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Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:27 pm
by Andymoor94
Spent my Saturday afternoon sorting out some music for Eugene, here's the finished result using whatever I had!

https://youtu.be/9-cXqoX5O_Q

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 9:01 am
by Swijesiri
That's just brilliant - made me smile. Afternoon well spent, well done.

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 9:11 am
by Andymoor94
Swijesiri wrote: Wed Dec 23, 2020 9:01 am That's just brilliant - made me smile. Afternoon well spent, well done.
Makes me smile every journey! Really puts me in my own little bubble

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 9:31 am
by Sleeper
I fitted a bluetooth amp in mine ( linked to my phone ) , this sounds much simpler , any more tech details?
Thanks
John

Edit.
Just doing some reading and it looks like it's run through your phone app , needing the internet up all the time , but does navigation etc. etc.

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 10:33 am
by Andymoor94
Sleeper wrote: Wed Dec 23, 2020 9:31 am I fitted a bluetooth amp in mine ( linked to my phone ) , this sounds much simpler , any more tech details?
Thanks
John

Edit.
Just doing some reading and it looks like it's run through your phone app , needing the internet up all the time , but does navigation etc. etc.
The technical aspects are relatively simple:
- Powered from A3 terminal to a 2 way auxiliary fuse box
- 1 output goes to an audio controller PCB, the other goes to a cigarette dual USB port (5v 1a and 2.5a).
From that point, it's simple. Cable from USB port to Echo, AUX from Echo to audio board. Speakers connect to the audio board.

The Echo uses your phone in the same way any other Echo would use home WiFi, which is fine because I have a large data plan, but I still only use about 1gb a month on music (Even though Eugene is driven every day). There's no specific app, other than Amazon music, but it can also 0lay downloaded music.

The Echo has some shortcomings in terms of features, such as navigation being a bit bogus. I asked it to take me to a Starbucks and it directed me to.Manchester from my home near Hull! But then at the same time, you can play the usual Alexa games and whatnot on a long journey.

All in all, with the recycled TV speakers, it cost me £35 to install and leaves me with a gorgeous, retro sounding music system (Just down to my speaker choice. Better speakers would give a deeper, richer sound)

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2020 5:16 pm
by kevin s
Fir a long time we just had a usb speaker on the parcel shelf running via bluetooth from the phone and powered from a usb adaptor in the lighter socket, the sound wasn't as good as yours but it was quite acceptable.h

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2020 5:58 pm
by geoberni
Knowing nothing about Amazon Echo Auto, I did a little looking and found this video review....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZdZmqYN_ZE

The guy makes some seriously relevant points.
Why is the 'Auto' the same price as the home one that includes a screen and does a lot more?
Why isn't it the same prices as the basic Echo Dot?
:-? :-?

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2020 6:00 pm
by Andymoor94
geoberni wrote: Sat Dec 26, 2020 5:58 pm Knowing nothing about Amazon Echo Auto, I did a little looking and found this video review....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZdZmqYN_ZE

The guy makes some seriously relevant points.
Why is the 'Auto' the same price as the home one that includes a screen and does a lot more?
Why isn't it the same prices as the basic Echo Dot?
:-? :-?
Mine was £15 :-?

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2020 6:14 pm
by geoberni
Andymoor94 wrote: Sat Dec 26, 2020 6:00 pm
Mine was £15 :-?
:) You got a good deal then, on Amazon they're £50, and around £30+ on ebay.... :roll:

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2020 6:17 pm
by Andymoor94
geoberni wrote: Sat Dec 26, 2020 6:14 pm
Andymoor94 wrote: Sat Dec 26, 2020 6:00 pm
Mine was £15 :-?
:) You got a good deal then, on Amazon they're £50, and around £30+ on ebay.... :roll:
Mine was brand new from Amazon!

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 5:10 pm
by JHarley
Spectacular! I’ve been trying to knock up a similar for mine actually, one day I’ll get round to it!

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 11:19 am
by myoldjalopy

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:41 pm
by moggiethouable
My dear old Mum is 88, shes really in to tech, tablet, i phone, alexa in the kitchen etc.
One day I visted and asked Alexa to "just shut up" and you know what ?
She did.
The nearest I get to this is spotify, I use it all the time in the Honda, but in the Morris ?
I thought about looking for a 1965 positive earth period radio.
But then I couldnt hear that sweet little engine in harmony with the fuel pump.
Its lovely to escape the clamour of modern life sometimes.
I dont think I shall bother.

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:43 pm
by Andymoor94
moggiethouable wrote: Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:41 pm My dear old Mum is 88, shes really in to tech, tablet, i phone, alexa in the kitchen etc.
One day I visted and asked Alexa to "just shut up" and you know what ?
She did.
The nearest I get to this is spotify, I use it all the time in the Honda, but in the Morris ?
I thought about looking for a 1965 positive earth period radio.
But then I couldnt hear that sweet little engine in harmony with the fuel pump.
Its lovely to escape the clamour of modern life sometimes.
I dont think I shall bother.
I totally agree. The melody that an A series plays is sometimes the only music you need. However, I often take long journeys with passengers and music is just what we need in times like that

Re: Alexa in a Morris!

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 8:10 pm
by Swijesiri
Hi
Haven't been on for a while and meant to thank andymoor94 for the great idea. I did mine slightly differently because I'm cheap lol.

I stole my daughters Bluetooth speaker and stuck it in the glove box and connected it to my phone. The battery life is something like 36 hours and I just pair it when I get in the car.

Not so sophisticated but it cost me nothing and she still hasn't noticed. Bonus!!!

Thanks again