So, let's get down to buisness.. I ordered my Rio Central about 2 weeks ago and I'm picking up an 80 GB drive this weekend.

Here's what I want to do:
- Rip out the CDRW and add in the 80GB drive.
- Install web or FTP interface for uploading new MP3s (I have my entire collection already ripped at 256 VBR, I don't want to re-rip it with the Rio Central).
- Create some interim method for syncing the Rio Central with my Empeg.

I don't see any discussion concerning HOW to access the Linux OS externally on the Rio Central.. can I just plug it into the COM port like my empeg and type 'q'?

Who has a Rio Central, and is working with it to build mods? Has anyone actuall *tried* installing a new drive? - or two?

Thanks!
--Bryan
[email protected]

Here's what I want to do:
- Rip out the CDRW and add in the 80GB drive.

If you just want to replace the factory drive, you don't have to remove the CDRW. It is in theory possible to bring Central up on a blank drive by booting from the supplied reinstall CD. This procedure will, I expect, void your warranty.

You can't use two drives in a Rio Central; the software doesn't look for a second drive; it probably refuses to start if the CD drive isn't available; and there's only one IDE channel.

I don't see any discussion concerning HOW to access the Linux OS externally on the Rio Central.. can I just plug it into the COM port like my empeg and type 'q'?

Consumer units don't have serial ports. But you can just plug in a USB keyboard and press Ctrl-Alt-Del. It brings up a shell on console.

Peter

Install web or FTP interface for uploading new MP3s (I have my entire collection already ripped at 256 VBR, I don't want to re-rip it with the Rio Central).

Wouldn't it be easier to just use emplode?

Rob

- Create some interim method for syncing the Rio Central with my Empeg.

Well, you can download songs off of the empeg with the latest versions of the Emplode software. Then you can just send them to the HSX with emplode.

You may be surprised to find that the Emplode 2.0beta11 for the car player works nicely with the HSX.

However, copying files off of the HSX is not supported by Emplode, it's deliberately disabled for the HSX. Since it's a ripper, you see...

In recent versions, I noticed that the JEmplode utility would not connect to the HSX even though it would show up in the discovery dialog. Perhaps with a little coaxing, the JEmplode developers can be made to fix up whatever minor bugs are preventing HSX connectivity, and then you could have bidirectional transfers between Empeg and HSX via JEmplode...

Excellent,

I didn't realize Emplode worked with the Central, that makes life much easier!

Thanks for the ctl-alt-delete note.. but where's the console? Do you mean the front panel LCD? Yikes.. linux hacking at 320x200! Haven't done that before.

So, then we'll need a fix on JEmplode to support downloading from the Central. Hmm.. Ok, another item on my to-do list.

No dual-drive support? I was hoping to max out the storage capacity (maybe dual 80 GB drives), leaving me enough room to grow into.

Looks like my weekend shopping list has expanded a bit:
- 80+ GB drive to replace the 40.
- USB keyboard
- USB->Ethernet dongle (just read the other note in the BBS about this)


Tony, you say that Emplode download is 'intentionally disabled' for the HSX.. that sounds to me like a minor edit to the exe.. a little BSR or NOP in the right place. Can you confirm that this disabling is part of the Emplode software (versus the protocol or HSX side)? I'll be happy to spend some time doctoring Emplode (probably a lot faster than getting the JEmplode fixes).

Thanks guys!
--Bryan
[email protected]

Tony, does emplode 2.00b11 work better than b7? I was wondering if b11 had any of the improved download fuctionality for the empeg.

but where's the console? Do you mean the front panel LCD?

Yup. Have phun.

- USB->Ethernet dongle (just read the other note in the BBS about this)

If you go into the "About" menu of the player, you will see the model numbers of supported adapters. I'm using the Linksys USB10T and it works great, cost me 30 bucks.

Remember that JEmplode doesn't work with USB, so you'll need one of these dongles if you intend to fix up JEmplode to work with the HSX.

Tony, you say that Emplode download is 'intentionally disabled' for the HSX.. that sounds to me like a minor edit to the exe.. a little BSR or NOP in the right place. Can you confirm that this disabling is part of the Emplode software (versus the protocol or HSX side)?

I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. Sorry.

Remember that JEmplode doesn't work with USB, so you'll need one of these dongles if you intend to fix up JEmplode to work with the HSX.

I take that back. Sorry, I had a brainfart and forgot that there's a such thing as HPNA-card ethernet adapters for the PC. So if you want to make JEmplode work with the HSX, you will need either a supported USB-ethernet converter, or an HPNA adapter for your PC.

Tony, does emplode 2.00b11 work better than b7? I was wondering if b11 had any of the improved download fuctionality for the empeg.

B11 and B7 are pretty much the same except the nasty deletion bug is gone from B11. The release notes for B11 state what has changed since B7, you should check those.

Oh, and the Favorite Visuals menu was implemened in B11.

> I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. Sorry.

Hmm.. maybe you could tell me, then we'll say you killed me and call it a day, eh?

This is good stuff. I think that's all I'll need to put together the new system.. now it's time to play the waiting game! I feel a distinct deja-vu from the Mark II days..
- Come in each morning, check the BBS.
- Rob says order #XXXX has shipped (XXXX always being some 100 or so away from my order #). Hehe..

Anyone else planning to do some HSX hacking? What mods are people exploring?

--Bryan
[email protected]

The screen is 480x320, no idea where some reviews got 320x200 from!

It's cramped, using it as a console, but once you have got inetd/telnetd installed (eg, from a CD) then you don't have to use the console anymore

Hugo

Netgear (I believe) make PNA<>ethernet learning bridges.

Hugo

So, then we'll need a fix on JEmplode to support downloading from the Central. Hmm.. Ok, another item on my to-do list.

I haven't tried it, but as it works with the latest car player betas, it might just work out of the box.

80+ GB drive to replace the 40.

Bear in mind that, while replacing the drive is "not supported" in the sense of voiding your warranty, disqualifying you from support, etc., replacing it with a drive bigger than 128Gb is "not supported" in the sense of it actually won't work.

Peter

I haven't tried it, but as it works with the latest car player betas, it might just work out of the box.

Nope, it doesn't. It finds it in the discovery dialog, connects to it, begins the initial download, and then hangs at "downloading databases". We need to get Mike Schrag to look at it, I haven't spoken to him about it yet.

I'll direct him to this thread...

I had to make some changes to the protocol client code to support jupiter. He might be being bitten by this. It sounds like it. Essentially, the database retrieval code was changed. I'll post more details, if required.

*taps foot*
*checks order status page*
*taps foot*

*sigh*