tonynjusa

Rockinmo

I can't wait to hear news from you on your Car PC! We just went ahead and added the Garmin GPS box to our monitors. This new set up is the bomb!

MP3Car.com

 

Splash-X

I have a new status update, not that anyone will care. I'm mainly putting in my details so that someone using the search feature can find a solution to the same problems should they have the same ones I do.

I built a new carPC for my new Mazda 3. I went ahead and used the following equipment:

Voom2 Case
VIA EN15000G Motherboard
M1-ATX 90W PSU
1x Slim DVD-Writer
1 GB Memory
120GB SATA Hard Drive
1x right angle SATA Data Cable
1x right angle SATA Power Cable


Sure enough I had problems. Being a computer expert it wasn't anything a little bit of time couldn't solve. The first issue with the VIA board an any small form facto case is that the optical and hard drives sit so close to the unit that you can't use your standard straight power or data cable.

Again, here is where the time comes, I had to wait for my cables to come. After they arrived I realized that I couldn't install Windows XP because it doesn't have built in support for the VIA Raid drivers.

I used my USB floppy drive, got the drive formatted, but when it gets to copying the setup files it fails to find the drivers again. I attempted to create the OEM drivers on the CD but it couldn't find the drivers during bootup. I tried usint nLite to integrate the drivers but realized that this only includes the drivers during the inital install of Windows and NOT during the DOS style setup.


I tried about every way I knew how to slipstream those drivers in to the CD.

Finally, I broke down and use a guide on the new for including the drivers in the txtsetup.sif file. I did run into one hiccup with this method, being that I'm using XP Media Center there are two setup disks, nLite tries to create one 800MB ISO using both disks so you need to skip adding the components CD to the nLite project.


I now have the carPC setup running in my house (there's a guide to powering your M1-ATX off of a computers standard PSU). I have iGuidance 4 setup and I have some more customizations to install before I move it out into the car for the final fitting.


Since I've already bench tested the carPC things should go pretty smooth putting it in the car. I've already tested the touchscreen so all is good.


My next step is going to be modding the screen housing I posted to house the USB GPS receiver, the Windows Media Center IR receiver and a USB hub to connect the TS, GPS, and IR to the computer. One step at a time.

tonynjusa

I have gone ahead and purchased the Voom PC2 with the following Features:

1- Jetway VIA C7 2.0GHz CN700 Mini-ITX Motherboard with PCMCIA /CF Reader Module
2. M2-ATX Car PC 160W DC-DC Automotive Power Supply
3. VoomPC-2 Car PC Black Aluminum Enclosure
4. Kingston 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 533 Memory
5. Toshiba 120GB (MK1234GSX) SATA 2.5" Notebook Hard Drive
6. Sony CRX880A-10 CD-RW/DVD Slim Combo Drive

I have not had any problems with any of the drivers til this point. I have now upgraded to Windows Vista and no problems with that either.

My VoomPC2 came already assembled and I would higly recommend that option since it is a very tight squeeze with the data cable thats inside.

Mitxpc is the company I purchased my Voom from and they sell it already assembled. They also sell the AC adapter which I purchased from them as well. It took me about 4 hours to install the the softwares and programs I needed. It was nice to be able to install everything in the comfort of my home and not inside the car.

rockinmo

tonynjusa

sorry for the delayed reply, My system is still sitting on my bench while I get all the bugs worked out.
The touch screen went in ok, but I must have moved the motor gearing while it was out of the dash housing, because when it was reinstalled the display would open and close as if it were hitting something. that was a hassle to solve. I am getting accustomed with Centrafuse on my primary PC before I transfer everything to the Carputer chassis. it is a perfect solution for mobile computing. The GPS software that I will use is still undecided. Destinator looks good but I would prefer to test it out before purchasing. I was using StreetAtlas when I had a 12" screen, but it's not going to work on a 7". I'm definitely looking for something in 3D. The Garmin you have is excellent, but I have spent enough on this project for the time being.

I am working on where to mount the backup camera, as I have a rule of never cutting / drilling holes in a car. I already have a few ideas for a switch to detect the trans being in reverse.

I plan to utilize the voice feature so I am searching for a microphone solution. and mounting.

The Voom PC appears to be the perfect solution for carputers, if I didn't already have my Shuttle XPC, I would definitely pick one up. I do plan to order one of the DC-DC power supplies as they solve a few issues I would otherwise have to deal with, such as voltage inverter, remote power switch, not to mention the horrible amount of power supply noise the XPC generates, and is passed back into the electrical system. I was able eliminate the noise by using an isolation Xfmr, but that would just be another thing that I'd have to mount somewhere.

Where do you plan to mount the Voom? the Garmin? just curious.

I'll post more as things come together.

tonynjusa

I mounted the Voom PC2 in the trunk of the car. The Garmin box will go underneath the passenger seat. What is nice about the Garmin Box, is that it is very small and it can easily go in the glove compartment.

