Mediacenter Project

I am quite upset that TVs are no longer an option. This isn't the fault of CI, its a combination of two facts:

1. Television is dying in favor of streaming services, less and less people demand the option
2. The model of player they used is no longer available from the manufacturer. Its difficult to argue wtih this one

The second option will inevitably at some point bite me, because I know that whatever I use in my project is likely going to be unavailable >when< it breaks. Electronics are not really rugged enough to stand up to the type of abuse we put them through, especially in an RV. Something about being exposed to a category 6 earthquake for hours on end as we travel down the road. Worse if your roads look like lunar landscapes.

I have no idea if what I am doing will work. There are a dozen things that can go wrong. But unless you try, you'll never know. What I am doing is not a blessed option by CI, and I am taking great precautions, some of which I am sure will be skipped over in this entry....don't do what I say. Its probably wrong

What will I get? The ability to carry 300+ Movies, several complete runs of TV Series, and all of my music library all available with a simple click of a remote.

I've assembled the components I need, and brought them all together and they work. Now to start voiding warranties!

First time all parts together

There you have it....all working together....now to fit it in the camper

Here's the major parts:

1. SupraSonic SC-1511 TV - $110 -- This is my "Critical-Path" component - if I break the LCD. I'm done, I do not have a replacement.
2. Odroid HC2 Computer system, Power Supply, SSD Drive - $80
3. 1TB 2.5" SSD Package
4. Raspberry PI -
5. WIFI Hub which allows Sharing data between clients,

All told, I'm into this a couple hundred bucks. But, except for the TV -- this is all parts I already have laying around. If you want to do something similar, let me know.

For the record, all of this will work on your HOME TV as well I LOVE not having to go through piles of DVD cases to find a disk. Even better, it not getting a monthly bill from a streaming media service...the one that drops the show you are watching when you are only half way through the series.

More to come...

 

I love the idea. So you're setting up a wifi-based NAS which will serve videos and audio to the Raspberry PI, which will drive the TV monitor, right? I haven't actually seen or played with a Rasperry PI, so I'm not familiar with its limitations (over the years, I have frequently assumed if some device could run Linux it could do anything--this has led to some epic failures). Is it not possible to connect the SSD directly to the RP?

 

Yes! Great project!

Maybe you *could* simplify to one or the other cpu. Rpi? That would take an external ssd or flash drive via usb, or a big MicroSD in the card reader? Though I appreciate wanting to reuse what you have lying around!

Reuse, recycle, use up, make do or do without? How does that saying go?

I’m hopeful you have a sound solution better than tinny tv speakers!

 

EDIT NOTE: Reworded heavily. First past was a late nigth, iPad written post which upon review was hard to read.

The pi is just a linux box with HDMI output. It has plenty of power to act as the display "driver" -- but not enough to do the transcoding and the heavier lifting the server itself does. I could use a fire stick or roku just as well, but I am trying to wean as much proprietary tech as possible from my life. Apple and Windows as well as the rest of "big tech" has really soured me. I want to use open source as much as possible in general.

Pis are cool tech. I am using a 3B running the "Rasplex" distribution I MIGHT roll my own solution using RetroPI. Then, I can play video games as well. Donky Kong on those rainy afternoon.

The media server itself is the odroid. Odroid is an 8 core 4 gig of ram PC that, in my case, has no vide output. Just a USB, a SanDisk Card slot to hold the OS, and an 2.5" hard drive (Perfectly suited for SSD) to hold the actual media. This will be more than powerful enough to stream to the Raspberry PI and an additional device or two.

I’ll be writing up the whole software process. My thoughts as to why, and the actual software configuration itself.

Right now, I’m waiting on a door blank ..then getting he LCD in place. IF it fits, IF I do'nt break it, and IF I can get the ribbon cable. The LCD panels use a connector that I am not able to find.

This connector is a 30 pin connector from the motherboard to the LCD control board. Its a lot like a floppy drive ribbon cable...only a little tighter pin arrangment, and pin size. I can solder it...but I’d rather find the sockets...Element 14 and Reddit hasn’t answered et . I’ll throw up a photo once I take the TV apart again.

But the core hardware works fine -- I had it run for several hours and the heat stayed in the comfort range.

WORST case scenario the TV has a VESA mount on the back of it. I hate to think about it, but it may just get mounted to the door panel. Not as integrated, but it may become my only option. I have got the budget for _1_ of these screens. And, they are getting harder to find, even if I can find a second.

