Old Compaq 233MHz box turned MP3 player (Plans)

[Jesda]

One Compaq Presario with 4x CD-ROM, 4GB hard drive, minitower case, AMD 233MHz processor, and 64MB RAM.

One copy of Winamp (features programmable shortcut keys).One PS/2 numeric keypad (for switching tracks).

Some kind of power converter to plug into the ciggy lighter socket.

One PCI wireless adapter.One wireless home network.--The idea is, I can pull into the garage, go in the house, and upload music wirelessly over the network.

A cassette adapter.--Currently has an XM radio attached to it.

One thing I cant find:A switch to split the tape adapter among two input devices (XM and computer). Any ideas where to find one?

The goal is to keep this on the cheap, using as many existing leftover parts as I can.

-Jesda

[Rex]

2 options.

1) Either find one of those 1.5mm (Mini jack) splitters like if you're going to share your Walkman amongst 2 headsets. Then unless you have both turned on at the same time, the one playing should be the one heard.

2) There are A/B switches, but they cost $, and would require you to go from minijack to RCA's into the switch (1 per device) and then RCA's back to mini for the cassette adapter to plug into.



Click image for the web page

[Simmsled]

soundgate is the way to go! ive used it many times and it kicks arse

[Rex]

They are nice, but Jesda's thinking CHEAP, so he may just go with the cheapo head phone splitter.

[hannibal]

Sounds good to me. For cheap, you cant beat the splitter.The only thing you didnt mention is a display. Using the keypad to control Winamp is a good idea, but you need some way to display it.My first thoughts were a PSOne LCD screen (converted to VGA) or a serial graphic LCD. Well, I have both at home and while both were cheap, neither one seems like a simple solution. Ive kinda given up on that idea and I'm planning to do an indash screen like burnin240 did earlier this summer.What are you planning to use??

[elwesso]

Are you gonna wait for that thing to power up every time you get in the car???

If you have the money it might be better to keep it on a laptop so that it doesnt draw as much power......

[Jesda]

Yeah I gave up on it. I bought a Bose CD player.

[underground57]

Hey, here's a system that a friend of mine built. He started off with a similar idea, but ended up going all out.

http://andrew.cmu.edu/user/pst...o.htm

[Simmsled]

I have often wanted to do that. I hope once I get out of college that I will.

[accel junky]

Sounds good. But why not sell the comp and just get an ipod? You can hook them up to the RCA's easily. IT'll take up a lot less space.

[Jesda]

The computer is worth about three dollars. I'll have to wait a while for an iPod.