Car-100

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Car-100

tha_mattster

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#684 1-Nov-2003 13:01

I am amazed by this new acessory for sonyericsson mobiles! Does anybody know what it is really like? Is it just a lame pieca crap? Can it go faster than 1cm per minute?! How long can you use it for before it runs outta charge?

If anyone knows the answers to any of these numerous questions i would be grateful for a reply!

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79270 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2052 1-Nov-2003 19:12

Don't really know the answers - for now. I've ordered one and will post a review later when I have some fun with it.

tha_mattster

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2053 1-Nov-2003 22:45

My car-100 arrived today!! It just comes in a tiny plastic dome, awww. Some instructions etc. You stick it into your bluetooth sony ericsson (T610 for me) and let it charge for one hour before using it. Charging it takes about 1/4-1/3 of your battery power so best not to do it when your away from a phone charger! I will post another reply when its charged and i am (hopefully) using it!

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79270 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2054 1-Nov-2003 22:51

Good to know! A friend ordered the same day as me, but asked for Fedex delivery. Last thing I know his is in Auckland International Airport for Customs clearing... I don't know about mine yet, but it's standard post, so I guess it will arrive sometime next week.

I see you're in UK, so it was probably faster

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79270 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2055 1-Nov-2003 22:54

By the way, I'm going to use an old T39m I have in my drawer (luck I didn't throw it away - the most expensive remote control ever). I guess I don't have to worry about battery then, because this is not my main mobile phone (currently I'm using a Sony Ericsson P800).

tha_mattster

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2056 1-Nov-2003 23:39

okay i have played with it for 20 minutes, heres what i think!

As I expected it only moves on hard surfaces eg not carpet, so I tested mine in the kitchen!
When its finished charging which took about 50 minutes the LED in the front window charnges from flashing red to green and you get a notification message (did i say im using T610?) then you just take the car out same way as charger and its ready!

I was surprised by how fast the lil thing is! On your phone you can control it with joystick which takes a while to get used to or with buttons; 1=forward 4=back, 2=left 3=right, *=speed 1 0=speed 2 and finally hash sybol is speed 3. Between the different gears i noticed little difference which was disappointing i suppose. It goes at a normal sized person's walking pace which is way faster than what i expected it can do about 1m/s! It handles pretty well also althought it has a fairly big turning circle when you have stuck it behind your fridge (3 times :D). It doesnt really like steep surfaces i would say, tried making a lil ramp for it about 10 cm high but it didnt like it. It tends to veer slightly to the right when going forward which is probably due to its gear system or something.

Overall an excellant toy which looks great and works fantasticley! my only complaint is over the price. I cant wait for someone I know to get a bluetooth phone and then i can pester them to get the car-100. Would be cool if it had a 33mm camera inside to take photos while driving and send them to your phone! Maybe in a year or three!

If there is anything else you want to know just post a reply. :)

raptor_demon

1 post

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#2099 7-Nov-2003 03:42

Hello all,

I am going to get a car-100 soon and i was wondering if anyone else was thinking bout writing BT windows xp and ce software to control it?

the problem with writing the software is hi have no idea where to start with bluetooth, this is an area i have never worked with, any ideas?

Also what mods have people done to their car-100's

Best regards Raptor

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79270 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2103 7-Nov-2003 21:16

I've posted our review on-line now.

It's really a cool little device. I wonder how long before people creating hot rods, other colour configurations and hacks for this hardware...

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

ryder1100

27 posts

Geek

#3501 14-Feb-2004 15:33

Hey folks, Not sure if it's a world first, but i'd be STOKED if it is... got my car last week thru work (Firstmobile, Vodafone NZ dealer) and was bored so i pulled apart an old matchbox Humvee i had lying around... Bluetooth Humvee!!! YEEHAAAA!!! the only downside, is with amount of use its getting, i'm charging my phone three times a day!!!

Hmmmm how do i post a pic here???

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79270 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#3502 14-Feb-2004 15:37

Cool! I've sent a PM with my e-mail and will host the image. I have a PT Cruiser and I collected a few Matchbox sized PT and thought of doing this... If you have instructions that would be great!

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79270 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#3504 14-Feb-2004 16:29

The hacked Sony Ericsson Bluetooth CAR-100

Any instructions on hacking the Matchbox or the Bluetooth car? What about speed, is it impacted by the weight of the Matchbox?

ryder1100

27 posts

Geek

#3506 14-Feb-2004 16:39

Yeah, unfortunately speed is affected, although on smooth surfaces, vinyl, wood and the like, its still PDQ! I didnt lay a finger on the car chassis, not after what the thing cost! So all the butchering went into the hummer. i had to carve out the insides of the wheel arches as the hummer wheelbase was too long, and a bit out of the rear fender to allow for the charging socket. i used a Dremel Moto tool (dentist-style hobby drill) for all the handiwork, all up it took about 1/2 an hour. As you may know, the body of the Car-100 just clips off by gently pulling on the front bumper. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE MUCH FORCE!!!

Anyway, another good site to look at is www.zipzaps.com, they make body shells for RC micro-cars and i am under the impression that Sony Ericsson used a common chassis VERY similar to normal RC micro cars... this could be fun!!!