Next case will be bluetooth audio to the radio and an ipad mount....still using the plex server. But I really hope not to do that...at this point there isn't a good open-srouce tablet platform (hardware issue). Android is too tightly controlled by Google, and Apple is too...apple. BTW, I LOVE apple...but I'm as stated above, have developed a dis-taste for big-tech

 

I have a Rasberry Pi that is about 4 yrs old that I used as an ADSB receiver in the plane for a couple years before installing a transceiver replacement before the ADSB out deadline. Might be fun to repurpose this RPi, and wondering if you can either provide or point to an instuctible on your project. I already have the 19" TV with a built in DVD player, and 12V power source, but choosing to view something from a menu sounds nice, and not having to haul the DVD's around sounds nice too.
Thanks!

 

Only if you share the ADSB Info

There's probably are instructables. for me this is more about documenting the process that will be teardrop specific, and maybe someone else will help me solve the problems I will face. It also might spark the interest for some one else to improve my simple idea and turn it into something really special.

From my perspective, the only "unique" part of this build is the screen mount --- everything else is preexisting components that I've been using for a long time. PlexMediaServer on Linux, Linux on a small 12 volt "single chip" computer, and the Rasplex distribution.

I am limiting myself to using off-the shelf components, building a lcd driver for a generic lcd panel is outside of my technical ability and desire. I'm a bit disapointed that everyhting seems to be going BIG (72" TVs) and phone size. That 13-15" middle of the road segment seems to be going away fast.

 

OK. I'm at least partly caught up. The Odroid NAS platform looks awesome, and such a deal! I totally agree with you about using open source solutions wherever they can be found or made. I'm still a little confused about the TV connection. Are you removing the LCD from the TV completely and mounting it in the cabinetry? That would be awesome, and well beyond my ambition/capacity. If that's right, can you salvage the HDMI connector panel internals as well so that an HDMI connection could still work?

I'm sure you got to where you are by having rejected all these shortcuts. I know it's unlikely I'll offer anything helpful here, but I'm thinking that once you get it working, I can park next to you and watch some movies . . .

 

No problem, here is the website for ADSB info I used to build my receiver: Stratux ADS-B | Stratux ADS-B - DIY/Low-cost Portable ADS-B
I showed you mine, now you show me yours.

 

Whoh! lets stop right there pal.

I've got a stalled STOL project...I keep running out of space...and this insane desire to camp keeps getting in my way.

Actually, its a ch750 cruzer.....right now too many other thigns are just getting in my way. I figure its a life-long project..

 

Not good to stall your plane LOL.... but better while building than flying I guess. Zenith has been around for quite awhile, so there should be lots of builder support out there from both the factory and online builders forum members.
My GlaStar took me 8.5 years, which is only about 7 more than I thought it would be going into it, but I'm glad I didn't know that going into it, or I may not have started it in the first place, and I certainly don't regret having built it, so that would have been a shame.
It had it's first flight in Oct.2007, and the Hobbs turned over 900 hours during this afternoons flight. I found the trick was to try and do something on it everyday, even if that was only for 10 minutes, otherwise it just gets too easy to keep putting it off, and pretty soon it just collects dust in the corner of the shop.

 

Zenith had some rough times, but I think they have come out of it well. I think the biggest overall problem is probably that so much of their planes were built by builders may not focus on quality work adequately. Being kind. I have seen some planes I didn't feel safe walking near let alone flying in. Of course, on the flip side, I've seen Zeiths that were built to such a high quality standard they make certified planes amateur.

Right now I've got no room to build. I just built a workshop/shed...its just very hard right now (and much more expensive) to buy the construction material to finish it. With some luck, common sense will start to come back to style, and I can get back too it. This, combined with elder care...I almost can't find 10 minutes....

Get down to Indianapolis way, look me up

 

Today I got a package in the mail --- I go a door blank from CampInn --- tomorrow .. dry fit.

 

I think you will find that to be true of a few builders of most of the various kits. Once the kit leaves the manufacturer, there is little control that they can exercise over the builders quality of workmanship during assembly. That's why it's good to be an EAA member, and make use of the tech counselor program to progressively check your work throughout the build. But regardless, the DAR's should prevent anything un-airworthy from ever being flown when they do their pre-test flight inspection. I also found it immeasurably useful to find and befriend another builder of the same kit who has done a nice job on theirs, as someone you can count on as a mentor to tell you when you you've messed up and need to do something over. I was fortunate to find two guys in our chapter who had been there, done that, and like you said "they put certified planes to shame" when they built theirs, and they held me to the same standard. Good luck and I'll remember your invitation if I end up in the neighborhood.

 

Well today I had a chance to take screws out and get some questions answered.

