he 'ideal' car audio system is not necessarily the loudest one, or the most expensive one. It's the one that best meets your needs. So, the first step is to figure out what your needs are. Start off by asking yourself: what is the one thing you want your new car stereo to do for you? If you don't come up with an answer right away, then try looking at your current system.
What type of car stereo system do you have now?
How does the sound of your current system make you feel? Do you find yourself tapping your foot or drumming your fingers on the steering wheel? Does a funky rhythm section get you smiling? Does a blues guitar solo send shivers down your back?
No? Then is the sound flat, dull, tinny, or wimpy? You're probably suffering from listening to a car radio that's struggling to drive flimsy factory speakers. The good news is that you have a lot of options to choose from when replacing the various components in your audio system.
But what if you're unsure about exactly which component is the problem?
It's not always easy to diagnose what's causing problems in a vehicle's audio/video system, even when you know that you're not satisfied with its performance. But there are some simple steps you can take to help you narrow it down:
1. Listen while parked in the driveway for a few minutes.
Twist all the knobs and push all the buttons. Do all the functions seem to work OK?
What would you like your radio to do that it won't do now?
* Play CDs or MP3 files?
* Tune-in to satellite or HD Radio™ broadcasts?
* Control an iPod® or other portable audio device?
* Play louder without distorting?
* Play DVDs on a retractable or built-in display?
Listen to each speaker individually by adjusting the balance and fader controls. Turn up the volume and the tone controls. Are all the speakers working, or do you hear a slight rattle or a buzz?
2. Drive around and listen carefully.
Hit the highway and turn your stereo up loud enough to be heard above the road noise.
3. Now find a place to park the car.
Keeping the volume at "highway level" (but without the road noise to confuse your ear), do you hear a lot of distortion?Set the balance, fader, and tone controls right smack in the middle. How's the overall sound of the speakers? What's lacking? Bass? Treble? Clarity?
4. Rate your current gear.
Make a list of the components in your system, and rate them on a scale of 1-10. It usually makes sense to begin by replacing the lowest-rated components.
If the car receiver ranked the lowest, then consider either buying an adapter so it meets your needs or replacing the whole receiver. Replacing your receiver is usually one of the first steps to achieving better sound since the audio signal sent to the other components in your system is much cleaner coming from an aftermarket source.
However, if you know the audio signal isn't the problem or you don't want to part with your current receiver, then you might want to build up the other audio components in your vehicle. If your speakers sound OK at moderate volume, but not at highway volume, you may want to start by adding more power. If the speakers sound bad all the time, you know to replace them first.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
By the early 1900s, gasoline cars started to outsell all other types of motor vehicles. The market was growing for economical automobiles and the need for industrial production was pressing.
The first car manufacturers in the world were French: Panhard & Levassor (1889) and Peugeot (1891). By car manufacturer we mean builders of entire motor vehicles for sale and not just engine inventors who experimented with car design to test their engines - Daimler and Benz began as the latter before becoming full car manufacturers and made their early money by licensing their patents and selling their engines to car manufacturers.
The first car manufacturers in the world were French: Panhard & Levassor (1889) and Peugeot (1891). By car manufacturer we mean builders of entire motor vehicles for sale and not just engine inventors who experimented with car design to test their engines - Daimler and Benz began as the latter before becoming full car manufacturers and made their early money by licensing their patents and selling their engines to car manufacturers.
The History of the Automobile
The automobile as we know it was not invented in a single day by a single inventor. The history of the automobile reflects an evolution that took place worldwide. It is estimated that over 100,000 patents created the modern automobile. However, we can point to the many firsts that occurred along the way. Starting with the first theoretical plans for a motor vehicle that had been drawn up by both Leonardo da Vinci and Isaac Newton.
In 1769, the very first self-propelled road vehicle was a military tractor invented by French engineer and mechanic, Nicolas Joseph Cugnot (1725 - 1804). Cugnot used a steam engine to power his vehicle, built under his instructions at the Paris Arsenal by mechanic Brezin. It was used by the French Army to haul artillery at a whopping speed of 2 1/2 mph on only three wheels. The vehicle had to stop every ten to fifteen minutes to build up steam power. The steam engine and boiler were separate from the rest of the vehicle and placed in the front (see engraving above). The following year (1770), Cugnot built a steam-powered tricycle that carried four passengers.
