'Burb-puter

Well, the story starts with this. I recently bought my wife a 99 Suburban as a 'kid hauler'. Her first complaint was seeing when backing up. That got us looking into the possibility of a rear-view camera. In thinking about it, we also concluded that Navigation was a major requirement for her. During a visit to Circuit City looking at things, we decided we like the theory behind the Pioneer AVIC-D3. There was one major problem. The 'Burb is a 1.5 DIN, while the AVIC is a 2 DIN. Conclusion was that the project would get tabled for now, as hacking up the dash is alot of work, and finances didnt really permit anyway.

Fast Forward a couple months. A friend of mine pointed me here to check things out. I started looking around for some examples of what people had done in a dash like mine. I stubled accross DohCrazy's dash mod that he did. Looked pretty sharp! Well in further searching I saw it was FOR SALE! and had been for a YEAR. I sent him an email, and made an offer. And it was all downhill from there!!!

Sooooo...... Here is the plan

Hardware:

• Lilliput 809GL-80NP/C/T
• IBM Thinkpad T30 with Port Rep
• Unsure on the Amp yet, 4 channel, 400w range
• Silabs USB Tuner
• Custom Built 'ringer' module for 'wake on ring'
• Fushion Brain

Software:

• Streetdeck
• Mapoint 2006
• WinXP Tablet

Cusom Software Theories:

• Modifed Suburu Logo Skin with a Selectable Camera overlay in place of logo?
• Reverse Triggered backup camera
• Custom Pyrometer & boost gauges (its a diesel :peace:)
• Permenant Clock
• QWERTY Keyboard
• Relocate Volume to left side
• Calculator
• Calendar (maybe integrate with Google or outlook somehow?)
• 'Shopping List' Module? (considering a dot-matrix printer for a quick printout)

And much much more.

I hope to start installing things tomorrow. First plan of attack is to get the dash panel installed, laptop installed, and make things 'functional'. For a few days, it will be playing sound via computer speakers... :lol: But it will be ok.

Here is a pic of the screen powered up in the dash. DohCrazy did a bang-up job when he did this install. I bought a can of gray paint tonight and plan to mask & paint the gray portion of it. I have to admit... if it werent for him making such a nice dash & selling it... I wouldnt be doing this for some time! I do have to figure out what I am going to do with the 4x4 buttons, as the spot they belong is too small now. Although, I might just have enough room there for a 3.5" card reader :tape:


I am open to input on any of my suggestions above!

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._004_Small.jpg

Looking like a good start keep up the good work, Id like to see how this turns out.

You can put a USB hub where the 4X4 buttons go...

Rafster

Did you say "Dot Matrix Printer for fast printouts"?

:lol:

Maybe they have gotten faster but my 'Roland Raven" (from the late 80's) dot matrix takes about 4-5 minutes for a 8.5"x11". Also the paper has to be perfectly aligned on the rollers (the paper with the wholes), or it will jam up, so I can imagine in the car that would be no good.

They make those small laser printer things. The are pretty much the same size as a can of pringles. Then you put in a sheet and out it comes printed. Might be better than a dot matrix. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rafster

You can put a USB hub where the 4X4 buttons go...

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I had planned a card reader there, but I still need to put the 4x4 buttons someplace, and now that I realize its all one module, its got to be there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

Maybe they have gotten faster but my 'Roland Raven" (from the late 80's) dot matrix takes about 4-5 minutes for a 8.5"x11". Also the paper has to be perfectly aligned on the rollers (the paper with the wholes), or it will jam up, so I can imagine in the car that would be no good.

They make those small laser printer things. The are pretty much the same size as a can of pringles. Then you put in a sheet and out it comes printed. Might be better than a dot matrix.

---

I meant like a small reciept printer... a laser is real high power, and I am cheap, so a 'portable' laser is probably out. we will see what happens.... very low priority.

Welll, I am further along tonight!

I have the dash installed. It took a little effort, but it went pretty well. We resprayed the gray, to cover up the 'blemish' that it had. I test fit it, and tried it out this afternoon, with the HVAC controls hanging out, and we decided we were ready to hack away! I spent about 2 hours cutting with a dremmel where the stock CD player was to make the HVAC fit properly. Got that all done, and then I disocvered that DohCrazy must have cut the top of the HVAC control box for the VGA cable to clear. I wasnt quite sure I wanted to do that, so I brought the dash inside, and looked at it for a few. I decided to take the bottom 2 screws out of the back cover on the screen, and space it out about 1.25" with spacer made from a bic pen. This worked quite well, and gave the clearence I needed.

Dash is all in place now, but I must have stressed Doh's handy 'glass work', as I now have a crack at the top of the original 4x4 button hole. This doesnt upset me too much, as because of the way the 4x4 button module is, I think I will have to put it there anyway, and that would cover up the crack.

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._001_Small.jpg

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._004_Small.jpg

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._005_Small.jpg

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._006_Small.jpg

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._008_Small.jpg

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._009_Small.jpg

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._010_Small.jpg

More progress tonight. I got my key for SD, so we can see if my crash issues go away. (I think it was related to Mappoint crashing when it timed out)

I also stopped by a friends with my old computer case that I plan to use as a 'security box'. He cut out the holes I needed with a plasma cutter. I plan to mount this box under the middle row, drivers side seat. I will atach the lid on with screws like normal, and it also has a padlock hole. I figure that by the time I bolt the box down, and lock it up, under said seat, it aint going anywhere. Especially since to get to it, 2 car seats will have to be removed ;-)

I am thinking of having some 'blank plates' made up for the ends to fill in some of the existing holes in the case. Also have provisions for a cooling fan.

I got my 12vdc cord for the laptop tonight. Need to decide if I want to use a VGA ext cable, or a 9 pin Mini-din for the monitor. I could go either way, consdering I plan to stuff a USB hub in the dash.

Also have my 'ring simulator' module sketched out, so I can use the 'wake on ring' feature of the laptop to bring it out of sleep.

More tomorrow.....



http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._011_Small.jpg

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._012_Small.jpg

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._013_Small.jpg

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._014_Small.jpg

Picked up my Amp & wiring kit last night... And I am almost done with my 'power on' module. Getting closer!

Ok... tonights update.

Painted the 'security' box with the same interior paint I used on the dash. Came out pretty nice. Mounted my port replicator in it finally (twice) and set the laptop in. I am wondering if I even need to secure the laptop with anything else in there, its pretty tight!

I also scoped out space under the Drivers 'Middle Row' seat where I planned on mounting the box. I discovered there is enough room to mount the amp on top of the box, which works out nicely... as I am opposed to drilling screws through the floor. Now I only have to mount 1 unit.

Laptop, Port Rep, Amp, and other random stuff (my small USB hub too)

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._29_07_008.jpg

Painted 'Security' Box

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._29_07_009.jpg

Box Assembled with Fan, Port Rep, & Amp

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._29_07_010.jpg

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._29_07_011.jpg

http://www.wesleyscott.com/albums/al..._29_07_012.jpg


So... now I am down to finishing my 'remote power on' setup, and installing/wiring. I also need to decide what to do with my 4x4 buttons yet. One thing I have decided I like about my box, is it has room for a Fusion Brain or 2... and my remote power on board.

Looking nice... lets see everything wired already!!! :D Haha good luck man.