My problem: I want gps but the add on to my flip screen is around 2 grand. Then i heard about car computers and did some research, here is what i found out.

From what i read every is saying you can use around a 1 ghz, 512 ram reason being cuz your not doing alot of stuff at once. Goal is to have low power stuff so lots of ppl recommend laptop hard drives and cd drives because they dont need alot of power This way is to have everything run from your computer and not a head unit


Software
here is a very nice opensource front end software to use gps, video, mp3, uses winamp has many skins.

http://www.rrdownloads.net/
http://guino.home.insightbb.com/roadrunner.html


Screens
good brands are Lilliput, and Xenarc. There are alot of off brands but these are the 2 main ones that i see


Boot Hack
Minlogin is a hack that will allow you to have boot up times of around 10+ seconds. link for a package with everything u need http://test.crimsonstain.net/EWF.zip


gps application
Very nice gps application - that you need so a front end application like road runner can use to have gps

http://www.inavcorp.com/products/iguidance21.html


power supply
if i read correct cars are 14.4ish volts and computer need a steady 12 volts these help make sure you have a constent 12 volts. Here is an example of a power supply / shutdown controller in one http://www.mp3car.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=171 you can also change the timing if you wish


Speakers
you need some type of STEREO miniplug to RCA adaptor cable to hook your amps up to some onboard sound card off your motherboard you need a special wire. RCA line level outs to hook up an amp too make sure the small plug has 3 sections of metal on the end, you will find other that have 2 sections - these are MONO adaptors and you want stereo!



Shutdown/Startup Controllers
you kill the ignition the m2 sends a shutdown signal to the mobo 5 seconds after you take the key out. Then after 10 minutes it shuts it completly down this helps so you don't drain ur battery, could make it standby but then it will eat your battery


Antenna
an all in one antenna for mostly all your needs http://www.mp3car.com/store/index.php?cPath=49


Phone Calls
One way to allow your computer to handle your phone calls is using something like this http://zhorvat.dyndns.org/private/CarPC/default.aspx


Internet
Haven't got tomuch into this but basicly i believe you hook your bluetooth phone up to the computer and use its internet server to get internet to your computer.



I am no way an expert but just researched and this is what my understanding is.

Good write up. For everyone else visit carputer.com or mp3car.com




I was happy when I heard my car ran 10s. Then I found out that was 0-60.

Here is the set up i plan on for my car..

from my understanding power inverters gives off dirty signels which are bad for computers..

i have a few web sites on my home computer that make and sell mini computers for office use and alos for car use. ill post them when i get home.

WTF is all that stuff. go to the panisonic web site and take a look at there systems, they have a GPS antina you mount on a flat surfase on top of your car. hook that up the the hidaway unit, the from the hide away unit you go to the touch screen, then from the touch screen you go to anyother screens you install. and find your VSS wire (Veichle Speed Sensor) and hook up the VSS wire from the hide away unit to that. or you could get the kenwood, eclips, etc. there all the same. and it hooks up to the factory wiring for the deck. i do these all the time. any GOOD gps system will come with directions, and the install shouldnt take more then about 2-3 hrs. it only takes me to install a touch screen with gps and satalite radio in about 4 hours. and it will all cost about 2 large off ebay. thats were i my boss got his deck, and it came complete, and there is no need for added grounds, or any of that stuff. it attaches right to your factory stereo harness. no need for the computer, the power converter. the battery, none of that. if you have a double DIN deck, then you can get a GPS Touch Screen DVD player, with sat radio (an eclipes of kenwood no less) from the states for less then 2 large shipped to your door. and its really easy to install. some of them will only have 3 parts, the GPS antina, sat radio antina, and the head unit it self. no need for all that stuff. or take it to Evolution Audio in edmonton, and i will perosnally do it for you.

Travis Nobert
Travis Enterprise
Come on down to Evolution Audio in Edmonton Alberta, and I can HOOK YOU UP.

Topsub wrote:from my understanding power inverters gives off dirty signels which are bad for computers..

Power inverters (well the cheap ass ones like mine) output a modified sine wave and can have noise in the line as well. But guess what, The UPS has one of these cheap inverters inside it it uses it when it runs off it's battery. If you have a good power supply ( I plan on using a PC Power and Cooling PS not one that comes with that $20 case you found on Pricewatch.) you'll be fine. It's all about what your power supply does with what it gets.

get a laptop... use gps on there plug it in to an AUX input on your deck close the laptop put it under your seat or whatever get a wireless keyboard if you want and your set??

I reccomend iGuidance as software for GPS, the only thing that was a bit out of date with it was the POI database.

Also Thomas: why not use a DC-DC converter for that setup? the VIA EPIA boards dont take that much power. i use the MTX smart power supply that Topsub has a link to and it worked fine. I was running a VIA EPIA 12000 board.

Yes iGuidance is a highly recommend application to use with your gps

Listening



New Picture comming this summer.

wow brought back from the dead

Travis N wrote:WTF is all that stuff. go to the panisonic web site and take a look at there systems, they have a GPS antina you mount on a flat surfase on top of your car. hook that up the the hidaway unit, the from the hide away unit you go to the touch screen, then from the touch screen you go to anyother screens you install. and find your VSS wire (Veichle Speed Sensor) and hook up the VSS wire from the hide away unit to that. or you could get the kenwood, eclips, etc. there all the same. and it hooks up to the factory wiring for the deck. i do these all the time. any GOOD gps system will come with directions, and the install shouldnt take more then about 2-3 hrs. it only takes me to install a touch screen with gps and satalite radio in about 4 hours. and it will all cost about 2 large off ebay. thats were i my boss got his deck, and it came complete, and there is no need for added grounds, or any of that stuff. it attaches right to your factory stereo harness. no need for the computer, the power converter. the battery, none of that. if you have a double DIN deck, then you can get a GPS Touch Screen DVD player, with sat radio (an eclipes of kenwood no less) from the states for less then 2 large shipped to your door. and its really easy to install. some of them will only have 3 parts, the GPS antina, sat radio antina, and the head unit it self. no need for all that stuff. or take it to Evolution Audio in edmonton, and i will perosnally do it for you.

Those units are great, but if you can do it at half the price another way, and be just as good, why would I do that? It's all about competition, and know how. If you know how to stick a carputer in the car, then go for it. It's definitely worth it.



Vice President - NEJBody
2007 Cobalt SS
2001 Sunfire (retired)

Bringin back from dead. I am buying my stuff prbly today.. the touch screen, gps, power converter sirus hook up.

Now to strip the old computer down

bump



New Picture comming this summer.

That was the most retarded bump in all of eternity.

that is what i was hoping for lol.




New Picture comming this summer.