Thread: 2006 Nissan Altima SE R CarP... errr CarTab!

Introduction
Well, after months and months of planning and scrapping those plans, and re-planning and reading and reading and watching other's thread's, and watching Technology advance as quickly as it has been recently, it's time I start my worklog.

This is going to be installed in my 2006 Nissan Altima SE R.

I've wanted to build a CarPC for quite some time, I have years of experience with computers and plenty of experience with electronics as well as car modifying and stereo work, I had planned one for my old '97 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, but that car had major electrical issues causing it's early death, before I could get to this project. Then I moved out and didn't need a car for 3 years, just using my fiance's 2007 Honda CRV (stock) when needed, now I'm still on my own but living far from my new job (47 miles each way) so I needed a car, with a good stereo for the daily ride... So I bought my 2006 Altima SE R in Jan of 2011, and knew it was finally time to get down to business.

Before I begin I just wanted to give a shoutout to my brother, my best friend Ari, and everyone on MP3car.com and Nissanclub.com forums (for all the dash light reset procedure's that keep popping up while testing audio equipment with sensors unplugged!)... I've learned a LOT about this stuff while researching and building this project, without you guys I wouldn't have been able to do it.

Parts, Parts and more Parts!
Stock Setup in the Altima:
BOSE 6-Disc CD Changer in-dash (non-MP3/WMA)
BOSE Amp in Trunk
Front Doors: Component 6.75"(6 3/4) Speakers (Tweeters in A-Pillar's)
Rear Doors: Coaxial 6.75"(6 3/4) Speakers
Rear Deck: 6x9 Speakers - used solely as "Subwoofers"

Current Setup:
JVC KD-NX5000 DVD Player
BOSE Amp in Trunk
Front Doors: Component 6.75"(6 3/4) Speakers (Tweeters in A-Pillar's)
Rear Doors: Coaxial 6.75"(6 3/4) Speakers - Disconnected
Rear Amp: Kenwood KAC-1502S 2 Channel in trunk
Rear Deck: Pioneer 6x9 4-way Coaxial Speakers
Sub Amp: Pioneer 2 Channel 760W Peak (was given to me with the sub's in the box - need to write down model number)
Subwoofers: Pioneer 10" x2 in a sealed box mounted in trunk


Project Build
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7" in-dash
Clarion EQS746 Equalizer
Front Amp: Kenwood KAC-1502S 2 Channel under pass. seat (location pending)
Front Doors: Alpine SPS-610C 6.5"(6 1/2) Component Speakers (Tweeters in A-Pillar's)
Rear Doors: None (for now - may stay this way, don't want overkill)
Rear Amp: Kenwood KAC-1502S 2 Channel in trunk
Rear Deck: Pioneer 6x9 4-way Coaxial Speakers
Sub Amp: Pioneer 2 Channel 760W Peak (was given to me with the sub's in the box - need to write down model number)
Subwoofers: Pioneer 10" x2 in a sealed box mounted in trunk

Accessories:
PAC LC1 Volume Knob (only if I can't fit the EQ in an accessible location from the driver's seat)
3.5mm right angle
3.5mm Ground Loop Isolator (if needed)
3.5mm -> RCA Cable
Galaxy Tab 30-PIN to USB Car Charger Power Adapter
American International ND0K726 Double DIN Mounting Kit
Sandisk Micro SDXC 32GB - Extra Storage for the tunes
PLX Kiwi Bluetooth - OBDII Diagnostic! (Yes, the car is modded, why? because racecar.)

Apps on the Tab:
Sygic Aura Navigation w/Sygic U.S. Maps - Offline Navigation
Car Home Ultra - Front End for Android!
Torque - OBDII Diagnostics
Tasker - To automate stuff
Tablet Talk - SMS/Call Notifications on the Tab from my phone

The plan as of right now (may change when I start running wires and such) is to connect everything as follows.

Tablet Dock Connector -> USB -> Car Charger (opened up and hard wired to 12V Accessory power to turn on/off with car accessory)
Tablet 3.5mm Headphone Jack -> Right Angle Adapter (if needed) -> 3.5mm Ground Loop Isolator (again, if needed) -> 3.5mm to RCA Cable -> Input of Clarion EQ -> Output to 3 amplifier's / Second RCA to 3.5mm cable on AUX input for friends to connect their iPod/iPhone's to the amplifier's

Tasker is set to do the following:
When Power is connected from charger
Turn on Screen (no time-out/3 hours of timeout as no timeout doesn't seem to work)
Turn on WiFi
Turn on BT
Open CarTunes
Set Media Volume to 13 (14/15 sound too distorted)

When Power is disconnected
Close all running applications
Turn screen timeout to 30 seconds
Turn off WiFi and BT
Set Media Volume to 0


Progress:
Installed:

