The Digital Baybus FAQ

Note: At this time, we have no plans to continue this project, we've gone on to bigger and better things :)

Introduction

I have decided to make this page from a combination of user requests and the general need of a source of information regarding this matter. For those of you hiding under rocks, the Digital Baybus is our attempt at a product combining the usability of a Baybus, with the visual functions of an LCD.

The brains behind the creation of the Digital Baybus is none other than my good friend Ryan 'Uller' Myers; the genius behind LCDriver. LCDriver is a program that one can use in conjunction with an LCD to monitor temperatures, MP3 Information, etc.

The Questions

1.) How much will it cost?

We obviously cannot predict what the resale price will be until the units have been manufactured and are ready to be shipped out. However, our target price will be between $75 and $100. It all depends on the costs in total. So far, here are the things we will have to pay for: the components, PCB printing, PCB/component installation, material for enclosures, manufacturing of enclosures, anodizing of enclosures, cables, a box, printing charges for the instructions, packing material, and design for a logo. So, as you can see there is quite a bit that we have to pay for.

2.) When is it expected to be done? Are they in production yet?

We do not have tentative release day set yet, but it will be about one month after we get our final prototype done. We have changed some design features and are working on cheaper parts. By the end of the summer they will be online.

3.) What are its features?

Feature wise, we are loading everything possible that we can fit on the memory.

Fan Control - Eight fan Channels for 12v/7v or off. Sourcing up to 10 amps per channel. All fans drop to configurable 7V or off if the Sleep LED pins on the motherboard go on.

Temperature Monitoring - Includes 8 different sensors with support for up to 16.

Available LCD Info - 16 unique modes to view the LCD in, each with a different source of info.

LCD Dimmer Switch - There will be a rotary switch to dim the LCD Backlight.

Option to add LCDriver - Adding LCDriver opens up a whole new window of possiblities for the Digital Baybus. Some examples include MP3 Info, special sayings, system settings, optimization, CPU Speed, etc.

Stylish Enclosure - Since we are the pimps when it comes to Anodized stuff (props to Stiltner), we are spending extra cash to make the enclosure out of aluminum - available in all the colors that the Coldforge is. Both units will be anodized.

There are a few more features, and we have a couple more we are working on implementing, but we are keeping those secret for now.

4.) What size/model LCD will it use?

The LCDs are parallel industry standard character LCDs (16x2) with a HD44780 interface, meaning they are compatible with LCDriver 2.0; there will be a switch on the drive bay plate to switch between the Digital Baybus's display and LCDriver. The displays will be backlit, and are manufactured by CrystalFontz.

5.) What type of enclosure will it be in?

The Digital Baybus uses a two-part unit; a box which contains the fan/thermistor connections and CPU, and a faceplate containing the LCD and controls. The faceplate will have room to mount a standard 3.5" hard drive behind it. The box and faceplate are connected via a ribbon cable.

6.) How will the fans and temperature sensors connect to it?

We are still deciding whether to use RCA jacks or spring terminals for the fans; at the moment we are leaning towards RCA. The thermistors will connect to standard two-pin headers.

7.) Does it do RPM monitoring?

The Digital Baybus does not do RPM monitoring, due to the inherent complexity in wiring a microprocessor to access Hall effect sensors without additional chips. Also, the majority of the potential users for the Digital Baybus will be using Panaflos, many of which (including the ones sold at CaseEtc) do not have Hall sensors.

8.) How many temperatures can it monitor?

Up to eight individual temperatures can be monitored; the Digital Baybus uses standard 10KOhm @ 25C thermistors. (Although it can be calibrated for other compositions, the default setting from the factory is for a beta value of 3435 Kelvin. This is the level assumed by the Winbond chips used in many motherboards.)

9.) How does it plug into my computer?

It will connect to the machine via a standard four-pin molex plug for power. No other connection is needed except for the optional use of LCDriver, in which case you can plug a parallel cable into the unit.

10.) Is it hardware or software based?

The Digital Baybus uses a 20MHz microprocessor with its own RAM and program burnt into Flash ROM; no software is required on the computer. Users can optionally install LCDriver 2.0 and use the 16x2 display with it as a computer-controlled LCD.

11.) Can I fit a hard drive behind it?

You will be able to fit a hard drive behind the faceplate.

12.) Will it fit in a 3.5 bay or a 5.25?

The LCD prevents fitting it into a 3.5" bay unless we switched to a single-line display; we feel this makes the interface too cramped to be comfortably used.

13.) What kind of switches/controls will be on it?

Four arrow buttons and an "activate" button will be present. Also will be a backlight dimmer, and switch for LCDriver. We also plan to spend any unused space with passthrough ports from the back of the machine for a game port, audio jack, and two USB ports.

14.) Will the LCD be backlit?

It does include a standard yellow-green LED backlight.

15.) Will the LCD backlight be adjustable?

A dimmer knob will be integrated into the unit.

16.) What will the Digital Baybus be named? Has anyone won the contest?

We have no idea yet, we have had several hundred candidates, but so far, none of them really stood out.

17.) Are there plans to incorporate LCDriver into the design?

LCDriver 2.0, which will be out soon, supports HD44780-based LCDs wired directly to the parallel port; you will be able to use the 16x2 LCD display as an LCDriver output if you wish. Only one set of input (LCDriver or the Digital Baybus) will be visible at any given time.

18.) Will the setup use any LED's? If so, what color?

At the moment we do not plan on any LEDs; the LCD display will be the sole output.

19.) What color will the backlight on the LCD be?

The LCD uses a common yellow-green LED backlight.

20.) What are its dimensions?

TBD.

21.) How many will be made during the first run of manufacturing?

Most likely, whatever will be the best bang/buck. I would expect anywhere from 100-1000 of the baybus parts, and then 500-1000 of the enclosures.

22.) Will there be any aditional options or upgrades available?

We do not have any plans for extra options at this time.

23.) What kind of adjustablitity will the fans have?

Fans can be adjusted between off, full speed, and seven volts.

24.) Will it be 'plug and play'?

The hardware will not require any software changes to your machine; users simply plug power cables into the unit and then plug all fans and thermistors in.

25.) Will the Digital Baybus be offered as a DIY kit?

Although we would like to offer it this way, those attempting to build their own would require assembly tools for the processor, as well as electrical equipment for burning the compiled image into the Flash ROM and configuring the non-volatile RAM. Since the few people owning that equipment are likely capable of building this system or a similar one from scratch anyways, we will not offer it DIY.

26.) Is the microcontroller's software upgradeable?

Although the hardware allows for in-circuit flash upgrades, we have not decided whether or not this will be allowed.

27.) Can you overclock the Digital Baybus? Does it void the warranty?

You could replace the crystal, but there is no need to, since there are no speed-sensitive functions in the code. It would simply make the control response even faster than at 20MHz, where it's almost instant.

28.) Is the memory volatile or non-volatile?

We use both standard RAM and NVRAM in the unit; although the unit will shut down when power shuts off to the machine, your settings will be saved.

30.) Will the software be open-sourced?

The assembly code installed in FlashROM will not be opensourced.

31.) What will the unit be bundled, or packages with?

Everything needed (cables, etc) and a CaseEtc Case Badge. We will probably have some kind of instruction manual.

Well, that's it for now guys. Thanks for inquiring on the Digital Baybus and contact me at cole_NOSPAM@directron.us (remove _NOSPAM manually) if you have any questions. (ud041103lp)