That's a good point. Mark will the docking station include a power switch, either in the front or back? I hate having to inplug things just to turn them off.

Yeah, now that I've lived with them for a while, I'm really glad I decided to put a power switch on the front of my docking stations. Very useful. Rebooting the player for whatever reason is now a no-brainer.

I'd be interested, probably in 2.

This docking station uses YOUR external AC-Adaptor for power.

The top left button on the empeg itself is normally used to turn the unit "on" and "off".

There is no power switch on the dock, and nor will there be (there's no way I could get safety code approvals for such wiring).

Rebooting is easily accomplished via the Hijack menu, or by reseating the player in the dock.

Cheers

Okay, I'm investigating fans right now, and have two of the lowest noise ratings I could find here.

They are both noticeable, but one of them (ball-bearing fan) is reasonable with a 130-Ohm resistor in series with it -- about the same noise level as the (single) hard drive inside the unit when docked.

The current prototype specifications are as follows. Keep in mind that the design is basic to keep it affordable. If you want a built-in power-switch, amplifier, aux-in, rear-out, veneered exterior, volume controls for the amp, and serial/USB connectors, then you'll have to customize it or build your own (or enclose this one in a larger cabinet).

-- sled-less cabinet constructed of 0.5" MDF, with an internal docking connector for all electrical/signal connections, except ethernet.

-- overall measurments approximately 8"x8"x3", plus four rubber feet on bottom.

-- all edges/corners rounded over for a sleek look, paint it (yourself) your favourite colour(s).

-- Front of Empeg can either be inset flush with front of cabinet (harder to remove..), or fit flush with surface of the cabinet. Undecided yet..

-- uses YOUR existing AC-adaptor for power, connected via a jack at the rear of the cabinet.

-- ethernet jack mounted at rear of the cabinet, connected internally to the Empeg (automatic docking).

-- twin RCA phono plugs mounted at rear of the cabinet.

-- top mounted fan, flush with top of the cabinet, directly over the "fan port" on the Empeg. Fan speed preset with 130-Ohm resistor, but user could modify this with a 200-Ohm potentiometer for variable speed if desired.

-- two 1.5" round air intakes, one on each side of the cabinet, which line up with the airflow holes on the Empeg.

Cheers

Fan update: My Mark2 unit is steady at 31C/87F with fan running. Ambient temperature here currenly 69F.

Speaking of which, I plan to power the fan using the "remote amplifier" output from the docking connector, so it will only be "on" when the Empeg is "on".

Cheers

Speaking of which, I plan to power the fan using the "remote amplifier" output from the docking connector, so it will only be "on" when the Empeg is "on".

Aw, man, why didn't I think of that.

Regarding the fans, I've resistor'd mine down to where they are running very slow and pushing very little air. You don't need much air movement at all to cool the player and keep it in the 100f range even when it runs all day. So if you start with extra-quiet fans to begin with, you should be able to get them nearly silent even for moments with "soft music"

I found that my problem with noise on the fans was primarily two factors:

1) Port noise, the whooshing of the air through the holes. I solved that by not placing the fan close to the empeg vents. It's in the back corner where there's a lot of air space behind the fan. In this position, its job is not so much to drag the air over the hard disks, it's more like just making sure the air in the case is moving at all; up from the bottom and out the back of the case. Really, it doesn't need much more than that.

2) Vibration noise translated from the fan to the wooden casing. I solved this by suspending the fan on a pair of thick wires instead of screwing it direclty to the case. Although you might not want to jury-rig something so flimsy for a mass-production unit.

I would be interested in one! Thanks for doing this......

>1) Port noise, the whooshing of the air through the holes. I solved that by not placing the fan close to the empeg vents. It's in the back corner where there's a lot of air space behind the fan. In this position, its job is not so much to drag the air over the hard disks, it's more like just making sure the air in the case is moving at all; up from the bottom and out the back of the case. Really, it doesn't need much more than that.

Yeah, this fan is now running quite slowly, and seems more than effective enough here.

The cabinet design being offered here is very slim, pretty much a flush fit with the player. As such, there's no room for significant airflow around the unit, so a rear-mount fan is out of the question with this design.

