Hi all,

I thought I'd share this, in case anyone's thinking of an MP3
player for their Saab (or any other car for that matter).

I've just fitted a Sony CDX MP40 to my partner's 900 16vT, and
we're very pleased with it. It takes a CD full of MP3s, which
means 200+ tracks on a single CD.

It even comes with a remote control (?), presumably in case you
want to give back seat passengers control over your audio (why?).

It cost a very reasonable £140. I won't advertise where I got
it, it's easily googleable (but if you're stuck finding it,
email me).

I can't wait to fit one in *my* 900 16vT, but that'll have to
wait a few weeks.

--
Grunff

Grunff wrote:

I've been waiting for affordable in-car mp3 players for years, but now
that they've arrived, I think I'll wait a little longer until one of
them exchanges the cd-drive for a dvd-drive.

Not because I'm interested in playing videos in my car, but because you
could fit almost 7 times as many mp3's on such a disk. If you look at
the prices for computer cd and dvd players, the price difference should
be minimal.

70 albums on a disk with a shuffle setting is beginning to sound
interesting.

X.

In article <bf9udr$cmm65$1 (AT) ID-152899 (DOT) news.uni-berlin.de>,
grunff (AT) ixxa (DOT) com spouted forth into alt.autos.saab...
I've fitted a PC in the boot. So far I have 10 gigs of MP3 (using Audio
Soft e-jukebox for databasing the MP3's I'm listening to (it keeps stats
of what you've played in a database and when no album or artist is
selected will switch to playing the most popular tracks, so you don't
need to fiddle arround with stuff whil on the move), and can do
Satnav/routing using Mappoint and AGPS.

The Mk1 version is using a full sized ATX motherboard, and a cheep
composite 7" widescreen, but I've just bought a cheap 12" VGA TFT panel
of E-Bay, just waiting for delivery to be arranged. Should make the
screen experience much nicer. MK1 uses quite a bit of boot space, and
needs an inverter for power. I use the antenna remote line to isolate
the inverter after I shutdown to avoid battery drain(and to repower the
computer when I switch on the headunit). MK2 will use a Via Epia board,
and a dedicated 12v DC input Car PSU, and be small enough to either fit
into the glove box, or hide behind the trunk side carpet.

I've used a USB2 slim DVD drive that sits between the seats to allow me
(passengers really) to view DVD's, and for me to add extra MP3 (got
about another 8 gig to add).

I get instant access to the MP3's about 30 seconds after switching on
the radio (time it takes to come back from hibernation.

Sat routing is nice when I have a longish journey to make, and no
passenger to navigate. Means I don't have to juggle driving and map
reading, and only need to stop for comfort/rest breaks.
--
Carl Robson
(The poster formerly known as Skodapilot)
http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

MeatballTurbo wrote:

Cooool! That is exactly the kind of setup I've been planning for
ages, but having the time to put it together is another matter
entirely.

--
Grunff

Grunff wrote:

I'd like a hard drive solution too. You could have one that just
'remembers' every CD (Audio or MP3) that was ever inserted.

I'll just keep waiting a little longer...

X.

davehinz (AT) spamcop (DOT) net wrote:

That would be *very* nice, but a little out of our price range
for in car stuff.

--
Grunff

In article <bfbbe3$cgl5m$1 (AT) ID-152899 (DOT) news.uni-berlin.de>,
grunff (AT) ixxa (DOT) com spouted forth into alt.autos.saab...
Have a look at http://www.mp3car.com they have a very active forum of
people looking to do exactley what I have (but many are already one step
further).

Some are even working on 1 and 2 din systems, and one of the regulars is
working on a VGA motorised 1 din screen with touch screen (having it
made in Taiwan) to sell through his online shop.

£1k to 1.5k would get you a full system to which you can add your own
software/OS etc with a clamp on/stick on screen.

£2k would probably get you the same system with the in dash motorised
screen.

Using all the bastardised parts, the inverter and the composite screen,
mine has probably cost me in the region of £500, but it is far from
perfect.

Mk2 is to build my own mini system with VGA of some kind
Mk3 will hopefully be instalable for other people for a fee.

I know the better systems sound pricy, but the plan is to eliminate the
headunit entirely, and do FM through the PC using a usb FM tuner too.

And what does a proper modular car DVD, seperate proper Sat Nav, and in
dash motorised composite screen , TV tuner, and radio cost? And you
can't even have your kids use it for games when moving.
--
Carl Robson
(The poster formerly known as Skodapilot)
http://www.bouncing-czechs.com