Thread: Carputer in '03 Vette - plz suggest

OK, So I re-read my post and I guess it does sound amusing

Sound through USB is not a problem as it's only used to send digital data. The sound processing takes place in the boxes you add to your system. I have a Sony XA-300 auxilliary input box for my SOny head unit. It comes with USB input and appears to the PC as a USB sound card. The sound quality is fantastic with no chance of interference, whereas audio cables from the PC to headunit are nowhere near as good.

The only downside to what I was suggesting is the D-Link USB radio. IF there was an alternative I would probably go for it but as everyone is building fantastic front ends for it in their software it's hard to move away from it. It's not USB that would put me off purchasing. Take a look through the forums and you will find lots of people using it.

I can't wait to see the final thing. I have no idea if your Aircon control are going to work! But if it's a case of replacing switches then this should be fairly straight forward. I think displaying the feedback from the car to the PC is going to be your hardest task.

Good luck

Magpie, thanks for the thought on the XA-300. I will be looking into this.

I am giving up on the AC controls through the PC. Probably just physically move them down in the console to make enough room for the screen. I am having difficulties b/c the dealership said that the AC controller unit accepts pressure readings from the high/low side of the system to determine the compressor cycles, rather than this being done somewhere else in the computer system. This is more than I am up to in programming... Too bad.

I know I could also tear apart the controller unit and hard wire into the switches directly instead, but thats too much of a hack for me to feel comfortable. So instead I found a company in California who will cut/modify/mount the LCD into the center console, lowering the AC controls into what is now the ashtray. They quoted 5-800. Hope I am not getting ripped but don't know any other way to make it look proffesional.

I have a carpc in my '99 C5

I bought a factory deck adapter with the EQ mount in the bottom.

Cut off the EQ mount so just the Din is at the top of the dash.

Mounted a Kenwood 7" motorized screen there.

Then cut the plastic bar between the factory HU and the HVAC.

I retained that plastic bar which I am currently in process of re-molding right under the Kenwood so it is between the Kenwood, and my Xenarc touch screen. I bought the Xenar before the Lilliput was available, but Lilliput should be fine.

I moved the HVAC to the location of the ash tray by simply using a dremel to remove the ash tray. It fits great.

The Xenarc is where the HVAC used to be.

You can probably put the Lilliput where the factory HU is, move the HVAC to the ash tray, and put an aftermarket deck where the HVAC is currently.

On corvetteforum.com there is a ZO6 owner who moved his HVAC to the headliner above the rearview, but he installed a 10" screen.

Moving the HVAC shouldn't be a problem.

Also, FYI, if you are interested in a satelite radio, you can mount the antenna inside the rear bumper above the license plate and it will see right through it.

Originally Posted by slushieken

They quoted 5-800. Hope I am not getting ripped but don't know any other way to make it look proffesional.

Definately a huge rip off, there is a guy on Corvetteforum.com doing it for $250

For the TV antenna contact tundraelectronics.com they have amplified TV antennas that mount inside the glass which can't be seen.

Sorry for bombing this thread, but I am excited to see someone else with a vette doing this.

Anyway, check out this page, joe has a cool install.
http://www.vetteessentials.com/custo...stomers03.html

There is one on page 2 and 1 as well.

azcowboy - I am planning on using the the carpc to replace the radio and etc. I thought it a good way to combine the fm, XM, mp3, GPS, engine control, and movies into a centralized control. Plus it would look cool. I hope.

MSUC5Vette - will check into that.. thats very helpful. I would love to have a tv in there too even though it won't pick up anything but local channels, its just fun. Also, this vette link is exactly what I pictured in my mind, minus the radio. I will be researching that further as well as the $250 dash mod. May come back to you for more on that...

I have been told before I am a bit slow, but I am not understanding exactly what the XA-300 can do. It looks like the USB input allows audio switching between RCA inputs, when I researched the Unilink protocal and its capabilities. Magpie said though that it comes up as a sound card when pluggd in. Does this mean I can play my MP3's through it directly off the PC without requiring additional audio cables or an internal PC sound card? If it does act as a true sound card, does it still allow for audio source switching as well?

OK, so here is the background to the XA-300.

It is a device that connects to the back of a Sony head unit and provides a number of AUX inputs including one which is a USB input from a computer. From the head unit you can select between the different sources.

You connect the USB to your computer which will recognise it as a USB sound device just like it was a regular external USB sound card.

However, there is an issue which I am trying to work around in that Winamp (which I use) crashes when the USB is deselected as a sound input from the head unit but only when winamp is playing music. I think I have a workaround so you may want to check it out with me before you go buying.

However, in the beginning of your last message you say you want to do away with your existing head unit. In which case the XA-300 will not help you. You would need an alternative external USB sound card if that is the way you want to go.

Just as some feedback. The advantage I have of retaining my existing head unit is I can control all sound from the head unit which is easier than trying to change the sound level on the PC directly. Also, as my mobile phone is plugged into the back of the head unit, all sound is muted when the phone rings which of course includes any MP3's I happen to be playing.