[steve500]

Newly edited with photos on the first post.

Okay, I've already built one in my rodeo here Isuzu Rodeo 2001 with Asus Eee Box - MP3Car.com Had one in 97 rodeo also, no photos or logs of that one though, bummer.


It's the frontier's turn now.

I've got the following parts installed:

• -Acer Asipire One 8.9" 1.6ghz Netbook with the GMA950 Graphics Controller
  Now using a Net Top. Asus B202 with same specs.
• -Lilliput 840x480 LCD with LED backlighting @ 450nit Brightness (resistive touch screen, not capacitive)
• -SIRFF III USB GPS Antenna
• -License for Centrafuse 3.5 Front end media system software - Centrafuse | A Whole New Way
• -Another Bluetooth OBD2 interface (didn't want to remove the rodeo's)
• -Destinator GPS engine software
• -Arduino programmable board for controlling RGB ambient lights, turning on and off component's relays in/outside the truck, tap into temperature sensors, also could be used to be programmed to run the HVAC system.
• -12V to 19V programmable switching power supply from mini-box.com
• -JoyCon human interface for resistive button inputs, used for the factory steering wheel controls.
• -MJS Gadgets Sirius to USB interface for the SC-S1 tuner.
• USB OBDII interface for Centrafuse engine Diagostics and sensor read-outs.

Almost to $600 ... just the LCD was brand new, and then I felt like I should go legal and pay for software licenses this time too. This includes most audio hardware too.

The computer audio output goes directly to a 4channel 400w AutoTek amp driving the mids and highs that is mounted under the passenger seat, low levels from that amp onto the subwoofer amp behind the rear seat. Volume of intputs and outputs and equalization is all controlled through the computer.

The system entirely wakes it self up and puts it self to sleep depending on ignition status. If the battery goes low while jamming out in "accessories" mode, the computer will sleep and amps will shut off until voltage is backup/engine started.

Computer installed behind the HVAC controls.

Steering wheel controls converted to USB.

Replacing stock RF amp with the Autotek amp.

These are all older photos, I'll have some new ones soon of the actual GUI interface I'm working on and and maybe some photos of the computer and wire routing, I'll post some videos of how the steering wheel controls work, I now have extra functions that dim/brighten the screen when holding down "mode" button on the steering wheel, etc.. maybe I'll even post some videos.

-steve

 

[ToddG]

Cool, them I'm coming to your house so you can put one in my truck, okay?
Can't wait to see the pictures.

 

[steve500]

Well, for putting my thread in the right spot cause I can be a big idiot sometimes and for all that you do on this forum for everyone, Sure!

 

[ToddG]

Well, for putting my thread in the right spot cause I can be a big idiot sometimes and for all that you do on this forum for everyone, Sure!

That would be one hell of a drive from here to Utah for an install. lol

 

[steve500]

That would be one hell of a drive from here to Utah for an install. lol

hah! yeah no kidding eh ? you pay for parts!

.. but utah does have a lot of sweet wheelin' places ... especially right where I am, the whole san rafael desert is one gigantuous playground for 4x4'ers.. although some of the best stuff is currently in a fight with the treehuggers.

 

[SQnismo]

that sounds nice.
and you may be hearing from me again. i have an Acer Aspire L100 mini desktop i want to put in my truck soon. it like 2.2ghz dual AMD processsor and 64bit vista. should be plenty fast enough for my truck. lol

been trying to find a good flip out monater and still use my Eclipse HU for radio and CDs. mainly just want cpu for GPS and storing music.

 

[Mylt1]

cheater. you used a netbook. LOL. one of these days i will get stuff laid out to do an install. have done a couple of carputer installs for different friends but never for myself.

that sounds nice.
and you may be hearing from me again. i have an Acer Aspire L100 mini desktop i want to put in my truck soon. it like 2.2ghz dual AMD processsor and 64bit vista. should be plenty fast enough for my truck. lol

been trying to find a good flip out monater and still use my Eclipse HU for radio and CDs. mainly just want cpu for GPS and storing music.

get a smartphone. no need to go through the hassle if GPS and MP3's are all you want it for. my HTC Touch Pro does that and more for a LOT less than money and hassle then a carputer.

