headless carPC with no Video or touchscreen

**piabu** · 01-12-2006, 10:02 PM

Has anybody installed a carPC without a touchscreen or video? Is this even a feasible idea?

I am exploring the possibility of a carPC but without an attached touchscreen/video interface. A video display would stick out like a sore thumb on my junker. The ideal would be to have a "stealth install" which is invisible to the casual observer.

Output would be discreetly-placed LEDs or character LCDs, and audio via the stock sound system. Input would be discreetly-placed buttons and switches, or ideally voice control. I have no immediate need for GPS display or video playback. The carPC would be little more than a glorified MP3 player, datalogger and alert system. Should I later need an in-car graphics display, there is always the option of using a terminal application (e.g. RealVNC) over a portable PDA-type device or a laptop.

Does anybody see any pitfalls that I have neglected to consider in my noobish approach? There must a good reason why everybody is going the touchscreen / video route and I wonder if I am missing something.

**Teranfirbt** · 01-12-2006, 10:54 PM

My friend did a setup in his 62 Corvair using the stock stereo faceplate and a roller setup to put his screen into the dash.. When he wasn't using it, he'd roll the screen into the dash and the car would look stock, it was freakin cool.

**EsKALad** · 01-12-2006, 10:58 PM

just buy an ipod. dont do all this custom work for nothing

**piabu** · 01-12-2006, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by EsKALad

just buy an ipod. dont do all this custom work for nothing

As soon as Apple comes up with an iPod version that has built-in voltmeter, temperature sensor, accelerometer with datalogging capability. And the phone/SMS integration, voice control, speed/radar alerts and optional GPS NMEA handling would be nice as well.

Besides, building a carPC is a bit like climbing mountains or jumping out of planes. Most of the time there is no good justification for all the time and energy spent.

**DarquePervert** · 01-13-2006, 06:43 AM

Before LCD screens were common, many of the forum members would use a character LCD screen (like the ones found at Matrix Orbital or Crystalfontz) and a numberpad for music control.

I want to know how you're going to be able to read any engine diagnostic information with no screen of any sort.

**Freelander** · 01-13-2006, 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by EsKALad

just buy an ipod. dont do all this custom work for nothing

i agree. you dont even need a digital adapter. my friends use the monster cable fm transmitter ($49)

http://www.monstercable.com/productPage.asp?pin=2734

add a $200 nano and you're all done. talk about stealth!

**MatrixPC** · 01-13-2006, 08:50 AM

You just need one of these
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...33257%3A164096

And I am sure you do have some usb drive laying around to be use with it.

Yes, I did see it in person a desktop computer in the car running on inverter and without a screen attach nor keyboard/mouse. All control is thru a numeric pad. It didn't event have a character LCD. The whole thing is just a big *** mp3 player. I don't know what OS it is running. The only thing coming out of that box was music.
That PC was install way before any mp3 portable player available on the market. Way before the first portable mp3 player Rio 300?

**piabu** · 01-18-2006, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

Before LCD screens were common, many of the forum members would use a character LCD screen (like the ones found at Matrix Orbital or Crystalfontz) and a numberpad for music control.

I want to know how you're going to be able to read any engine diagnostic information with no screen of any sort.

Thinking of it more as a datalogger. I do not need to read detailed diagnostic information. The car does not even support ODB-II. Alerts of exceptional conditions can be provided via LEDs or buzzers. Would not be too hard to pull the stored information off the carPC to look at in the comfort of a workdesk via a wireless connection.

Perhaps later down the road the folly of my ways would dawn on me and I would repent to install a touchscreen posthaste.

**jason3675** · 01-18-2006, 11:01 PM

How about purchasing a pda. You can put gps on it and have a data logger that connects to your obd. It would definitely be a glorified mp3 with removable sd cards and you can also take it with you if you ever feared someone breaking in to your vehicle.