Windows tablet in place of stock radio.

[AngelOfPassion]

This is a REALLY LONG TERM idea that I have when I get done with most of my performance ideas for my car. Obviously it would be somewhat expensive but I am wondering if anyone has done this before:

I would like to install a windows tablet that is capable of running ECMlink in my center console in place of where the radio is. I have removed my stock radio and now there is just a gaping hole in my console that I think about every time I drive the car haha. This idea just randomly popped into my head when I was driving one time and I thought it would be awesome to have it run a datalog stream when I had passengers and it could also come in handy when something is wrong with the car. No one has their laptop with them ALL THE TIME so it would be useful and not just for looks which is a bonus.

What I know:
-It could draw power from the cigarette lighter. I'm sure they make a charger that is somewhat inconspicuous that I can use. Maybe one with a right angle that I can just feed the cord back behind the console on the drivers side (out of passenger view).

-There are tablets that can run ECMlink well.


What I am not sure of:
-Fitment. Is there a Windows tablet that would be decent enough dimensions that would be able to be mounted there?

-Power button. It would have to be mounted where you could still turn it on or if there some type of setting that can make it automatically come on once it has power... That would be ideal.

-Detachable? Added bonus if the way it is mounted makes it detachable so you can get a better look/use a keyboard if necessary.

-Keyboard? A place to store a keyboard that you could use on the fly with it. Under the seat maybe? Wireless? Run a USB keyboard through the bottom of the console out of sight?

So... Has anyone out there done this?

 

[91-GS]

A double DIN radio is 4"x7", so the hole is about same size. There are quite a few tablets that will fit into that opening.

For a power button on can either just put the table to sleep or hibernate so it 'wakes up' when poking the screen, or rig up a small lever that will push the power button. A more difficult way would be to hack up something like a cheap USB mouse to emulate a mouse click when engine starts, then set up the tablet to turn on with that. Advantage of this would be that tablet will turn on automatically, although most likely you'd have to turn it off manually. Or allow it to sleep after a minute of inactivity and have the simulated mouse click be continuous as long as engine is running (or the key is on).

For power supply, you can splice into the wiring and stash the power converter and the power brick behind some panels, or right behind the tablet since there will be plenty of space there.

For a keyboard, some cellphones have a separate folding keyboard (like this one) so you might be able to find one that will work, or use a small non-folding bluetooth keyboard. Depending on how much you are planning to use it, you might be able to stash it in the center console lid and make it flip down from the lid when needed.

 

[RallyEclipse98]

There have been a few people to do this lately and post about it on the forums. They have all turned out really clean.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/custom-fabrication/474244-dash-data-logging.html

 

[Bud92gsx]

There have been a few people to do this lately and post about it on the forums. They have all turned out really clean.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/custom-fabrication/474244-dash-data-logging.html

Using the black 98/99 ecu running evoscan.Not an eprom running link.

You would think ecmlink would have an app for android,Itunes already.But unless your tablet is pretty new.Thats gonna be tricky.
Using the evo ecu theres allready a plug and play detachable mount and small 3 or 4 inch screen.One more reminder that dsms are outdated.

 

[AngelOfPassion]

Bud, there are Windows tablets that let you install programs to them. I have ecmlink installed on one and Corey (gofer) does as well. I would use one of those.

Rally, that was an awesome link. The first one is a bit different but the second example in that post is a good example of what I would like to do.

A double DIN radio is 4"x7", so the hole is about same size. There are quite a few tablets that will fit into that opening.

For a power button on can either just put the table to sleep or hibernate so it 'wakes up' when poking the screen, or rig up a small lever that will push the power button. A more difficult way would be to hack up something like a cheap USB mouse to emulate a mouse click when engine starts, then set up the tablet to turn on with that. Advantage of this would be that tablet will turn on automatically, although most likely you'd have to turn it off manually. Or allow it to sleep after a minute of inactivity and have the simulated mouse click be continuous as long as engine is running (or the key is on).

For power supply, you can splice into the wiring and stash the power converter and the power brick behind some panels, or right behind the tablet since there will be plenty of space there.

For a keyboard, some cellphones have a separate folding keyboard (like this one) so you might be able to find one that will work, or use a small non-folding bluetooth keyboard. Depending on how much you are planning to use it, you might be able to stash it in the center console lid and make it flip down from the lid when needed.

