has anyone installed a 3.5'' hdd on empeg?

I think I can categorically say "no". There is a FAQ entry as to why here.

The big killer with my old style MP3 player which was based heavily on Hugo's original MP3 player was the startup current of the 3.5" drives on the +12V supply. I needed something like 1.5A at +12V but only for a short time. This was on top of the +5V required for the electronics. It also required a step-up/step-down supply to be able to handle the fact that a car's supply can sometimes be down near +12V. Laptop drives generally only need about +5v at 500mA.

So basically what the FAQ said.

Hi.
I already read the FAQ. the only potencial problem that I see is power from inside the empeg. Also you can use an outside 12v power. As for drives some may be normal size and some are slim like maxtor. So as for size you can fit a maxtor slim vertical in conjuction with the cable from here .
I am working on ther power matter and will be able to answer in afew days.

Electrically it'll work if you supply 12v to the drive separately; there may be power sequencing issues as 5v will come and go depending on whether the empeg is on or off - so you'll want to gate your clean 12v supply (THIS DOES NOT MEAN A FEED FROM THE BATTERY, THIS IS (a) NOMINALLY 13.8v WITH THE CAR RUNNING and (b) CAN HAVE SPIKES OF -200V ON IT) using the 5v supply.

The main question is *why* you want to do this. The drive is not designed for mobile use, will most likely not fit in the box, etc. I can see your point if you're using the empeg as a home stereo, sat in a component box with a PC PSU to supply the 12v, but not if you're intending to use it as a carplayer.

Hugo

I have a friend whom is homebound (due to her injuries, she can no longer drive) and had wandered if this type of home setup would work for her situation as well.

-Frank

I have a friend whom is homebound (due to her injuries, she can no longer drive) and had wandered if this type of home setup would work for her situation as well.

But if you're not going to use the player in the car, why buy a CAR PLAYER?

Why not a Rio HSX-109 or use a PC/RioReceiver combination? Or a Rio Riot? Or heck, even just a PC full of MP3s? Those are all great MP3 players systems with the ability for large amounts of storage.

A closeout priced RioCar is about 1/10th the price of a Central (no longer called the HSX-109) and far less bulky than a PC/Rio Reciever.

Damnit, I'm going to go back to calling the thing the Jupiter.

But if you're not going to use the player in the car, why buy a CAR PLAYER?

Even though I have a Rio Receiver, I still wonder if making a component box for an Empeg would be better. Here are the shortcomings, as I see it, of the solutions you mentioned.

• Rio HSX-109 - Expensive. Anyone willing to make a component box for an Empeg is savvy enough to rip their own tunes on a PC. Hence, the expense is unjustified.
• RioReceiver - Screen is less than desireable. It can't be read from more than 3 or 4 feet away. Also requires a PC to be on 24/7 unless you want a two-step process for turning on your MP3 player.
• Rio Riot - No way. This is not to be taken seriously for hooking up to a stereo. All your tech-head friends would mock you.
• PC full of MP3s - Sound quality/fan and hard drive noise/looks

I have a pretty large collection of Empegs and Empeg accessories and I think I may make an Empeg into a component. That is, non-removable. I was also considering using a desktop drive. Rio Receiver is not component width, not black, and the screen is cheesy. Sorry.

I also forgot a HUGE shortcoming of the RioReceiver. It only sorts alphabetically. For example, if you want to play Nirvana's Nevermind album, "Breed" would play first, not "Smells Like Teen Spirit." The way around this is to use M3U playlists.

On second thought, if this isn't "corrected" soon I will make an empeg component box.

As was stated on the Rio Receiver bulletin board, you can also work around the alphabetical limitation by using third-party server software such as JReceiver.

That's all well and good, but I don't even use Hijack on my empeg. I like using things the way they were intended. Yes, I know that sounds moronic.

Yikes !!
Tell me you have at least TRIED hijack !?
I would say hijack is the ULTIMATE example of how an empeg was intended to be used.
oh well, to each their own.

Nope, never used Hijack. I plan to, but I have no pressing need. I do fancy DisplayServer 1.1 however.

Rob, I was a late comer to HiJack too. Most of the features (like ftp) had little use to me. But I think it has all the http:/ stuff that Displayserver does + more. I used it once Time Adjustment and Vol. Adjustment (compression) were in. Now that it integrates with Jemplode a lot is cool too (I had never bothered with Jemplode until this).

In reply to:

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Damnit, I'm going to go back to calling the thing the Jupiter.

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Did you realize that you were replying to a comment who was (hypotheticaly) complaining about the size of the "Jupiter"? Calling it Jupiter in this context seems highly appropriet.

Matthew

Because she already own's an Empeg and she is rather attached to it