carputer project

Here you can post things about ICE (In Car Entertainment). Like how to install GPS navigation, a DVD-player and other yuppie-stuff. This category might be moved to "those other things" in the end...

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richj
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Post by richj » Tue Dec 30, 2008 3:57 pm

yeah some research is required, but I am sure there will be a suitable vacuum sensor fitted to another car (in scrap yards) etc.

heres a pic of my last ditch effort to get the black casing out. I have tried to indicate with a retarded arrow where I think the last screw is. Can you confirm this is the one...


Image

richj
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Post by richj » Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:18 pm

wow this has to be the most pointlessly awkward screw in the entire world!

holding a screw bit with some snipe nose pliers didn't work, so superglueing a screw bit to a wing nut is about all I can think of. Going to leave it alone for a while. I have a feeling i will lose my temper and rip it out otherwise :)

richj
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Post by richj » Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:40 am

Image


this is my last effort to get the cage out. Honestly, if I can't get the cage out, I cant get the screen in and the whole project is screwed.


Its a 2 pence coin with a screw bit super glued.

wish me luck :)

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Cerberus
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Post by Cerberus » Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:18 am

Just dremmel it's ass!

C
[img]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k237/Cerberus74/DC_SIG_GHETTO.jpg[/img]
[url=http://www.digital-car.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=9446]My digital-car.co.uk Install Thread[/url]

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Kroost
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Post by Kroost » Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:46 pm

I guess you'll need to take the whole dash out to get the screw loosend.

Or you'll need to saw it loose, try to get the screw out then and repair
the cut...
Has restored his own 480 Turbo

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Cerberus
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Post by Cerberus » Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:21 pm

Take the whole dash out... Cut it away...?

Fantastic idea's.. Wish I'd thought of them....

C
[img]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k237/Cerberus74/DC_SIG_GHETTO.jpg[/img]
[url=http://www.digital-car.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=9446]My digital-car.co.uk Install Thread[/url]

richj
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Post by richj » Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:46 pm

its a nightmare!

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Kroost
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Post by Kroost » Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:22 pm

Nope, it's called a 480 ;)
Has restored his own 480 Turbo

richj
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Post by richj » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:10 pm

lol yes


The problem is, I am not prepared to damage what is already present. I am a computer science student mid 2nd year, so I know how to put together a suitable pc. I am bidding for via mini itx boards, eventually I will get one at a good price.

I Have really tried to remove the plastic cage; I even tried forcing it out - but no game. Its really sad -> but if I cant get it out, I cant mount the screen & the project is over.

I am putting a cg13 engine in a k10 at the moment also. First time documented in the country as far as I am aware. I have to say, getting the cg13 mounted was far easier than removing these screws :)

I just have the fuel pump, electrics and pipe work left to get the ma10 cg13 on the road. Really not much compared to the engine mount issues.

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Cerberus
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Post by Cerberus » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:47 pm

I'm not sure why you are putting yourself through the pain?
The cage will not come out unless you remove the dash.

If you can't bring yourself to dremmel the radio cage then
you're not going to be putting a screen in.

Are you intending on selling the car on, without the screen, in
the near future?

Perhaps you can remove the dash without removing the windscreen
if you use a ratchet with a crosshead bit in it to remove the screws
along the front edge of the dash?

I'd advise you reconsider the mini-itx option it's really not
going to give you the processor power (esp graphics wise)
that you are going to need.

Sorry to say but I think your onto a non-starter here. The screen
you have chosen means you are going to have a hell of a challenge
to control the heater sliders. The radio cage has you dead in the water
if you aren't going to be able to modify it.

I don't understand not having at it with a dremmel. You are going
to have to seriously modify the car's wiring to get a PC in. You
will have to make major modifications to scratch build a new way
of adjusting the heating controls.

Returning the car to stock after all the modifications to various
systems will be a nightmare. The radio cage seems to be the tip
of an iceberg for you.

Have you considered mounting the screen in the cubbys in front of
the gear lever? It's too low down for my liking but it might be the
get out of jail card you need? Obtaining a new gear surround
trim complete would be fairly easy (I bet GJ has one!) and you could
then modify a spare giving you the ease of working on the moulding
in of the screen on the bench, in the warm. Then just swap the
whole trim piece.

Someone else added a screen in the lower cubby...
Image

Good luck on whatever you decide.
C
[img]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k237/Cerberus74/DC_SIG_GHETTO.jpg[/img]
[url=http://www.digital-car.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=9446]My digital-car.co.uk Install Thread[/url]

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glasgowjim
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Post by glasgowjim » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:58 pm

Yep as cerby says I have a spare one!