 

[something else]

are you using a solid state hard drive, or a traditional?

 

[SQnismo]

get a smartphone. no need to go through the hassle if GPS and MP3's are all you want it for. my HTC Touch Pro does that and more for a LOT less than money and hassle then a carputer.

i have a BlackBerry now. the GPS is not accurate at all. and i can only get a 4gb memory card to store music. i have not found a GPS that is as good as what i have on my laptop. i need atleast 50GB to store all my music. and i WILL NEVER get an ipod.
plus i can watch DVDs, rip music from friends if i borrow a cd, surf the web in my truck while waiting on classes to start. and the OBDII program avalible.

 

[steve500]

are you using a solid state hard drive, or a traditional?

Traditional hard drive, I've had a traditional 80gb 2.5" SATA in my rodeo for over two years, even through thrashing in moab and jumping train tracks, absolutely no problems at all. Even in super cold weather, it does okay. I ordered a 160GB drive for the frontier, found one with the most wide temperature tolerance, $45.. If I do for some reason have issues, going to an SSD will be the ticket.

Mylt1 - "cheater. you used a netbook. LOL."

Netbook? Cheater? haha, oh sheesh... yeah probably cheating but damn, nobody makes the rules ... Runs on DC, no conversions required at all, has good cooling already built in, bluetooth, wifi, power managing, backup battery, solid build, fast enough processor, great enough video processor, damn small, etc...

Mylt1 - "get a smartphone. no need to go through the hassle if GPS and MP3's are all you want it for."

Yeah, i've had too many smartphones, iphone 3G for a year, Palm Pre for a few months, and now the HTC Eris, pretty much the same performance and OS as every other android phone out there except the new 1ghz snapdragon based Nexus... it does a hell of a long, many many apps out there for everything you'd need out on the road, 3D compass's, tons of gps software, tacky mp3 player app, slow performance... after switching thru a few apps its just not fast enough for what i'd like to be permanent in the truck.. and Until Fluxmedia begins to make Cenrafuse for Andoid OS ... I'd be allover using a custom built android/chromium based system... 60GB of music, a seemless touch screen GUI software (centrafuse or roadrunner), incredibly customizable OBDII diag's, controlling ambient interior RGB LED lights, turning on and off components like roof lights, etc, etc, etc ,etc ,etc... and more and more and more... is too much for a smartphone. It's nice to just have it built into the truck permanently, powered by the truck, fast response, and doing only what I want it to do.. is very cool. I donno, whatever floats their boat though.. some people are happy with an ipod or their smartphone in their car with an FM transmitter or plugged into their auxiliary input and that's awesome enough Right now I'm trying to fix up an interface to control Centrafuse's media library via my phone through the web browser, allowing me to pass the phone around the truck and let others in the back seat or from outside the truck when camping, tailgate party'n to browse artists/albums and control the playback.

anyways, starting tomorrow! i'll be posting pics

Until then, check out: Nissan Pathfinder R51 - Car PC, Keyboard in Sunvisor, ... a lot of pics - MP3Car.com - He used a micro-ATX motherboard based desktop computer.

 

[Mylt1]

i have a BlackBerry now. the GPS is not accurate at all. and i can only get a 4gb memory card to store music. i have not found a GPS that is as good as what i have on my laptop. i need atleast 50GB to store all my music. and i WILL NEVER get an ipod.
plus i can watch DVDs, rip music from friends if i borrow a cd, surf the web in my truck while waiting on classes to start. and the OBDII program avalible.

the Touch Pro will handle up to a 32gig card but the size of the cards means you could carry 5 or 6 cards and never know it. i would imagine the GPS is off because its using AGPS and not true GPS like the Touch Pro. i can get down to under 20ft accurate. i can surf the web, watch movies and even do it all on a larger screen with the included adapter and an ipod video cable. it will even work with the bluetooth OBDII plugs. cant rip CD's but there are torrent programs that can be used on the phone and using the data on the phone download any song you want. along with XM radio or sirius radio via the data if you have that as an option on your account. its not the end all be all of a PC but it does a lot more than most would think.

