This is from when I first started this, so it's out dated but,
Step 1: I had old desktop Gateway lying around, a PIII, 1.2 Gig machine, so I just threw it (not literaly) in the back of my Honda Passport, (when I still had the Passport). I bought an inverter from Walmart, I think it was like a 700W inverter, and ran the positive wire straight from the battery to the positive side for the inverter, run the negative side to a solid ground on the truck.
Inverters do work ok, but might not survive engine crank, which means there might not be enough juice to keep the PC running when you start the car. I personally added a (new) lawn mower battery in the back to avoid this problem. (More on inverters later)
Next I bought a 7" Lilliput monitor (Lilli's suck) and put it on my rear view mirror (don't try this at home folks, not legal)
To avoid issues with the Lilliput monitor (screen flicker) I just used the included AC adapter and plugged it straight into the inverter.
Obviously I plugged in the VGA cable too. I added a wired keyboard and mouse, and Voila! I got a "carputer" allbit a little primitive.
Before I got the Lilliput, I even used a desktop monitor, sitting in the passenger seat.
The setup above is generally the same as setting up a home pc, just add the inverter. However....story don't end here....
Inverters suck! They are power hawgs and are only 20-30% efficient. They usually don't survive engine crank (meaning the pc shuts off, if it is on) and there is no start-up/shut-down controller, meaning you have to manually turn on and shut down the PC.
Soooo......(step2)
I took apart the desktop, disassembled it completely. Trashed the inverter. I found an old plastic box, a tool box from work, (been through 3 boxes since) and put the motherboard, the hard drive and (my newly purchased) Opus 90W power supply in the plastic case. Wow!!!! instead of a 2 foot by 2 foot box, I now had a box a foot wide, 11 inches deep and 3 inches tall....Nice!
I also trashed (sold) the Lilliput and bought a Xenarc. Man! what a difference!
The rest was easy too, hooked up the Opus to the pc and then the truck battery, and powered the monitor straight from the battery. (Xenarc has auto start) using the included cig adapter.
The Opus has a startup and shutdown controller built in, so when I started the truck the pc would automatically come on, when I shut off the truck, the pc will do a proper Windows shutdown, after 6-10 minutes. (which is change-able with jumpers on the Opus)
Now I'm cool
Added iGuidance Navigation and the antenna/receiver, then a rear view camera, and since (got another car) added XM Radio, and can access the internet through WiFi (when a hub is available in range) or use my bluetooth phone (Verizon)
I don't use a keyboard (have the on-screen KB if I need it), but use a wireless (trackball) mouse.
All this stuff was quite easy too me, if you guys want to do this, save some time...get the 12DC-DC power supply (don't use an inverter) go to my "step 2". The inverter caused alot of noise also, so avoid it , if you can (and use a Xenarc monitor...skip the Lilli too)
Running sound is easy, just run from the PC's 1/8' plug (output) to the radio Aux-in, (RCA jacks) if it's got it. Radio Shack sells these cables.
If you don't have "aux-in" on the radio, you must use an amp instead. (or buy another HU)
Cost??? I guess that "step 1" cost about 500 bucks, for the inverter, the wiring, the Lillicrap monitor, and other odds and ends.
Oh yeah, read the
FAQ's too.
Linear Mode
