Ford Galaxy Ghia - CarPC project

Needstorage · 07-05-2004, 05:58 AM

Hi guys,

i've been reading this forum for quite a few weeks now, while I was getting all the parts needed for my setup.

The project is not finished yet, but I'm almost getting to the point where I'm going to install it all in the car.

This is what i'm working on:
7" Touchscreen CartTFT with 2 video-inputs
Via Epia M2-12000 with 512MBRam
Gonna put a huge harddisk in there. (I'm using an older 10Gig disk for prototype testing purpose now)
Probably a USB DVD-rom drive
For the moment I'm still looking for an OPUS psu. I have an invertor for prototyping, but I'm not even considering this option for the completed setup.
I have a rearview camera installed on my caravan, the signal from this camera is transmitted wireless to the car. On my last trip throug Portugal & Spain I used a cheap simpel 6" tft monitor just for the camera. Now I'm using the video in ports of my carTFT TS.

The fact that I have a company car means: No custom dash, so I had to take this into account. I also aready have a factory installed navigation unit that works very good, btw. (TravelPilot DX-based) This unit will not be touched (Only the audio-input on this unit is going to be used)
So I had trouble allocating the screen. After some "test allocations" I decided to mount the screen to the ventilator exits in the middle of the dashboard. (pictures are following in a couple of days)

As for the software part (I'm *NOT* even a bit tolerant in this domain) I *require* it to be very user-friendly, fast bootup and reliable. I'm a software consultant myself so I decided to build my own custom software. (Screen shots following in a couple of days too)

Software support:
Operating system: Windows XP Embedded
- Audio & Video player (Fully embedded ZOOM player)
- Navigation (Fully embedded Destinator 2 support)
- OBD2-enabled

The OBD2-part: I've took some code from Andy Whittaker (thank you Andy) and transformed it into a COM DLL so I could use it in other development languanges for making the user interface. I'm now working on truly fully embedded OBD-functionality. (Gauges, Mileage functionality, logging of speeds, ...)

If you guys have any questions, shoot! I'm gonna post my progression on this project in this thread from time to time. I'll make shure to have some "visuals" next time :-)

Smukkasen · 07-05-2004, 06:21 AM

Looking forward to see pictures from the install and hear more about your software. Good luck!!!

- happy Galaxy owner - soon also car PC builder myself -

JC-S60 · 07-05-2004, 07:18 AM

Hi Needstorage!

Happy to see another belgian in here!

Keep us posted on your progress.... I'm interested in the OBD-result; will you make it a plugin for existing software (frodoplayer/mediacar/....) or just available to your own system?

Will your software be available to test/use?

Joachim

Needstorage · 07-05-2004, 07:52 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by JC-S60

Happy to see another belgian in here!

Hi, I know there are even more Belgian guys in here.

Quote: Originally Posted by JC-S60

I'm interested in the OBD-result; will you make it a plugin for existing software (frodoplayer/mediacar/....) or just available to your own system?

For starters, I'm just gonna keep it to myself... Like your signature... I have (almost) all parts together, and I have *some* spare time to build the thing, however, I do not have time to make the software available *yet*.
I don't have all time in the world, so I have to make priorities. The code for the OBD-thing will made available, but that will only be done when my install is done.

Quote: Originally Posted by JC-S60

Will your software be available to test/use?

No, other than the OBD-component, I will not make my code public. (not enough time to do so, and simply because it is 'custom made'. I made the software in the way that I want it. I didn't use skin-support, neither do I have a good music database-support yet, but those are not my must-have's.)

I'll probably post some examples and pieces of code that will explain how I embedded Destinator and Zoom-player.

JC-S60 · 07-05-2004, 11:40 AM

Well, thanks already for the efforts

I understand your reasons, so I won't whine

The same reasons (no time) prevent me from finishing off the once started VB app that would run on my carpc (which was when frodoplayer etc didn't exist yet, now I have no reasons to try and build something myself, as they are much better programmers).

Joachim

proTONEd · 07-21-2004, 08:59 AM

Well here's another one of those Belgians.

