98" Television

 

I always wanted a "movie theater" environment. Before I was able to build a movie theater in one part of our lower level, I ran across a good offer for a 98" smart television. I thought it would fit perfectly in our already buildout lower level. When it arrived I was blown away how big it actually was. It took both delivery people to carry it down the stairs. After several days of having the TV setup on the floor, I had a chance to add mounting brackets on the wall and install the proper outlets and connections. Of course, I had to enforce the wall otherwise it would not stay mounted on the wall.

It was not until February that I had enough man power in the house for the Superbowl game to hang the TV. It took two people to lift it and another two to spot the hanging devices behind the TV. The additional Dolby Atmos soundbar gave the setup the finishing touch for the entertainment area.

TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor)

The TPM light is blinking and staying on in the dash display indicating that there is either low tire pressure or one of the sensors is malfunctioning. I had the tire pressure checked and it was at the required PSI. My new system has a TPM display but failed to connect to the existing sensors. After some searching on various forums I came across the proper setup for the Torque app to show the tire pressure via the ODBII/EDU connector. Unfortunately I only copied the formulas and forgot to copy who wrote and published it - thank you for sharing this information.

I still have to figure out how to fix the indicator after all attempts to reset the TPM failed so far.

Left Front Tire Pressure (Driver Front) - Uses the vehicle's TPMS to read your tire pressure. GREAT for constant readings and to see how much PSI increase (or possibly decrease if tires get damaged) when driving! Each tire will get its own menu. All four listed below.

PID: 222813
Long Name: Left Front Tire Pressure
Short Name: Tire PSI (LF)
Maximum Value: 70
Unit type: PSI
Equation: (((256*A)+B)/3+22/3)*0.145
OBD Header to use: 726

Right Front Tire Pressure (Passenger Front)
PID: 222814
Long Name: Right Front Tire Pressure
Short Name: Tire PSI (RF)
Maximum Value: 70
Unit type: PSI
Equation: (((256*A)+B)/3+22/3)*0.145
OBD Header to use: 726

Right Rear Tire Pressure (Passenger Rear)
PID: 222815
Long Name: Right Rear Tire Pressure
Short Name: Tire PSI (RR)
Maximum Value: 70
Unit type: PSI
Equation: (((256*A)+B)/3+22/3)*0.145
OBD Header to use: 726

Left Rear Tire Pressure (Driver Rear)
PID: 222816
Long Name: Left Rear Tire Pressure
Short Name: Tire PSI (LR)
Maximum Value: 70
Unit type: PSI
Equation: (((256*A)+B)/3+22/3)*0.145
OBD Header to use: 726

The improved (another follow up)

I had a bit of time, which is rare these days, and tackled the USB port installation. This turned out to be a bit of an undertaking since there was no clear path from the top to the bottom of the dash board. I had to take off the radio enclosure and the switches for the fan and temperature Gage to get the USB cables to the proper location. At the end it did work out.

I also installed the front dash cam, not in the location I wanted it to be but it works as well where it is at the moment. Perhaps at a later date I will move it into the enclosure above the rear view mirror.

The improved (follow up)

To my dismay my existing ODBII connector did not work, besides, it was to bulky anyway. A quick order with Amazon fixed that issue. Now the connection comes up flawlessly on the Torque Pro app (included with the ATOTO system) and shows all the relevant, and not so relevant information.

Other than that the entire system works perfectly. Maps, radio, Pandora, telephone, equalizer, dimming of display, multiple screens to switch to, car information, and a multitude of other goodies which still need to be explored. The GPS system works well. I also added a WiFi hot spot to the car which allows for a flawless internet connection. To round it all up,  a power inverter allows for a laptop or even a battery charger for the power tools to be connected.

I still need to install, or rather extend the USB port which requires some drilling into the existing panel. The plan is to split the USB inside and have a dual USB flush mount in the dash board.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

It has been 90 days and roughly 4,000 miles since I purchased the Ford Transit 150 Cargo Van. I have to write that I'm very happy with the purchase decision. However, since I was not able to finish the build out in the first go around, mainly due to the cold weather, there are some observations I would like to share.

The good

More room - a two sided sword.

On the one side, it allows me to carry a myriad of tools without making several stops during the week to reload or reconfigure the car for specific jobs. Furthermore, it allows for more accessories to be carried which in turn makes jobs easier to complete. On the other side it makes a mess since all of it is organized in bins at the moment and not in designated shelve units. Some sharp turns, sudden stops, or acceleration can cause some of the smaller bins to topple over and the contents is all over the place despite the lit.

The extra room also allows me to transport left overs or trash easier and faster to the designated landfills or dumpsters. Below is an example of carrying about 2,100 pounds of tile plus several bags of other stuff, or a cement Grinder ( a million pounds if you ask me).

Yes it is a mess but it worked. I'm not sure if I will be able to do that after I finish the build out, whenever that is.

The bad

The van, like all the other vans in the same class, only averages 14 miles per gallon. I drive mostly back roads or city traffic which does not help, neither does the weight of the tools. My previous car averaged about 17 miles a gallon which is not that much of a difference, however, with the gas prices going up again it is about a $100 per month increase. Although the van is not that long, the height prohibits to park in most garages, public or private. The car still is easy to maneuver and park, just not inside. 

The ugly

Opening the doors is like a box of chocolate, you never know what falls out first ... It is ugly inside and looks very unorganized. Dust and other debris is all over the floor. I have to clean the dash board every morning before I start the drive due to the dust accumulated on it. Hopefully this state of looks will improve in the near future.

