New to this forum looking for information

[jimisbell]

I am new to this forum, but not to computing in general. I started in 1960 on an IBM 7070...hardly mobile...it took 30 tons of air conditioning to keep it cool.

My current project is the installation of an HP T5710 Thin Client (XPe) in my 2000 Insight Hybrid. It will support a MagicJack with a 2.5 ghz antenna on the roof, an OBD-II cable running ScanTool, a CBA-II monitoring the IMA battery running the stock CBA-II software, and some switchable rearview cameras.

I have all the hardware except the monitor and the 2.5ghz antenna and WiFi card. and the rearview cameras and am looking for sources for these items...especially the monitor.

I have a Magellan GPS (4" monitor) and am thinking I might hack into it to find an input for VGA or RGB as I have both available from the Thin Client. I am hoping to find some information on this in these forums.

[jpinkerton]

jimisbell,
I don't have any specific advice for you, BUT I have that SAME EXACT Thin Client at home on my desk. The difference is I'm repurposing it to hold my mini-itx board

Concorde Version 2

Good luck with your project, I'll have to keep an eye out for pictures from you

[SwiftDeath]

It's always nice to see new setups. The magic jack is a great idea if you get internet constantly. I have a question about your gps idea. Do you want to use your gps as a screen? Or do you want to display the gps from it on a seperate monitor?

[Insight_Compute]

I would prefer to use the Magellan 3100 as the screen, but can find NO information on it and no one is hacking them as far as I can tell. The other option would be to run Delorme software on the Thin Clirnt and plug in the Delorme unit into the USB port. But it is not nearly as sensitive as the Magellan.

[SwiftDeath]

About hacking the GPS, it really depends how much time and effort your willing to put into it. Also your knowledge of circuits and lcd controller are important too, but that can always be learned. It basically boils down to how much you want to use it. It will be easier to just buy a screen, but as many have mentioned where's the fun in that?

Good luck if you decide to try and hack it!

P.S. One of the better routes for GPS is the BU-353 GPS unit and IGuidance software.

[Insight_Compute]

About hacking the GPS, it really depends how much time and effort your willing to put into it. Also your knowledge of circuits and lcd controller are important too, but that can always be learned. It basically boils down to how much you want to use it. It will be easier to just buy a screen, but as many have mentioned where's the fun in that?

Yes, whats the fun. But while my technical skills are up to it (40 years software and hardware design), I cant find any documentation on the Magellan 3100 GPS circuitry. I was hoping that someone had gone on before me and had done it.

[jimisbell]

I have found a screen to use with the Thin Client and I have installed a 10 gb HD in place of the FlashDrive so I am now running WinXP instead of XPe which gives me more options. I have the Delorme GPS package installed and an OBD-II package installed and both runing. I still have to get the XP SP2 installed so I can get MagicJack installed (it needs the SP2). I think I will just use the XP audio software and add a USB connected CD drive to put Music into my sound system.

BUT....is there a way to have the computer control the radio?? Either become the radio or control the stock radio?