new audio gadgets and where to position?

[cheechy]

Santa was good to me.

I now have a xcar link PLUS a dab radio. Both have Bluetooth etc

So in terms of wiring I was going to wire the xcar into the head unit and use the aux in on xcar and take aux out from dab.

The xcar is nice and small so I was thinking either the glove box or the useless single din cubby where everything slides out when you brake.

The big question is how you put the dab radio in a position where you can see it but doesn't advertise to thieves...it connects into a vent holder and is maybe around 2-3" square with an external aerial that sticks inside the front windscreen

Anyone else done this? Is it a question of just putting it somewhere handy and having to remove it when you need to?

 

[Pinkythelabrat]

How about the xlink in the space under the panel in front of the gear stick? Keeps all the wires hidden.

I’m thinking something in an articulated pull out mount for your dab mounted in the cubby so you can swing it out and angle it to see and then swing it out of sight when not in use. One of those swan neck bendable device holders maybe?


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[cheechy]

How about the xlink in the space under the panel in front of the gear stick? Keeps all the wires hidden.

I’m thinking something in an articulated pull out mount for your dab mounted in the cubby so you can swing it out and angle it to see and then swing it out of sight when not in use. One of those swan neck bendable device holders maybe?


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Definitely worth exploring the bendy thing-me-bob. Just had a quick look for something and its not going to be easy to find out of the box but will have a look around - good suggestion.

I have a spare cubby hole and gear stick plastic bit as i was thinking about this before - only thing stopping me is that its about the only area thats useful for throwing stuff into on a daily basis - ie glasses / phone etc.

I did get the under gearstick storage thing bought and fitted (thanks Tom ) but now I have an S8+ phone its too big

I'm fairly sure both the xcar and dab could both fit in the cubby with careful planning but I'll need to muck about a bit.

 

[Pinkythelabrat]

There is lots of room under here so you can put the xlink under and route an input up.

Free up some cubby space. That’s where my iPod is living just now.


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[depronman]

There is lots of room under here so you can put the xlink under and route an input up.

Free up some cubby space. That’s where my iPod is living just now.


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I’m thinking along the lines of a pop out tray to hold the dab unit kind of like the front cup holder but mounted in the cubby hole
Other option is using the ash tray but that is fairly small for the dab unit
Which dab unit did you buy ?
Sounds like a 3D print design project
Difficult to make anything more specific without having the kit in front of you
I am also in the market for a dab unit but I have 2din so no cubby hole to play with
Cheers


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[cheechy]

I’m thinking along the lines of a pop out tray to hold the dab unit kind of like the front cup holder but mounted in the cubby hole
Other option is using the ash tray but that is fairly small for the dab unit
Which dab unit did you buy ?
Sounds like a 3D print design project
Difficult to make anything more specific without having the kit in front of you
I am also in the market for a dab unit but I have 2din so no cubby hole to play with
Cheers


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That looks incredibly neat!

I like your thinking Paul. Agreed Ash tray too small (but funnily enough I think the xcarlink might work in there)

I bought one on a Amazon special called Velex VX 301 listed here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Vehicle-Transmitter-Bluetooth-Hands-Free-Black/dp/B075MCDHP1/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514421276&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=velux+vx301- wasn't too fussy about branding just liked the fact that it came with its own aerial and had all the features i was looking for.

Its now listed at more than I paid (I got for < 50 quid). Thinking though I've seen a few of these that whilst maybe aren't identical they do seem to be designed and sized very similarly.

A tray sounds perfect how do you think it would slide?

Where did you take the power from? I was thinking of fitting right into fusebox with a 5v USB transformer via piggyback but I'm guessing you cut in to a handy circuit?

 

[Pinkythelabrat]

Lol! If you want neat then you should read Timmus’ series on his cup holder iPod mount - he put his xlink in there in a foam cradle - it’s so pretty!

I am going for a little slide out drawer in the cubby area between the switches. There is a little lip on the inside facing of the cubby surround which should stop the drawer falling out.


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[andrewparkeruk]

I asked Tom (timmus) to fit my Xcarlink here



It is tucked away far enough so as not to be visible from outside the car. I bought the black, 500mm USB-lightning cable (iPhone) from Maplin so it doesn't shout "iPhone" when I leave it in the car.

Unfortunately the Xcarlink blue (bluetooth) light is really naggy until a device is connected; it flashes every few seconds.

