rocken

My ride (tahoe 99) has this:

mobo: mini-itx (sp8000)
touchscreen: xenarc
os: fedora core 4
usb2 hub with: gps, bluetooth, and wifi dongles

The wifi is a Linksys usb2 802.11g (WUSB54G v4).

First off: man linux can blow sometimes!

Don't you just love having to whip out the keyboard at a stoplight and su to fix a lame conf issue? I get wierd looks when I do this.

The usb2 is flaky as hell, but perhaps thats VIA's fault more than linux/fedora. Touchscreen is working well, gps is a hack but works, and bluetooth is a hack but works.

GPS on linux: notta, nope. gpsDrive is kind of a funny example of bad UI design, but it goes further into the bizarre so I don't consider it a good gps solution by any stretch. Think Arnold Schwarzenegger doing software/UI design.

I also refuse to pay M$ for software that only runs on doze and try to hack it to work on linux. We should all refuse this option: don't pay those software companies to keep ignoring linux!

Bluetooth on linux: KDE is better, but I want GNOME. gnome has their tools for bluetooth but they are quite lame, especially by touchscreen.

And finally the wifi mess... it is a usb2 dongle so of course its got issues.

Also kismet doesn't like it b/c it has no native linux driver (why the f*** did I buy it?) netstumbler is a console app and I don't type well while driving. kismet is kind of out-of-date anyway. Geez, all we are talking about is a simple UI showing wifi hotspots and a clickable UI for trying the network connect, right?

C'mon linux fans, lets at least get that going before we do 3d GPS Waypoint earth mode ya freaks!

I say we insist on some kind of Linux-Compatible logo dammit! Wouldn't you appreciate a store which tagged its hardware with OS logos (and not just Mac or Windows)? I think Fryes should do this. You should be able to walk the store and collect all the healthy linux components, and avoid those dozers.

Ok my rant is winding down, now my question:

I have about 5 cables running down the center of the car (tahoe 99) from the rear and I want to hide them somehow. I thought about going under the carpet but the floor gets pretty hot after driving, and it feels like it would melt the cables.

What is a good cable wiring run plan? I could easily do the rca line via the side boards, but the larger 12v/GND/IGN and serial cable won't make it that way.

Do I simply buy some kind of sleeve to run the cables under the carpet?
Is there a good website for explaining?

Thanks, and stay strong linux fans, we will rule eventually!


-jhn

tdb30_

Just an FYI. I e-mailed the company that makes co-pilot and they said they planed on a linux version this year. It hassn't been started but they plan on doing it. (of course it was probably just a marketing guy lying but at least theirs hope). I know co-pilot isn't teribly well suited for in car, but if they make a linux version who knows if maybe the other guys will follow suit.

reece146

Sure can. Very frustrating at times - and I've been doing this for over a decade.


This is what happens when things aren't "done" and get moved into a production environment. <sorry, couldn't resist>


I'd blame Fedora...doesn't have a good track record with me. Gentoo/USB/EPIA just works for me. <shrug/ >


Keep an eye on gpsdrive - big things on the horizon, including GIS style interfaces to data and support for vector. As a work around for now wrt UI stick it in "pda/1-button" mode. It is a much nicer (IMO). You can see screen caps on my web site.


Ugh. Really need a 100mb desktop environment to play mp3s and read maps?


Cool! What's the web site to your project regarding this?

FWIW, I believe gpsdrive has a way to integrate kismet to show wifis and such. I haven't used it so I can't comment on the usability.


Most audio shops I've dealt with run them along the rocker panel under the carpet. Normally just audio stuff, for power I'd think about getting some of the PVC (?) conduit and run the power inside that. Check what your local hardware store has. Do you wheel your Tahoe? I'd be concerned about water getting inside conduit if you don't seal it and you occasionally flood the interior. Just some ideas.


Unlikely. Until Linux gets it's ****e together in the form of a common interface I'm placing my money on Mac OS X in this regard. The power of UNIX with an interface your grandmother can use.

<antirant/ >

intuitionsys

My software does WiFi scans no problem, announces and displays hotspots, and allows you to pick whichever one you want. I've connected to several open hotspots throughout Ottawa already, no problems, but I'm using a PCMCIA card not a USB2 dongle. I'm not using netstumbler either but rather my own code that harnesses iwlist.

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rocken

All software companies will give that response when a customer calls and begs for a linux software port of their dozer.

Why would they say otherwise tdb30?

B/c they know you'll go and spread the word to linux fans that "someday" it will come ... and some fool linux people will buy it ... even though the software co. has no friggin intention of doing so or it'd be done already. And when they tally up their sales, they'll be all "Geez look we got more windows purchases... lets always ignore linux!"

=======================

It seems the inputs are going thru churn on 2.6.14 kernels which is bad trouble for xenarc and the common eGalax drivers. That solution (which was coded way back in 2003) hasn't changed and won't work with the new fedora updates (12/13/2005).

Beware: Don't yum update your fedora if you've got xenarc working!

I am totally screwed with the FC4-2.6.14-653+ kernel and the Xenarc touchscreen, does anyone have this working on FC4 2.6.14-653+ ?

I had to move up to get other things working, but now the touchscreen isn't working so I am feeling kind of beaten down by linux.

Does anyone know if Xenarc plans to release better drivers for linux?


-L8rx

rocken

Forgot to mention: the display works fine but the USB touchscreen functionality does not work.

tdb30_

As far as the gps software response. I have gotten quite a few "No. We have no plans." When asked if there was going to be a linux version than have said they plan on it.

Sure, at this point its still a pipe dream, but please let me live in my fantasy land just a little longer before you dash my dreams on the rocks of reality.

As far as the touchscreen thing, have you considered switching distributions?

rocken

I have been getting super frustrated with Fedora: wtf are they up to? It seems as if they are trying to fork the common linux layout and have a tendency to alter filenames and paths ... I declare jihaad on fedora!

So I could try out either: SuSe, Gentoo, or Debian ...

I am sure debian is not going to cut it with usb/touchscreen. I would bet on SuSe but I've heard Gentoo will support things better.

OI.

tom61

Red Hat has been doing that since they started making a distro.


If you go with Gentoo, I'd recommend going with VidaLinux (a fork of Gentoo). Much easier to install (i.e. it has a an installer), and gives you the option of installing binary packages instead of compiling from source (saves alot of time on a Via).

Unfortunately, it looks like vidalinux.com's server is down at the moment.

tdb30_

Check out a debian distro. I personaly use kanotix. I don't have touch screen though. Try it out and let me know if it works with a touchscreen

pkg

I run debian on a xenarc 700IDT with the eGalax controller. It works great. I am now running on the debian kernel image 2.6.14-2 from unstable (which isn't that unstable).

In the linux kernel > 2.6.12 udev has replaced hotplug to manage USB devices (among other things). To get the touch controller working for me in udev I had to create a udev rule that makes a symlink to a device called /dev/input/touchscreen and then I use this symlink in the XF86Config-4 file (for X) as the core pointer device. This could be where your Fedora problems are coming from.

But, My vote is go to Debian.

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TheLlama

Looks like everything has been said. Except that I like reece's <XML Compliant /> comments. It so much better than <standard emotions> that I simply cannot parse.