In 1769, the very first self-propelled road vehicle was a military tractor invented by French engineer and mechanic, Nicolas Joseph Cugnot (1725 - 1804). Cugnot used a steam engine to power his vehicle, built under his instructions at the Paris Arsenal by mechanic Brezin. It was used by the French Army to haul artillery at a whopping speed of 2 1/2 mph on only three wheels. The vehicle had to stop every ten to fifteen minutes to build up steam power. The steam engine and boiler were separate from the rest of the vehicle and placed in the front (see engraving above). The following year (1770), Cugnot built a steam-powered tricycle that carried four passengers.
The History of Electric Vehicles
France and Great Britain were the first nations to support the widespread development of electric vehicles in the late 1800s. In 1899, a Belgian built electric racing car called "La Jamais Contente" set a world record for land speed - 68 mph - designed by Camille Jénatzy.
It was not until 1895 that Americans began to devote attention to electric vehicles after an electric tricycle was built by A. L. Ryker and William Morrison built a six-passenger wagon both in 1891. Many innovations followed and interest in motor vehicles increased greatly in the late 1890s and early 1900s. In 1897, the first commercial application was established as a fleet of New York City taxis built by the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia.
New York City Electric Taxis - electric vehicleThe early electric vehicles, such as the 1902 Wood's Phaeton (top image), were little more than electrified horseless carriages and surreys. The Phaeton had a range of 18 miles, a top speed of 14 mph and cost $2,000. Later in 1916, Woods invented a hybrid car that had both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
1918 Detroit - electric vehicleBy the turn of the century, America was prosperous and cars, now available in steam, electric, or gasoline versions, were becoming more popular. The years 1899 and 1900 were the high point of electric cars in America, as they outsold all other types of cars. Electric vehicles had many advantages over their competitors in the early 1900s. They did not have the vibration, smell, and noise associated with gasoline cars. Changing gears on gasoline cars was the most difficult part of driving, while electric vehicles did not require gear changes. While steam-powered cars also had no gear shifting, they suffered from long start-up times of up to 45 minutes on cold mornings. The steam cars had less range before needing water than an electric's range on a single charge. The only good roads of the period were in town, causing most travel to be local commuting, a perfect situation for electric vehicles, since their range was limited. The electric vehicle was the preferred choice of many because it did not require the manual effort to start, as with the hand crank on gasoline vehicles, and there was no wrestling with a gear shifter.
While basic electric cars cost under $1,000, most early electric vehicles were ornate, massive carriages designed for the upper class. They had fancy interiors, with expensive materials, and averaged $3,000 by 1910. Electric vehicles enjoyed success into the 1920s with production peaking in 1912.
The decline of the electric vehicle was brought about by several major developments:
* By the 1920s, America had a better system of roads that now connected cities, bringing with it the need for longer-range vehicles.
* The discovery of Texas crude oil reduced the price of gasoline so that it was affordable to the average consumer.
* The invention of the electric starter by Charles Kettering in 1912 eliminated the need for the hand crank.
* The initiation of mass production of internal combustion engine vehicles by Henry Ford made these vehicles widely available and affordable in the $500 to $1,000 price range. By contrast, the price of the less efficiently produced electric vehicles continued to rise. In 1912, an electric roadster sold for $1,750, while a gasoline car sold for $650.
It was not until 1895 that Americans began to devote attention to electric vehicles after an electric tricycle was built by A. L. Ryker and William Morrison built a six-passenger wagon both in 1891. Many innovations followed and interest in motor vehicles increased greatly in the late 1890s and early 1900s. In 1897, the first commercial application was established as a fleet of New York City taxis built by the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia.
New York City Electric Taxis - electric vehicleThe early electric vehicles, such as the 1902 Wood's Phaeton (top image), were little more than electrified horseless carriages and surreys. The Phaeton had a range of 18 miles, a top speed of 14 mph and cost $2,000. Later in 1916, Woods invented a hybrid car that had both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
1918 Detroit - electric vehicleBy the turn of the century, America was prosperous and cars, now available in steam, electric, or gasoline versions, were becoming more popular. The years 1899 and 1900 were the high point of electric cars in America, as they outsold all other types of cars. Electric vehicles had many advantages over their competitors in the early 1900s. They did not have the vibration, smell, and noise associated with gasoline cars. Changing gears on gasoline cars was the most difficult part of driving, while electric vehicles did not require gear changes. While steam-powered cars also had no gear shifting, they suffered from long start-up times of up to 45 minutes on cold mornings. The steam cars had less range before needing water than an electric's range on a single charge. The only good roads of the period were in town, causing most travel to be local commuting, a perfect situation for electric vehicles, since their range was limited. The electric vehicle was the preferred choice of many because it did not require the manual effort to start, as with the hand crank on gasoline vehicles, and there was no wrestling with a gear shifter.
