Thread: 1991 Volkswagen Jetta carpc

Originally Posted by Cris

So you're going to run Media Engine?

If by Media Engine you mean Road Runner, then yes. RR will be the frontend of choice for now, at least until I get bored and want something else. Actually, while I was doing some skin edits last night, I noticed that the skins all say Media Engine at the top. I'm guessing that's a hold over of some sort of the code. Odd.

More work software=wise completed last night. Changed most of the buttons to do what I wanted, and figured out how to create brand new skins. I've been jotting down exactly what I want the frontend/menu skin to cover, and I think I've got it (finally):

Audio Sync
Play music
Rip CD
Play Videos
Video Sync
Podcasts
Radio
Play DVD
Weather report
Sat Radio
Web browsing
GPS
War driving
Phoco
Computer Status (new screen)
Orphan: OBDII (new screen)

I need to figure out where to stick the OBDII button, which I think I can do by chopping the Play DVD button in half and putting it there. Although I'd like to have computer status and car status on a split button setup like most of the others are. I've essentially taken the Brushed Metal skin and cut the six main buttons in half and added everything from left to right as described above. Now I need to actually design the computer status and obdII screens unless I can find some to go with BMV2 someplace. I haven't looked all that hard, so they may be out there somewhere already.

Ordered the Lilliput 7" touchscreen, a usb to serial cable (for comms with the dsatx psu), and a 25' VGA cable. I think I need to find a usb extension cable somewhere too. I've got all my power cables, need to figre out how to get audio into my current POS head unit. I think for now I'll just run a mini-headphone jack from the pc to the front of my head unit - yes, my headunit has a front jack for aux input.

I still need to order a temp sensor kit and some temp leads:

Temperature Data Logger
Temperature leads

And I need to get a VAG-COM OBDII interface for my car. I need to find a newer obdII plug to fit into the VAG-COM interface and I should be able to hack it right in for pretty cheap, rather than paying $50 for the neat little connector plugs.

Short of that, I think I'm pretty close!

EDIT: Oh yeah, never got to do the wireless test last night, so I'll probably do that tonight once I get home from doing my weekly fish fry experience...

I thought there were about 42 finished skins for RR, and 62 or so for Media Engine, that's why I said that...

Let me know how those temp sensors work out. I'd like to get a set too.

You are correct Cris. I misread the Media Engine and Road Runner counts at mobile-effects.com. I guess that's what happens after a few beers and some surfing!

RadioShack has usb extensions between $20-$25. Just thought I'd let you know since I bought one a few days ago. You might find them cheaper online, though...

Finally decided to mount all my pc type hardware in my pc type box. Box was an old castaway NTX form factor (or so I'm told) so I had to drill all new holes for standoffs. Mounted the DSATX, 2.5" hard drive and epia m10000 in the case. It looks super-cluttered because I had to frankenstein in a regular desktop psu while I'm still doing the initial configuration. I expect I'll move it to the car sometime this week, once I get my Lilliput.



It's at least in a box, which I'd rather have than what I see most of the time - motherboard mounted right to a piece of mdf or something. I have a generic case cover (no, it's really not a NetVista) and I'll be putting that on once it's ready to go in the car. Also got a shot of the back. I'm not sure if I like the way I have to mount everything, but that's the way it is...



And a shameless plug for all the reading I've been doing and the front of the case...

Looks good. I assume you're going to mount it in the trunk...?

Yes, I will be mounting it in a sliding shelf in the trunk. In the trunk picture earlier in the thread, I tried to show where it will be going. I'll be putting a "drawer" in between the rear speakers suspended so it's not in the way. I don't have that built yet, so I might just sit it in the trunk. I'm pretty excited. Unfortunately, the stupid Belkin USB wireless adapter isn't working right. WinXP recognizes it, and the drivers are installed, but I keep coming up with an error that the device has no drivers.

I ordered a temperature data logger and 4 temperature sensors from electronics123.com. Very cool little kit, but you defintely need some soldering skills to assemble it.


I don't know if I'm going to use it, as it only gets me half of what I want. I need to hook up another data collector for voltage. I may just order the phidgets stuff and be done with it. Having the 8/8/8 and a 2 port 2.0 hub available through a single usb connection seems like a much better option.

Looks pretty easy. I'm curios how it works, as I plan to make one myself.