Hi Everyone,

 

Been discussing potential expansion in the car stereo sector with my mate tonight around building a Car-Puter with sat nav, usual stereo functions, possible conZult (or other diagnostic software) and internet access, along with freeview features and video playback.

 

Havent costed anything out as yet but would possibly be around 700quid for the lot

 

also if could get a good enough supply would provide the centre console with the unit fitted for easier installation, for an extra cost

 

just gauging intrest at the moment as havin really looked too deeply into it but would make more than one (for me) if people are interested when we come to build mine.

 

would basically consist of a 7" touch screen, with euro maps and GPS built in, Diagnostic Cable with software and licence, mobile internet access enabled, Freeview access, and stereo functions with a least a 2GB Memory.

 

like i say, may not be possible if we cannot source the correct parts needed to build the device to do everything we want, although if we can just trying to gauge intrest to see if we should make more than one.

Dan, what a cool idea!!! Consult on the go, i know no way near enough to comment on what you need, but in theory it should be possible, pricey but do able.

Good luck,

Im going to build one in due time, custom though :)

iv had my car pc operational in the zed for nearly 2 years now dan so if you need any advice or help with owt just give us a shout. btw, an 8" touchscreen fits in the centre console and looks better than a 7 ;)

any pics joely?

I might be interested. would it play dvds or movie discs?

Maybe a port on the front to connect IPOD.

 

I could be interested

il do a little worklog when i get a chance with a load of pics... iv gotta remake the centre console for a new screen though as mine gave up the ghost a few weeks back :( im fitting a screen from a different manufacturer as the one i had in before is renoun for unreliability. iv just made a custom plate for the ashtray hole in the centre console (where the ashtray lives) to install my idrive style control input. i can now control most of the functions without having to lean forward to the touchscreen...

Is this going to be a touchscreen in the dash/pc in the boot or an all in one head unit that's built into the dash? If it's an all in one unit will it be running XP and a front end or does it have it's own Linux based OS and front end?

 

I've done the same as Joel and got a touchscreen in the dash and PC in the boot running XP and Centrafuse as the front end and it works well but setting it up can be a pain. Also getting datascan and conzult to work is a bit of a nuisance and they still can't be integrated properly with Centrafuse on XP (although that might change with the next datascan release) so with a non XP setup you've got almost no chance.

 

Dave

 

PS : Joel, are you going to be fitting a transreflective display? Also i assume that the idrive thing you're referring to is the Space Navigator. I'm hoping to do that next month. Let me know how it goes.....

Edited April 21, 200916 yr by hairdo2001

Is this going to be a touchscreen in the dash/pc in the boot or an all in one head unit that's built into the dash? If it's an all in one unit will it be running XP and a front end or does it have it's own Linux based OS and front end?

 

I've done the same as Joel and got a touchscreen in the dash and PC in the boot running XP and Centrafuse as the front end and it works well but setting it up can be a pain. Also getting datascan and conzult to work is a bit of a nuisance and they still can't be integrated properly with Centrafuse on XP (although that might change with the next datascan release) so with a non XP setup you've got almost no chance.

 

Dave

 

PS : Joel, are you going to be fitting a transreflective display? Also i assume that the idrive thing you're referring to is the Space Navigator. I'm hoping to do that next month. Let me know how it goes.....

iv got the data display page embedded nicely in CF but it just pops on top of CF when intially opening CF then embeds once data display is slected... a viable work around until the next release as you say.

 

im going for a linitx 8" and as im aware there are no 8" transreflective screens available? at least not for a sensible price tag!

 

it is indeed a space navigator... with integration of hotkeys in CF it works a dream. i already have it up and running and i reckon its one of the best editions to the setup so far...

I'm the same with the datascan thing. The data display works fine but everything else can't be resized to fit the screen. Conzult on the go is kinda nice though ;)

 

Unfortunately the words "transreflective" and "sensible price tag" don't really seem to go together. I might be upgrading to this 8.4" screen or this 7" screen depending on how bad i'm finding the glare on the TMS screen this summer.

 

I know what you mean about the space navigator. It almost seems built for carputers. I'm going to integrate it with one of these microphones for voice control and hands free calling (with a bluetooth connection to my iPhone). Hopefully the iPhone's bluetooth will be cracked in the next few months then i can use it's 3G connection through bluetooth and have internet on the go :)

 

One thing you should look into if you haven't already is fitting a reversing cam with auto switch when you put the car into reverse. It make parking and stuff a hell of a lot easier.

