Thread: CarPC install in 2008.5 Mazda 3 5-door GT

Originally Posted by Minoritydan

Is there a reason you got the EVDO router setup instead of, say, a USB connect card for your PC?

I'm considering getting internet in my car (I'm with ATT) but I'm not sure the most cost effective way.

The main reason is that I usually also have my laptop in the car, and the router allows me to share the connection with both my carpc and the laptop.

Another reason is connection reliability, the Cradlepoint router maintains the connection better than the Verizon software. A mobile environment is hard on wireless Internet connections, especially with my commute. I drive though a couple of dead-zone pockets, where there is no cell phone or data available.

The Cradlepoint router will automatically re-connect when coming in and out of dead-zones. It can also spoof the connection for a short time, say when my laptop is connected via a VPN tunnel. The VPN tunnel will not drop when I go through a dead zone, like it would if the card were directly in my computer, and I was using the Verizon software to manage the connection.

Another benefit is not having to install another piece of software on the CarPC, it just connects to the EVDO router like any other WiFi connection.

Plus, my carpc can seamlessly connect to my home WiFi router when I pull in the driveway, because it is higher up in the connection order.

Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

One feature that I see is that it also has a ethernet port to connect to a PC. i think that is what he has done. This would seem more stable, and allow others to share your connection, like at carpc meets. I use only the USB card, I dont want others connecting to me, lol.

Actually, I do not connect via the Ethernet port, because I need the automatic switching between my home WiFi and the EVDO WiFi.

If you use the Ethernet port, it overrides the WiFi connection for Internet access. When at home, I want the CarPC to use my Home Internet, for updates and such, so I don't go over the 5gb limit imposed by Verizon.

Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

Nice install.... How do you get SlingPlayer inside of iGuidance? Thats pretty cool. Is that a RR feature?

No, I'm just running IGuidance stand-alone, then I start up Slingplayer and put it in Video Only Window mode. I then re-size the window, and drag it over IGuidance.

Yeah, it would be cool to automate the process within RoadRunner somehow, but unfortunately, I'm not that good

I'm testing out snyc on 2 machines at home. I guess it would be easier just for me to drag and drop in windows explorer if I want to sync music on my home wifi network.

I don't have Internet access in my car.

I really don't know what Advantages there would be for me to use sync. I just download music from themixingbowl - then edit the tags/add album art, then move it to my carpc.

Any thoughts?

Originally Posted by Minoritydan

I'm testing out snyc on 2 machines at home. I guess it would be easier just for me to drag and drop in windows explorer if I want to sync music on my home wifi network.

I don't have Internet access in my car.

I really don't know what Advantages there would be for me to use sync. I just download music from themixingbowl - then edit the tags/add album art, then move it to my carpc.

Any thoughts?

If you don't have Internet access in your car, than using Live Sync really doesn't give you any advantage. The main reason I use it is I have a talk show called "Armstrong and Getty" which starts at 6:00 am and ends at 10:00am.

I record Armstrong and Getty on my home computer using a program called Applian Replay A/V. It saves the recorded web streams in 30-minute increments.

When I start my commute at 7:00am, the show starts transferring to my CarPC from my home PC via the Live Sync. It takes about 10 minutes per 30-minute incremented file (about 13mb) to transfer over the Verizon EVDO.

So I can start listening to the show at 7:10, skipping commercials, etc. By the time the first file is complete, the second one is already downloaded.

The only pain in the butt factor is that Roadrunner does not automatically add the newly downloaded files. So as the files download, I have to go into Roadrunner and add them to the playlist.

When I go to lunch the remaining files download, and I listen to the rest of the show on my way home from work.

Originally Posted by ViViper1

Nice and neat install. Question, where do you keep your jack with the stealth sub there?

I wrapped it in a towel, and keep it where the spare tire is located.

Hi, I had a question, is that 800x600 resolution you are running? I prefer to run 640x480 on mine, it's a lot easier to navigate through windows with the touchkit.

Also, Roadrunner is a Front End like Centrafuse? Do you have a link to the website so I can check on it? Thanks.