Carputer Install V1.0

[g33k]

Hi Guys,

Its officially begun, my CarPuter install. My PC is now waiting in customs for clearance on Monday.

The cables have been run and the only thing left is connecting the power.

To keep you all occupied until i get it next week and finish it up, here are the specs:

Custom Built PC, imported from US. (www.mo-co-so.com)

Processor ATOM 330 1.6GHz Dual Core 8 Watt CPU with 1Mb L2 cache 533MHz FSB

Graphics Intel GMA 950

Audio Realtek ALC662 High Definition audio codec + Composite/RCA Line Outputs

USB 6x USB 2.0

LAN 1x 10/100/1000 Mbps

Rear Panel I/O 2x Ps2 for mouse and keyboard

1x VGA

1x 7 pin S-Video

1x 10/100/1000 LAN

1x RS 232 COM

1x Parallel Port

6x USB 2.0 ports

3x Audio: Line in, Line out, and Mic in

Composite/RCA Line Outputs

Monitoring and Management Power Management (Supports S3 standby)

Hard Drive 2.5" 320Gb SATA II

Memory 1Gb PC5300/667MHz

M2-ATX Smart Power Supply Connects directly to the battery,Voltage regulation,Automatic Start-up

USB DVD Combo Drive

Built-in Bluetooth-Exclusive Feature Internal V1.1/1.2 Vista Compatible,

I've also purchased a 7 inch touch screen that fits in the center console cubby. (www.esaw.co.uk)

Its removable so that the cubby can be closed and screen tucked away.

At this stage ill be running Windows XP/Centrafuse with a OBDII cable to read engine codes.

It also has WiFi, GPS, Internet and HDTV.

It will be incorporated into the Immobilizer to send me GPS stats everytime it turns on.

If anyone wants pics of anything in particular, let me know, because after it's together, its not coming apart ;-)

Edited March 14, 2009 by g33k

[ogz007]

Dayemmm... please tell us how much are you spending on this mate, keep people interested!

oh any photo of you system at all? im really interested of seeing the mouse and keyboard.. lol.

[Chris Rogers]

Hi Guys,

Its officially begun, my CarPuter install. My PC is now waiting in customs for clearance on Monday.

The cables have been run and the only thing left is connecting the power.

To keep you all occupied until i get it next week and finish it up, here are the specs:

Custom Built PC, imported from US. (www.mo-co-so.com)

Processor ATOM 330 1.6GHz Dual Core 8 Watt CPU with 1Mb L2 cache 533MHz FSB

Graphics Intel GMA 950

Audio Realtek ALC662 High Definition audio codec + Composite/RCA Line Outputs

USB 6x USB 2.0

LAN 1x 10/100/1000 Mbps

Rear Panel I/O 2x Ps2 for mouse and keyboard

1x VGA

1x 7 pin S-Video

1x 10/100/1000 LAN

1x RS 232 COM

1x Parallel Port

6x USB 2.0 ports

3x Audio: Line in, Line out, and Mic in

Composite/RCA Line Outputs

Monitoring and Management Power Management (Supports S3 standby)

Hard Drive 2.5" 320Gb SATA II

Memory 1Gb PC5300/667MHz

M2-ATX Smart Power Supply Connects directly to the battery,Voltage regulation,Automatic Start-up

USB DVD Combo Drive

Built-in Bluetooth-Exclusive Feature Internal V1.1/1.2 Vista Compatible,

I've also purchased a 7 inch touch screen that fits in the center console cubby. (www.esaw.co.uk)

Its removable so that the cubby can be closed and screen tucked away.

At this stage ill be running Windows XP/Centrafuse with a OBDII cable to read engine codes.

It also has WiFi, GPS, Internet and HDTV.

It will be incorporated into the Immobilizer to send me GPS stats everytime it turns on.

If anyone wants pics of anything in particular, let me know, because after it's together, its not coming apart ;-)

on your AUX in idea. configure an output on that thing to go -ve when it wants the audio. also configure another output to go -ve when the navi wants to talk. I'll do the rest on this end. otherwise its going to be done the way we originally discussed.

not bad. I know a guy in brisbane that uses those on buses. he also has the screens.

Edited March 14, 2009 by Chris Rogers

[g33k]

on your AUX in idea. configure an output on that thing to go -ve when it wants the audio. also configure another output to go -ve when the navi wants to talk. I'll do the rest on this end. otherwise its going to be done the way we originally discussed.

not bad. I know a guy in brisbane that uses those on buses. he also has the screens.

Thanks for the tip, but a friend of mine in the US (same one that was getting rid of that center console before) has advised that i can simply bluetooth to the PC, the software will do the audio dimming when a call comes in...i just need a standard PC mic mounted to the dash! =)

Don't know where this forum would be without Chris's technical mind!

Now if i can just rummage the cash for the Plenum i can can get all the remaining bits..

[g33k]

Various photos fellas =)

[Chris Rogers]

tell me that there is a fuse on that 8AWG cable... also that will leak. pull the harness apart.

[g33k]

tell me that there is a fuse on that 8AWG cable... also that will leak. pull the harness apart.

I've got a 20amp fuse, its actually 12AWG =) - i'll splice the wire a little later.... got a bit lazy

I plan to fill the hole with silicon gel, make sure its sealed! - For now, its under a car cover, so no biggie =)

Appreciate the words of caution!

[g33k]

Hi guys, quick update to let you know the PC arrived, i've attached a photo of it de-boxed.

Sadly, with the daylight i had, only had time to get the positive and negative wires going, with a quick test to make sure its booting.

More pics hopefully tomorrow, if its nice and sunny =)

[n15m0]

Very cool! So which mobile network are you gonna use for your Internet? I'm assuming you will have some form of mobile broadband in your carputer?

