Thread: 2003 Durango SLT / Project HiJackZX1 / 56K= D@mn this $h!+ is gonna load slow!

Decided to work on the center console and figure out how to mount the screen. I decided to clear my head and think with simplicity, rather then complicated. Went to Home Depot and bought a special hing that can lock into certain positions. Then did a miner mod to the screen to attach the hing to the screen, then screwed to the console. i am very happy with the out come, and I can now fold my seats down.








This idea was a epic fail. The user had to bend over to reach the screen. Killed this idea for a pillar design.

I got my SOHO card and the USB to express card slot. The SOHO card has now eliminated all the echo in the phone solution.

I also decided to upgrade my air card to a express card version, specifically the Novatel Merlin EX720. There were so many bad reviews on this card, but good reviews on all the Sierra Cards which I tried and did not work on my PC. Signal strength was ok, but the hibernation issue was just maddening. I decided to get the Novatel and it works way better then both Sierra cards. At high speed with no external antenna, I do not buffer, maybe once every 5 minutes. With both Sierra cards I could not go high speed. Today I listened to internet radio going 70 mph and not once did it buffer. I do notice that web pages take a few seconds longer to load in a browser, but who cares, as long as the internet radio and Slingbox work flawless. I now regret getting the HDTV tuner because now Slingbox is stable. I think the main reason is that the Novatel installs itself as a ethernet card rather then a wireless card, its just more stable then Sierra in the end, no matter what the d@mn reviews say.

I fried another USB hub, my inverter went wako and burnt it out. I decided to run a line from the 5v rail, since I had to anyways for the SOHO echo cancel card. i ran it to a different hub and it seems to work. I am going to go head and go through the headache of finding a 9V 600ma cigarette lighter adapter for the Aluratek 4 port VGA splitter. I simply dont trust inverters and want them out of my setup 100%. It says that the splitter works with 9V 200ma and 9V 10ma Idle, so I should be safe if I get a 300ma adapter. The wall plug is 9V 600ma. I treid a 9V 2000ma car adapter and all i get is a green screen, so I guess its too powerful.

Im going to run a few more tests for the 5v rail connection and the MoBo and PSU compatibility. In the past the MoBo would get stuck at POST when using a line from the 5v rail. If I get the same issue, then I will get a 5V car adapter also and connect the 9V and 5V to the 12V rail for power. That way I know the power is clean. My 12V rail can handle up to 15 amps, and I dont think right now I am even using 4 amps.

Originally Posted by WraithJ

As always i take a break from the world of CarPC's and your install gets sicker and sicker, its looking amazing cant wait to see more pics

Yea right, my install is having so many issues, its not funny. The system is now in, and runs very stable after having electrical issues. I had 2 small inverters that were causing my system to act odd. Finally one inverter blew out its 4th hub and i decided to kill it, and replace with a Opus dc-dc device that sends out a 5v signal. the last inverter i modded with a large cooling fan so that it cant get warm. system is now unning 100%. i still have all the fabrication work to be done though. Because it is costly my install has stopped at that. I am also having a issue with the DQP that I bought to split up the cameras for the rear mirror cameras. I cant get it to default with the stupid monstable switch. It doesnt release fast enough which causes the DQP to go into this dumb zoom mode. I am also designing small foot pedals so I can change between left and right cameras.

Originally Posted by WraithJ

Blimey thats sounds like a lot of work! Wat about small screens on the pillars by either camera(if there still mirror replacemtns like u were planning earlier)?

Yea im still deleting all mirrors. Its just a matter of figuring out the circuits and maybe hacking it to just start in 3 way mode when i apply power. This is were I am limited though, I have no idea about this stuff.

I have recieved most of my equipment. I have had some set backs though. The VGA splitter for my setup turned out to be AC/AC so I had to use a inverter. The inverter must have been doing something funky because I was having issues with RAM constantly failing, which the graphics card uses. I managed to find a DC splitter that has the option to run on 9V or 5V. I am also waiting on a cable from buyextras.com and my OPUS 15W PSU, which will be for a 7 port USB hub and the new splitter. Once this is done my setup will be 100% inverter free. I am also still waiting on the 3 cameras for the car, and the USB touch controller. The seller emailed me with a tracking number for the cameras, but the seller for the USB touch controller has told me it has become lost. I was furious because i have been waiting almost 2 months. I told him to find it or replace it or I would leave negative feedback. Lets hope he comes through.

Decided to delete the parking sensor system from my car. The new body kit I want is just 2 flawless and I dont want to mess up the look with the sensors. I am 100% sure that the new cam system will be just fine. Also I am considering adding a 4th cam to the system but it will be rarely used. When I take the car to the track, then the cam will be activated.

Well right now my system is working, not 100% like I would like, but its getting there. I got the new VGA splitter in, but when I first turn on the the screens connected to it start to like bleed. Once Windows starts, it works fine, but it is annoying. I'm going to see if this happens from the VGA side. Currently I have the splitter connected to the DVI-D side via a special converter. I also decided to upgrade to 8 screens. I just felt more comfortable with everyone having their own screen. So thats 3 in the front, 2 for the second row, 2 for the third row, and one big screen for the rear passengers. I am having a issue with the car not able to handle all of the electrical components, so in the future, I am replacing the alternator with a bigger one. I might also look into maybe adding a solar charging type system to the roof, since its so big. Still lots of fabing to do, but its getting there.