• Registered: 2009-12-23
  • Posts: 7

Topic: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

Well it was only 3 days until I had ripped apart my  new Chumby One.  I wanted something that I could hold easier in my hand, as well as something that looked more natural sitting out in the house.  As a bonus I get 3 more USB ports as well room enough in the case to add a larger battery or maybe an Arduino for future development.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v12/henryj/Projects/th_IMG_0346.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v12/henryj/Projects/th_IMG_0348.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v12/henryj/Projects/th_IMG_0349.jpg

The left knob is the button from the top of the Chumby One and the right knob is the volume/data wheel.
The grill cloth is a bit of old interior scrap from my Willys Wagon surrounded with a big brass ring I turned on the lathe at work.

  • From: Singapore
  • Registered: 2006-08-26
  • Posts: 188

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

Very cool!! Looks beautiful.

7BAA 2E53 01C1 DCFF 497B  E7F0 9699 A303 78F0 D9B9

bunnie's Website

  • Registered: 2009-12-24
  • Posts: 26

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

Very nice!

  • Registered: 2008-06-27
  • Posts: 518

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

That looks awesome!

  • Registered: 2008-03-14
  • Posts: 45

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

Looks nice!
Any chance of getting some close up pics of the inside?

  • Registered: 2009-12-23
  • Posts: 7

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

Here are some pics of the inside...forgive the poor quality.  My trusty digital camera died on me, so I have been taking these with the old digital video camera.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v12/henryj/Projects/th_IMG_0350.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v12/henryj/Projects/th_IMG_0351.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v12/henryj/Projects/th_IMG_0352.jpg

Everything is mounted on small spruce runners.  Original design had the main board at the bottom (the unused runners).  Unfortunately the 4 pin riser that the wireless USB dongle mounts to is not the most substantial piece of hardware.  After soldering the pins to a cable and trying to relocate the dongle I ended up with no signal at all.  It worked for a bit but the signal was still poor.
ChumbyLurker advised the use of the USB port for the dongle and the signal difference was HUGE.  So I bought a $6.00 4 port hub and relocated the dongle and my added to the number of USB ports.  This was also the time that I moved the main board from the bottom to behind the LCD to make room for the USB connection internally.  There was a hole in the bottom before.

The power cable was also hacked, so from the back it hooks up with a single RCA connector.  This is wired on the inside to a section of the original cord.  The speaker was mounted to the back, but I moved it to the front (on more spruce runners) so the entire box resonates with bass.  (The Trailer Addict Widget sounds great).

  • From: Australia
  • Registered: 2009-04-20
  • Posts: 119

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

Very nice work!

Chumby is dead, long live the chumby!

  • From: Chicago, IL
  • Registered: 2007-11-11
  • Posts: 235

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

You should sell these, I know I would be interested! That would look so nice on the nightstand.

-HuckFinn
  • Registered: 2009-12-23
  • Posts: 7

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

The case is a cigar box. $5.00 at the local cigar store.

  • Registered: 2009-12-27
  • Posts: 65

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

Nice work!  Plenty of space for future changes as well smile

11 Reply by BoloMKXXVIII (edited by BoloMKXXVIII 2010-01-04 03:38:21)

  • From: Somewhere on or near Earth
  • Registered: 2009-12-16
  • Posts: 774

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

This is kind of what I had in mind for my Chumby one. I have been looking for the right sized box. I want mine more horizontal though (more of a cube). Which USB hub did you use? Not all seem to work.

Tar, feathers, congress. Some assembly required.

BoloMKXXVIII's Website

  • Registered: 2009-12-23
  • Posts: 7

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

The USB hub I used was from OfficeDepot...model Ativa® MobilIT™ 4-Port USB Hub. The cord was long enough (and flexible enough to allow me to reposition it.

Here is a link:

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/2 … t-USB-Hub/

  • Registered: 2008-02-21
  • Posts: 526

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

Might want to try a powered USB hub (person who was having issues with the hub not working).. The chumby tends to be a bit tight on USB supplied power... you may have better luck with it ....

  • From: Chicago, IL
  • Registered: 2007-11-11
  • Posts: 235

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

I think I am going to have to do something like this with one of my classic chumbies. I've been tossing around the idea of getting a C1 for the FM radio and basically just having something new to play with, but maybe a project like this will satisfy my tinkering desires.

I may go hit Goodwill or other resale shops for some old radio housings. I am not sure if my capabilities would be able to make a cigar box turn out so nice.

-HuckFinn
  • From: Somewhere on or near Earth
  • Registered: 2009-12-16
  • Posts: 774

Re: Chumby One Disguised as an old Radio

tachipley wrote:

The USB hub I used was from OfficeDepot...model Ativa® MobilIT™ 4-Port USB Hub. The cord was long enough (and flexible enough to allow me to reposition it.

Here is a link:

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/2 … t-USB-Hub/


Thanks.

Tar, feathers, congress. Some assembly required.

BoloMKXXVIII's Website