New product launch: PiLink for ECMLink owners

[TSiAWD666]

@Boomdeeze - I still don't know yet. I have lots to work out with it. I'm working on case design, hw details (chinese support is... not the easiest to work with), and software, and they're all still in a questionable state. It works great as a display but that was the easier part of putting together this product.

That's really nice of you, and it's totally up to you. I didn't mention it during the sale and that's on me for being ignorant.

 

[TSiAWD666]

and it's going to be at least another month now because I cracked the display being stupidly aggressive trying to get my case to fit around it. doh. Ordered a replacement but China really is taking a long time to ship things lately (used to be about 2-3 weeks, now 6 weeks isn't uncommon).

 

[GST with PSI]

NEW FEATURE! Remote Control!

First person that orders a PiLink, has a cell hotspot, and helps me test this I'll give them $100.

I'm your huckleberry.

However, I sent funds for a unit before reading about the 6% tax and PayPal fees...I'll donate my cell hotspot and as much time as I can manage to help get the remote feature tested and working on the house. Ready to help however I can.

I really appreciate the time and effort that went into this and am grateful you're offering it up to the community.

 

[TSiAWD666]

@GST with PSI thank you for your order!

Thanks for the offer to help with the testing. I have one other person that offered so we'll see how it all works out with schedules later when devices are in hand.

Thanks for the kind words, I'm looking forward to delivering a useful product.

 

[4pistons]

Looks fantastic! I can see where this would be VERY beneficial in a race/track car. But how about a street car? Although I am very automotive savvy, I am not very tech savvy with all the components, displays, options available. How do all the components work/mount/install?? What needs to be modded to install it? Do I need to wait 30 seconds every time I start the car for the system to function?

 

[TSiAWD666]

Looks fantastic! I can see where this would be VERY beneficial in a race/track car. But how about a street car? Although I am very automotive savvy, I am not very tech savvy with all the components, displays, options available. How do all the components work/mount/install?? What needs to be modded to install it? Do I need to wait 30 seconds every time I start the car for the system to function?

Those are some great questions. I'll try to tackle them.

• PiLink is a relatively small case, so its mounting is somewhat flexible. The case itself doesn't have any mounting provisions, but I simply use velcro to install in my race car, which would also work totally fine on a street car as long as you have a surface somewhere. Otherwise you may need to get creative. If someone knows what kind of mounting flanges they'd like I can customize the case to add some, but since every car is different I didn't wan to add clutter to the case design when most likely flanges I added wouldn't be used.
• If you opt to get a display, as of now how you mount that display is up to you. If you look at some of the example screens I linked in an earlier post they have threaded provisions on their back sides to which you can screw to, and so from there I think you can see you could create a mounting scheme. In my race car if you look at my interior shots I have an aluminum strip scaffolding supporting my screens to keep them closer to the top of the dash. I'd imagine someone else might prefer a screen in the stock stereo location, or perhaps sitting above the dash, but you'll have to create those mounting mechanisms.
  • I'm working on my own display right now. I would include generic mounting threads in the back, but I'm also then hoping to create some sort of in-dash mount in the oem stereo location. This is a bit difficult for me to do as my dash is so gutted but I'm at least going to try to do it.
  • If enough people decide on a specific screen other than the one I "might" sell then perhaps I could look at creating a mount for it.
• For PiLink itself there's really only it and your ECMLink cable for the basic setup. No modifications to your car whatsoever besides the wiring. The aviation connector takes 12V switched power, 12V battery power, and ground inputs plus 5v power/gnd LED outputs which you will wire up (LED is included with a good length of wire). So not much beyond basics for installation. If you're talking about other components be specific and I'll provide explanations.
• You don't have to wait really, though data logging typically doesn't start until around 30 seconds or so. So you're free to start your car and start driving, and datalogging will just kick in when it does. You're not missing much important data by not waiting.

 

[4pistons]

PiLink is a relatively small case, so its mounting is somewhat flexible. The case itself doesn't have any mounting provisions

So the PiLink is "just a box", no display, no indicators, no switches? So it could be mounted anywhere - under the dash, in the console? Just needs accessibility for a USB drive? So it's only a "recording box" for logs, akin to the hard drive and motherboard of a laptop? The additional screen would be like the laptop display screen so the logs could be reviewed and/or seen real-time? But the display isn't required as the logs could be loaded on the USB drive and reviewed on another computer? But you'd still need a laptop or a keyboard/mouse as an input device.

Sorry for all the simple questions but I gotta start at simple and work my way up!

 

[TSiAWD666]

You are correct, PiLink is a box that can be mounted mostly anywhere assuming cables reach. Good point on the USB drive, I forgot about that, you'd ideally want that accessible which may determine where you install PiLink (though this is why I suggest a USB extension, either purchased from me or on your own, so you can put PiLink somewhere but have the USB drive in a nicer place like right in your dash or center console). It's like a hard drive/laptop in that it runs ECMLink software and saves datalogs to storage, but it's running off 12V power, fully automated, and then has those other features listed, like the one you mentioned with being able to output to a display (that is like a laptop's display) should you want to watch things.

For making changes to your ECMLink settings you can:
1) Use a screen plus a USB keyboard and mouse. Lots of great super cheap wireless usb keyboard/touchpad combos out there, and I can share the one I use if you want.
2) Connect over wifi with some free remote desktop software (VNC) from a desktop, or laptop, and interact with the ECMLink software, allowing you to look at logs and make ECU changes
3) Remove the USB drive with your logs, look at them somewhere else like on a laptop, then you can make changes by connecting your laptop to the ECMLink cable or perhaps using one of the aformentioned methods.