As far as GPS software, I purchased the iGuidance 4.0 and it is awesome. It's made by Naveteq who is the same company that makes the software for Garmin. It has voice prompts and it has 3D display. The iGuidance works with Centrafuse and it cost me about 109.99.

rockinmo

thanks for the suggestion. I will check out iGuidance.

would you happen to know the pinout of the 13 pin din plug that is located on the back of the display?
it's not a big deal, but having the RGB option would be nice.

Splash-X

Rock,

The problem you had with your gear is very common when taking appart and reassembling the screen. My advice? There is a simple solution, use a pair of pliers, pull that gear off while the screen has power. Hit the button to turn it on, the shaft will spin freely, hit it again to close the screen and the shaft will spin again. Now that it is at its closing point go ahead and put the gear back on the shaft.

Why do we press the button? So the motor can set its starting and stopping points on its own.



As for the Voom case, I mounted mine under the passanger seat. I used small 1 1/2in wood blocks to elevate the case above the floor mounted AC vents giving it enough ground and seat clearance.

I ran the wires by tucking them up in to the center console from the bottom. Excellent clean fit. I made things easier by running a USB cable from the PC to the dash and put in a USB-Hub in the dash to connect the hidden GPS receiver and the touch screen. Everything works perfectly.

Since I didn't have an amp already I tapped in to the AMP relay wire in the radio harness and used a toggle switch on the sensor line so that I could turn off the carPC while driving and turn it back on OR simply leave it off until I need it. In my prior carPC this switch was handy when I was having software related troubles.

devil2k

Wrong.

There are two OEM style monitors being sold for Mazda 3 in Taiwan
One costs cheaper, it's made in China, you can tell if the gears on it breaks often.
One costs quite a bit more, it's made by Daiwoo in Taiwan.

By the way, those pictures were NOT taken by The Xenon Store.com. I happened to know the person (actually know him in person not just some guy on internet) who took those pictures. He used to work for Daiwoo.

I assume that you're selling the Made in China stuff, I personally wouldn't pay that much for it 'cause the gears for it are quite weak. If they break, it won't be motorized anymore.

MP3Car.com

 

Splash-X

Take a step back Devil, you're spouting off without need. Those were the pictures I posted, not Tony. Please don't group what I post with what someone elses posts. Here is my exact quote



Notice I didn't say these were Tony's pictures nor did I say I purchased them from that site.

I have taken appart the screen many times and stress tested the screen and I can say that it is NOT a cheap gear. I've seen cheap gears in actions on Lilliput screens and various other uses.

Being that this is your first post I feel you're here to start a war and I'm not intrested in being part of it. This was my thread talking about my setup, please don't destroy it. If you want to debate the quality please start a new thread in the LCD Monitor section.

Thanks

devil2k

No, not starting a war, just trying to correct a simple error. Daiwoo is a manufacturer and they do make the OEM stype Mazda 3 flip-up monitor. This is just the points I tried to make, not to destroy your thread.

Splash-X

This was never a question of who makes these units. The DV Media M3 is made in Taiwan under the brand name DV Media manufacturered by Daiwoo Co., LTD

The name of the screen in question was in my first post. DV Media would be on the box if it had one, and in small print you would see "Manufacturered By Daiwoo Co., LTD". The model number on the box would read DV-M3.

As featured here:
http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/11451...or_Mazda3.html


Why does it even matter who made it as long as it works? I'm sure this is another case of an Asian company take bits a pieces and making a product that works. In some cases products can be cheaply made but this product is truly supurb in construction so if you see your friend tell him I said I'm very happy with the unit.

Now if only the Daiwoo would partner up and offer a higher cost version that used a Lilliput or Xenarc as the screen istead of the VGA one in it the product would be far better but I'm not complaining, mine works great.

rockinmo

I have finally gotten most of my system up and running.

Although I have encountered a problem when trying to get the touch screen to work correctly. the left / right action works correctly, but the up / down is reversed.

I have removed / reloaded the drivers, turned off all other apps. , removed it from the display to rule out interference from the housing or tape.

has anyone else had this problem? What's the fix.

TaL

Nice car dude I'm very imprresed.
I wish I had the money to buy such thing..

Splash-X

This is probably because the TS kit was put in the wrong way. All you need to do is load the driver CD and run the calibration and it will correct itself.

When I first used mine it did the same thing, I had to use a mouse to get the calibration window up and ran it then everything worked fine.

rockinmo

After starting on the problem fresh today, I found the solution. I had installed a serial port to USB emulator so that my Delorme LT-20 GPS antenna would work with iGuidance. after removing the emulator program, removing and re-installing the touch drivers all started working good. re-calibrated the screen re-loaded the emulator, and everything is working.

If only I had thought of that before I had taken this thing apart. and spent hours.......

MP3Car.com