[g33k]

Very cool! So which mobile network are you gonna use for your Internet? I'm assuming you will have some form of mobile broadband in your carputer?

n15m0 - Internet will be using a Optus Wireless USB Stick, 3g (New ones)

I have this provided to me by work, and works well in most areas.

So it will be connected during my daily commute

[rs73]

Hi guys, quick update to let you know the PC arrived, i've attached a photo of it de-boxed.

Sadly, with the daylight i had, only had time to get the positive and negative wires going, with a quick test to make sure its booting.

More pics hopefully tomorrow, if its nice and sunny =)

I hope you dont' get a blue screen of death LOL....

just curious what OS it's running? XP? Linux?

[mosoto]

I hope you dont' get a blue screen of death LOL....

just curious what OS it's running? XP? Linux?

BSOD is inevitable with carPC, I've never heard of one thats been set & forget, always something stuffin up............

OS would be a stripped down version of XP. Windows 7 may be a good option too look into but you'd have to check compatibility with Centrafuse and other proggys you want to run on it.

[g33k]

just curious what OS it's running? XP? Linux?

Windows XP my friend =) - More compatibility with drivers etc.

BSOD is inevitable with carPC, I've never heard of one thats been set & forget, always something stuffin up............

OS would be a stripped down version of XP. Windows 7 may be a good option too look into but you'd have to check compatibility with Centrafuse and other proggys you want to run on it.

Tru.Dat = XP/ Windows 7 in the future if they sort out the drivers.

Centrafuse Navi is def getting loaded.

[Chris Rogers]

I'm looking at linux myself. have BSOD now with my van PC and it shits me.

[g33k]

I'm looking at linux myself. have BSOD now with my van PC and it shits me.

Hey Chris, is your VanPC using any sort of power regulator to ensure the voltage coming into the PC?

I used to have BSOD back in the day it turned out to be the power not filtering correctly.

I'd move to Linux too, but query weather its a software related BSOD or Hardware.....

Cheers =)

[g33k]

Sorry for the delay guys, hit some snags with the OBDII connection and GPS...

I've just got the GPS sorted (1:30am FINALLY)

Didn't have time for many photos, but here is one of XP Install and Windows XP Welcome Movie - more to come tomorrow as i need the car for friday night!

*fingers crossed i can get the OBDII working by then* =(

[Nightcrawler]

Looks good so far.

I am looking at doing the same thing in my V35, but a tiny bit differently.

A few questions (for Chris as well).

1). I am looking at using an Acer Aspire 10.1" lappie stored in my glovebox. I am going to connect this to a Lilliput style touch screen possibly in a similar position to you have, and have it plugged into the ODBII so I can use Nissan Datascan for gauges. So my question is, are car power supply laptop adapters reliable enough to charge and maintain my laptop, and is there software available so that when the laptop gets to X% power left in the battery it will automatically shut down? My hope is that the car battery on accessories will power/charge the laptop, and the laptop will stay on and run on its own batteries when I get out of the car (I get in and out of the car for 15 minute periods many times a day), but when the laptop battery reaches say 30% battery left, it will shut down (so I can turn it on again if I need to without car power).

2). What issues are you having with the ODBII? I am looking at buying the Blazt setup http://www.blazt.biz/products/obdii.php - looks good to me - is there a better option?

3). What brand/model number is your cruise control, and how much did it cost? My auto elec/stereo guy hasn't done cruise on a V35 yet and is having a bit of trouble tracking down a decent unit compatible with drive-by-wire.

Also, maybe of interest to you guys, is the fact that I am strongly contemplating moving the factory climate unit up to a custom made fibreglass mount where my current empty monitor slot is (I will get the compact climate version that is not integrated with the Bose/stereo), and dremelling the stock fascia to mount a dual din Lilliput screen where the factory climate and half of the original stereo potition, and then mount my JVC AVX-810 dual din DVD unit/all-in-one below it where the bottom half of the factory stereo was and where the ashtray and hazard light switch currently are. I have attached a very crude mock-up of what I mean. What do you guys think of that?

[Chris Rogers]

Also, maybe of interest to you guys, is the fact that I am strongly contemplating moving the factory climate unit up to a custom made fibreglass mount where my current empty monitor slot is (I will get the compact climate version that is not integrated with the Bose/stereo), and dremelling the stock fascia to mount a dual din Lilliput screen where the factory climate and half of the original stereo potition, and then mount my JVC AVX-810 dual din DVD unit/all-in-one below it where the bottom half of the factory stereo was and where the ashtray and hazard light switch currently are. I have attached a very crude mock-up of what I mean. What do you guys think of that?

may want to check depth on that idea.

[mosoto]

Also, maybe of interest to you guys, is the fact that I am strongly contemplating moving the factory climate unit up to a custom made fibreglass mount where my current empty monitor slot is (I will get the compact climate version that is not integrated with the Bose/stereo), and dremelling the stock fascia to mount a dual din Lilliput screen where the factory climate and half of the original stereo potition, and then mount my JVC AVX-810 dual din DVD unit/all-in-one below it where the bottom half of the factory stereo was and where the ashtray and hazard light switch currently are. I have attached a very crude mock-up of what I mean. What do you guys think of that?

May I suggest you just get a larger 16:9 screen and rotate it 90º. Your PC will have a dvd player, you dont need the JVC.

you can also get A/C controllers for the PC, if you want to venture that far, but not necessary if you instal as per your mock up.

[g33k]

may want to check depth on that idea.

+1 id really like to see how the width is going to fit there... i had bearly enough room to run my OBDII cables etc. through.

Good luck on the idea though, looks good.

Oh, and Chris can help you with Cruise Control - mine came with the car so can't provide much more info.

Edited July 12, 2009 by g33k