Car computer talk..

[BlitZ-Carn]

okay, where to start, I must be getting pretty annoying to some..
Okay so I have a normal deck in my car, no boost controller or anything, so one slot for my dash cover isnt even used up, was thinking of getting rid of the deck I have in it, and using it for a lcd touch screen.. and just play mp3s off that.. also for use with dsmlink which I hope to get be getting soon..

What would be better, keep my deck in (decent deck, sony)
cause it would save me on burning mp3 cds often, when I get bored..
So how hard would it be to do all that work and have the lcd screen in..

 

[crimsondragon]

If you're asking, then you probably won't be able to do it. Nah j/k. Go to crutchfield.com. I was there last week looking for receivers and I was looking at the DVD players as well. Some are practically bolt in.

 

[Defiant]

CDs? Get a modern deck that uses SD cards.

 

[selmerguy]

How hard???? Not very. Just takes proper planning and lots of researching. mp3car.com is your friend. I have built 2 car pc's for my cars and 8 others. Some were a single din motorized touch screen. Some were a double din custo

 

[Splitpi]

mp3car.com

 

[2FoX2]

I will be detailing the install of my 7" touchscreen & computer setup in the next month. Posting it here on the forums, the screen is the easy part, it's going to fit perfectly in where the current deck is.

 

[BlitZ-Carn]

Hey Defiant, that's probably a lot easier, and less time consuming, thanks everyone again!

ill have to check out how much effort it is, cause personally, I think a carputer is hott!!

 

[VPrime]

I have one, its super easy... depending on how "custom" you want.
The computer side is easy. The installation is easy (if you ever installed car audio its exactly the same)

If you go the route of a flip out screen- Easier.

If you decide to make a non flip out screen molded into the dash its a little more tricky.
I found that the Lilliput EBY-701 7" touch screen is an almost exact fit for the 2G double din. All you need to do is find a way to mount it in there ( I held it in place made sure it was lined up and use some fiberglass from behind.)


Software wise again really easy.

As stated go to MP3Car.com - Your source for mobile computing solutions! - Home

 

[Defiant]

Isn't anyone making a DIN computer yet? What's the damned holdup? It's not like there isn't enough room in there for a full computer.

 

[2point3Tsi]

that double din was gonna be for my tein edc but now that I can have pc in there hmmm....

 

[selmerguy]

Isn't anyone making a DIN computer yet? What's the damned holdup? It's not like there isn't enough room in there for a full computer.

They make them. Around 1000 bucks. Cheaper and better to make your own.

 

[VPrime]

Yeah they are far more expensive, and not as versatile as making your own.
I had a lot of computer parts sitting at home, so my whole project was around 350 (screen, power supply (DC-DC) and misc wires)

I just threw a desktop case in my trunk and called it a day.. Of course Its all torn out now as I am building a different car, so it will made all pretty for the new car

It is REALLY easy to do it. I did zero planning. I just tackled it all in one day (or 2).

 

[Ravenous]

Coding isn't my strong suit as I am figuring out with trying to mess with the e931 eprom code. However I think the ultimate would be a GUI with all the bells and whistles. Ideally I would like to have the screen where my vent and climate controls are. Instead of moving the knobs and buttons I would like to take it one step further and have a servo controller operate the climate controls via the touchscreen interface. This would have to be coded into a GUI somehow but should be do-able with enough R&D. Supposedly the next incarnation of Tunerpro is supposed to have the ability to create a digital dashboard which would make extra gauges and gauge pods moot. There are several front ends available commercially and free/shareware that implement all of the features of the high end navigation/stereo/media systems currently available. While I could care less about playing dvds and navigation the idea of tuning my car without having to carry around a laptop is awesome. I think the ultimate would be something like what they have in the new Skyline, a system hooked up to all the sensors and accelerometers so you can monitor all aspects of your car from handling to performance.

 

[VPrime]

There are a lot of customizable GUIs already..
I use the open source Road Runner. It basically sits ontop of windows making it easy to access video, gps, music etc.
since it is open source you can add new elements to it easily.