I might be mentally missing another combination here, but hopefully you get the drift. PiLink is basically a mini computer running ECMLink in an automated way, but it's still fairly open via wifi or directly so you can use it like you might a laptop that runs ECMLink software, because PiLink is running ECMLink software (just with my code wrapped around it).

 

[TSiAWD666]

Note that a small display doesn't actually have to stay in the car. You could buy one (or maybe you have one for some other use like photography) and just hook it up to pilink when you need it along with the usb keyboard/mouse. Some displays are 5V powered and use a USB cable for power, and many times the Pi can actually provide that power output so you don't need some separate power supply. Admittedly this is a very niche combination/solution for using ECMLink, but someone out there might like this idea so I thought I'd mention it.

 

[TSiAWD666]

Just a heads up, the Translucent Blue filament is almost out, and any that I have right now has already been spoken through orders (that is if it doesn't run out before then!). If you want the Blue you can choose it but PLEASE include a backup color. If I get enough orders for Blue I can order another spool though this particular blue is very expensive.

 

[4pistons]

What is the "translucent blue filament" for?

 

[TSiAWD666]

What is the "translucent blue filament" for?

Ah I was in my own head. Filament is the "plastic" thread used for 3D printing. The cases are 3D printed. The translucent blue filament is what I use to print the translucent blue cases. I should have just said no more blue cases unless enough people request them so I can order more material.

 

[TSiAWD666]

Just over three days left until the close of the group buy, get your orders in soon if you want to take advantage of this pricing!

 

[4pistons]

Just ordered mine!! Looking forward to some hassle free logging and monitoring. Hopefully tech support is included too!

 

[TSiAWD666]

@4pistons thank you for your order!

On an unrelated topic: a potential customer asked if PiLink would log during engine cranking so he could have data during cold starts. I actually had not thought about this, but with my testers last night we verified that it will, as long as the switched voltage signal line is attached to something that doesn't lose power during cranking, like the ECU 12V power line (not the backup power line) logging doesn't stop or get interrupted. So posting this here in case anyone had questions about that and I'll be noting this in the wiring documentation.

 

[ThunderChild]

Super excited for mine John!
If I end up doing the remote thing, don't bother giving anything back, you've already given a great deal and service for the group, and I'm happy to help develop. Though truth be told, Brett might be the better option for remote testing! Either way is fine with me, just stoked to try this thing out!

 

[TSiAWD666]

@ThunderChild very kind of you, thank you very much for being so willing to help out.

Group buy ends tonight, so get those orders in if you're interested right now. Again, I'll continue selling after the Group Buy but prices will absolutely go up and I won't accept orders for a little while.

 

[TSiAWD666]

Last of the Galaxy Black material has been spoken for. So really I only have Orange and Black (really surprised no one wants that orange, I love it!), but as I mentioned before with the blue if you want a color that I'm out of you can specify it and if I get enough orders for it I'll order more, but make sure to specify a backup color.

 

[kodylk08]

Payment sent. Orange w/ USB extension.

 

[miguelmcv]

Money sent black with usb cable and 16gn driver.

thank you

 

[TSiAWD666]

@miguelmcv and @kodylk08, thank you both for your orders!

ALL - the group buy is now closed. I need to now order parts so I can get building these PiLinks for everyone. Thank you all so much for your interest and support!! The demand was like triple what I expected so I'm going to be pretty busy in the coming weeks.

With that said, while officially the group buy is closed, I am ordering parts enough for a few extras, so if a couple more orders sneak in today I will be able to accommodate and I'll accept them at the GB price. Only for today, and really only like maybe two more orders.

 

[miguelmcv]

Glad I got in, I ordered yesterday and when I was reading it shows the post as TODAY and when after I went to PayPal and come back, the post was shown as YESTERDAY, So I was worried I might not be in tit, but thanks a lot of the support on the comity we all need

 

[DiSeM]

This is cool.

I am also working on a similar solution utilizing the 7" Pi Foundation touch screen, with a 3d printed bezel that will snap directly in place of the radio in a 1g. It will require either a radio relocation or delete though. I am planning on relocating the radio to the glove box. I haven't spent the time to get the script to auto start a log/capture yet though, but I am still developing the bezel.

I like the idea of the Logging LED. not sure how exactly you triggered that, but neat stuff.

The Official RPi 7" Touchscreen is very very close match for a double din. The 1g stock bezel fits over it snug and looks like it could have been stock if it was made 25 years later on.
In addition someone else must of realized this as they are utilizing the company ShapeWays to design and sell brackets for 1g!
https://www.shapeways.com/product/C98D37ZWH/raspberry-pi-screen-brackets-1g-dsm

I am attempting to build a replacement head unit based upon the RPI 4.

I am still in some planning phases as I realize my biggest hurdle is going to be amplifying the speakers.
I am considering using a hide-away unit and connecting to it via bluetooth. It will be the most costly method but should guarantee that I end up with good sound quality.

However, since I am building my own head unit, I would like to take on the full project and actually build my own amplifier within.

The problem is I have limited knowledge in this area so it will be a lot of trial and error.

 

[ThunderChild]

How's it coming in all the craziness John? Hope all is well!

 

[TSiAWD666]

How's it coming in all the craziness John? Hope all is well!

Everything is going mostly well. I have a majority of the major parts, like the realtime clock chips, the Raspberry Pi boards, the aviation connectors, screws, etc., and have printed most of the cases. I have one small hiccup with some interconnect wires I ordered that took a month to arrive and are shorter than advertised (and unusable), and need to figure out a solution. Other than the wires I'm waiting on the power management circuitry but that will hopefully ship out next week to me.