg when the dashboard is on. The dashboard face kinda covers the edges of the empeg so you cant put it n or pull it out when the dash is on. Kinda sucks

Same with mine - but the dremel tool is the way forwards. Or if you look at the display extender thread, you could just have the screen in the dash, with the empeg itself in the boot or somewhere more accessible.

Here are pictures for putting an ethernet connection into the car docking sled. Remember to break off the ethernet cable's keeper tab so you can easily remove the player from the dock; even if it's more or less permanently installed in the dash, you'll need to be able to pull the player in and out of the sled as part of any installation, deinstallation, or repair procedures.

One thing: I'm not certain if ethernet is fully functional in DC/CAR mode or not without config.ini tweaking. I know that Hijack HTTP and FTP access are disabled by default in DC/CAR mode, but I'm not certain about emplode access or not.

Something else you can do, which is even fancier, is to rig up an 802.11 access point in the car, so you can update your tunes wirelessly from your laptop. I recommend getting the ethernet cable functioning first, though, then complicating it with the wireless thing later.

Years ago I was going to put an AP in the car, 2 cars ago. I had a couple of those Mitsumi Wavit11s for the purpose. In some sense I'm glad I didn't, but the real answer in my mind is Bluetooth PAN. Not enough supports it yet, sadly.

Any idea how i can enable emplode access while in DC/Car mode?

I don't think you can. I believe you'll have to force AC mode w/ Hijack.

is it hard to force AC mode with Hijack?

I don't think Emplode access depends on the DC/AC setting -- otherwise that in-car access-point wouldn't have worked.

Peter

Not at all, you simply select the menu option. But as Peter said, you might not need to. See if it works without needing to force it first.

When I wrote this FAQ entry, I didn't say anything about Emplode being disabled for car mode, so my money is on it just working.

If you want Hijack's HTTP server and Hijack's FTP server to work in DC/Car mode, then it's likely that you'll need to tweak config.ini so that they work in DC/Car mode. But not everyone needs those features at all, let alone in the car, so that might not be a factor for you.

Trivial.

1. Install hijack (requires LogoEdit and a serial cable).
2. Press and hold knob until Hijack menu appears.
3. Twist knob to scroll, looking for the "Force AC/DC Power Mode" item.
4. Click knob to select it, and then change the setting therein to "Force AC/Home", and click the knob on it to make the change.
5. Click top left button on front of empeg to exit.
Done.

Cool, I will make a crossover cable at work tomorrow and see if i can make this work.

well for anyone who cares. I used hijack and a crossover cable and it works great in my car.

Good!

And now that you have Hijack installed, go back into that menu and select "PopUp0" for the "Knob Press Redefinition". Now, a short tap of the knob provides a popup menu that can substitute for many of the important buttons from the remote control.

Another one you want, if your player has only a single drive, is the "Hard Disk Detection" setting, which can save a few seconds of powerup/boot time on the player.

And lots of other goodies awaiting discovery there..

Did you actually need to force AC/Home mode for it to work?