Requesting advice on anything Carputer related...

Raekwon · 04-03-2003, 11:25 AM

Here's my situation...

This summer I'm going to switch over to delivering pizzas (I'm a Senior in High School now), and all of the money I earn for that plus the little I have in the bank will basically be disposable income for me. I own a 1993 Ford Thunderbird LX and here's what I'd like to do to it...

-Approximately a 6.4" Touch LCD used for...
-Carputer
-VIA Epia motherboard
-Wireless Keyboard/Mouse combo
-GPS (Thinking about a CoPilot, expensive but they seem to be really good)
-PS2 (Maybe, this isn't necessary)

I don't really know how it's all going to fit together yet, I want to put the computer in the trunk in a small case. I have no idea what to do to power this in my car safely and successfully. Any tips/suggestions on parts I could use for anything or just general suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks in advance!

bosstone74 · 04-03-2003, 01:50 PM

Power it With AN OPUS...it's a bit spendy about 200 after all is said and done... But is well worth it!
click here

samc · 04-03-2003, 02:40 PM

I have heard nothing but rave reviews on the OPUs and thats what I ordered as well. Only if it would get here already

Get yourself a touchscreen, no keyboard/mouse.
do a 7" .. you can get a xenarc or whatever, that'll be good.
-Case, custom make it.
-and rest you know what to do. you dont need a ps2 in the car if you got a carputer.

Raekwon · 04-03-2003, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by samc
I have heard nothing but rave reviews on the OPUs and thats what I ordered as well. Only if it would get here already

Get yourself a touchscreen, no keyboard/mouse.
do a 7" .. you can get a xenarc or whatever, that'll be good.
-Case, custom make it.
-and rest you know what to do. you dont need a ps2 in the car if you got a carputer.

About the Opus, what are you referring to? I went to the site and saw the 150Watt SFX DC-DC Vehicle Power Supply for ATX, but didn't see any prices listed. Unless you were talking about the Workstation computers. In that case, which one?

Touch screen is what I want (very helpful for inputting GPS information), but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg. What's a good price range to look in? I don't need the best, just something that will be nice and work for what I need it to. I already have a PS2, so putting it in the car was just something I might do later down the road.

The main problem I'm going to be facing is the electronic work... as in how to get everything powered. I know a lot about computers (How to build computers, etc...) but virtually nothing about electrical systems.

What materials would be good for making a custom case? Legos? j/k

One more question, for the time being... would I be better off making a custom enclosure for the lCD (ex: ripping it out of whatever they send it to me in)? I'll put up a picture of my dash later this evening and have where I want to put it circled. Thanks for the quick responses!

samc · 04-03-2003, 04:19 PM

I personally have the TM-701L from www.digitalww.com. In short, its RCA out as the video source. So its not "great" but that is true about any rca screens. You can get those xenarc vga screens which I assume is perfect but they do cost more. digitalww also sells a touch screen kit for their screens. For me this will do. (for now atleast =) )

and the opus im referring to is that 150 watt power supply, its supposidly a bit smaller then most atx power supplies and works perfectly in the car.

And for a case I am building everything into a playstation 1 case. Crazy as it sounds everything fits in, EXCEPt the opus, but well what can I do. Im sure I'll look for a different case later.

I think some people build cases out of fiber glass, but I know nothing about that.

... Oh and building a car comp is a breeze.

TruckinMP3 · 04-03-2003, 04:38 PM

Raekwon,

Use the search function.... try reading some of the existing threads.

Several PS threads have the answers to your questions.

Raekwon · 04-03-2003, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by samc
I personally have the TM-701L from www.digitalww.com. In short, its RCA out as the video source. So its not "great" but that is true about any rca screens. You can get those xenarc vga screens which I assume is perfect but they do cost more. digitalww also sells a touch screen kit for their screens. For me this will do. (for now atleast =) )

and the opus im referring to is that 150 watt power supply, its supposidly a bit smaller then most atx power supplies and works perfectly in the car.

And for a case I am building everything into a playstation 1 case. Crazy as it sounds everything fits in, EXCEPt the opus, but well what can I do. Im sure I'll look for a different case later.

I think some people build cases out of fiber glass, but I know nothing about that.

... Oh and building a car comp is a breeze.

That screen looks nice, but I'd rather get the TM-7002S 7". It looks very similiar, just not a DIN one or whatever. I'd definately get it with the Touch screen installed for $320, that's a steal from what I've seen. Would the resolution be good enough the use a GPS efficiently on it?

That power supply looks nice... does it turn the computer on/off with the car battery? Where would I plug the power supply into?

I'll just make my own case, wish I still had the old PSOne.

The carputer will be hella simply, if I go the Via route practically everything I need is built into the mobo! w00t!

Edit: Thanks Trucker, I did search a lot of posts before I posted this actually, must have missed it.

