Attention Newbies! A FAQ to the FAQs

Bugbyte · 06-01-2005, 09:38 PM

Below is a simple listing of the FAQs covered in the FAQ emporium.

How to get started
1. I'm new to CarPC's! How do I get started?
2. The quickest way to learn about Car PC's
3. How much does a car PC system cost? A poll of member's system costs.
4. A n00b's guide to mp3car.com
5. Is there a carpc enthusiast near me? Two maps of members here.
6. How reliable are car computers?
7. Desktop or Laptop?What are the pros and cons of desktop, laptop, mini-itx, etc?. A link to read if you can't get a handle on what type of system to put in your car.
-The entire thread: laptop vs. desktop
8. MP3Car.com rules of etiquette

-Why you shouldn't double post.*
-Why you'll have a hard time finding anyone to spoon feed you.*
-Why people keep telling you to SEARCH rather than answering your question

9. Don't know how to get started? Try this tutorial by Newbie Jamiks.
10. Here are some books on how to install car PC's.
11. How do I move from newbie to low bitrate?
12. Interested in a Mac Mini? Here's a FAQ on how to install the Mini in your car. Also, check out our Mac Car forum just for Mac matters.

Powering A Car PC
1. Power supplies for car PC's EXPLAINED includes description of the most popular power supplies for car PC use.
2. Will {insert power supply here} this power supply work with my car PC? An excellent writeup by member Darque Pervert to help demystify the power supply world.
3. How to choose a power supply - a writeup at the Carnetix web site. Vendor writeup that includes discussion about the challenges of powering a PC in the automobile.
4. How to keep your car from bursting into flames because you picked the wrong size cables: Ensuring you use the proper size cables, Choosing the proper gauge wires
5. How to wire an Opus
6. How to fix your Opus
7. Tips and pitfalls to avoid with your M1-ATX power supply
8. How to power your CarPC when it is NOT in the car.

Hardware
1. How to add XM to your car PC
2. How to debug your home made XM cable
3. How to add Sirius satellite to your car PC
4. The difference between VGA and Video screens
5. Tapping in to your car's engine using OBDII (On Board Diagnostics II)
6. Booting XP from a Compact Flash or USB device
7. Stuff you may want to know about wireless connectivity ("WiFi")
8. Where can I find really cool stuff like power buttons?
9. I'm worried about survivability of the computer components in the car. Here's two FAQ's:

-Hard drives:How do shock, vibration and cold affect them? Should I mount them vertically or horizontally?
-Car PC Components: How do heat and cold affect a Car PC?

Software
1. Front end software and support software
2. Boot directly to your front end application

Displays
FAQs about some of the most popular in car LCD monitors.
1. The difference between a VGA screen and a composite video screen
2. Everything you wanted to know about your Lilliput monitor

-Calibration troubles with your touchscreen?
-Secret programming codes for your Lilli screen

3. Everything you wanted to know about your Xenarc monitor
4. Everything you wanted to know about your LinITX/MM400/TView monitor
5. Using a laptop screen as your car PC screen.
5. How to power your monitor
6. How to install a monitor in your car
7. How to install headrest monitors in your car]How to install headrest monitors in your car[/url]
8. Computer video connections explained. With pictures.
9. What is High Bright technology and how does it work?
10. Technical terms regarding LCD screens
11. Touchscreens explained.
12. What is display contrast ratio and why is it important?

Bugbyte · 06-09-2005, 06:49 PM

*FAQ to the FAQs Part 2*

Car Audio
1. How to connect your car PC to your car's stereo system
2. Getting rid of that whine in your speakers
3. What to do if you have a Volkswagen Monsoon amplifier
4. How do I get 5.1 Surround Sound from my VIA Epia M10000?
5. Why not home speakers for the car?
6. All you need to know about ASIO. Don't know what ASIO is? Maybe you should check this out!

GPS
1. Everything (almost) you ever wanted to know about GPS on your Car PC. Includes quick reviews of all the different types of nav sofware.
2. A beginner's guide to GPS on the PC
3. Getting started with GPS
4. Destinator 3 GPS Navigation software
5. iGuidance and iGuidance mod software
6. Comparison of other GPS software for the PC
7. Does your car come with a GPS built in already? Here's how to hook up an OEM GPS to your Car PC.
8. Using Google Earth in your car? Macintosh How-to Google Earth on your Mac carputer
9. What is the 'BEST' GPS unit to buy?. Or at least, what is the most popular....

Installation Issues
1. Finding you car's wiring diagram online
2. Wiring your Car PC

-Finding the power and speaker wires in your car
-Typical wiring diagram for a car PC
-Connecting your Car PC power supply & speakers
-Wiring your Opus power supply

3. Adding a second battery to power your car PC (tank circuit)
4. How to install a monitor in your car
5. How to install headrest monitors in your car
6. Tools you NEED for troubleshooting. Sometimes, the right tool makes the job Soooo much easier!
7. Reasons for not installing anything under the seats.

Fabrication
1. How to duplicate a radio bezel
2. How to fabricate a screen bezel

Other
1. Glossary of terms
2. Electromagnetic Interference and your Car PC
3. Cooling your CPU
4. Ensuring that your AMD Processor runs at top speed.
5. How to build your own startup/shutdown controller.
6. Getting rid of those annoying popup information balloons.
7. How to hack your car's steering wheel controls.
8. Getting your PC to boot without a keyboard plugged in.
9. Hacking into your car's onboard computer system - also known as interfacing with your car using OBDII.
10. Input devices for your PC
11. How to add a DVD/CD drive to a Xenarc in dash touch screen (700IDT).

Technical Information
1. Car Audio - Member links to sites with technical information
2. Hardware - A variety of schematics, wiring diagrams, pin outs, etc.
3. Hardware - Member links to sites with hardware development in mind.
4. Hacking iGuidance

kmcniece · 06-09-2005, 07:02 PM

I may be biased, but I thought my Newbie Guide was somewhat informative of the search and learn theory.

EDIT: Thanks!

Bugbyte · 06-09-2005, 07:17 PM

Added!

Rafster · 06-15-2006, 11:17 PM

And if all else fails... Click the big link in my sig!

Peace,

Rafster