Looking for further direction

**towlett** · 06-07-2006, 09:07 PM

I’m looking for input on how to go about getting what I’m looking for in use and features. I’m guessing from what I have read that yes, I can do it, but I’m hoping for some experienced people to give me some free advice and perhaps a nudge in the right direction. I want to drop my work laptop into a docking station or something along those lines in my van, and I want that station hooked up to a LCD touch screen and the car sound system.

I’m thinking I need the following…
1) Laptop, which I already have. ( I’m guessing buying and using a docking station would be advisable, IBM Thinkpad T43)

2) Power Supply, I have one that plugs into the cigarette lighter, also an inverter that would allow me to use a wall plug adapter. I would like to know how to hardwire this into my car, I would need detailed instructions though since I have zero experience with wiring and such. Perhaps there is a write up or FAQ I haven’t found?

3) Touchscreen LCD and perhaps a small keyboard and mouse. On the keyboard and mouse I’m not sure what to do. I read that USB stuff doesn’t always like to “wake up” so serial is better, but my laptop (IBM Thinkpad T43) doesn’t even have a serial port.

I should be able to hook up the display to the laptop docking station but the cords that come with them don’t appear to be near long enough. I would like to mount the docking station, under or alongside the driver seaat. I own a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. Can I buy or make extension cords for that purpose? Are there instructions for such a thing in the FAQ or somewhere else?

Thanks for any help or input.

**Un_discovered** · 06-08-2006, 10:45 AM

2) Power Supply, I have one that plugs into the cigarette lighter, also an inverter that would allow me to use a wall plug adapter. I would like to know how to hardwire this into my car, I would need detailed instructions though since I have zero experience with wiring and such. Perhaps there is a write up or FAQ I haven’t found?

Don't use the Inverter with the AC adapter. It's unnecessarily converting from DC to AC to DC again. Use the DC-DC adapter. All yo'ud need to do to hardwire it is wire it to the distribution block where your cigarette ligher is plugged into.

3) Touchscreen LCD and perhaps a small keyboard and mouse. On the keyboard and mouse I’m not sure what to do. I read that USB stuff doesn’t always like to “wake up” so serial is better, but my laptop (IBM Thinkpad T43) doesn’t even have a serial port.

Serial keyboards don't exist.
Serial Mice are actually quite a pain. You have to have them plugged in before the computer startrs from a cold boot. Surely you're docking station will have a PS/2 connector, and from that you could get a PS/2 Y splitter cable, and connect a PS/2 mouse and keyboard. PS/2 do not have any "wake-up" issues as far as my knowledge goes.

I should be able to hook up the display to the laptop docking station but the cords that come with them don’t appear to be near long enough. I would like to mount the docking station, under or alongside the driver seaat. I own a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. Can I buy or make extension cords for that purpose? Are there instructions for such a thing in the FAQ or somewhere else?

If the docking station has a VGA out, theny by all means you can connect the display to it. A touchscreen will take up a USB port also, for interface.

If you're unaware that VGA extension cables exist, you don't have have a chance in hell at being able to make your own.

**RedGTiVR6** · 06-08-2006, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Un_discovered

Serial keyboards don't exist.

I was under the impression that quite often the PS/2 ports were often referred to as serial ports, at least in the past.

If you're unaware that VGA extension cables exist, you don't have have a chance in hell at being able to make your own.

this all goes back to the fact that this guy needs to do a LOT more research...rather than posting up pretty much the same questions as he did in another thread already....lol

**Un_discovered** · 06-08-2006, 11:35 AM

Red:
A serial port is the 9 pin connector:

A PS/2 port however:

this all goes back to the fact that this guy needs to do a LOT more research...rather than posting up pretty much the same questions as he did in another thread already....lol

Yeah, as I said in the other thread :P
And yes, he does need to do a lot more research. A LOT.
As I said previously:

If you're unaware that VGA extension cables exist, you don't have have a chance in hell at being able to make your own.

A person unaware of that, should really be looking into a different hobby.

**RedGTiVR6** · 06-08-2006, 11:37 AM

I'm aware of the differences, I think you missed the point of my post...

in the past, many times, they were BOTH called serial ports....I'll see if I can't find it in a text book I have at home....because when I read it in there it really threw me off at first, until I realized that it was a long time ago that it was written....

**TheLlama** · 06-08-2006, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Un_discovered

Red:
A serial port is the 9 pin connector:

A PS/2 port however:

Not exactly. That DB9 connector and PS2 connector are both serial ports. The 9-pin is RS232 while the other is PS/2, but each is a serial protocol.

But why is this question being asked? The OP could have easily searched for the answer. The answer is, yes, you can make extensions. Connect pin1 to pin1, pin2 to pin2, etc.. A simple null extension.

A person unaware of that, should really be looking into a different hobby.

Yes, or read computers for dummies.

**Un_discovered** · 06-08-2006, 11:40 AM

Oh, my apologies.
Really?
Wow, I've never heard of the PS/2 ports being reffered to as Serial ports, that's really odd o.O

EDIT: Bad post timing.
Okay, thanks TheLlama, was unaware of that.

**DarquePervert** · 06-08-2006, 12:10 PM

The PS/2 is a serial connection with specialized use.

USB is also a serial connection, although capable of higher speeds than a serial port.

The differences are in how the motherboard chipsets handle the communications on the various types of ports.

**Un_discovered** · 06-08-2006, 12:53 PM

Okay.
Still learning then,

.
But aren't we all? :P

**turbocad6** · 06-08-2006, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by TheLlama

Connect pin1 to pin1, pin2 to pin2, etc.. A simple null extension.

...add shielding after the cable is done by wrapping it in foil after running an exposed wire along the new harness, & then ground the exposed(drain) wire on both ends....

either that, or just buy one at staples