 

[steve500]

the Touch Pro will handle up to a 32gig card but the size of the cards means you could carry 5 or 6 cards and never know it. i would imagine the GPS is off because its using AGPS and not true GPS like the Touch Pro. i can get down to under 20ft accurate. i can surf the web, watch movies and even do it all on a larger screen with the included adapter and an ipod video cable. it will even work with the bluetooth OBDII plugs. cant rip CD's but there are torrent programs that can be used on the phone and using the data on the phone download any song you want. along with XM radio or sirius radio via the data if you have that as an option on your account. its not the end all be all of a PC but it does a lot more than most would think.

Most all HTC Android's have the same exact specs, same chipset, whether it's a GSM or CDMA model. The GPS in my Eris is dead on within 6ft, thats what GPSTracker tells me at least. Yes, like all HTC android's (excluding the almighty Nexus with 2.1 os and snapdragon chipset) the eris supports up to 32gb also... that's the biggest you can buy for a reasonable price, lol.. Windows mobile is too tedious to work with for me, too clunky, etc.. I've had 3 pocket PC's and since then not too much great software has been developed for windows mobile/windows CE... cool OBD software is available for it though, OBD software is on the way for android thru bluetooth ELM327 interfaces, developer is on mp3car.com.

In this thread's case, we're talking car PC's though, no windows-mobile/android/smartphone based anything... Just computers running front-end media/nav/diag/switch system software for cars.

 

[SQnismo]

what would i need to power my acer? its 19v DC. probably the same power supply you using?
and how is the turning on and off handled? do i need to power on and off every time i get in my truck

 

[steve500]

what would i need to power my acer? its 19v DC. probably the same power supply you using?
and how is the turning on and off handled? do i need to power on and off every time i get in my truck

You can hardwire one of THESE (being as you are using a laptop, wiring a relay connected to the ACC+ in the truck to the hinge sensor on the LCD of the laptop is your power on/off/awake/asleep controller, easy!): UNIVERSAL Laptop/Notebook DC CAR Charger Adapter Power - eBay (item 360120875981 end time Jan-26-10 17:01:04 PST)

Or you can wire one of these to POWER your laptop AND control your laptop's power on/off awake/asleep state depending on ACC status in the truck, you just have to solder wires to the power button on the motherboard of the laptop for that power supply to control your laptop: Intelligent DC-DC Converter with USB Interface

 

[SQnismo]

well its not a laptop its a mini desktop
Acer Aspire L100 Athlon 64 X2 3600+ 1GB 250GB DVD±RW Vista ASL100-UD360A

so i guess i would need the second one right

 

[Mylt1]

you could use an inverter but there is also 12v PC power supplies. check over at mp3car.

 

[steve500]

you could use an inverter but there is also 12v PC power supplies. check over at mp3car.

Yeah, an inverter is extremely inefficient and inverters digitally create a 60hz Sine wave to make the 110v outlet on it more true, that sine wave makes it's way backwords through the DC power in your truck and causes extreme buzzzzzzzzzzzzing in your audio system and visual interference in your LCD in the end. So, CARNETIX P1900 12v-12v/5v DC/DC ATX power supply( I think p1900 is the ATX, i donno, check http://carnetix.com/CNXP1900.htm) just might be your best option... or go dump a little over $100 for a netbook with a broken LCD with at least a 1.6ghz atom and GMA950 video processor

 

[Mylt1]

it all depends on the inverter. some of the cheap ones can cause issues but the middle grade ones works just fine and will also provide you with an extra power supply for charging things or even running other items while on the road. OH, and the newer inverters are NOT "extremely inefficient". most are 92% or better efficient, some are even up to 98% but you pay for that. i have used both inverters and the DC-DC converters with good results with both. i think it all comes down to personal preference.

 

[steve500]

i think it all comes down to personal preference.

truuue to that

 

[steve500]

Soldering power control wires to the motherboard...

Installed the EBY701 LCD in the bybyte.com double-din frame kit

Wiring up the RCA inputs to tap into the factory rockford fosgate amplifier and wiring up power supplies for the computer and LCD display, installed the computer behind the hvac climate controls.

Getting the LCD installed and lined up with the dash trim...

Sorry for the horrible pictures, I was in a darkish garage without my SLR. I'll have some finished product pictures soon