Bimmerpc BMW 320 -02 touring CAR-PC project

bimmerpc · 06-17-2006, 08:58 AM

Current planning schedule! Suggestions or thoughts are exteremely welcome!
I started from original picture from Puffanug
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...ghlight=scheme
hope You do´n´t mind!

I customized it to my needs. Most of the products that will be used is in my hands or are shipped.

But I am completely flexible to sell things back on ebay if someone convince me I should do

bimmerpc · 06-17-2006, 09:07 AM

Current comments/issues

I greyed out one power lead (from the usb hub that will be available within reach so I can insert portable devices. Not sure I need it to be powered?

Not sure either that I will need the other one to be powered

Not sure if Wifi plug delievers enough reception if it´s hiddein with the other things

My IBM notebook doesnt seem to have usb 2.0 because windows displays that I am currently attaching a highspeed device to a low speed usb connector.
Is usb 2.0 very important for some of my devices or can I just run everything with 1.0/1.1 ?

DarquePervert · 06-17-2006, 09:50 AM

The USB hub is something you're going to have to experiment with. Some devices need a powered hub. Some don't.

The more physical layers between the WiFi adapter and the device it's connected to, the worse your reception will be. The best solution is to use a 2.4Ghz WiFi antenna outside the vehicle.

The three things in your diagram that I see that you'll want USB 2.0 for are the optical drive, the bluetooth and the WiFi. I'd think the TV adapter would be better off w/ USB2.0 as well, although I don't know.
As a general rule, TV in the car sucks balls. Reception is marginal at best. I suggest leaving this as the last thing you implement for that reason. Chances are if you don't have TV in your ride, you're not going to miss it.

bimmerpc · 06-17-2006, 09:59 AM

Thanks
but what are the options on doing an upgrade to my notebook? is there a usb 2.0 pcmcia card

Tv is just for "parked car" situations. I recall that I saw some kind of H-shaped in-car antenna maybe hide-able inside car panels. (Hirschman maybe?)
The small antenna I got gave good reception yesterday when I did hold it a with my hand outside my window and on top of roof

Imagine best possible reception look of my car
Usb radioshark antenna on roof
Wifi antenna on roof
Tv-antenna on roof
gps antenna on roof

will look like I´m working for BBC news or something when driving

Anshu · 06-17-2006, 10:48 AM

for powering your laptop poke around here
http://www.atbatt.com/laptop-batteri...inkPad_A31.asp
i think this one may work for you
http://www.atbatt.com/product/7593.asp

I got one for my inspiron 5100 and it works like a charm and its much more efficent then going to an inverter. It takes about 10 amps so I found a 30 amp relay that Im going to use with it.

DarquePervert · 06-17-2006, 11:06 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by bimmerpc

Thanks
but what are the options on doing an upgrade to my notebook? is there a usb 2.0 pcmcia card

They exist.

Quote:

Imagine best possible reception look of my car
Usb radioshark antenna on roof
Wifi antenna on roof
Tv-antenna on roof
gps antenna on roof

will look like I´m working for BBC news or something when driving

Not if you get one of these: http://www.mp3car.com/store/product_...roducts_id=148
That covers GPS & WiFi and cellphone as well.

bimmerpc · 06-17-2006, 11:10 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Anshu

for powering your laptop poke around here
http://www.atbatt.com/laptop-batteri...inkPad_A31.asp
i think this one may work for you
http://www.atbatt.com/product/7593.asp

I got one for my inspiron 5100 and it works like a charm and its much more efficent then going to an inverter. It takes about 10 amps so I found a 30 amp relay that Im going to use with it.

ok, but is there any easy instal in car for "non car products" like the laptop?
I mean some kind of box that I attatch to the car powerline and that has got standard power connectors so that I can just use any product and plug their included power adapter to that box?

bimmerpc · 06-17-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

They exist.

Not if you get one of these: http://www.mp3car.com/store/product_...roducts_id=148
That covers GPS & WiFi and cellphone as well.

Yeah thanks, I saw one at ebay, looke neat! so I guess that is the way to go unless there arent any replacement parts so I can put it inside my docking station which is the one I am planning on attaching the usb chain to.

Anshu · 06-17-2006, 11:43 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by bimmerpc

ok, but is there any easy instal in car for "non car products" like the laptop?
I mean some kind of box that I attatch to the car powerline and that has got standard power connectors so that I can just use any product and plug their included power adapter to that box?

yes, what that is an inverter. they have quite a few downsides, so many people choose against them.

bimmerpc · 06-17-2006, 01:30 PM

Any way, do someone know a way to check weather or not my pc has got usb 1.0 or 2.0?

Anshu · 06-17-2006, 01:35 PM

check the device manager.
its under hardware in the system props

DarquePervert · 06-17-2006, 01:35 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by bimmerpc

Any way, do someone know a way to check weather or not my pc has got usb 1.0 or 2.0?

Read the specs?

bimmerpc · 06-17-2006, 02:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Anshu

check the device manager.
its under hardware in the system props

Hmmm.. looking.... looots of usb info there...

Anshu · 06-17-2006, 04:01 PM

from what i gather here
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/artic...d,99343,00.asp
it looks to be usb 1.1, so youll want something like this(first listing i found)
http://cgi.ebay.com/CardBus-USB-2-0-...QQcmdZViewItem

bimmerpc · 06-17-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Anshu

from what i gather here
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/artic...d,99343,00.asp
it looks to be usb 1.1, so youll want something like this(first listing i found)
http://cgi.ebay.com/CardBus-USB-2-0-...QQcmdZViewItem

Yeah that seems to be a fact!
I got this port replicator, so I guess there isnt any room for a pcmcia card unless I put it in the actual pc. And I would like it to be as dockable as possible without attaching many wires. So if it is possible in some way to upgrade to 2.0 via the port replicator/dock (which does have a 2.0 port now but it is unusable at high speed) I would be very happy!

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-X22...ayphotohosting