While basic electric cars cost under $1,000, most early electric vehicles were ornate, massive carriages designed for the upper class. They had fancy interiors, with expensive materials, and averaged $3,000 by 1910. Electric vehicles enjoyed success into the 1920s with production peaking in 1912.
The decline of the electric vehicle was brought about by several major developments:
* By the 1920s, America had a better system of roads that now connected cities, bringing with it the need for longer-range vehicles.
* The discovery of Texas crude oil reduced the price of gasoline so that it was affordable to the average consumer.
* The invention of the electric starter by Charles Kettering in 1912 eliminated the need for the hand crank.
* The initiation of mass production of internal combustion engine vehicles by Henry Ford made these vehicles widely available and affordable in the $500 to $1,000 price range. By contrast, the price of the less efficiently produced electric vehicles continued to rise. In 1912, an electric roadster sold for $1,750, while a gasoline car sold for $650.
Friday, August 21, 2009
STEREO SYSTEM
You can customize your car stereo system by adding more features to what was originally installed by the manufacturer.
The main part of the car stereo is called the head unit, which may be a CD player, a radio or a tape player. In the olden days, there were tapedecks that were used as the head unit.
Advancements in acoustic technology have led to more improvements in the head unit, such as MP3, AAC and WMA, to support to the CD players. Most cars are designed with a CD changer, wherein multiple disks are held in the head unit.
There is a growing demand for high-end car stereo systems with component speakers, which are available in a combination of 2 or 3 speakers.
You need to be sure that you select the correct system, and for this it is always rewarding if you consult an expert. Selecting a good stereo system will go a long way in attaining your goal–listening to good music at all times, whether on the move or in the parking slot. The head unit or the CD player should have sound adjustments. The amplifier can be fixed under the seat with connections to the player.
Good quality cabling, wiring, and gold-plated terminals are a must in maintaining good-quality sound. Talking of crossovers, it is enough if you have passive ones. They help in listening to music so smoothly and correctly that you can hear even small sounds like a hiss.
Of late, there is a growing demand for quality in-car entertainment systems. The focal point of technologies in the automobile industry has been the car stereo systems. Before installing an audio system, check your vehicle’s electrical capability to handle the audio system.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
1st Motorcycle
The invention of the motorcycle closely followed the development of the bicycle and the four-stroke gasoline engine. German inventor Gottlieb Daimler created the first motorcycle in 1885. He attached a four-stroke gasoline engine to a wooden bicycle frame and added two extra side wheels for stability, similar to training wheels on a bicycle. Daimler’s engine turned the rear wheel with a pulley.
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The automobile as we know it was not invented in a single day by a single inventor. The history of the automobile reflects an evolution that took place worldwide. It is estimated that over 100,000 patents created the modern automobile. However, we can point to the many firsts that occurred along the way. Starting with the first theoretical plans for a motor vehicle that had been drawn up by both Leonardo da Vinci and Isaac Newton.In 1769, the very first self-propelled road vehicle was a military tractor invented by French engineer and mechanic, Nicolas Joseph Cugnot (1725 - 1804). Cugnot used a steam engine to power his vehicle, built under his instructions at the Paris Arsenal by mechanic Brezin. It was used by the French Army to haul artillery at a whopping speed of 2 1/2 mph on only three wheels. The vehicle had to stop every ten to fifteen minutes to build up steam power. The steam engine and boiler were separate from the rest of the vehicle and placed in the front (see engraving above). The following year (1770), Cugnot built a steam-powered tricycle that carried four passengers.
In 1771, Cugnot drove one of his road vehicles into a stone wall, making Cugnot the first person to get into a motor vehicle accident. This was the beginning of bad luck for the inventor. After one of Cugnot's patrons died and the other was exiled, the money for Cugnot's road vehicle experiments ended.
OLD CARS
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