Or was that I was a spare one :kill: :rofl:

richj
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Post by richj » Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:02 pm

Yes getting the cage out is turning into a major issue for me! I will be able to knock up a replacement one in a matter of hours - I have so far spent what nearly two weeks or something trying to get it out lol

The via 1300 or 1200 boards are plenty powerful enough. Ancient but functional 3d support, mpeg acceleration. Will play an xvid at 800x600 no hastle... I have a 5000 board I bought for a yacht computer. Draws 1.5 amps @ 12v combined with a 10"screen at full load. That board however cannot handle even dvd playback :)

The 1200 is a best of both worlds, low power consumption and fast enough. Voice recognition would probably kill it mind.


The heater controls are fine at the moment. Only need hot on windscreen, still have the speed control switch.

How much would you want for that surround gd? What are the dimensions of the visible area? cheers

*edit*

Dash will just have to come out. I can't think of a way of getting the cage out otherwise. The cage isn't quite wide enough for what I have in mind, so hacking it wont help.

thanks for help thus far :)

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Cerberus
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Post by Cerberus » Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:29 pm

The 1200 might not cut it. The problem is graphics capability. Most of
the good front ends are now flash based and very graphics intensive.

You could add a decent graphics board I suppose but then you loose
all the benefits fo a small form factor mobo because you won't be
able to put it in a tiny itx case. Tho you could scratch build something.

Once you have a flash front end running, Nav software (which always
eats processor and graphics), music playing etc etc.. the 1200 will
start to grind to a halt.

Don't worry too much about power consumption. In car psu's are
awesome nowadays. Have a look at http://linitx.com/
Great suppliers. I fried my screen inverter and they sent me a
new one the next day and refused to take any money for it.

With an 8" screen you arent going to be just bolting it into the centre
lower trim. I'd suggest you are going to end up glassing it into the
trim piece. A bit of glass.. a bit of filler.. a bit of sanding.. quick pass
with the spray can.. et viola!

C
[img]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k237/Cerberus74/DC_SIG_GHETTO.jpg[/img]
[url=http://www.digital-car.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=9446]My digital-car.co.uk Install Thread[/url]

richj
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Post by richj » Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:23 pm

thats a fair point. I was thinking about whether to run windows or linux... if I run linux I will write the interface myself - BUT sat nav software might be a problem. Advantage being a custom kernel / fast boot times / lower overhead etc... If I did go the linux route, I was looking at the technology used by the media center Elisa. The interface looks amazing - but like you say, probably too heavy for a 1200. The power consumption is a slight concern as I don't want to put too much stress on the alternator / fuel consumption figures. I have two pico 60w and a pico 120 sat in my cupboard. The 60's are fine for a 1200 with slim dvd and 2.5"hd (or flash).

Do you have any suggestions for a better setup? I could always sell the 3 power supplies I have. Maybe an Atom based board would be better?

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Cerberus
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Post by Cerberus » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:10 pm

richj wrote: Do you have any suggestions for a better setup? I could always sell the 3 power supplies I have. Maybe an Atom based board would be better?
Linux is good. Guaranteed stability. Unfortunately there are no really
good pre-packaged front ends for it yet and satnav support is very
poor. If you are up for a challenge then I'd say go for it!

I wouldn't worry tooo much about fuel consumption. I run the PC,
two amps and a host of other gadgets and I can't say I notice a
huge difference.

I actually planned on a standard mobo and a carnetix psu but I was
gifted a decent laptop with a broken screen which as it turns out has
been a very good install. You get the additional benefits of the inbuilt
battery so I can have a bit of PC time without worrying about the
car battery. You do have to build yourself a custom power on circuit
but thats a piece of pee really.

There are a lot of good reports on the atom boards I have to say that
if I were looking at a mobo based install right now I would be seriously
considering Atom.

I have a spare centre console here... What are the dimensions of your
screen and I will do some measurements and send you a pic of a mockup?

C
[img]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k237/Cerberus74/DC_SIG_GHETTO.jpg[/img]
[url=http://www.digital-car.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=9446]My digital-car.co.uk Install Thread[/url]

richj
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Post by richj » Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:23 pm

edited for drunkness hehe
Last edited by richj on Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

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glasgowjim
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Post by glasgowjim » Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:28 pm

Vista's a barsteward

microsoft upgrades reek

:badmood:

richj
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Post by richj » Wed May 06, 2009 8:04 pm

I still have the epia gear, but I am thinking now more towards using a 3.5" screen pda with gps and wifi as the in car computer. I have the 8 " touchscreen still. I was thinking of hooking it up to a rear view camera, I don't know. Theres a great place just in front of the gear stick.

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