I'm sure this has been covered before at some point- but I was hoping that
someone could point me in the right direction. I am installing a MK11 Empeg
Rio in my 98' Acura NSX-T. Due to the dash layout, etc... it really needed to
be iso-mounted in a permanent fashion- so that's what I did. However, I still
wanted to do the wireless upload thing and have the ability to upload data to
the unit from my home network via some sort of wireless solution while the car
is parked.

What I need from someone on the forum is just a bottom line of the ideal
hardware to use, a hyperlink (ebay, whatever...) of where I can purchase
all of the extra parts required, any installation considerations etc...

Thanks in advance.

You could check out my post on the Rio Receiver BBS. The equipment is the same whether you are using an Empeg or Rio Receiver wirelessly. The Orinoco Ethernet Converter costs about $190 and the wireless card (Orinoco Gold or Silver) is around $90. With this setup, you should be able to connect to any wireless access point.

There are other access points that will allow you to use it as a client such as the Linksys WAP11. However, this only officially works when you're hooking up to another WAP11-based network. IMHO getting that kind of setup to work is not worth the time or money.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I got the Orinoco stuff from Provantage.

I am installing a MK11 Empeg Rio in my 98' Acura NSX-T.

You need to talk with the lunatic you'll find here! (A supercharged, nitrous-injected NSX with custom-built center console to contain his wireless-loadable empeg... mumble mumble...)

tanstaafl.

The solutions I see posted consist of a radio base station (to be installed in the vehicle)
and a PCM card (for a lap top). I don't own a laptop. At home I have a few media x86 servers
on a windows network abouts. Thus, what I think I need is a base station to put in the car
that runs on 12V so I don't need an inverter. Ideal would be light weight and unobtrusive
as well so I can just hide it behind the dash somewhere (like maybe the Orinoco RG-1000 would
do it?). Then, I'll need something else to put in my house that will plug into my ethernet hub
and talk to this damn thing over a secure channel. Any ideas?

If you were to use an Orinoco RG-1000, that would be what goes in your house. An RG-1000 is an access point. Your empeg would need a client solution. Wireless clients commonly come in the form of a PCMCIA card (for laptops) or USB adapter (for desktops).

The empeg doesn't have a PCMCIA slot or USB host port for hooking up a wireless client device. This is where the Orinoco Ethernet Converter comes in. It will turn any ethernet port into a wireless client.

Now, many wireless access points can be put into "client mode." However, this usually only works between two access points of the same manufacturer. If that doesn't bother you, two Orinoco RG-1000s can probably talk to each other.

From what I am reading- the ORiNOCO WaveLAN EtherNet Converter comes with a 5V DC power supply. I need something that works on 12V-14.4V DC current to install in the car do I not?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2014785082

http://www.orinocowireless.com/template.html?section=m57&envelope=93&page=125

Use a power inverter? If anyone wants to give another suggestion, feel free. I'm just saying this is the way I got the empeg to work wirelessly.

I don't want to lug around a DC-AC converter just so I can plug a wall wart AC-DC converter in to it. That's too redundant and weight is an issue for me. It just seems too far to go to just convert 12V DC to 5V DC. Could anyone reccomend a ethernet converter that runs natively on 12V DC ???

No one else makes ethernet converters that I know of.

You could fix up a voltage regulator. The General Semi MC7805 would seem to do the trick. Or am I totally wrong? (Probably.)

They don't take a huge amount of current; you could buy one of those in-car universal adaptors - just make sure it's a *regulated* one. These usually plug into the cigarette lighter socket and have a range of tips you can use - about $10-$15 for a decent one. If you're hiding it away you can do a neater permanent wiring, too.

One thing is that you don't want to use a native 12v ethernet client (ok, it's not a client, but an example is something like the apple airport) as you *need* some over voltage/reverse voltage protection too. Going through a regulator gives you this for free.

Hugo

Radio Shack sells many variations of 12 VDC to a lower DC voltage with a variety of plugs. Most of them are cigarette plug connectors on the 12 V end so you may have to do a bit of playing around to wire them permanently into your car's electrical system. The other solution, as has been suggested earlier, is to buy an IC packaged regulator. 12 V in and 5 V out.

kick ass! thanks everyone!