 

Dave

PM on the way

PM on the way

 

pm me your words of wisdom too dave... id like some advice from the original car pc guru!

Hi Dave,

 

Where did you mount the camera?

 

Vijay

I hooked up a solenoid to the boot release and connected it to my car alarm so i have a remote boot release. Cause of this i was able to remove the lock barrel from the rear panel and i put the rear view camera there. It was a little bigger than the hole but it's not hard to bore the hole out a bit.

 

Dave

Does Conzult run on linux? If so I'm interested in it... maybe not the whole project but to get bits n' peices for my own custom thingy ;)

:shock: i drive my zed and send emails in my office at home and when i want to watch a movie i sit on my couch or go to bed:rofl::rofl:

free bump;)

:shock: i drive my zed and send emails in my office at home and when i want to watch a movie i sit on my couch or go to bed:rofl::rofl:

free bump;)

 

a very fair comment tbh bri... heres my take and why i went for a car-pc though...

 

i wanted all my 100+gb of music from my pc, in my car on tap without having to burn a million cds. back when i got my setup ipods were very expensive as were headunits that would take an ipod connection... so i decided to trial out the pc route.

 

i now have what i wanted with a few handy extras! i have sat nav, so when the mrs has fooked off with the tom tom, its ney bother... i have live datascan, maybe a bit gimmicky but nevertheless handy... i have hands free connection to my phone... i could have a reversing cam... and i have all my music as mentioned but am able to watch a film if stuck in traffic or queuing for a boat :wack: the possibilities are endless though... i also have a snes and playstation emulator, just in case! i do have internet access on it but i generally dont use it... the only reason its there is to update and activate programs.

 

saying that, if i ever get rid of this setup, i very much doubt id have it again. the pc route does have serious drawbacks :( there is a distinct lack of supported good quality radio available that will work @ any speed above 2mph lol... it works out very expensive as you pay a premium for all the gear that a much lesser priced headunit will do just as well, you also have to amp every speaker from the soundcard... a pc setup is introducing the wonderful world of windows into your car which will always have reliability issues... then comes the time factor, i have spent countless hours setting up, tweaking, hacking :wack: researching, clicking, photoshopping, pressing keys and generally being geeky :smw:

 

if you wanna spend alot of money on a sound system just get yourself a full alpine f1 setup with focal speakers..

a very fair comment tbh bri... heres my take and why i went for a car-pc though...

 

i wanted all my 100+gb of music from my pc, in my car on tap without having to burn a million cds. back when i got my setup ipods were very expensive as were headunits that would take an ipod connection... so i decided to trial out the pc route.

 

i now have what i wanted with a few handy extras! i have sat nav, so when the mrs has fooked off with the tom tom, its ney bother... i have live datascan, maybe a bit gimmicky but nevertheless handy... i have hands free connection to my phone... i could have a reversing cam... and i have all my music as mentioned but am able to watch a film if stuck in traffic or queuing for a boat :wack: the possibilities are endless though... i also have a snes and playstation emulator, just in case! i do have internet access on it but i generally dont use it... the only reason its there is to update and activate programs.

 

saying that, if i ever get rid of this setup, i very much doubt id have it again. the pc route does have serious drawbacks :( there is a distinct lack of supported good quality radio available that will work @ any speed above 2mph lol... it works out very expensive as you pay a premium for all the gear that a much lesser priced headunit will do just as well, you also have to amp every speaker from the soundcard... a pc setup is introducing the wonderful world of windows into your car which will always have reliability issues... then comes the time factor, i have spent countless hours setting up, tweaking, hacking :wack: researching, clicking, photoshopping, pressing keys and generally being geeky :smw:

 

if you wanna spend alot of money on a sound system just get yourself a full alpine f1 setup with focal speakers..

 

well mr Joel..i cant argue with any of that mate plus i like you cos you get to mess around with big planes:bow:

mabey worth checking out http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/

well mr Joel..i cant argue with any of that mate plus i like you cos you get to mess around with big planes:bow:

 

not big ones atm matey :( just little a320's.. have i lost all respect?