Tremor

I got one off ebay for under $115 and have ordered the pie and rca cables ($100). Hopefully I will have it by the weekend...no more carrying around cds for me.

Tremor

LiL BenNy

what are the minor issues?

Tremor

Well I was going to quote some reviews until I found this posted on amazon. I had read that the software that comes with the unit is poorly written...but now it seems that there is an open source alternative!!! Read on...

Before going into my review. I must say that my rating for this product is a 5 only because of the open source software (openfi) that is available to replace the stock software.

[...]As far as I know, there's no other device in this price range that has the capabilities or user-based support that the DMP1 does.

The Stock Software
The DMP1 comes with some pretty poorly written software. It gets the job done. I can easily say it lacks something to be desired.
It also requires proprietary synching software (called simple center) to be installed on a PC. There are modified versions of the software which will run on Macs and user-developed software for Linux. As far as I know omnifi has no official support for any platform other than Windows. Music can be added to the drive either by connecting it to your computer through the provided USB cable, or through an optional wifi (802.11b) adapter.
Simple Center converts your mp3s and wmas into a proprietary format, and then puts these new files onto the hard disk. If that weren�t enough it also has trouble keeping track of duplicate files and deleting files from the HDD if you've removed them from your computer. If you modify your ID3 tags after synching... the software leave the old song on the hdd and copies over the new song with the modified ID3 tags.
Managing your music through SimpleCenter is rough to say the least.

The Alternative!
Up until recently this was the only option for owners of the device. There were efforts to make simple center a bit more robust and less buggy (by users, no the makers of the software), but it was still SimpleCenter :-/
Then the magical day of freedom came. An alternative software which didn't require reflashing the firmware (or anything damaging) was released.

openfi has become a great replacement to the stock software. It is more stable and even has features that the stock software doesn't (like ff and rw).

It doesn't modify the stock software either, so it's risk-free to try it out. It is compatible with SimpleCenter synced files, but it will also play mp3 files that are loaded directly onto the HDD (so you can copy your music collection directly to the DMP1's HDD from any OS without any extra software).

The best part about it all is that openfi is constantly being developed and new features are always being added. Openfi has only been around for a month or two and it has already surpassed what the stock software can do.

Conclusion
If you're looking to buy an media player/hdd for your car the DMP1 is a great choice when openfi is coupled with it.

visit the openfi webpage: <a href="http://openfi.sf.net">http://openfi.sf.net</A>

Tremor

Links to Mod and Update your Omnifi:

Instructions on how to upgrade hard drive...
http://members.***.net/techfire/omnifi/dmp1/index.html

Also read that you can hook up a usb external harddrive to the DMP1 cartridge unit and it will override the cartridge in the unit. More on this when I find specifics.

Link to openfi firmware add-on
http://sourceforge.net/projects/openfi

G0t m4xx 21

Hmm I have a setup similar to that, but I made it myself using an Xbox, a 100gb hard drive, and a 7 inch screen.

The hacking scene for the original Xbox is HUGE. Once you install a modchip, the Xbox can do just about anything, from running homebrew Xbox software (using the official Xbox SDK), to running full blown Linux distros. You can install pretty much any size hard drive in one.

So, you can pick up a used Xbox pretty cheap these days, install a modchip and a larger hard drive, then run XBMC on it (Xbox Media Center, the best piece of homebrew Xbox software out there), and you have a full A/V server that will play all music/video/picture formats, including streaming over a network, FTP support, and modular, upgradeable scripts. I currently have mine set up to scan my HDD for all music files and play all of them in a random playlist.

Oh! and you can still play Xbox games (even from the hard drive w/o the original disk), and DVD movies (either from the DVD drive or HDD).

Xbox Media Center in the main menu:

In the visualization (the visualizations are simply incredible)

Tremor

Yeah I have an Xbox with a 160gb and have done a bunch for friends. At first I was thinking of doing that or the carpc thing but really I wouldnt use it. Just looking for a good way to keep mp3s in the car in mass amounts.

LiL BenNy

http://www.mazdaparts.com/ProductDet...000-1112606399

is this the correct PIE i need to get? do i need to get anything else?

(with the pie the omnifi is plug and play correct? or will i have to go to an installer 1-10 difficulty?)

when this is turned on the head unit is on AUX? can someone explain this?

and how do i check what firmware my HU is? can i get this done at mazda?

Tremor

I ordered the PIE and the mbus to RCA cables. The omnifi sends the signal to the head unit throught the rca cable to pie which plugs in to the head unit.

Cable link = http://www.mazdaparts.com/ProductDet...000-1112606399

Mine should be here today and I may get to install it this weekend if rain doesnt stop me. (Got them in my hands now)

Tremor

Tremor

Between assembling a trailer and other issues I was able to get most of the install done. After removing the head unit and hooking up the pie I had to find some places to wire in the power. Red to cigarette lighter power(switched power), Orange to the light for the ashtray/cig lighter (dimmer) Yellow I routed over to an empty fuse spot and spliced into the feed wire, Ground to ground.

I have the openfi software and about 1 gig of music on to test. The steering wheel volume, mode, and mute work with Omnifi but not the track controls (unless I am missing something). So now I need to figure out where I want the control unit. I was going to go with the sunglass tray but not sure now. It will need to be accessible to change through everything unless you set up playlists or just shuffle all media. Still need to route the cable for the harddrive changer and mount it. Right now I just have it in the pass thru storage.

Tremor

LiL BenNy

Yellow I routed over to an empty fuse spot and spliced into the feed wire


any pics or can you explain this more?
when you connected the orange to the cig lighted is that the wire that lights up the orange/red ring around the cig light or the light for the ashtray? and when you hook up the wires you solder them with what material... also do you solder both wires together? and pics? would be REALLY helpful... never worked with soldering so.. i need all the info i can get.... need to do somemore researching too.

any help would be GREATLY appriciated since my car is half taken apart and i need to finish this up this weekend!

LiL BenNy

bumpppp

Tremor

I routed a wire from the yellow omnifi wire to the backside of the bottome fuse block. The fuse block is kinda attached to the car but you can pull it towards you and be able to get to the wires. I had an empty fuse slot that had constant power so I basically cut the wire and spliced into it with the yellow.

either light from the cig lighter or the ashtray will work as far as the dimmer (orange).

Tremor

LiL BenNy

any pictures? im really confused about this yello wire lol

Twin 8s!

To all,

Sorry if this is off track for the tread. I have install an OMNIFI and for the most part, I am very satisfied. However, as I installed, I was not happy with the splicing I did. I want to go back in and clean up the wiring. Can anyone recommend connectors or provide data on the gauge used?


Thanks

Dave