What i did is take normal dvd-rom/cd-rw drive (IDE), buy ~$30 USB 2.0 enclosure (or firewire), take apart the enclosure... It's really easy, just screws, and there you have this little PCB that converts IDE to USB 2.0, and converts 12 VDC to 12VDC/5VDC.

I'm gonna try to see if I can even power my USB 2.0 hub from that same 5VDC... and just hope I don't kill the thing.

Twlight blue/Willow 6mt.
It's here

 

I plan to attempt an installwith the xenarc 7" screen but I also wanted to keep a "stock" look. How much modification would be necessary to fit this screen into the stock nav frame assembly? Would I be better off buying a different screen? If so, any recommendations? I hope the group buy for the stock nav parts is still available because I was hoping to buy at those prices. Thanks in advance.

 

BIGAPPLEVIP,

The OPUS 150w power supply I listed earlier in this post is a 12 volt DC-DC power supply, if your putting a regular computer in a car this is the best way to go. The power supply automatically turns on and shutsdown the computer with the ignition. I dont yet have a power switch to turn on and off the computer, but I eventually plan to tie the power line from the OPUS into the switch I put in the upper glove box so I can overide the iginition switch.

Although I'm sure the rated spec for IDE cables is only like 24", I've heard of people successfully extending them to as much as 15 feet by splicing them into a couple of cat 5 network cables. Personally I would just go with a USB 2.0 or firewire to IDE adaptor just to make things cleaner.

Be sure to check out the mp3car.com forums. You can find all this information and more replicated there.

 

A couple? Cat5 has 8 wires. IDE is an 80-wire 40-pin connector. You'd need 10 Cat5 cables spliced in. That's a lot of work and headach. Unless you happen to have a spare reel of Cat5 lying around, I don't think there'd be much cost benefit over going with the USB2/Firewire adapter. (Do avoid USB 1.0 or 1.1, though.. it's too slow.)

 

LOL... yeah 10 cables is alot of cat 5 to run. I never considered the numbers involved, I just remember running across this FAQ for those people with alot more cable and time then they know what to do with I guess:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/faq....ar_faq_media_a

Theres also this post that says where you can actually buy 15' IDE cables premade I dont think its any cheaper then USB to IDE converters though http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...ide+cable+long

 

Based on that 7th pic, is that your hard drive mounted on a shock-absorber?

--cSc


--
2003 G35c 6MT | CB/Graphite | Premium | Aero | Tinted Windows | Aluminum Pedals

 

Yup, the hard drive is mounted on 4 RC car shock absorbers. You can pick them up at most hobby shops for like $5 for all 4. 2 aluminum dowels guide the harddrive up and down. I just drilled two holes through an old hard drive holder I had laying around and mounted it through the dowels.

 

ok now this is gonna sound like a stupid question.. but all the time people are like "you can pick it up at a hobby shop."

I have never once seen any of these so called hobby shops. Or are they sometimes called something else?

Any big chains in the northeast for this stuff?

Thanks

Twlight blue/Willow 6mt.
It's here

 

ANY R/C hobby shop will have shock absorbers for a variety of cars/trucks. Some generic hobby shops might not if they don't carry very much R/C stuff, but most should. That's a pretty commom item.

2003.5 G35 Coupe 6MT Black/Willow
- Texas Tech Mechanical Engineering -

 

Is that at all hooked up to the speakers so you can play MP3's on it?

Thanks - Joey Avino