It's been in my sig for while but now I finally have gotten the parts together to finish what I started. I am currently building up a complete system that will drop into the double din dash including the computer itself. (The old system was located in the subwoofer box in my trunk). Anyway, here are some pictures of what I'm working on.

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/adamis/ls....src=ph&.view=

 

I'm kinda anxious to see how this is gonna work out for you. I've been using my handy-dandy Garmin E-trex for my GPS work, and have flirted with the idea of integrating it into some kind of system in the car. Keep all informed as it comes along (and it DOES look like it's coming along...)

 

How do you manage input into the computer? Ie, is the lcd a touchscreen? Do you have a RF wireless mouse & keyboard? What software do you plan on running on it? What about radio & cd playback?

 

Input is done using the X10 Mouseremote which is RF, keyboard I haven't purchased yet but it will be a mini wireless keyboard. After much consideration of a touch screen I decided against it because of both cost and the fact that it would get finger prints all over the screen every time I touched it. In reality the remote works really well, in fact better then I would have imagined. It's just like using a remote for you TV to change a channel or using the buttons on the TV itself. With the remote I can do most of my commands without even looking at the screen which is better for driving.

Although I have seen several shells for this stuff I just use the basic task manager of win2k. I have the mouse remote to Alt-Tab between programs and usually only leave Wimamp and Streets 98 running. Other programs I start as needed.

Radio playback is done using D-Link's USB Fm radio. I haven't completly finished this setup but it is good for around town stuff. However are listening to static free, commerical free MP3's I hardly ever use the FM radio. Unfortunatly there is no AM soluction for this platform yet, which is something I sorely miss.

I initially was going to have a slot loading DVD included in the case, but I got lazy because I didn't want to tear my LCD apart to put it in the case piecewise so as to make room for the DVD drive. The motherboard supports USB 2.0 so I will probably be fitting the slot loading DVD drive where the coin holder is if I can get it in there.

Any more questions, by the way, the system is up and running right now. I'm doing the software install as I type. I just need a few more parts before I can finish the intergration into the car.

 

Sounds interesting, but one thing I'd like to see is the ability to use and 802.11x wireless (preferably g but b would work) to push files into the units HD.

Was that a 3.5" disk or 2.5" disk? I only ask because I have a MASSIVE MP3 collection (currently about 300 GB or 40K songs) and REALLY enjoy just setting it to random play at home. I'd like to take MOST of it with me and enjoy the same feature. The largest 2.5" I've seen was 80gb while the largest 3.5" I've seen is 320 or so.

Just some observations....

Looks sweet though....

 

Yup, it is only a 2.5 harddrive. I originally was going to use a 3.5 harddrive but I didn't want to have to figure out how to regulate the 12v rail on the power supply. In it's current design the 12v passes through the power supply and on to the electronics. The company that makes these things is only about 20 minutes from here so when I went to talk to pick up my power supply I asked them and they said they are building a regulator for the 12v rail and that it would be out in a while.

In the meantime the solution was just to not use any 12v devices and not worry about it. The laptop drive I'm using is only 4gb since it was the only thing I had hanging around so it gets really cramped but it covers my music needs (I don't use Kazaa, I only rip my own music).

As for 802.11 it is entirely possible and I have even considered it, I just have to find money first....

 

check out dashpc.com ....has some interesting concepts there..

 

how much has this cost you?

 

so is the mb custom or is it just micro atx

 

Cool, look forward to seeing some pics when it's done.

I've had a car comp in my Max for about three years now, the computer is in the trunk with a display up front. Just this week I decided to upgrade it a bit. Previously I've been using IR remote (works great, Winamp and CoPilot for GPS navigation.. CoPilot rocks!).. and my screen is mounted off a stand on the dash.

Now I'm switching to a slightly larger display (7" widescreen) that folds away in-dash (1 DIN slot) when not in use. Yay, I'll have my cupholders back! (got some better ones ebay). Also doing the touchscreen, because I got tired of having to pull the keyboard out from under the seat to type in addresses in CoPilot.. which is basically all I've ever used the keyboard for. So with the touchscreen I'll be able to use CoPilot's on-screen keyboard..

Also adding a 'PowerMate', www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate/ which I'm gonna use for volume and to scroll through the playlist, so I don't have to pickup my remote to adjust the volume.

I use a DC-DC powersupply with a custom shutdown controller.. hmm.. I don't have any radio.. I hate radio.. use a 2.5" laptop HD (much better shock/vibration tolerance than desktop drives).. line-out from the computer goes directly to my amp in the trunk. No head unit at all.

adamis, what kind of powersupply are you using that you have such limited regulated 12v access? just curious.

 

Are you maxima of doom that's been on the mp3car forums?

Since I don't have Co-Pilot (to expensive) I don't really use my keyboard very often. With my old setup it was in the trunk for a couple of reasons so I never used it. The new setup I hope to get a wireless mini usb keyboard, they still cost a bundle so it will be a while before I get that.

I'm using the pw70 power supply sold by mini-box, a company that happens to be just 20 minutes from my apartment (just about any technology company is withen 20 minutes of me since I live in silicon valley). Anyway, it works perfectly for what I need and it was only 50 bucks. I don't have a shut down controller since I don't mind pressing the button. I'm going to be using Suspend to Ram on this setup so bootup will be almost instantaneous.

How much did you pay for co-pilot? Everyone I have heard has said it is definitly the way to go if you can afford it. I'm making with Streets98 which is ok but since my screen is only composit video most of the street names are unreadable. The streets are clear though so it works for having an idea of where I am.

 

Hehe no I'm not maxima of doom, but I've seen him and his car on the mp3car forums.

CoPilot is pretty expensive and to top it off, the GPS that comes with it isn't that great. I mean, if it's what you've got, it'll do fine.. but it loses lock in trees.. whereas my Garmin GPS35 can keep a lock when it's inside my metal trunk. I have it installed in my rear brakelight for a stealth/stock look.

I use an IR cordless keyboard w/built-in mouse. It works pretty good -- came with my bookpc, but I've seen them for sale here and there for about $30. Works pretty good. You have to run the IR receiver up to the front of course. Let me know if you want more info on that.


Suspend to RAM should be nice.. I thought about doing that for a long while, and besides the problems with open serial ports being funky on resume.. I don't do that because I don't drive my car regularly enough. Sometimes I drive it everyday, other times not for a week or two.. so I'd be too much at risk for a dead battery.

My friend gave me copilot for free (but without the gps) after he uninstalled his car comp, not sure what he's doing to it now.. copilot tries to insist on only using its official gps, luckily there's a couple GPses out there that can trick it.. like the Garmin GPS35 (which has configurable output).

CoPilot is just so much better than anything else.. easy to read even on like a 4" composite screen if you can get the right resolution. The reason I upgraded my screen to 7" widescreen (from 5.6") isn't so much for increased size but rather for the in-dash functionality. Righ tnow I have to unclip my display and disconnect two wires if I wanna hide my screen somewhere, and it blocks my cupholders completely and makes my AC controls a bit awkward (although I can still work em). The new one solves that.

So now I have another shelf of car comp improvement parts sitting there.. just waiting for a mini-usb hub to arrive in the mail, then it's all going in...

I've been trying to work on ways to improve the ergonomics inside my vehicle. As we all know there's not a lot of storage space in the cabin of the 3rd gen Max.. this will help.

 

this will fix your dead battery problem http://www.jcwhitney.com/productnoitem.jhtml;$sessionid$OKKWPOYAACME4QSNDV0SFE0CJUOXKIV0?CATID= 186349&BQ=jcw2&_requestid=97363