As for climate control, extremly hard in a DSM. Because we use cables and a mechanical system for climate control. People on mp3car.com have developed climate control through the computer, but they did it for cars with a digital system (like a lexus IS300)

As for gauges, you can now use EvoScan.. Though for things like viewing the suspension you would need to install your own sensors and come up with your own software. Overall its a big waste of time as our cars dont really need that kind of stuff (engine stuff sure..).. We have no way to control suspension from inside the car, so why build a system to monitor it?

 

[2FoX2]

My car computer which is currently in development is going to have the following features:

-MP3 playback
-AM/FM radio
-Video/DVD playback (slot loading drive)
-DVB television
-GPS navigation
-OBD2 diagnostics/logging
-Forward and rearward cameras
-Wireless internet
-Bluetooth
-Power window/sunroof/door lock control
-Greddy E-manage ultimate


... and anything else I can come up with during the build. This will all be detailed in my future post when it's ready (this summer). Carputers most-definitely do rock, and aren't that expensive for us do-it-yourselfers.

 

[selmerguy]

Tuning with my carpc is a big plus. I run DSMAP. I can log and tune on the fly. It also makes switching between different tunes very easy. I use a palm emulator for logging which works great. Me and a few pther people have plans to make a custom windows base logging system with features similar to that of the skyline. I nice display of gauges and stuff like that. Kinda like Megasquirt but better.
BTW I have all my tunning programs embeded in my front end. I run Mobil Impact. It is like RoadRunner but more user friendly IMHO. Lots of great stuff out there.

 

[BlitZ-Carn]

2Fox, that sounds hott!! I'm basically, just trying to get it for the dsmlink.. and run my music off it as well.. either get a touch screen, or just use auxilary, and keep the comp under my seat, I'm still not sure..

 

[VPrime]

Do not use standard RCA/Svideo for the screen. It will be a major pain to read as the resolution will be terrible. VGA Touch screen are so cheap now (starting in the 175 range)

 

[Defiant]

My car computer which is currently in development is going to have the following features:

-MP3 playback
-AM/FM radio
-Video/DVD playback (slot loading drive)
-DVB television
-GPS navigation
-OBD2 diagnostics/logging
-Forward and rearward cameras
-Wireless internet
-Bluetooth
-Power window/sunroof/door lock control
-Greddy E-manage ultimate

Be sure to include a card reader. I just got a Blaupunkt that has no CD drive, just an SD slot.

 

[VPrime]

Another thing that I wish I originally added (and will add for the new isntall)
Is a power/reset button that you can reach while driving. I had my computer in the trunk, and in the winter it would crash, or freeze. Some times on a very bad dirt road during the summer as well. So I would have to pull over, go to the trunk and reset.. Or just leave it frozen until I reach my destination.

Oh, another good thing is a USB port or 2 in the front of the car. Wish I had this as well

 

[selmerguy]

The way my power supply works. I have 3 wires. A constant 12v, ACC 12v, and ground. I installed a switch on both 12v wires. If the computer freezes I turn off the acc wire. That normally works. I could cut power all togeather with the other switch. I havent had to use that yet.

 

[VPrime]

My power supply has the same, but if it freezes the shutdown controller does not work. It will turn off after 15 minutes or so... I Think this has to do with a jumper I set on the power supply.

 

[2FoX2]

Be sure to include a card reader. I just got a Blaupunkt that has no CD drive, just an SD slot.

Definitely, I was planning on mounting the slot load right under the 2DIN, and having plenty of USB ports, line in, etc. available, just not sure where to mount them yet.

 

[selmerguy]

The only problem is that most of the cool things like touchscree, gps, wireless keyboard.... ect...... Use up most of the USB ports. And the power supplys they make are often not srrong enough to support lots of USB devices. I havent had to many issues with a usb hub. But I try not to overload my power supply

 

[Planckscale]

Navisurfer 2-DIN Car Computer

At $600 it is worth bringing the thread to life.
With price this low there is no need to DIY your own computer. I have been watching the prices of full car PCs and I think $600 is a bargain!