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#193842 - 17/12/2003 01:21 Just received my MKIIA
kendrick
member

Registered: 09/12/2003
Posts: 150
How's it going everyone, just received a MKIIA today. I have been doing the car computer for about 4 years, then after all that time i realized that having all that stuff in my car was pointless and all i really wanted was hard drive mp3 playback. One thing i've noticed that i didn't like about the rio is how easy it is for it to get stolen. The thing slides right out.

Are there any mods to make it more secure, and if i take it out everytime i get out of the car will this damage the unit after a while?

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#193843 - 17/12/2003 03:06 Re: Just received my MKIIA [Re: kendrick]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
You won't damage it by repeated removals. That's what it's designed to do. Paul Grzelak keeps his behind a panel at the bottom of his dashboard. Have a look at his site
_________________________
Cheers,

Andy M

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#193844 - 17/12/2003 08:11 Re: Just received my MKIIA [Re: kendrick]
robricc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
One thing i've noticed that i didn't like about the rio is how easy it is for it to get stolen. The thing slides right out.
That feature is actually what makes it not get stolen. You take it with you.
_________________________
-Rob Riccardelli
80GB 16MB MK2 090000736

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#193845 - 17/12/2003 08:13 Re: Just received my MKIIA [Re: robricc]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
There is a laptop security slot on the back of the player. You might be able to rig something so that it is locked in place while docked. But the best defense is to take it with you.
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

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#193846 - 17/12/2003 11:52 Re: Just received my MKIIA [Re: kendrick]
genixia
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 08/02/2002
Posts: 3411
As Paul has mentioned, you could do something with the security slot, but that might just mean that the empeg gets trashed as someone tries to lever it out with a crowbar.

There are another couple of options;
Someone has recently made a display extender that could be used as a basis for a removeable display idea where the main unit is more securely fixed. However, there are significant technological details that would need to be worked out to make this work. Firstly the display would need to be physically modified/encapsulated into a docking case (and a corresponding dock designed), and secondly you'd need to do something electrically to ensure that there is no power to the empeg during docking and undocking.
Neither of these are insurmountable to someone with the skills, dedication, time and resources but it's not going to be a walk in the park. No one has felt inclined to do it yet.

The other option is to do a custom dash that completely encloses the empeg so that it cannot be removed without the dash being assembled. Someone has done this, there are pictures on riocar.org somewhere.

Both of these ideas have some drawbacks though. Firstly, it makes it difficult to add music to the empeg. It is possible to work around this with some thought, but again it is hassle.
More importantly though is that neither of these schemes prevent the empeg being stolen. Ask Loren about car theft sometime.
_________________________
Mk2a 60GB Blue. Serial 030102962 sig.mp3: File Format not Valid.

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#193847 - 17/12/2003 16:05 Re: Just received my MKIIA [Re: kendrick]
elvis
enthusiast

Registered: 18/01/2002
Posts: 270
Loc: Arizona USA
Welcome!

You don't want your empeg stuck in the dash. Take it out; play with it; have fun!

One of the reasons the empeg was made 'slide out' was because head units with removable face plates, etc get stolen even when their 'security features' are in use. IE, if it's in the car, it's a target.

Eventually you'll start really lovin' your empeg. Even the pull out-ness of it. I've used mine at home, work, and in the car. For MASSIVE music storage the empeg is better than anything else out there.

The biggest irritation about moving the empeg around for me is plugging in all those wires. I bought a dock and that prob went away (I don't have one for work, I should have bought another when I had the chance). I would suggest you find someone who who will sell you a home docking station. Get it. You'll love it.

If you really don't want to haul your empeg around (say you're goin' to a club) just put the darned thing in the trunk. It's not as safe as taking it with you, but who wants to pry a trunk open because there 'might be' a head unit of some type (remember, most pullouts are 5-10 years old now) buried in it?
_________________________
Elvis

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#193848 - 18/12/2003 02:15 Re: Just received my MKIIA [Re: pgrzelak]
Anonymous
Unregistered


Greetings!

Excellent install, pgrzelak.

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#193849 - 18/12/2003 06:49 Re: Just received my MKIIA [Re: genixia]
V99
member

Registered: 12/01/2002
Posts: 192
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
Someone has recently made a display extender that could be used as a basis for a removeable display idea where the main unit is more securely fixed.

That could certainly be done, but seems a lot more complicated than necessary, and you still have to carry part of your car around when you leave it; I went the route of making it look like there's nothing to steal when the player isn't running. Serial VFDs are (compared to an Empeg) cheap and plentiful; if someone wants to steal an innocent looking cubby out of my car they can go ahead.. The good stuff is (relatively) safely stored in the trunk (which is where I'd usually leave the player anyway, only now nobody sees me moving something shiny out of the dash and into the trunk).

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#193850 - 18/12/2003 08:04 Re: Just received my MKIIA [Re: V99]
furtive
old hand

Registered: 14/08/2001
Posts: 886
Loc: London, UK
What are those funky looking buttons for?
_________________________
Mk2a RioCar 120Gb - now sold to the owner of my old car
Rio Karma - now on ebay...

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#193851 - 18/12/2003 16:55 Re: Just received my MKIIA [Re: furtive]
V99
member

Registered: 12/01/2002
Posts: 192
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
Standard stuff.. heat-seeking missiles, oil slick, ejection seat, self-destruct.. oh, uh.. I mean.. VFD power, garage & gate openers, and 6 soft-buttons sent to the Empeg to do whatever.

You may remember me from previous threads such as "Project: External VFD" and "An Odd wish...; if not, the thing that looks like (and previously was) the cigarette lighter is a joystick that replicates the 7 actions on the Empeg's face.

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#193852 - 18/12/2003 17:34 Re: Just received my MKIIA [Re: ]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Thanks! It was my first non-factory install, and it was done by a local shop.
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

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