1999 Ford Escort ZX2

nkotch · 04-05-2006, 01:38 AM

UPDATE:
Well, was in an accident a couple weeks ago (end of Feb '07) and the car is now totaled. At least it wasn't my fault but it was a sad end, she was a good car.

Been done for a month or so now, just been too busy to post pics and a little write-up.

Equipment:
-VIA Epia PD 1GHZ Mobo
-OPUS 150 PSU
-7" LinITX touchscreen
-512MB Ram
-60Gig 3.5" HD
-Dlink USB bluetooth (EDGE internet through Cingular, V551 phone)
-Belkin 802.11g USB wireless
-DVD-ROM (hooked up IDE)
-Logitech wireless keyboard (RF, standard size)
-Garmin GPS-II serial gps w/ external antenna (OLD unit, already had it wired
in car)
-HOLUX GPSslim236 bluetooth gps (backup and for use with pocket pc)

Software:
-Windows XP Pro SP2
-Road Runner w/ Simplistique Skin (different from pictures below)
-iGuidance

Here's the screen mounted right above the Alpine HU. This car has that oval piece with the factory radio molded into it so I already had to replace it when I put in the Alpine and I didn't want to get rid of or relocate the HU to flush mount the screen, plus I don't think it would have fit anyway. So for right now I screwed the bracket the screen came with to that black oval piece to hold the screen right above the HU. There's probably enough room between the HU and that air vent right above the screen where I could fabricate a housing around the screen so it looks like it's flush mounted but I've never done any fab work and am in the middle of a crazy semester and an upcoming wedding so I just wanted to get it all working. The only thing I will probably do is hide the cables coming from the screen. On this screen the cables exit out the bottom so I'd have to put a hole in the back cover and reroute the cables through there, and then make a hole in that black oval dash piece and run the cables in and down. Shouldn't be too hard, will probably be my next weekend project when I have the time. But right that 6" of tubing is the only cable visible and I can easily totally remove the screen in 30seconds.

Close ups of the screen w/ Road Runner running. Not using this skin anymore though, have switched to one called Simplistique.

Here is the computer under the passenger's seat (with seat all the way forward). Picture is a little old, I have cleaned up the wiring (w/ more black tubing) since then. Can also see the IDE cable going to the DVD-ROM that's just out of the picture. It's attached to the top of the case and faces forward so that it is about even with the front of the passenger's seat (within my reach). I have a IDE-USB adapter that I used at first but when I had it hooked up I would get errors (BSODs) everytime I came out of hibernate, as soon as I went back to IDE it worked perfectly, so for now the drive will stay under the seat. Eventually would like to get a slim slot load unit and install in glove box or in dash somewhere.

And with the seat moved back it's hidden.

Antennas on the trunk. On left is the active GPS antenna for the Garmin unit. That gps is really old (8 channel, NON-parallel receiver) so it really needs an external antenna). In the middle is an amateur radio antenna (2m/440 dual band). I have a 2m radio, 2m amp, and a packet TNC under the driver's seat for voice, APRS tracking capability, and public service/emergency communication work. On the right is just the standard radio antenna.

That's it for now....

nkotch · 05-02-2006, 10:33 PM

Reserved post

kiwiruss · 05-03-2006, 10:57 AM

Why didnt you just keep your gps antenna inside the car ?
I have mine on the dash of my van and it functions ok and is safe from the weather.

nkotch · 05-03-2006, 12:08 PM

That antenna right there is a mag mount active (powered) antenna and made to be used outside so weather doesn't bother it. And right now I'm still using it with an old Garmin GPSII unit that needs the antenna outside since it doesn't receive very well compared to the newer receivers. I can get just a good a signal/lock using my new Holux receiver inside the car on the seat as I get currently with that external antenna and the old receiver.

So eventually I would like to hide the antenna and integrate my new gps unit. Just haven't done that yet.

Sidewalksalvage · 05-03-2006, 10:34 PM

Whats the cable from under the screen for?

Can we get more pics it looks great so far!

nkotch · 05-03-2006, 10:40 PM

Thanks, yea I want to get some more pics, especially since I'm using a different skin now. Next time I pull computer out of the car I'll get some of the case and inside.

That cable under screen is actually the screen's cable bundle. Unfortunately with this screen the connector cables exit out the bottom (instead of out back) so hiding them "as is" is pretty hard. Once school and my wedding is done (next weekend) I'll have some time over the summer and I want to route the cables out the back of the screen housing by cutting out a little of the back of the housing. And then I'll route the cables into that black oval piece on the dash and then the cables will be hidden.

Sidewalksalvage · 05-03-2006, 10:43 PM

ahhh ic... mine exited down too...mabye you can just route it toward the back into the dash? Maybe easier than cutting up the screen.

great job so far!

DASimpson · 11-08-2006, 08:37 AM

hi i was just woundering were ya got the skin pls

Quote: Originally Posted by nkotch

Been done for a month or so now, just been too busy to post pics and a little write-up.

Equipment:
-VIA Epia PD 1GHZ Mobo
-OPUS 150 PSU
-7" LinITX touchscreen
-512MB Ram
-60Gig 3.5" HD
-Dlink USB bluetooth (EDGE internet through Cingular, V551 phone)
-Belkin 802.11g USB wireless
-DVD-ROM (hooked up IDE)
-Logitech wireless keyboard (RF, standard size)
-Garmin GPS-II serial gps w/ external antenna (OLD unit, already had it wired
in car)
-HOLUX GPSslim236 bluetooth gps (backup and for use with pocket pc)

Software:
-Windows XP Pro SP2
-Road Runner w/ Simplistique Skin (different from pictures below)
-iGuidance

Here's the screen mounted right above the Alpine HU. This car has that oval piece with the factory radio molded into it so I already had to replace it when I put in the Alpine and I didn't want to get rid of or relocate the HU to flush mount the screen, plus I don't think it would have fit anyway. So for right now I screwed the bracket the screen came with to that black oval piece to hold the screen right above the HU. There's probably enough room between the HU and that air vent right above the screen where I could fabricate a housing around the screen so it looks like it's flush mounted but I've never done any fab work and am in the middle of a crazy semester and an upcoming wedding so I just wanted to get it all working. The only thing I will probably do is hide the cables coming from the screen. On this screen the cables exit out the bottom so I'd have to put a hole in the back cover and reroute the cables through there, and then make a hole in that black oval dash piece and run the cables in and down. Shouldn't be too hard, will probably be my next weekend project when I have the time. But right that 6" of tubing is the only cable visible and I can easily totally remove the screen in 30seconds.

Close ups of the screen w/ Road Runner running. Not using this skin anymore though, have switched to one called Simplistique.

Here is the computer under the passenger's seat (with seat all the way forward). Picture is a little old, I have cleaned up the wiring (w/ more black tubing) since then. Can also see the IDE cable going to the DVD-ROM that's just out of the picture. It's attached to the top of the case and faces forward so that it is about even with the front of the passenger's seat (within my reach). I have a IDE-USB adapter that I used at first but when I had it hooked up I would get errors (BSODs) everytime I came out of hibernate, as soon as I went back to IDE it worked perfectly, so for now the drive will stay under the seat. Eventually would like to get a slim slot load unit and install in glove box or in dash somewhere.

And with the seat moved back it's hidden.

Antennas on the trunk. On left is the active GPS antenna for the Garmin unit. That gps is really old (8 channel, NON-parallel receiver) so it really needs an external antenna). In the middle is an amateur radio antenna (2m/440 dual band). I have a 2m radio, 2m amp, and a packet TNC under the driver's seat for voice, APRS tracking capability, and public service/emergency communication work. On the right is just the standard radio antenna.

That's it for now....