6K D2R 35w Low-Beam HID's
Front Speakers: Alpine SPS-610C 6-1/2" 2-Way Components
Front Amp: Kenwood KAC-1502S
Rear Speakers: Pioneer 6x9 4-Way Coaxial
Rear Amp: Kenwood KAC-1502S
Sub Speakers: 2x Pioneer 10"
Sub Amp: Pioneer 2-Channel 760W
PLX Devices Kiwi Bluetooth OBD II Adapter
American International ND-K726 2005-06 Nissan Altima Single/Double DIN Dash Kit
Clarion EQS746 1/2 DIN Graphic Equalizer with Built-in Crossover
6' Auxilliary Input Cable Stereo Mini-Jack to 2 Male RCA
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7"
USB Auto Quick Charge 5V; 1A
Duracell DC -> AC Power Inverter (100W w/USB 5v/2.1A)
Premium USB Sync and Charger Cable for Samsung Galaxy Tab
HHI (HandHeldItems) Anti-Glare and Anti-Fingerprint Screen Protector


The PLX Wiki device is plugged into the OBD II Port and the wire is tucked directly above the OBD Port behind the plastic underneath my steering wheel, then zip tied in a coil. The little bit of wire I needed was ran out through a small notch cut into my fuse box panel door that is off to the left of the OBD Port, and the PLX is currently hanging out about 1-2 inches down from the bottom of the fuse box. I will be double side taping this device to the under side of the dash for permanent mounting.

I have so far installed all the speakers and amplifier's, (Front Alpine Component Amplifier is located under the passenger seat, other two amplifiers are attached to the back of my Subwoofer box in the trunk) and re-ran the remote wire for the amp's and EQ to the RED 12V Ignition line that originally connected to the old JVC Headunit. I have removed the JVC Headunit and all of it's accessories (BT Adapter, Speed Sensor, GPS Antenna, Aux In cable), and installed the Clarion EQ under my A/C Controls in the cubby. To install that we removed the door and used the Dremel to cut out a slot along the top edge of the cubby, then screwed the mounting brackets from the EQ into the side of the cubby and wired it all up. The AUX In from the EQ is a RCA -> Mini (3.5mm) cable ran from the back of the EQ underneath it and out the front of the cubby, this is a 6' cable allowing all passengers to be able to plug their iPod/iPhone/Android/MP3 Player into the car's stereo.

The tablet is now installed (non-removably) in my dash.. We ended up not using any bezel from the dash mounting kit, and we just used the two brackets that screw into the support bar in the back and they stick straight towards the front of the dash, where the bezel is supposed to click onto. The tablet leans against these two supports stopping it from falling back into the dash, and the dash surround presses against the Tablet pushing it back against these supports making it nice and snug. Kind of difficult to explain, but I'll try to snap some pics of the mounting if anyone is interested. I have a few cell phone pics below of the install (EQ and Tab).

UPDATE 11/19/12
I just (finally) ordered my Samsung HS3000 BT adapter with a long (12') MicroUSB Cable and 3.5mm Audio Cable. I am going to mount the Headset up top on the headliner somewhere towards the center of the car and run the power and audio wires down the pillar into the Power Inverter and EQ respectively. Once I receive and install it I will post some newer pictures. I have not yet had a chance to make a better bezel, this one works for now.

Also, I have stopped using CarTunes and am now using PowerAMP full time, it is definitely the best option for in-dash Tablet.

UPDATE 6/15/12
I have installed this new app for listening to music: CarTunes - Awesome app for listening to music while driving, it has gesture control and the buttons are a good size for pressing while still watching the road, not too mention it sounds and looks great!

I have also installed my new Duracell Power Inverter I just ran the cigarette lighter plug into the console and tapped into my cigarette lighter located below my A/C Controls, then USB from the tablet to the Power Inverter.

Lastly, I have now finished my first attempt at a Bezel to cover up the gaps all around the tablet as well as the Samsung logo on the right side of the tablet, pics are at the bottom of this post! NOTE: This was my first time every fabricating something like this, so it's not perfect, but for now it'll do as I am going to a Nissan Summer Car Meet this weekend (Sunday - 6/17). However, I do plan on making a second bezel that doesn't have the little imperfections this one has. I made the bezel out of some extra Acrylic that my step-mom had lying around from her old Laser Engraving business. It is a piece of black 1/4" thick acrylic that I just used a Dremel and drill to cut/sand down to the shape I measured out. Then I sprayed the edges (inside and out) with black enamel paint (I had it laying around and it is flat-black so it works for me) as the edges of the acrylic (after being cut/sanded) were white.

Also while I was in there I pulled up my shifter bezel (shiny silver - which doesn't really match anything else in the car) and PlastiDipped it flat-black, so there's one pic of that as well.

UPDATE 11/27/12!

Just put up pictures of the tablet with the HHI Matte Anti-Fingerprint Anti-Glare screen protector at the end of the post for those who are interested in how it looks and how well it works.

Pictures! Yay! Everyone's favorite part!
Stock Head Unit (This is my car - pictures are from the dealer's website the day I went to go check the car out)




My Current Setup (JVC Head Unit)




New CarTab!!











UPDATE 6/15/12!







UPDATE 11/27/12!








I look forward to hearing everyone's questions, comments and I am definitely open to anyone's input as this is my first time doing this - so any advice is appreciated.