In Car Puter....

Yo,
I'm trying to setup a computer in my car so I am able to play music off it and use it to play vidoes too. Reading through various posts and other material I've heard many ways to achieve this.

Basically this is what I'm thinking

First I'll need to build a little computer ( one of those ITX ones )
Second need to get a touchscreen monitor

That the easy bit what I find hard is where is the screen going to go, how is the computer going to be hooked up to the in car speakers and finally how is the puter going to get power.

Regarding power I know you can either hard wire it to the engine or use a power inverter ( connecting to cig lighter) . However I come a bit stuck when thinking how I will connect the computer to the cars audio system. The car has a basic head unit which can be seen here http://defaced.net/simon/cars/newgol...t/dashkit1.jpg ( note that isn't my car). I'm not sure how you would connect the computer to the cars audio :confused: unless there is a special headunit and I'm not too keen on using an fm modulator since I guess the sound would drop

Thanks would appricate any input.

ITX > Not my lane. Using mATX.

TS > Get you a liliput. 7" 16:9 or 8" 4:3. Your choice.

Speakers > You will need an amp. Even the best soundcard doesn't have any amplification.

Power: Do NOT hook into the cigerette light outlet unless you wanna possibly blow some fuses. The cig. outlet is not made for a lot of power. Go directly to your battery using 8 gauge wire. Better yet. Ditch the inverter and get an OPUS. An inverter will not be able to kept running when you start your car. The OPUS can and has some extra features such as delayed shutdown and remote start (via ignition).

Sound: 3.5mm to stereo RCA cable. Take this and plug it in from the soundcard to the HU/amp.

Derek

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

Yo,
I'm trying to setup a computer in my car so I am able to play music off it and use it to play vidoes too. Reading through various posts and other material I've heard many ways to achieve this.

Basically this is what I'm thinking

First I'll need to build a little computer ( one of those ITX ones )
Second need to get a touchscreen monitor

That the easy bit what I find hard is where is the screen going to go, how is the computer going to be hooked up to the in car speakers and finally how is the puter going to get power.

Regarding power I know you can either hard wire it to the engine or use a power inverter ( connecting to cig lighter) . However I come a bit stuck when thinking how I will connect the computer to the cars audio system. The car has a basic head unit which can be seen here http://defaced.net/simon/cars/newgol...t/dashkit1.jpg ( note that isn't my car). I'm not sure how you would connect the computer to the cars audio :confused: unless there is a special headunit and I'm not too keen on using an fm modulator since I guess the sound would drop

Thanks would appricate any input.

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try to find out you connection on you radio, if it a new one it normaly has a AUX oor cd changer interface you can use for sound interface from your computer, some radio has defauld disable the function in the setup menu.

find the manual for the radio. :)

You may have a good lock from here with you project... :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

Yo,
I'm trying to setup a computer in my car so I am able to play music off it and use it to play vidoes too. Reading through various posts and other material I've heard many ways to achieve this.

Basically this is what I'm thinking

First I'll need to build a little computer ( one of those ITX ones )

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I can recommend the Mini-ITX boards, they use little power and VIA support them very well. In fact they have a section on their web-site just for Car PCs and they keep an eye on our scene :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

Second need to get a touchscreen monitor

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Best is the Xenarc but it's the most expensive.
Most people have good experiences with the Lilliput, which is cheaper. I use it and I'd buy another

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

That the easy bit what I find hard is where is the screen going to go, how is the computer going to be hooked up to the in car speakers

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Standard, modern car stereo - AUX in adapter (see www.connects2.com)
Aftermarket or old - See if your head unit has an AUX in, if not get one that does if you want to use a head unit.

If you want top quality, you can use a car Hi-Fi amplifier direct from the Car PC. Because the amp needs to be 'loud' most of the time, you may find you need a good sound card with low signal to noise for best results with that option.

If all the above is too expensive or for some reason impossible, you could try a FM modulator to 'tune' in a station on your car stereo. Though most of them are not very good

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

and finally how is the puter going to get power.

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If you want near instant on/off like a car stereo - Opus - it's also easy to fit and efficient. Turn the car on, it comes on. Turn the car off, it goes into standby. It survives engine cranks, the other easy options do not.

