Sonic on the Sonic (gaming on MyLink)

[ben416]

I figure some of you might find this interesting. I'm using the AUX input and a Raspberry Pi running RetroPIE. I can pretty much play any older video game from the Atari 2600 to the PSx. The whole setup fits in the upper glovebox, gets power from the USB port, and is controlled with a USB SNES controller and a wireless mini-keyboard / touchpad. You can upload ROMs via a network share over WiFi or Ethernet. If anyone else wants this, I can make a list of the parts / software.

The game sounds are there, the camera just didn't pick up on them very well.

 

[Breezybro]

How?? Lol that's great!


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2013 Chevy Sonic RS 1.4l 6M Black Granite Metallic

 

[ben416]

How?? Lol that's great!


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2013 Chevy Sonic RS 1.4l 6M Black Granite Metallic

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...atures-settings-tricks-etc-14.html#post247949

 

[krakenredbeard]

Dude so awesome. How much?


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[ben416]

Dude so awesome. How much?


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Around $100 or less, it depends on what you have laying around your house. If you are not familiar with Linux you may want to find a friend who is tech savy to help you trough putting it together and installing the OS (operating system). Its just like building a PC but on a smaller scale. You will need a laptop or desktop with a SD card slot to write the OS onto the card.

You need a Raspberry Pi which usually goes for about $35.
Amazon.com: RASPBERRY PI MODEL B 756-8308 Raspberry Pi B: Computers & Accessories

4+ GB SD card for storage of the OS, less than $10. Class 10 is better for speed.
Amazon.com: SanDisk Ultra 8GB SDHC Class 10/UHS-1 Flash Memory Card Speed Up To 30MB/s- SDSDU-008G-U46 (Label May Change): Computers & Accessories

USB to Micro USB cable to power Raspberry Pi, free if you have them laying around.
Amazon.com: 6 inch USB Micro Cable for Samsung Galaxy S4 IV GTi9500. Charger/Data/Computer/Sync cord: Cell Phones & Accessories

Case for Raspberry Pi, free if you make your own, $10-25 on Amazon.
Amazon.com: CY Raspberry Pi Case (Blackberry): Cell Phones & Accessories

USB game controller, $15
Amazon.com: Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad for PC: Computers & Accessories

USB keyboard / trackpad, $20, for interacting with things other than games
Amazon.com: Favi FE01-BL Mini Keyboard with Laser Pointer (Black): Electronics

Heatsink since the OS runs the CPU overclocked, $4
Amazon.com: Addicore Raspberry Pi Heatsink Set (Set of 3 Aluminum Heat Sinks): Computers & Accessories

OS to image onto SD card
The RetroPie Project | petRockBlog

Edit: Cables to attach RPi to MyLink, $12 total. The first cable is all you need to connect anything with a red/white/yellow composite output to the MyLink. The second is so you can use it with the RPi.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GGQ2ZU/
http://www.amazon.com/Hometheatre-Female-Splitter-Cable-6-Inch/dp/B0016LC5VY

 

[krakenredbeard]

I been looking into them since you showed this earlier. I'm probably gonna get the starter kit from their website. Still will need a a/v 3.5mm to RCA and a RCA audio to 3.5mm for the sound. Use wifi dongle and controller. But man is that ever so sweet. Ha ha.

I wonder about doing a media center for music etc wouldn't have the problems mylink has as far as max songs lol.


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[krakenredbeard]

How long does it take to boot and do you have to tell it to switch to the video input every time you start the car?


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[ben416]

Here is what it looks like taken out of the car.

 

[ben416]

How long does it take to boot and do you have to tell it to switch to the video input every time you start the car?


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It takes 30-60 seconds from when you connect the USB cable and the MyLink seems to switch inputs on its own usually. If it does not, you just tap Pictures & Videos, and select the Aux input. The Aux video input can only be selected when the cable is connected and the RPi is on.

