HeX111

Ok, so I still have little to no idea what i'm doing, but im looking around on the site. The one question that I have is, if i were to totally remove the head-unit, are there fm radio tuners available so that I could still have radio signal? If so, what other software is required?

Also, for mp3 playback and/or dvd playback, are there any recomended software packages that run mp3/dvd/fm radio and audio-visualization? I have not found an explaination of what the media car program is capable of yet, so maybe that is what I need to know. Or should I just think about using winamp for audio and visualization, a dvd program for dvd playback and a seperate program for fm radio tuning, or even something entirely different? I was hoping to find an all-inclusive program that could do all of the above.


Thanks
Joe

shadowpuck

There are literally thousands of ways to do what you want....
As a fellow beginner myself, I would suggest trying to somewhat determine what it is that you want to do with the system first....

As to your question about tuners, there are a few devices available that will provide FM radio via the computer. You can also use a TV tuner card with FM capability....

Best suggestion there is to simply do a search.....

Software wise there are also a number of ways to control the system...You can use programs like media car or use individual applications....

Once again, searches are your best friend....Most of the info I've been looking at I have found by searching the forums here or via Google, etc....

HeX111

one question then, what OS is required to run the mediacar software, or is this software it's own OS?

danon

i understand your confusion, i was like you months ago so i dig and searched, dig and searched this forum i would either turn this place upsidedown if i have to and then my effort was rewarded with tons of info and options that i could then choose.

i had fiddled around with all the software interfaces presently available, one even crashes my os untill i settled down for the one best.

right now i'm using mediacar to play mp3/video/fm radio and audio-visualization plus gps and tv. i would really wish i could give you all the links i found in this forum but my win98 crashed and i am now using another computer. the best thing you can do right now is to install the following:

1. install win xp(any os will do but i'm just giving you what works best for my setup) also install drivers for your hardware that xp could not find.

2. download and install mediacar (winamp included in the setup) as you main interface. this will let you play mp3 with vizualization (using winamp engine), dvd (using your dvd program), video downloaded from the net or short clips, gps (using destinator).

3. install the skin "brushed metal"(radiator included) by confused and febsperansa. the button "apps" will let you play radio (using the "radiator") as well as other external programs like notepad, calc, etc. all inside mediacar. i watch tv from the "apps" section and also when using the radio since mediacar use the usb fm radio but this sucks since radiator can be used as an engine to run tons of tv/fm card as well as several usb radio, so i guess things will change sooner.

mediacar by coyote, has something other could not do and best of all it's free and well supported. it can play winamp's viz very well, it also has mixer control for volume, equalizer, etc. video control is so good, my radio never crashes.

what i'm presently adding right now is a tv/fm signal amplyfier right now to upgrade reception. and phonecontrol.net software to control my mobile phone.

well, this is about all that i can give you, just be patient and do a search. use the search function of this website, the technic is finding the right word, and the answer is just out there waiting for you...


danon

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shadowpuck

to the best of my knowledge, nobody has tackled creating an entire OS for carputers yet....let's hope whomever does take on such an endeavor is not named microsoft....

mediacar and others like it could be called front ends. they basically change the interface so it is more tuned toward a car environment. there are others out there that do the same thing for home theater PC's, for example....

you would still need an OS as a base for these other programs....