Andrew

 

[Pinkythelabrat]

A little bit of pvc tape over leds is an essential when designers ignore brightness and the irritation factor.


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[depronman]

A little bit of pvc tape over leds is an essential when designers ignore brightness and the irritation factor.


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owe I so so agree, small piece of electric tape does a super job of turning down the brightness of LED's
I had a DVD player some years ago that had the brightest blue LED known to man and it was in your face and so distracting, a 1/2" circle of black pvc electrical tape stuck over the LED calmed it down to a very mild glow

I have just ordered a DAB+ adaptor from China, it was mainly selected on size and button/connector location, and will fit in the ash tray once the grey plastic is removed. I am 2Din so no cubby hole available for me, hence the ash tray is the only available place. I may go with an hinged mount so that the DAB unit lies flat when the ash tray is closed, and pops up about 30 deg when opened.
kit was £31.55 delivered after the use of an ebay 20% off voucher that was emailed to me today (result) and includes aerial, power adapter, cables etc
It plays MP3 from micro SD card and is BT to phone plus FM and 3.5mm out to head unit
I'll start it's own thread when it arrives

cheers,
Paul

 

[cheechy]

owe I so so agree, small piece of electric tape does a super job of turning down the brightness of LED's
I had a DVD player some years ago that had the brightest blue LED known to man and it was in your face and so distracting, a 1/2" circle of black pvc electrical tape stuck over the LED calmed it down to a very mild glow

I have just ordered a DAB+ adaptor from China, it was mainly selected on size and button/connector location, and will fit in the ash tray once the grey plastic is removed. I am 2Din so no cubby hole available for me, hence the ash tray is the only available place. I may go with an hinged mount so that the DAB unit lies flat when the ash tray is closed, and pops up about 30 deg when opened.
kit was £31.55 delivered after the use of an ebay 20% off voucher that was emailed to me today (result) and includes aerial, power adapter, cables etc
It plays MP3 from micro SD card and is BT to phone plus FM and 3.5mm out to head unit
I'll start it's own thread when it arrives

cheers,
Paul

Nice one - yes I too was slave to the 20% off coupon.

2 dashcams, 1 dog crate and a couple of led luggage lights. Ouch.

I'll remove the grey interior from ashtray to see if the current DAB fits but if not I may have to have a chat about 3d printing oppos

For wiring up I'm assuming from piccies (once I figured out what the things were in the first picture) that you just cut into the 12v cig lighter?

Just read the instructions in detail for the xcarlink and it appears you cannot use SD / USB and line in at the same time! So I'll either be listening to the phone via BT and able to make calls - or listening to the radio

Jeez why does everything have to be complicated!

 

[depronman]

Nice one - yes I too was slave to the 20% off coupon.

2 dashcams, 1 dog crate and a couple of led luggage lights. Ouch.

I'll remove the grey interior from ashtray to see if the current DAB fits but if not I may have to have a chat about 3d printing oppos

For wiring up I'm assuming from piccies (once I figured out what the things were in the first picture) that you just cut into the 12v cig lighter?

Just read the instructions in detail for the xcarlink and it appears you cannot use SD / USB and line in at the same time! So I'll either be listening to the phone via BT and able to make calls - or listening to the radio

Jeez why does everything have to be complicated!

wiring - it depends if you want 12v perminent (thick white wire going to aircon panel) or switched 12v with ignition (cigarette lighter works well)

let me know if you need anything printing, the problem is not the printing it is the design of the CAD model which is difficult unless you have all the bits to hand to measure and see how it all fits together

Cheers,

 

[Pinkythelabrat]

Ooh! Looking forward to that!
My first LED tape over was a security camera over my daughter's cot. Presumably the maker wanted people to KNOW it was there because the blue LED produced a cone of light that my headlights couldn't have matched and which you could see through closed eye lids. One grumpy daughter and some finesse with tape and much better - subtle blue glow.


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[Pinkythelabrat]

The 12v socket and adaptor on the left is to power the dash cam. It's a switched 12v from the back of the climate control panel (thick white wire for positive). The aux in device is powered from the radio wiring as standard so no extra provision made but there is also a 12v connection to the cigarette lighter in there - that's the fuse at the front there! You can barely see the connects2 unit, it's tucked under the right hand edge of the trim but is actually about 3x4x0.75 inches! There's loads of room in there.


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