Thread: USB DVD + Radio Tuner + OEM GPS

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by gguy:
Hey All,

I have been talking to many people who are suggesting implementing a few different things into a vehicle PC. They are as follows, any advice or URL's would be great.

External USB DVD ROM drive - either the casing to adapt an existing PC DVD or a complete unit that can be mounted upfront and still be able to play CD-Audio.
(i think usb isnt fast enuff for dvd playback.)


AM/FM Tuner Card - Anyone know of a tested and reliable PCI AM/FM tuner card that works? Basically so it can be hooked up to your factory antenna and you can completly get rid of the factory radio?
(FRUITLESS unless you car doesnt have a radio.)

Lastly, GPS. QPC uses an OEM GPS serial module inside their system, has anyone done this or know which unit QPC is using?
(try SonySkymap or Delorme or Rand McNally)

Thanks in advance

Shawn</font>

[This message has been edited by Jammer (edited 02-09-2001).]

I don't think USB can handle DVD. I don't know if it's the throughput on the USB or what, but I have not seen a single USB DVD drive on the market.

There is a USB FM radio on the market. Haven't seen a PCI radio yet. I think d-Link sells it.

I just checked the q-pc website, and it says it uses the CoPilot GPS. You can find this at www.travroute.com. I have this GPS receiver from CoPilot 1.0, and it's NMEA compatible, so it works with most other GPS software that supports NMEA.

for the dvd - No. it just wont work. the specs state it is technicaly possible, but in actuality , usb cant support the required data rate.

The problem is the USB interface, An IDE DvD drive can talk up to about 16Mbps. USB is theoretically rated at 12Mbps. But to this day I have not seen much higher than 10 Mbps. The DvD drive needs about 12 - 13 Mpbs to run smoothly. there are a handfull of places making dvd w/ usb , and they read data fine, they just cant support sustained transfer rates for smooth video.
<a href="http://www.hjnetworks.com/car/dvd.htm"> Check my page,</a> I have some info on my setup. I chose SCSI. Firewire should work, but I have not tried it.

As for the fm card, <a href="http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.asp?EDC=118011">Hauppauge Win TV DBX </a>Stereo Tuner ,125 channel stereo TV tuner with FM radio. Its pricey, around 100.00 but its PCI and has FM....
Linksys makes a usb model for about 35.00 I would use that one...

I use Skymap from ETAK, I have info on my page http://www.hjnetworks.com/car/gps.htm

[This message has been edited by gizmomkr (edited 02-13-2001).]

I agre with gizmo, SCSI is an excellent choice, and can be easily run to the front of the car. Firewire is also an option, but it is still just coming up in the PC world. Another 6-12 months and the Firewire drives should be better, cheaper, faster and easier to implement.

------------------