CarPC/Carputer pics and wanted advice - Toyota Yaris Forums

qbunnie · 07-25-2007, 12:50 PM

yeah, the static varies only with the amp gain, not from the lappy. Laptop volume cranked all the way, and I'm using the volume control from the deck, but unfortunately, its still noticeable (when its there). When the car's not running, i can turn the radio amp down to where the hiss goes away, but then, what's the point? I either hear static and music/directions while driving, or nothing at all, ya know? Anyhow, I've tried running the lappy on battery only for a little bit, but no luck. Hiss still present, so i don't think its power interference or alternator whine or anything... I just don't understand why it comes and goes. Maybe its time to save up for a new sound card...
Thanks for the help tho.
-QB

*Astroman* · 07-25-2007, 01:04 PM

Have you tried running the audio cables along a different route? Sometimes other electrical wires or components can cause interferance. There might be some kind of cable wrap or cable that has insulation designed to stop this. I know people who tried using IDE ribbon cables to mount a DVD drive and ran into such issues. I had my laptop in the back seat and ran audio through the aux input jack on my stock HU and didn't have any issues at all... Might try a different cable... And your setup looks great so far. I have a car DVD player that I thought of mounting in the glovebox like you did. Glad to know I can now.

qbunnie · 07-25-2007, 06:42 PM

Thanks to both astroman and etimago for the kind compliments

in response to astroman's suggestion, I haven't tried running a different route. I only have 6 feet of audio cable and I can't think of another route that will be less than 6 feet, unfortunately. Of course, I can always get more. It's a good suggestion that I will try out when I get the opportunity. I did choose the line-in aux input adapter since i was under the impression that line level RCA audio cables had less interference, although i could completely be making that up. The audio goes out from 3.5 mm to a cable that ends with RCA jacks.
Was your aux in RCA or 3.5 mm? I can get a 3.5 mm one, although i'm really hoping crutchfield let's me exchange it for the one i have.
Thanks again, to everyone.

Yarii · 07-30-2007, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbunnie

yeah, the static varies only with the amp gain, not from the lappy. Laptop volume cranked all the way...

If you're saying your laptop volume is set to maximum, turn that down as low as possible. As a general rule, the amping circuits on soundcards SUCK. My pc has a pretty high quality soundboard in it hooked up my 5.1 speaker setup; If i turn the PC volume output above about 40%, I get hissing, if I leave it low, I can crank my amp up to the max with very little deterioration of sound quality. Cable routing could also be a problem, but definately try turning the laptop down first. It could also be a corroded connection in the laptop. It wont hurt to spray some radioshack electrical contact cleaner in the audio jack (while the thing is powered off) and then plug your cable in and out a few times, help scrub the dirt off the contact points.

qbunnie · 08-01-2007, 11:26 PM

Well, i figured it out. It is my inverter. I didn't properly check the first time (I checked the hiss when i took the battery out, not when I turned the inverter off). Good call alphafox and etimago. I was planning to go to DC-DC power soon anyways. I also found out thanks to my friend that if I ground the outside ring of my adapter plug to car ground, i can make the hiss go away. He said it might make the sound in general funky, but it seemed to affect just the hiss, music sounded just fine. That's what I'll be doing for now, until I buy a DC-DC adapter.
Thanks to everybody for their help, and their compliments.
Yarii: the hiss actually only varies with my amp gain, not the volume setting on my laptop. I believe its a residual of the not exactly sinusoidal power the inverter supplies. thanks for the help tho!
jaesusu: All the hardware i used is listed in previous posts, in case you were wondering, the inverter is a xantrec 400plus. Also, some random switches and plugs were also used, mainly for the button to turn the laptop on and off, pictured with the handbrake.

07-25-2007, 01:04 PM	#2
Astroman Modded Moderator View User's Garage Drives: 07 Toyota Yaris, 71 Galaxie Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 3,670	Have you tried running the audio cables along a different route? Sometimes other electrical wires or components can cause interferance. There might be some kind of cable wrap or cable that has insulation designed to stop this. I know people who tried using IDE ribbon cables to mount a DVD drive and ran into such issues. I had my laptop in the back seat and ran audio through the aux input jack on my stock HU and didn't have any issues at all... Might try a different cable... And your setup looks great so far. I have a car DVD player that I thought of mounting in the glovebox like you did. Glad to know I can now. __________________ Please visit my online store for computer stuff and Official Yarisworld decals!

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07-25-2007, 12:50 PM	#1
qbunnie Drives: 2007 Blazing Blue Yaris 3Dr Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OH Posts: 15	yeah, the static varies only with the amp gain, not from the lappy. Laptop volume cranked all the way, and I'm using the volume control from the deck, but unfortunately, its still noticeable (when its there). When the car's not running, i can turn the radio amp down to where the hiss goes away, but then, what's the point? I either hear static and music/directions while driving, or nothing at all, ya know? Anyhow, I've tried running the lappy on battery only for a little bit, but no luck. Hiss still present, so i don't think its power interference or alternator whine or anything... I just don't understand why it comes and goes. Maybe its time to save up for a new sound card... Thanks for the help tho. -QB

07-25-2007, 06:42 PM	#3
qbunnie Drives: 2007 Blazing Blue Yaris 3Dr Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OH Posts: 15	Thanks to both astroman and etimago for the kind compliments in response to astroman's suggestion, I haven't tried running a different route. I only have 6 feet of audio cable and I can't think of another route that will be less than 6 feet, unfortunately. Of course, I can always get more. It's a good suggestion that I will try out when I get the opportunity. I did choose the line-in aux input adapter since i was under the impression that line level RCA audio cables had less interference, although i could completely be making that up. The audio goes out from 3.5 mm to a cable that ends with RCA jacks. Was your aux in RCA or 3.5 mm? I can get a 3.5 mm one, although i'm really hoping crutchfield let's me exchange it for the one i have. Thanks again, to everyone.

08-01-2007, 11:26 PM	#5
qbunnie Drives: 2007 Blazing Blue Yaris 3Dr Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OH Posts: 15	Well, i figured it out. It is my inverter. I didn't properly check the first time (I checked the hiss when i took the battery out, not when I turned the inverter off). Good call alphafox and etimago. I was planning to go to DC-DC power soon anyways. I also found out thanks to my friend that if I ground the outside ring of my adapter plug to car ground, i can make the hiss go away. He said it might make the sound in general funky, but it seemed to affect just the hiss, music sounded just fine. That's what I'll be doing for now, until I buy a DC-DC adapter. Thanks to everybody for their help, and their compliments. Yarii: the hiss actually only varies with my amp gain, not the volume setting on my laptop. I believe its a residual of the not exactly sinusoidal power the inverter supplies. thanks for the help tho! jaesusu: All the hardware i used is listed in previous posts, in case you were wondering, the inverter is a xantrec 400plus. Also, some random switches and plugs were also used, mainly for the button to turn the laptop on and off, pictured with the handbrake.