Radio and Wardriving

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Threads
12
Messages
142
Okay, so my old double din died years ago, and was swapped with a Sony unit that has worked okay until I started driving it. Now it is a pain in the butt since I don't like the radio locally and CD's run out too fast. I've cooked 5 of those cheap little radio broadcasting things that plug into your mp3 player, so I am looking at getting a new upper din to have installed at the same time as my HAM unit...

I've decided that I want a front USB port for my external hard drive, an aux port, Bluetooth for my phone and laptop, and a customizable EQ so I can tweak the music so it sounds okay until I get the money to improve the amps and speakers...

I found this Pioneer 50W x 4 MOSFET iPod/ Radio/ CD Deck .... My question is whether anyone has any better advice, or whether there is something better out there...


On the Wardriving note, I'm just curious as to how many of you guys do it, and what (if any) external antennas/ cantennas you guys use for it... I'm looking at running an omni-directional antenna for seeking, and a (purchased) cantenna for focused use... Any other / better suggestions?

For those of you who don't know what Wardriving is, click on the word for a Wikipedia definition... Basically it involves turning your laptop on with a wireless card and driving around looking for wifi...
 
Didn't it start out as warchalking?
Back when the antenna of choice was home brewed from a Pringles can?

With so many free hot spots around the "war" part seems a bit out dated.
 
That's a very good point Dan-

But it i definitely is helpful when you're looking for legal wifi access points where you're not in your own home...

Yep.... you can make your own antenna, but if you purchase one, you have something that is guaranteed to work well... Although I have made a couple of custom cantennas, but they're pretty bulky....
 
For those of you who don't know what Wardriving is, click on the word for a Wikipedia definition... Basically it involves turning your laptop on with a wireless card and driving around looking for wifi...

Learn something new every day I guess... what will you young whippersnappers come up with next? :hillbilly:
 
Learn something new every day I guess... what will you young whippersnappers come up with next? :hillbilly:

I don't know what us whippersnappers will come up next, but there's plenty of ideas when you're bored senseless...
:meh:
Coming from someone who was running with mammoths, I'll take that as a complement... Pleistocene... lol.... you didn't think that any of us youngin's would know what that meant eh? I've spent too much time in New Mexico and the Grand Canyon.... I need to get in more....
:flipoff2:


In my spare time here in Egypt, I've been cruising the web, exploring and learning... and killing time... I've decided need to make a "wok-fi" too... Think a metal strainer, like the kind used for Asian food, with a Wi-fi adapter in the center.... it boosts signal by some insane amount by focusing it.... :hillbilly: home made booster... no extra electricity required.

Anyway, back to the tech part.... :idea:

I've been looking at stereos, and was wondering how the Bluetooth stuff works... is it worth any extra cost? Also, are there any companies that any of you's guys have had any problems with? I'm liking that Pioneer, both because of the price, and the features... For you 80 guys, how easy would it be to switch the stereos myself? I'm also looking at installing my HAM at the same time, and if I'm taking the dash apart to install one, I might as well switch the din that's already there, right?

I'm still not sure about how I'm going to run my antenna cables for wardriving, but i figure that's what a sunroof's for, worst case scenario....:hillbilly:
 
I don't know what us whippersnappers will come up next, but there's plenty of ideas when you're bored senseless...
:meh:
Coming from someone who was running with mammoths, I'll take that as a complement... Pleistocene... lol.... you didn't think that any of us youngin's would know what that meant eh? I've spent too much time in New Mexico and the Grand Canyon.... I need to get in more....
:flipoff2:


In my spare time here in Egypt, I've been cruising the web, exploring and learning... and killing time... I've decided need to make a "wok-fi" too... Think a metal strainer, like the kind used for Asian food, with a Wi-fi adapter in the center.... it boosts signal by some insane amount by focusing it.... :hillbilly: home made booster... no extra electricity required.

Anyway, back to the tech part.... :idea:

I've been looking at stereos, and was wondering how the Bluetooth stuff works... is it worth any extra cost? Also, are there any companies that any of you's guys have had any problems with? I'm liking that Pioneer, both because of the price, and the features... For you 80 guys, how easy would it be to switch the stereos myself? I'm also looking at installing my HAM at the same time, and if I'm taking the dash apart to install one, I might as well switch the din that's already there, right?

I'm still not sure about how I'm going to run my antenna cables for wardriving, but i figure that's what a sunroof's for, worst case scenario....:hillbilly:
I get a kick out of the checkers that try to help me use the check out ATM's or self checkouts, like a guy that looks older than their Dad wouldn't know anything about technology. I've been using computers since the punch card batch programing days. :lol:

What Ham radio are you using?

There may be a heat issue if you install the HAM radio in the DD slot. I have the FT8900. The head is mounted under a Sony Explode and the radio is mounted in a rear quarter panel. The install looks factory. If your radio does not have a remote head consider adding a fan behind the dash for extra cooling.

What would be cool for the Wardriving antenna is one of those cop style spot lights. You could probably even use the reflector for your Wokfi. Stealthy.:cool:
 
wow...

I get a kick out of the checkers that try to help me use the check out ATM's or self checkouts, like a guy that looks older than their Dad wouldn't know anything about technology. I've been using computers since the punch card batch programing days. :lol:

What Ham radio are you using?

There may be a heat issue if you install the HAM radio in the DD slot. I have the FT8900. The head is mounted under a Sony Explode and the radio is mounted in a rear quarter panel. The install looks factory. If your radio does not have a remote head consider adding a fan behind the dash for extra cooling.

What would be cool for the Wardriving antenna is one of those cop style spot lights. You could probably even use the reflector for your Wokfi. Stealthy.:cool:

LOL.... Rusty- My mom took an IT class in college- she still has one of her punchcard stacks... she sold the other 2 to kids in the next semester's classes... she got $100 out of the deal for each.

What is the model number of that Explode? does it have USB and aux in?

Also, would that be powerful enough run the speakers that are stock in the LC, and maybe some upgraded ones? maybe one sub?

I'm looking at the Yaesu FT 2900R- I know it has a removable head. Crazy thought, but could I leave the empty din in behind it and slide an external hard drive for the new stereo in there, and just run the USB cable out to the port on the front of the stereo? If chose to not mount the HAM in the din, and put it in the back storage compartment, which side should I put it on, and where should I run the cable?

The cop style spotlight would be cool! good idea... sadly, the wok-fi antennas need to be like 6 inches or more in diameter... I like the idea though.... i'll have to see about that.... maybe with a little rubber duck antenna... HMMM... something to consider....
 
I don't recall the model number off hand but it's a low end one, just a aux audio in on the front. I have a 100 series LC which has it's own amp system for the speakers. We made a point of going to a shop that would connect through the OEM amp rather then straight to the speakers. IIRC it takes an extra cable. I know the factory sub works just fine. We're not really audiophiles so the speakers have never been upgraded from factory. I think there are around 10X10¹² threads in the 100 series forum on upgrading the OEM sound system.

There should be plenty of room behind HAM radio head for a laptop hard drive. IMHO you would be best off with a solid state drive.
 
Actually i was looking at going external USB powered HDD instead of having an unprotected drive in there... and I just found a 32GB flash drive that'd hold all of my music, which would be perfect- all that I need is a right angle USB connection to give me the angles that I need to access the bay.

I'm not looking at the Alpine DEH-P5100UB because of it's rear USB jack- a front mounted one would be easier to access, yes, but I'd probably break the USB stick off if I had it plugged in there... Running a USB out the back sounds like my best bet at this point....
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom