2000 MX5/Miata EEEPC CarPC (Photos)

ibfragalot · 05-23-2008, 12:59 AM

Note: This will be more of a reminder blog for me while I build this thing, and a how to/how don't showing the progress as I build this thing. There are heaps of pics of final installs here, but not enough pics of progress with the little things, so I hope this will help people with ideas on how to build their own micro-notebook installation, and general car pc install.

Comments and any assistance are very welcome. Don't mind my mindless brain babble

Here are the bits I'm getting thru purchasing.

HARDWARE
EEEPC 900mhz, 2Gig Ram, 4GB SSHD (PURCHASED)
Lilliput 701 7" Touchscreen (PURCHASED)
80gb 2.5" USB HDD (PURCHASED)
Compro U500 USB Digital TV Stick (PURCHASED)
GPS USB SiRF Star III BU-353 (PURCHASED)
Bybyte Double Din LCD Frame (701) and 99-7505 MX5 Mount Kit (PURCHASED)
SiLab USB FM Stick OR Radio Shark 2 with ext. launched modified software
Dealextreme 350w Inverter (PURCHASED)
Jaycar Digital TV Powered Antenna (PURCHASED)
Dealextreme.com Wifi USB Adapter + External Antenna
Dealextreme.com 7Port USB Hub (PURCHASED)
Antec Big Boy 200 20cm Fan (PURCHASED)
7" Widescreen LCD Protectors (PURCHASED)
Jaycar Professional Electronics Enclosure (PURCHASED)
Ebay Rear Mount Night Vision Camera (PURCHASED)
DLink Bluetooth Dongle (PURCHASED)
Logitech Wireless Mini Laser Mouse (PURCHASED)
Some kind of PDA Keyboard, not researched.

SOFTWARE
Centrafuse Navigation 2.0 RCx
ShutControl
Mame Plugin

Current layout diagram included.

Will be updating with pictures as I progress.

Fox_Mulder · 05-23-2008, 04:05 AM

You should check out

http://beta.ivancover.com/wiki/index...ernal_Upgrades

ibfragalot · 05-23-2008, 04:45 AM

Thanks for the link, very interesting.

ibfragalot · 05-25-2008, 06:46 PM

What I learnt this weekend: DON'T use nlite for this. No matter what you do it will kill the speech, there is a way to fix it but it isn't very clean. Ended up doing a straight XP install. 1GB windows install. Doh. Boots fast enough though.

Currently working on the power on laptop from Ignition wiring

See here for how to do this:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/hard...y-circuit.html

And also a simpler relay for switching on the DC-DC power converter from ignition.

ibfragalot · 05-25-2008, 06:48 PM

Interesting links for powering on laptop

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/user...rn-module.html

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/hard...y-circuit.html

The capacitor allows the coil of the relay to be energized until the capacitor stores a charge, thus de-energizing the coil. The resistor bleeds off the charge of the capacitor when positive voltage is removed from the other side of the coil. You can increase the output time by simply changing the value of the capacitor. This one will give you about a 1/2 second output.

Double din kits

http://bybyte.com/kits.htm

ibfragalot · 05-26-2008, 01:26 AM

FUSION BRAIN CONTROL
http://fusioncontrolcentre.com/Fusio...products_id=28

AUTO POWER-ON LILLIPUT
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/lcd-...ut-screen.html

ibfragalot · 05-26-2008, 05:00 AM

Use GOOGLE with your GPS + Car Tracking.

Have to pay for a decent version though (for most people, your only paying for it to auto zoom to your car location... which is kinda hmm) but still, a very cool app. I will probably get it.

http://goopstechnologies.com/goops.html#compare

On second thought after driving to pickup the missus with this hooked up to the little EEEPC, I'll gladly pay for it. Very very nice. It tracked me walking out of my apartment, down the stairs to my car, etc. Awesome. Good test of the BU-353 GPS unit, Crazy accuracy. 10m my ***, more like 1m!

IMPLEMENT GOOPS into CF
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/sb-s...-cf-nexus.html

ibfragalot · 05-26-2008, 07:17 AM

Removed DC-DC option as corrected EEEPC power supply is 9.5v, not 15v as previously thought. No DC-DC available that I can see which supplies downgraded 9.5v Also, 9x USB devices, so powered hub needed. Decided decent inverter more applicable.

Purchased at Deal Extreme

300W 12V DC to 220V AC Power Inverter with Connection Kits $31.37 USD
7 Ports Powered USB Hub KILBY $16.90 USD

ibfragalot · 05-28-2008, 05:30 AM

AUTO POWER ON DURING IGNITION - to get rid of that stupid solenoid idea. Donated him enough money for a good beer

RJ45 Loopback Adaptor Method
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/912379-post4.html

AUTO POWER OFF WHEN AC LOST

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/soft...-software.html

rx2nr · 05-28-2008, 06:09 AM

hows it going along so far? any success powering the laptop on ignition?

Sonicxtacy02 · 05-28-2008, 08:01 AM

have you already bought the tv antenna? if not, ditch it.. to this date noone is satisfied with aerial reception.. not to mention feb 2009 is right around the corner... that means no more analog broadcast anyway in the US

ibfragalot · 05-28-2008, 10:48 PM

rx2nr
I am going with the "RJ45 Loopback Adaptor Method" option as per link above as this looks the most promising. I will be testing it this weekend. Pretty simple. Heres hoping.

Sonicxtacy02
Thanks for the heads up. I was going to use an unused Digital TV Antenna I have around my house, so no loss.

If its hard to get analogue receiption in a car, I can imagine how hard DVB reception will be!

ibfragalot · 06-01-2008, 05:19 AM

Weekend Update

USB Bluetooth with full bluetooth Phone control amazingly easy to get working. Plug and play. Very nice.

Have not tested WAKE-ON-LINE due to general lazyness.

HARDWARE
Undecided on case to put in the EEEPC+Accessories. Undecided between plastic box and metal case I have seen.

SOFTWARE
Updated and tested all systems.
MP3/Music = ALL OK
VIDEO = ALL OK, added 250gb USB2 Disk, ALL OK.
CENTRAFUSE = Customised menu layout, happy, ALL OK.
GOOGLE EARTH = Tested output, added plugin, ALL OK.
NAV = Untested until AUS Centrafuse purchase
GPS = Tested with Google Earth, all OK.
REVERSE CAM = Tested OK with internal cam. Need HW for car cam.
RADIO = HW REQ.
WEB = ALL OK
WIFI = ALL OK
BLUETOOTH = Added phone, tested incoming/outgoing calls,phonebook, ALL OK.
MAME/GAMES = Added mame icon, added games, waiting on game archive, ALL OK.

TO DECIDE:
External casing to keep all the stuff in one place. Don't want bits everywhere as with other laptop installs. Only external bits is the INVERTER to keep heat separate from PC.

spadival · 06-02-2008, 01:58 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by ibfragalot

GOOGLE EARTH = Tested output, added plugin, ALL OK.

What plugin are you talking about here? I need one too. Cant find any.

ibfragalot · 06-02-2008, 03:30 AM

I'm talking about Goops sorry, for Google Earth GPS tracking, not a CF plug for GE..
http://goopstechnologies.com/

Thou I find just linking an external app, pointing it to goops works fine, launches fullscreen.

But yeah a proper inbuilt CF plugin would be nicer