I don't leave it connected unless I need it because I don't know how it would react on a hot day.

 

[krakenredbeard]

Here is what it looks like taken out of the car.

Love that keyboard more I may just piece my kit together. May be cheaper that way.


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[krakenredbeard]

Also how hard is the heat sink to put on I'm not a hardware guy but software and os stuff I know.


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[ben416]

I been looking into them since you showed this earlier. I'm probably gonna get the starter kit from their website. Still will need a a/v 3.5mm to RCA and a RCA audio to 3.5mm for the sound. Use wifi dongle and controller. But man is that ever so sweet. Ha ha.

I wonder about doing a media center for music etc wouldn't have the problems mylink has as far as max songs lol.


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XMBC would be a good option as far as media centers go. You can set it up to receive audio via AirPlay over WiFi instead of using the Bluetooth too. Although I found the sound quality of the stock RPi unit to be low. You can get upgraded sound modules for it though.

With a custom setup, the RPi could be a powerful companion to MyLink. While I would love a HDMI input to the MyLink, the LCD is 800x480 which is basically SD quality so it really would not make a huge difference.

You should remember though that the video lock out applies to this as well. Above a few mph, MyLink will black out the screen and just provide audio from the RPi. Until that is hacked, the RPi will not be able to display any information while driving. After that though, I could see it being useful since the RPi could also interface with the CAN-BUS with the right signal converters.

 

[ben416]

Also how hard is the heat sink to put on I'm not a hardware guy but software and os stuff I know.


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I think it just sticks on to the CPU with some sort of thermal epoxy / pad. I haven't got one in for mine yet but I suggested it because mine runs hot as it is doing this.

 

[krakenredbeard]

Sweet sounds awesome man thanks.


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[krakenredbeard]

When it's powered via usb when you kill the car it kills the power correct any worry about it damaging the unit or do you need to properly shutdown?


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[ben416]

When it's powered via usb when you kill the car it kills the power correct any worry about it damaging the unit or do you need to properly shutdown?


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I shut it down first, although the worst thing that would happen is the SD card could be corrupted. Even then I would just have to re-image it.

The GUI has a shut down control that you can access easily via the controller depending on how you have the keys mapped. I would suggest a controller with extra buttons, beyond what you would use in the game, if you don't want to have to have the keyboard with you to quit the emulator or shutdown the unit. I found the controller I got does not have enough to map to all the controls I want for functions beyond the game itself.

There are also projects out there that work like a UPS for the RPi using either a lithium battery or super capacitors and a small circuit to tell the RPi to shut down after power is cut.

Look up "Raspberry Pi UPS" on Google and you will find some solutions if you want to automate the shutdown.

 

[krakenredbeard]

Awesome man I don't know that I would use retropi cause I'd want other features as well. Can you dual boot these things?


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[ben416]

Awesome man I don't know that I would use retropi cause I'd want other features as well. Can you dual boot these things?


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You don't have to use Retropie image as the whole OS. There is also a setup script that you can download to install it on a distro that you have setup yourself. You would just type "emulationstation" at the terminal to bring up the GUI for Retropie rather than it automatically loading on boot as the image does.

As far as dual booting, most people just swap SD cards. Although it may be possible dual boot off of one card I just haven't heard of it.

 

[krakenredbeard]

This thing is pretty badass. I'm also considering it use as a backup PC at the house if I needed it. Gaming console for my boys.

Taking it into a hotel on the road etc.

Tons of uses.


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[ben416]

This thing is pretty badass. I'm also considering it use as a backup PC at the house if I needed it. Gaming console for my boys.

Taking it into a hotel on the road etc.

Tons of uses.


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Just make sure you have at least a USB power supply that is closer to 1000ma rather than 500ma to run it in your house. So far it has worked fine on the MyLink USB port, although I'm not sure what the output rating of that is. If it does not get enough power it may act funny or reboot on its own.