Seems that the concept of CarPC is getting rather popular in out little country.

NeedStorage - just curious, where are you from?
You said you were looking for an Opus? I got my parts from http://www.myelectronics.nl/.
They have an Opus, but it's only the 150W version. They sell it for €199 (€ 236,81 incl VAT). They also got a lot of the other equiment that is mostly used for CarPC's.

Needstorage · 07-22-2004, 03:43 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by proTONEd

Well here's another one of those Belgians.

Seems that the concept of CarPC is getting rather popular in out little country.

NeedStorage - just curious, where are you from?
You said you were looking for an Opus? I got my parts from http://www.myelectronics.nl/.
They have an Opus, but it's only the 150W version. They sell it for €199 (€ 236,81 incl VAT). They also got a lot of the other equiment that is mostly used for CarPC's.

Yea, I know this store, but got my stuff from www.carTFT.com. I am starting with a 'snap on' PW-type of PSU, because 150Watt is still overkill for my setup, and I'm building my own startup/shutdown-controller using a basic stamp. I started installing this week. I'm approx. 80% progressed on my install. I took some pictures and I will post them in a couple of days when the install is finished.

I'm from Lier, so I assume you're also from Belgium, if so, from where exactly are you then?

proTONEd · 07-22-2004, 05:46 PM

150w is indeed overkill. I myself have a PW70a, works great. I've got it combined with the ITPS. Limited in features but does the job.

Great link, thanks, i'll check it out. In general Germans are lot cheaper what electronics are concerned.

I'm eager to see those pictures

I'm from Bree (home of Kim Clijsters like they say

). Not far from Weert (Netherlands). Don't know whether you've got an idea now

Needstorage · 07-23-2004, 04:58 AM

90% done.

All wires are in place. I no longer need to do detach any interior parts for cables.

I have:
- 1 USB cable (GPS) running from roof to CarPC location.
- 2 UTP cat5e cables running from dash to CarPC location. (1 sound, 1 OBD)
- 2 times 2mm² power pairs running from dash to CarPC. (1 for PC power, 1 controls LCD power)
- the Touschreen cable (incl. 1x sound, 2x video, 1x USB and 1x VGA) running from Dash to CarPC

Still need to:
- Put the CarPC in (takes only 5 minutes)
- attach the screen to the mount on my dash
- connect the power to the CarPC and TFT
- solder connectors to the OBD and Audio wires and connect them.
That's a job I'm gonna do tonight. I hope to have it finished, so I can post my pictures tomorrow.

JC-S60 · 07-23-2004, 05:13 AM

I'm impatiently awaiting the result!

Have you tested the CAT5e for sound? No fear for interference with unshielded cable?

Joachim

Needstorage · 07-23-2004, 05:18 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by JC-S60

Have you tested the CAT5e for sound? No fear for interference with unshielded cable?

Actually, nope. But a friend of mine has an electronic parts shop in Lokeren. He has a document (pdf) on his website with information regarding Cat5e UTP cable for audio use: Cat5e UTP for audio use

So, I'm pretty confident it will work. (BTW, the Audio-UTP cable I'm running is only approx. 1.5 meters in length)

(For the English speaking, sorry, only have it in Dutch for now)

JC-S60 · 07-23-2004, 07:15 AM

And how are you going to use balanced signals in your car?

Are you going to send speaker-level signals through these cables or just line-signals?

I'm very curious, sorry 'bout that

Joa

Needstorage · 07-23-2004, 07:23 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by JC-S60

And how are you going to use balanced signals in your car?

Are you going to send speaker-level signals through these cables or just line-signals?

I'm very curious, sorry 'bout that

Joa

The balanced signals thing is only for digital audio, I believe... Anyway, I'll post the results later.

JC-S60 · 07-23-2004, 07:41 AM

Good luck, and let us know what you experience!

Joa

kalito · 07-24-2004, 05:41 PM

show some pictures or something better than explination and ideas... is "finished projects only" i'm in the US and i don't even know how a ford galaxy looks like...i read the entire thead hoping to see some pictures but nothing...

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