I could produce a larger docking cabinet, to permit airflow for a rear-mount fan, but that would add a number of new pieces and joints to the design, increasing the labour required for construction. Still, if that's what it takes to obtain acceptable fan sound levels, then that's what will happen.

But first, I'm going to live with the present design for a few days and see if the fan is an issue or not. So far, it sounds fine.

I'll wire up the docking connector and rear panel tomorrow, and if all goes well I should be able to take some pics of the completed unit for posting.

Cheers

Tony,

That second docking station is sharp! Nice job!

Doug

Thanks! Yeah, the first one was really going to be just a prototype, but by the time I got done with the second one, I'd run out of energy for wood working. That stuff's hard when you don't live in the "New Yankee Workshop".

(Glad I decided to finally caught up on this forum)

Yes, I am definitly interested in one, I might actually get more use out of my spare empeg this way.

>That stuff's hard when you don't live in the "New Yankee Workshop".

Oh, I don't know about that!

Well, good news..

I've decided the fan noise is just a bit too noticeable, so I'm revamping the design to include a rear-mount fan instead of the present top-mount fan. That will make it much less obtrusive (though it's hardly noticeable already).

Also, I'm thinking about adding a serial connector to the rear. Not that it's really needed -- Hijack updates use ethernet for most of us, and player software updates are rare -- but serial output is still nice for debugging.

Just thinking for now.. maybe as an optional "extra".

Cheers

Sounds better and better!

I'd be very interested for one with the ethernet jack on the back, not the cord. Thanks!

>Sounds better and better!

Yeah. So.. about this weekend: heard you were free (another thread..)

Oh, darn.. got a climbing date. Ah well..

Cheers

LOL Mark. I'm sure your wife is glad you have a climbing date

FWIW, I decided to see how hot my player ran in my docking station before I drilled any vent holes or considered a fan. It runs fine (up to about 40 degrees) without any ventilation at all. Ambient is about 20 degrees (air-conditioned office).

So I don't want a fan. (though I understand if it simplifies your life to make 'em all the same - I could just disconnect it)

Would a kit form reduce the shipping cost? I don't mind screwing some panels together if they're all pre-drilled and stuff. I guess I'm not quite as lazy as I claim.

Put me down for at least of these - definitely at home and maybe at the office too! It will certainly be a lot more elegant than plugging all the wires that trail across the desk and balancing the empeg on a stack of cd cases! Good job!

Count me in for one.

Dave

Put me down for one as well.

Thanks Mark!

I would take one too. thanks for the effort

I'm only planning on making/shipping fully assembled docks -- keeps life simpler for me, and makes the packaging really easy -- an assembled rectangular shape is easier to package than a bunch of parts.

The dock will be glued together, but the bottom panel will only be held by four screws, to permit partial disassembly for access to the fan, wiring, etc..

Does anyone out there know off-hand whether the "remote amplifier on/off" signal is directly controllable by software? Or is it hardwired to standby/non-standby, like the throbbing LED is (sort of)?

If we can control it directly, then fan on/off could become a software thing, allowing stuff like temperature triggering, or permanently off, or ..

Cheers

As I understand it, the display is hard wired to the amp remote wire. Display on==Amp remote on.

Okay, here's an update:

I have a final design worked out, and a prototype built. Looks nice, works nice. But being a prototype, it doesn't have rounded edges or fully connected wiring, (both so I can completely disassemble it and use the parts as templates for "production" units). So, no pics yet.

I'm off to the Gunks now for some serious rockin'. But later next week I should be back, and I'll do a mini production run of 5-10 cases and assemble/finish a couple of them properly for photos. After that happens, I should be able to take orders for delivery before the end of September.

Cheers

What means of payment were you planning to use (for the benefit of those of us without a Canadian Dollar chequebook account)? Will you be accepting Visa (and giving our cards back ), or will we need to mess about with money orders or whatever?

When the time comes, PayPal or advance-payment by Postal Money Order will suffice.

Cheers

Hey!!
He does live in the New Yankee Workshop!

This workbench alone makes me green with envy...

Close.. but Norm doesn't have all of the power tools that I do..

Cheers