This is a lot of good info thanks! Especially the dimensions and the ideas about the power.

 

[Bud92gsx]

What tablets can run ecmlink? I assume its gotta be fast enough not to crash programs.Nice tablets can be bought for under 200$.If there was a plug and play adapter, Who knows how many folks would buy a tablet just for their dsm.
Rather than a 50$ tuning laptop.Its got dual purposes..Plus how Fetch is it to use a tablet,on your car.

 

[smills1840]

go to mp3car.com and read through build threads. There are tons and tons of people that put tablets in their cars. If you have basic fabrication skills it shouldn't be hard at all.

 

[AngelOfPassion]

What tablets can run ecmlink? I assume its gotta be fast enough not to crash programs.Nice tablets can be bought for under 200$.If there was a plug and play adapter, Who knows how many folks would buy a tablet just for their dsm.
Rather than a 50$ tuning laptop.Its got dual purposes..Plus how Fetch is it to use a tablet,on your car.

Any Windows 7 or Windows 8 tablet that is not an "RT" version. It needs to be actual Windows not the mobile version that can only install apps. Then you just need to install ECMlink and you are good to go. It's basically a laptop with no keyboard and a touchscreen... not a tablet in the traditional sense. Although the Windows Surface Pro 2 does have a detachable keyboard...

go to mp3car.com and read through build threads. There are tons and tons of people that put tablets in their cars. If you have basic fabrication skills it shouldn't be hard at all.

Some great stuff in there! Also gives me an idea that you can fit a really small computer in the glove box and just run it to a 7" monitor in the dashboard... I could also mount a small computer behind the drivers seat but that would take a longer monitor cable to get up to the front of the dash...

Any idea how these guys get them to turn on and off?

This part is stumping me at the moment. I would like to know a really easy way that the computer could just turn on when the car does... It would be nice if it just automatically launched ECMlink as well and went straight to the stream. That may be overdoing it though haha.

 

[smills1840]

Research an app called "tasker". Among thousands of other things, you can make it turn the screen on when the charger is plugged in, and turn off when the charger is unplugged. So you would hook the charger up to a switched source in the car, and when you turn the car on it will turn the screen on.

 

[AngelOfPassion]

Research an app called "tasker". Among thousands of other things, you can make it turn the screen on when the charger is plugged in, and turn off when the charger is unplugged. So you would hook the charger up to a switched source in the car, and when you turn the car on it will turn the screen on.

Looks like that wouldn't work for actually powering on and off. And also, since we are sticking with a Windows based platform I wouldn't be able to use an Android app...

 

[smills1840]

Good point. I completely forgot we were taking about Windows. If you're pretty skilled with electronics and soldering, you could open up the tablet and solder leads to the power switch and then mount one externally somewhere in the car.

 

[CanadianTalonTC]

Custom Car PC l Car PCs and Custom Gaming Computers

 

[grothe3297venge]

Custom Car PC l Car PCs and Custom Gaming Computers

Wow..have officially seen it all . Only thing I dislike is no radio option but I don't think the OP cares about that! Good find!

Edit - nevermind, says you can add an FM radio module. May need to save my pennies now!

 

[AngelOfPassion]

Custom Car PC l Car PCs and Custom Gaming Computers

Well that makes this job a lot easier...

Other than those being $1000+ that is a great find!

 

[smills1840]

That was going to be my next suggestion. If you do a car PC, your options are almost endless.

 

[AngelOfPassion]

How deep is our double din? 8 3/4"?

 

[CanadianTalonTC]

How deep is our double din? 8 3/4"?

Not sure of exact but it's deep.

As for price, for the money I would say they are more than comparable to other options for head units given what they are capable of. I want one for in car tuning.

Joel

 

[91-GS]

Radios vary in depth, but there is probably close to 8 inches there to accommodate the radio and the wiring.
Example sizes (off Jaguar forums):

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As far as running a program as soon as computer turns on, here is how it's done.
Could also use "Task Scheduler" if you want to run something at a certain time.

Some Microsoft keyboards' driver has a simple way to create macros (or basically keyboard-based shortcuts that emulate a combination of buttons being pressed). Knowing that you can dis-assemble such a keyboard and use it's 'brain' to make up a small control panel with just a few buttons that will allow you to have an easy access to various parts of the program. A sample of a keyboard mod can be seen here. Lemme know if you want more info about that.