| Author | Message | ||
     Ram (Rsriprac) New Member Username: Rsriprac Post Number: 20 Registered: 02-2003 |
Thanks for all your help, esp. Rob C. for the radio diagram. Its *almost* completed, just have to screw things back together. (specs are after the picture) if u have any questions, let me know, or email me at rsriprac(at)ucla.edu  specs: CPU: VIA EPIA M9000 (933 MHz) MEM: 512 RAM HD: Maxtor (5x00 rpm) 80GB Drives: generics DVD drive CompactFlash, CompactFlash-II drive Video: Envision 17" LCD panel Audio: Sound Blaster/Creative USB Audio (48-bit @ 5.1 channels) Misc HW: Linksys Wireless 802.11g Card HyperGain 12db-2.4 GHz high-gain external antenna Magellan ColourTrak GPS Generic Ir-wireless keys M$ optic mouse 2x generic (14-buttons) gaming controllers Misc SW: GPS: MapTech Land: California Set (Topo) WAR: NetStumbler MP3s: (enough for slow drives across US and back - ~106+ hours) DivX: (~30+ boot legs, sorry no p0rn tho.) Games: NES emulator (700+ games), SNES emulator (~200 games i think), SimCity 3K, Civ 3, Fallout 2 | ||
| Andrew Clarke (Aclarke) Senior Member Username: Aclarke Post Number: 320 Registered: 10-2002 |
OS? What are you going to do with that huge monitor when you want to use your hvac or stereo controls? Or is it mounted above all that? I've been thinking of doing something similar, although I'll probably go the route of picking up a used laptop off eBay with a broken screen or something, then a smaller screen. I might try to mount the screen underneath the driver's side sun visor. With a laptop, I could probably change the power-saving settings so it stays on for maybe 1 hour after I park the vehicle then automatically hybernates or something like that. I saw an interesting article on slashdot.org the other day, too: http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/03/29/1637248&mode=thread&tid=126&tid=137 It discusses some new micro motherboard format that also seems very applicable to a project like this. | ||
| Jesse Lessard (Jlessard) Member Username: Jlessard Post Number: 42 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hey that’s pretty sweet! I’ve wanted to do something like that also.. A few things I though would be kind of cool is to is get a OBC code adapter for the pc and have it permanently wired in. So you could instantly see what your sensors are doing anytime. A touch screen monitor for easer use then trying to mess with a mouse. And last, a customized Linux desktop laid out with stuff you would use in a car with a touch screen. Program some custom scripts for maps/gps and other useful stuff. Please let us know how it all works when your done and put up some more pics of it! | ||
| Ram (Rsriprac) New Member Username: Rsriprac Post Number: 21 Registered: 02-2003 |
unfortunatly i'm running winblows on it because i have the topo mapping software from MapTech, and I think their software is one of the most complete topo software. Without that, i would be running mac 10.2 (mac fan). I drilled holes in that dash tray where the rubber tray sits, and the mount swivels upwards and can easily access the radio. i think i am going to but a FM/TV reciever for the computer, and get rid of use of radio all together. about the laptop idea, its really hard (almost impossible) to attach another lcd into a laptop since it has proprietary LCD controllers. One way is if the laptop has a vga video out. one thing i consider was doing it using a laptop, its quite and has low power consumption. but for the cost and video display, i did not think it was worth it. The two problems was having a laptop fast enough to decode DivX/DVDs, and the LCD tends to have really bad viewing in the sun (and course the small size, unless the new apple ones). btw - that article is interesting. (= -ram | ||
| Michael Noe (Noee) Senior Member Username: Noee Post Number: 542 Registered: 03-2002 |
Very nice, indeed. You're way ahead of me, but I'm thinking TabletPC and PDAs... | ||
| Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Senior Member Username: V22guy Post Number: 1370 Registered: 02-2002 |
I am sure it will look great when you are all done. But I don't get it? Why? | ||
| Todd W. McLain (Ganryu) Member Username: Ganryu Post Number: 184 Registered: 10-2002 |
802.11g, huh? Planning on any wardriving? As a suggestion, you may want to consider replacing that Maxtor with a laptop HD and a 3.5" adapter. The laptop HD would be much more forgiving to the shock of being vehicle mounted. | ||
| Rob Caulfield (Wrldky) New Member Username: Wrldky Post Number: 19 Registered: 02-2003 |
Ram, ...and my wife says I can't concentrate on the road while I'm on the phone. I imagine in LA everyone needs something like this so they can play their X-Box in traffic. Happy to help. | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 1971 Registered: 02-2002 |