The improved

This heading is not mentioned in the title but I upgraded the "entertainment" system in the car. I know that there are several upgrade videos online, everybody with their own opinion and style, so I will not go into the nitty gritty details and just show what I did to my van's radio upgrade. Should you be adventures and go for a complete build out, not just a work van, visit this site which has the most detailed and well thought out description of how to do it.

While I was at it I added some desperately needed floor mats for the front. 

I ventured out in the infinite world of shopping to find exactly what I wanted in terms of performance. The particular piece I was looking for was an Android system with most of the bells and whistles for the least amount of money. After weeks of research and comparisons I stumbled upon the ATOTO ANDROID IN-CAR ENTERTAINMENT system which addressed all the items I wanted in my dashboard, above all, it had the right price tag namely $179 on Amazon. Adding a new dashboard kit from Metra, wire harness, connectors, and adapters the entire new system was less than $240.

Since my soccer team had a bye week this Saturday I took the time to tackle the install. First I removed the existing top and front panels.

   

Second, I attached the wire harness and connected the cables in the order of ground, power, left and right speakers.

   

I turned the ignition key to turn on the power system and the system came right up - success.

Now came the fiddling with the brackets to align the screen with the panel. The small piece in front of the screen had to be cut so the unit slides to the back where it is fastened to the existing dashboard.

After mounting the side pieces, enlarging the opening of the screen front panel to fit the screen the unit was nicely in place and was working perfectly.

I will eventually write how the system performs in terms of radio, GPS, USB, Bluetooth, and OBDII.

Customer Support/Service

Yes, one more time.

Misfit

As I wrote before about that Misfit customer support is exceeding my expectations, it still is the case. My shine stopped recording and left me high and dry. After I contacted customer support via email the usual question and answer email ping pong occurred. Once it was settled that the unit was malfunctioning they promptly sent a new unit, actually an upgrade from the shine, to me. Very friendly and accommodating.

Booking.com 

Outstanding customer service for booking a flight way in advance. The price could not have been better either. Great follow up by the representative.

Life without a smart phone Day I

Since my iPhone gave up communication to the mother ship I realized (again) that most of the daily "support" items are conveniently located on the device. It is not very apparent at first, but then it surfaces one by one. Grocery shopping - all my bonus cards are stored inside my little helper. So instead of logging around a heavy bundle of half torn cards they are neatly organized with hints of "deals" for a particular store. Normally I don't pay too much attention to it, however, today I bought 10 items on sale for $.69; without the card it amounted to $22+ with tax, with card the total was $8+.
Another nuisance is the time. I don't wear any jewelry, watches or bracelets on my arms. The time is on my smart phone, now I have to rely on the sun dial. Traffic alerts are the next vital item I got used to. One of the streets was blocked due to some construction. Normally I have an advanced warning that the road is not usable - today not so much. It is Sunday, I can't wait what happens during the week.

Customer Support

I wrote that I would blog the results of the customer service interaction in regards to the Zubie and the Misfit products.
So here are the results:
Zubie, after the initial email it was suggested that my car was incompatible. Could not have been since it was working and can show that on the map/trip history. Next round was an elevation of the request with the result that the engineers showed only low traffic on the GPS. Therefore it should be the product, since the GPS on the iPhone and other gizmos is working fine, even the Zubie app reports my location taken from the iPhone GPS function. All the emails were accommodating and left me with the assurance that something is being done. Today I received an email requesting a destination address for a replacement unit. Overall rating for the customer service 5 out of 5.
Misfit customer service:
Equally accommodating with clear instructions on what to try and do. Nothing worked and the almost immediate response was an RMA number link. I sent it in two days ago, now I'm waiting for UPS to notify me that my new unit is there. Rating 5 out of 5.
We will see if it is consistent since I also purchased BOLT, the new LED wireless light bulb and one failed on the second day ...

GigAEye WiFi Camera

Yet another "toy" to play with, the GigAEye, a small but versatile IP camera. Years ago I used bigger and much more expensive IP cameras which you could remotely control. Technology advanced so much that this little camera runs circles around the larger version.
Once you get over the installation process it works well. Installation is not necessarily a breeze, but not too hard. The software provided, however, including the mobile app, is not that great.
From a web client it is very easy to manipulate the camera remotely. Not so much on the mobile app.
Due to the lack of consistent performance by the software I switched to the open source ispy program for a more constant monitoring.
If anything is a breeze to setup and connect, this program is, and it is free. Once you setup a free account the camera view is available from anywhere. As far as the camera is concerned it is a great gizmo with surprising clarity and mobility. The price is relatively reasonable at around $50.

Misfit Bolt LED Light Bulb

I was very excited when Misfit announced their new product BOLT, an LED light bulb with build in WiFi. I bought the three pack once it was available online. Three days ago I picked them up and installed them. The result was great, really. All three bulbs had a good Bluetooth connection, the app was easy to use and very functional. I used the preset lighting scenes and fiddle a bit with my pictures as a source for the color of the light bulbs.
Compared to other light systems this one is a one to one connection to the bulb. No hub or other gizmos to connect. If you have more than one household item it might be worthwhile to have a central connection hub for control. However, I do enjoy making the coffee myself ...

Computer Wall Mount

VideoSecu LCD Monitor TV Mount Flat Panel Wall Mount 

Maximum Loading 66lbs VESA 75/100 - Ultra Thin Mount Bracket 

As thin as it gets without sacrificing strength. The holes on the computer side fit perfectly on the back of the Dell Insperion 3000 Series. Screws included. Great find at a great price on Amazon $9.99, can't complain about that one.