Thread: Bimmerpc BMW 320 -02 touring CAR-PC project

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?

Originally Posted by Anshu

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

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

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

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

is the pc card slot in the back of the laptop? is therre a pic of the laptop in the port replicator. Ive never seen one where the replicator blocks the pc card.

I don't mind at all if you used my diagram as a guide. Just keep in mind that my diagram is in progress... i'm not responsible if something is wrong and your car explodes!

Let me know if you want the original Visio file... would make editing a lot easier...

Oh, and good luck on your project!

The pc card is on the side of the laptop so I´m planning on getting a cheap pcmcia card with both usb2.0 and firewire since there seem to be discussions in weather or not to choose one of them. I will have the cooler (with usb hub) underneath the pc so I´ll just have a usb cable between them to start with since there isnt a way to upgrade to usb 2.0 or firewire. I will have to change the inside components of both my computer and docking station I guess.

And as I see it there is a way to install this system in both trunk or everything in under the dash (but that will be tricky considering the space) I will be leaving my car to a car-audio skilled guy but I would still like to do as much as I can on my own and leave the power/fuse/electrical cutting and wiring to him since I dont want my car to start burning.

will there be any isues with long cables from pc in trunk and with these in front:
touchscreen lcd
usb hub
slot load slim dvd player

or anything that You suggest CAN NOT be inside the trunk for i.e reception signal issues?

im confused, becasue you say that your getting a usb2/firewire card but then you say there is no way to upgrade to usb2.
Can you fit a cooler underneath the docking station?

It sounds likee it would be very tricky to putting a laptop in the dash somewhere. Im throwing mine in the trunk as have many people.

there will be no problem with putting usb and the slim line player there Im only slighty concerned with some signal problems with the VGA cable to the screen.

What kind of audio setup do you have? That would affect the sound issues slightly.

On a side note, what DVD setup are you planning on going with?

Originally Posted by Anshu

im confused, becasue you say that your getting a usb2/firewire card but then you say there is no way to upgrade to usb2.
Can you fit a cooler underneath the docking station?

It sounds likee it would be very tricky to putting a laptop in the dash somewhere. Im throwing mine in the trunk as have many people.

there will be no problem with putting usb and the slim line player there Im only slighty concerned with some signal problems with the VGA cable to the screen.

What kind of audio setup do you have? That would affect the sound issues slightly.

On a side note, what DVD setup are you planning on going with?

With "upgrade" I mean making my docking station usb 2.0. That is impossible, but it´s no big deal if I´m not undocking it often. Just one cable extra to remove from the laptop. Yes I think I can fit a cooler under my docking station. It is a minidock so I hope the cooler will still have effect on the actual pc. There is much space under my trunk floor.

With usb-cables I read that using for example a 5meter cable and then connect it to a usb-hub and then connect it forward to another 5 meter cable I can make a 10 meter usb connection even though some say the max leinght of a usb connection is 3-5meters and thats not enough for a car in many cases. Guess I have to experiment with powered/active hubs if this does now work, to boost the power signal.

What VGA problems is that? I have seen some quite long vga cables so there must be a way.

Sound - I have a built in (ibm model specific to A31) with just regular mic in line in/out (Soundmax integrated digital audio). I´m sure there is better solutions but probably with amps and stuffs it will sound better than the OEM stereo which sounds crap

DVD-setup, have no idea.. just want to have slot load since it seems to be more robust than having a slider moving in and out.