This project is meant to be, first of all, cheap and simple enough to build for people with some skill in electronics. The hardware is mostly just standard PC stuff and you should be able to get it quite cheap if you don't already have the stuff lying around.

What you will need:

Hardware:

standard Pentium Motherboard with >= 90 Mhz CPU, I recommend a 133 MHz,

a Sound card, I recommend Soundblaster SB16
PC Power supply
IDE-CD drive, single-, double- or more speed
3.5" floppy drive
RAM - what you can get, 4 MB will work, used as RAMdisk
a 2x40 LCD HD44780 compatible, a 2x16 will work also, but...
a graphic card only for testing!
little hardware for remote control (it's only one chip!)
some cables

Software:

recent MSDOS, I use version 6.22, all above 5.00 will work.
my software map.zip - demo_version is available here,

MSDOS player mpxplay , version 1.40b runs well

Instructions

Here I give you a short overview how you have to use the software for M A P. If you download the software, there is a
readme for detailed description.
Extract the zip file and copy all files to a bootable DOS-floppy. Install your Sound card- and CDROM driver to the floppy.
Please use mscdex version >2.00 with your CDROM driver. Copy the DOS player like mpxplay.
If you don't have a LCDisplay and if you don't have the remote control hardware, you have the possibility to use a monitor and a
standard keyboard.
Edit the file map.ini. Here you have to key in the drive number of your CD drive or your hard drive.
Start the software by running the batch start.bat. The software recognizes which kind of CD is inserted (data or audio). In case of data CD,
the software looks for files with the extension mp3 in all subtrees and creates a list of them.
You have also the possibilty to create a playlistfile. If you burn a CD with MP3 files, put the playlistfile to the CD!
Also,I recommend to use the ID Tag! My software read this informations and they will be displayed on the LCD.

Download schematic in PDF format (you need an acrobatreader!): MAP_logic.pdf (34KB)

Here you can see the schematics of the remote control part and the connection to the LCDisplay. This little print is connected directly to the printer port from the motherboard.
But don't forget to connect 5V from the power supply to the hardware....
The SAA3049 is an infrared remote receiver from Phillips and can be ordered at ELV in Germany.
Telefon: +49(0491) 600888 or internet: http://www.elv.de Order Code: SAA3049 50-104-10 costs 8,55 DM
The SFH506 comes from Siemens.
Let me know, if you have problems to get the components.

Infrared remote transmitter

The picture shows the infrared remote transmitter I use. It is available at Conrad Elektronik. and costs about 30,00 DM, ~ 16 $.
It has a very small size, dimensions like a creditcard!
The purpose of this is, you can use the transmitter also for other components of your HiFi Stereo rack!
The SAA3049 comes from Phillips and can be ordered at ELV in Germany telefon +49
(0491) 600888
or internet http://www.elv.de
Order Code: SAA3049 50-104-10 costs 8,55 DM
If you need help to find the components to build the hardware, let me know!

last modified: 03.08.99 UM