It always surprises me how little there is in electronics. It reminds me of as a child opening up the magical Atari cartridge and finding 1 chip, or the "Light Bright" to find an empty box with just a light bulb

The screen depth won't be problem! I thought it might be, but at .22" thick the screen gives me some room to work. I'm going to need to add another .25 inch of thickness to allow for a piece of acrylic to protect the screen from damage, or maybe I do without the acrylic and add some a thin layer of foam behind the screen...Not sure. I need to see what my options are to protect the screen.

I did identify the mystery connector. It looks like an LVDS...Low Voltage Differential Signaling. Time to do some googling.

 

This is a sweet project! I think I may refer to to this in the future. I've always wanted to tinker with raspberry pi. This gives me a great excuse to start. Great write up and build!

 

The pi part is easy…. Getting a screen working and in the space there is….that’s hard. Maybe impossible for a joker like me

Plex is actually a really mature environment…. It almost an “it just works”….

what are you trying to do?

 

I'd like to do a small media center. I am lucky enough to have bought an older model with the TV installed so I have a little bit easier of a time making it work. Just a plex for digital content using Pi.

 

Plex server is easy. Unfortunately a Pi doesn’t lend itself to the task, first because it isn’t really fast enough, second is it isn’t the greatest in storage capacity.

There are good sources for small cheap computes that are up to the task. You’ll need to learn a little Linux, but that’s really not that hard IF you know MSDOS command lines….

The computer i am using is an odroid hc1. ODROID-HC1

These are in short supply at the moment, but they should be back….there are a couple distributors for them. Along with a 32 gig SD card and a 3.5 SSD you’ve got a pretty formidable little Plex server…

there are write ups how to do it….but, from start to finish I can have a Plex server running on one of these in about 15 minutes…

I’ll be glad to help if you decide to go this way….

this will solve the server….but it has no video out. The H2+ may be a better choice….but a tad more money…

ODROID-H2+

Raspex takes care of that….with HDMI out ….it’s pretty much a turn key configuration….

im going to use a tablet, probably iPad Pro for my display….I can’t find an LCD screen I can make fit….mostly due to electronics and the high bandwidth ribbon cables needed to get signal from the lcd controller to the screen itself…

if you know an EE I’m sure there’s a way….but it’s outside of my meager ability….but, your CI has the screen and it hdmi inputs….with a creative use of a 90 degree hdmi adapter you should be fine….

 

I have had to make several changes.

As much as I like it, Plex disqualified itself as a contender for my media server. It does everything I need to do well, except for two issues.

I need a new software package. Don't get me wrong. Plex is a fantastic tool that is capable of amazing things. The list of features it sports is too long to cover here, but in summary, it's a one-stop shop for media hoarders like me. It's a DVR, Video Library, and streaming aggregator. Free except for some features that come with a premium package, to which I subscribe.

I've come to grips with the fact my watching behavior is not private. Let's hope the open-source guys come up with a better solution. I know there is some work in this area, but I have not seen a viable solution. The Achilles' heel is that the tool is entirely crippled without an internet connection. You can't even video your own library. So.... it is out of here.

The second problem I have been contending with is hardware. The ODROID devices I started working with have two problems:

• They are headless --- no monitor support at all. So, you can't fix anything unless you can open a remote connection (SSH) to the server. At least once, I could not get the server to boot and had no way to know why -- got it home and re-flashed the boot image, and I was fine. But more than I can do in a teardrop trailer.
• The confirmed 'fatality' is availability, like so many things today, has been impacted by supply problems. As a result, these devices have been discontinued.

It's not all bad news, but I have had to make several changes.

I resolved this problem by changing to a Raspberry PI 4. These used to be a dime a dozen -- With supply problems, these now cost much more, but on the bright side, they are still less expensive than full-blown PC. Add a case with SSD expansion, and you're in the $230 range before you add the drive.

The software problem, the workaround is EMBY. It has MANY of the same features as PLEX; it also has the same privacy concerns. But, it will at least play video without an internet connection through a browser, AppleTV, or several clients. More to come on this. I am also looking at Jellyfin and a few more tools....an update to follow...

 

I’m a little confused about a media server-client setup in a space as physically small as a teardrop.

Something like an iPad with the display you want up to 12.9” can be enhanced with storage on a USB flash drive (one of the cheapest ways to buy storage). I purchased a uSD/SD/passthru-Lightening-power adapter for a first-gen iPad Pro so I could easily edit video in the field. The same sort of adapter is available for USB3.x. The newer iPads are USB-C, so it’s even easier.

Is there something I’m missing about how you could set up a media network around the camper?