Raekwon · 04-03-2003, 05:37 PM

New question: How could I hook the stock speakers up to the computer for audio?

One

Newbie

Loftus · 04-03-2003, 06:25 PM

okay, browse through a lot of old posts to get the audio question figured out. There's too many options from tape adapters, to fm modulators, to cd changer adapters etc....

-use a keyboard for your "1st attempt" install first, then if every thing works out you might want to splurge for the touch screen,(you'll be surprised at how much some things can add up too.)
Maybe put the keyboard in your visor and use a good Macro program to help out with multiple keystrokes.
-GPS, unless that is your main reason for this computer, put it in later.
-PS2, put it in later.

Do a lot of reading in the old posts to get a really good feel of what your about to undertake here because this type of project is a labour of love for most of us. You'll spend way more time researching old and new ideas than actually spending money.

samc · 04-03-2003, 06:32 PM

you really should research some of the work. But i'll give you a clue on the sound

"cd changer"
"fm modulator"

those are 2 choices.

samc

SuperAJ · 04-03-2003, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Loftus
okay, browse through a lot of old posts to get the audio question figured out. There's too many options from tape adapters, to fm modulators, to cd changer adapters etc....

-use a keyboard for your "1st attempt" install first, then if every thing works out you might want to splurge for the touch screen,(you'll be surprised at how much some things can add up too.)
Maybe put the keyboard in your visor and use a good Macro program to help out with multiple keystrokes.
-GPS, unless that is your main reason for this computer, put it in later.
-PS2, put it in later.

Do a lot of reading in the old posts to get a really good feel of what your about to undertake here because this type of project is a labour of love for most of us. You'll spend way more time researching old and new ideas than actually spending money.

Not really. Having audio input in your deck would be perfect.

SuperAJ · 04-03-2003, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Raekwon
About the Opus, what are you referring to? I went to the site and saw the 150Watt SFX DC-DC Vehicle Power Supply for ATX, but didn't see any prices listed. Unless you were talking about the Workstation computers. In that case, which one?

Touch screen is what I want (very helpful for inputting GPS information), but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg. What's a good price range to look in? I don't need the best, just something that will be nice and work for what I need it to. I already have a PS2, so putting it in the car was just something I might do later down the road.

The main problem I'm going to be facing is the electronic work... as in how to get everything powered. I know a lot about computers (How to build computers, etc...) but virtually nothing about electrical systems.

What materials would be good for making a custom case? Legos? j/k

One more question, for the time being... would I be better off making a custom enclosure for the lCD (ex: ripping it out of whatever they send it to me in)? I'll put up a picture of my dash later this evening and have where I want to put it circled. Thanks for the quick responses!

Oh man that is SWEET!

Raekwon · 04-03-2003, 10:18 PM

-use a keyboard for your "1st attempt" install first, then if every thing works out you might want to splurge for the touch screen,(you'll be surprised at how much some things can add up too.)
Maybe put the keyboard in your visor and use a good Macro program to help out with multiple keystrokes.
I plan on installing Linux (If I choose to go the Linux route) and all the apps with a keyboard of course. DigitalWW has a 7" TFT LCD (with Touch Screen) for $320, and that's really in my price rande. I could go higher I guess but I don't want to. I actually thought I'd have to pay more than $320, lol. The touch screen would be almost a necessity for a GPS... unless you guys can prove me wrong.

-GPS, unless that is your main reason for this computer, put it in later.
I probably will, if it'll cost on the upward of 400 bones. But I'd like to plan ahead and make sure I can add it easily later and have no conflicts (with software and such).

-PS2, put it in later.
Definately the last thing to go in, if it goes in at all. I'm thinking connect it to a TV card in the computer and it'll go through that to the monitor, unless there's an easier way.

Do a lot of reading in the old posts to get a really good feel of what your about to undertake here because this type of project is a labour of love for most of us. You'll spend way more time researching old and new ideas than actually spending money.
That's why this is a Summer project, I'm not gonna have time/money until mid-May or early-June. I plan on spending a lot of time until then researching and a lot of time getting the kinks sorted out.

Thanks to everyone who's responded so far, you've all been very helpful.

SuperAJ - What's sweet? lol... and audio input into my deck may not be an option, I'm gonna have to remove it to put the LCD in.

That FM modulator sounds like a good idea but would the sound quality be good? And then I'd need to keep my deck in the car... hrm.

samc · 04-04-2003, 11:24 AM

Just a note on Fm modulators. My friend has one in his 01 vw GTI. He uses it for his cd changer. And I must say it sounds very crisp for a modulator. I suppose the more you pay for one the better it is?

Raekwon · 04-04-2003, 11:27 AM

The more I hear about FM modulators the more I want to use one... they seem easy as hell to set up. But I'm removing my head unit to put the LCD in... so that's a problem. Unless I can get the radio on my computer through something...

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