Let me get this straight.... You took a PC and extracted it from the chassis, and mounted it in your Rover (inside the center console?!)? Well, that's one way to get the DVD and GPS mapping in there....  Where do you access the DVD drive, or the flashcard port? How do you adequately cool the CPU inside the console? Did you run the Soundblaster output into your vehicle's stereo? If so, how? Very interesting......... -L | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 1972 Registered: 02-2002 |
PS: Hey! Did you get a cable and download the software from http://www.obd-2.com? You could diagnose your vehicle from itself..... Hmmm...... -L | ||
| Andrew Clarke (Aclarke) Senior Member Username: Aclarke Post Number: 322 Registered: 10-2002 |
Haha, I missed the part where you actually put the computer in your centre console. Very neat I figured with my laptop idea, I'd just stuff it under the seat. And yeah, I'm not planning on using the laptop's proprietary LCD output, just the video out. People don't bid very high for a used laptop on eBay with a broken screen, and I wouldn't want the screen anyways. That's my theory. But you're right, if you're looking for smooth DVD playback, your setup is probably a lot better. And yes, the OBD-II stuff is cool. I was browsing sourceforge.net a month or two ago and there are one or two potentially interesting in-vehicle linux projects, and also I've seen the beginnings of some OBD-II linux software projects. Ram, I guess the mapping software won't run under VirtualPC if you love Mac so much? You could also try it under wine in linux... | ||
| Tom Hyslip (007) Member Username: 007 Post Number: 150 Registered: 03-2002 |
Be careful with that large of a monitor, if the police think it is a TV you will get a large fine. It is a really nice setup though. | ||
| Jeremy Katka (Jkatka) Member Username: Jkatka Post Number: 239 Registered: 02-2002 |
Cool idea, you might be able to get some ideas from this guy http://www.dashpc.com who built a pretty nice system for his VW. I liked his custom center console. Its all run on linux but the ideas to get traffic reports and such from his 802.11 access point is cool and could easily be ported to windows or the like. JK | ||
| Jason T. Barker (Speedminded) Member Username: Speedminded Post Number: 171 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'm doing the same thing but built an all aluminum case (similiar to botton pic) to use as a center console for the rear seats. I'm upgrading the 1.3 AMD to a 1.6 and currently running 1024mb ram (512 x 2) with a 60gb hard drive and slot-in DVD/CD. Next purchase is a video card that will enable me to record my front and rear in-car cameras. I need a card with two composite video's in and 1 out to go to my in-dash 7.0" LCD. Its not a touch-screen but I think a wireless trackball mounted on or near the gear shifter will be sufficient. Looking for a used/cheap APC UPS power supply that will enable me to keep it running while the vehicle is off (I think about 30-50 minutes at 200 watts will be enough). Also need a slot-in CD-R or DVD-R to record the video's. Delorme finally released their new GPS reciever (i've been waiting a year) so that's going on it as soon as everything is put in the vehicle. Minus the cost of the LCD screen (traded my triumph daytona 955i for it and cash) I should have everything complete including the cameras and navigation with software for under $750. I was running Win2k Professional but it took a dump and I don't have the disk for it so now Winblows98(AHHH!). I'll probably end up running linux on it if I can get a video card that works right with it. I wanted a slanted front case but wasn't going to pay $300-400 for the only one that seems to exist. I modified a free case and had 1/4" aluminum custom cut/machined for the entire thing.  This is the Enermax-5190. Retail is $325-399+ which is absolutely ridiculous for an empty case so I made mine. I'll have pics of it installed soon. | ||
| Andrew Clarke (Aclarke) Senior Member Username: Aclarke Post Number: 323 Registered: 10-2002 |
But why not just use a laptop? You can get a nice used laptop for that much, AND it will come with a battery that will run it for 1-2 hours, AND it will be smaller, AND it will use less power, AND it will be more suited to the bumps and everything it will experience in a car? And you won't need an inverter. Or, those mini-itx cases look pretty nice for an application like this. Sure, they're not as powerful, but they also use a lot less power. I have, however, heard that some/all of them are missing L1 and/or L2 cache which really limits their ability to run a webcam. To each their own, though. You're way ahead of me!! |