You can use a Dc-Dc power supply with a regulator such as the ITPS, which also controls startup/shutdown but no instant on/off or surviving engine cranks

The last option is an inverter. I can not find anything good to say about them so I'll leave that to someone that likes them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

Regarding power I know you can either hard wire it to the engine or use a power inverter ( connecting to cig lighter) . However I come a bit stuck when thinking how I will connect the computer to the cars audio system. The car has a basic head unit which can be seen here http://defaced.net/simon/cars/newgol...t/dashkit1.jpg ( note that isn't my car). I'm not sure how you would connect the computer to the cars audio :confused: unless there is a special headunit and I'm not too keen on using an fm modulator since I guess the sound would drop

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No cig lighter connection, go straight to the battery - use a amp wiring kit.

Is the basic head unit standard? If so a connects2 would do the job

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

Thanks would appricate any input.

---

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

That the easy bit what I find hard is where is the screen going to go, how is the computer going to be hooked up to the in car speakers and finally how is the puter going to get power.

Regarding power I know you can either hard wire it to the engine or use a power inverter ( connecting to cig lighter) . However I come a bit stuck when thinking how I will connect the computer to the cars audio system. The car has a basic head unit which can be seen here http://defaced.net/simon/cars/newgol...t/dashkit1.jpg ( note that isn't my car).

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You say that isn't your car, but is that the same model as your car, if so then take out t5he stereo and the little pocket above it and put the screen there. (the radio can find another home)

Power two ways.

1. inverter connected straight to bettery, then your computers mains lead into it.

2. 12V DC-DC ATX PSU (opus for example) or if you go the itx route there are special itx PSU's. again connect direct to battery.


Connecting to stereo.

1. if it has AUX input then dead easy.

2. As you say FM modulator, loss of quality, depending on your hearing.

3. replace stereo with one that has AUX input.

4. go headless, just get an amp which can be installed in the boot and use the touchscreen as controller.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

Thanks would appricate any input.

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see above answer ;)

Thanks for the advice so far.

If I was going to get the liliput. 7" where do you recon I would have to put it? On the dashboard? Second where can you buy them from? I know they are sold on this site but I live in the UK and I would have to pay loads for shipping probably.

Secondly what is an OPUS and is it easy to install with the laptop and battery.

Finally you say you get the 3.5mm to stereo RCA cable to hook the audio to the car - however how would you do this. Since at the moment all the car has is a place where you put the headunit

edit- Just noticed most posts where most answered - thanks!

Btw if this helps anyone know what kind of headunit I have it is this - http://caraudiosecurity.com/catalog/...roducts_id+115

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

Thanks for the advice so far.

If I was going to get the liliput. 7" where do you recon I would have to put it? On the dashboard? Second where can you buy them from? I know they are sold on this site but I live in the UK and I would have to pay loads for shipping probably.

Secondly what is an OPUS and is it easy to install with the laptop and battery.

Finally you say you get the 3.5mm to stereo RCA cable to hook the audio to the car - however how would you do this. Since at the moment all the car has is a place where you put the headunit

edit- Just noticed most posts where most answered - thanks!

Btw if this helps anyone know what kind of headunit I have it is this - http://caraudiosecurity.com/catalog/...roducts_id+115

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1) Lilliput can be bought from www.cartft.com - from germany - no probalem to import as its in the EU - or get a Xenarc (better) from LinITX.com

An Opus is a proper Auto PSU - see www.linitx.com for more information. It wires to the battery and to the ACC power

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

Thanks for the advice so far.

If I was going to get the liliput. 7" where do you recon I would have to put it? On the dashboard?

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Show us a picture of your dash.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

Secondly what is an OPUS and is it easy to install with the laptop and battery.

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Opus is for use withg a standard PC, not laptop.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky

Btw if this helps anyone know what kind of headunit I have it is this - http://caraudiosecurity.com/catalog/...roducts_id+115

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If you have that stereo then you are OK as it has the pioneer IP-BUS

do a :search: on the forum for pioneer IP-BUS and you will find some threads on how to connect to it.





side note: he is lucky, it's taken until the 8th post for someone to flash the :search: banner :D

Lol

Anyway I've done some searching about the IP-BUS for the pioneer. I've seen a few pics and am I right in saying you plug it into the little socket where you normally put the headunit on ( then connect from that to audio input device )

Thanks

is that an audi or a vw

passat?