Hi to the electrically gifted and experienced.

 

Is it possible to wire a satnav/dvd system from another car forgetting about problems of space required, just the wiring and what problems could i have installing it, i'm thinking of a satnav/dvd from an x-trail?. has it been done before? i looked but couldn't find anything.

 

just looking for ideas to spend my money :).

 

cheers.

 

 

Hodge

you can wire up anything to work, its a case of fitment that will be the only issue in the dash. Many have fitted carputers with a larger screen, JoelyP and Legrath spring to mind and Funki Si has a 2 din unit. So basically anything is possible.

The System would presumably be a complete unit, that you just need to wire up the usual power inputs and speaker outputs.....but the GPS receiver for the Satnav will probably be seperate and you will need to include this also...could be built into part of the standard trim of the original vehicle though.

I`m in the process of wiring a carputer in my vert, Pound for pound I belive they are the future and most cost effective, It will run all my audio requirements, sat nav, Dvd, TV, satalite radio, external video camera and datascan running in real time.

I reckon next year the market will be flooded in these double din units offering all in one solution, but for now I`m using a small PC and a touchscreen.

I`m in the process of wiring a carputer in my vert, Pound for pound I belive they are the future and most cost effective, It will run all my audio requirements, sat nav, Dvd, TV, satalite radio, external video camera and datascan running in real time.

I reckon next year the market will be flooded in these double din units offering all in one solution, but for now I`m using a small PC and a touchscreen.

 

I first installed my carputer in a Z in 2005, and after getting a lot of requests to do others, I started a business Selling and Installing In-Car PC's. Unfortunately it just was'nt profitable in the longt-term enough to sustain because there was far too much customer aftersupport needed and there started to appear a lot of all-in-one Chinese made In-Car PC's appearing on the market for such little money.

 

Back then we all thought this was the future, but 5 years later the Situation is no different. Ultimately they just cost too much, require to much setting up and configuring and can never be as userfriendly as a dedicated headunit, no matter how good the front-end software is.

I can understand what your saying Legrath, but the technoligy over the last few years has evolved so much, memory has just gone stupid now, who would have though that 32gb of information could be stored on something as small as a postage stamp! processor speeds are good enough now to run most applications and touchscreens are everywhere, they must be cost effective now or they never will be!! I realise a proper audio unit will always be better than a computer but what i want it for it a computer will be good enough,

 

Question? how did you find the hard drives handled the lumps and bumps of the roads?

I can understand what your saying Legrath, but the technoligy over the last few years has evolved so much, memory has just gone stupid now, who would have though that 32gb of information could be stored on something as small as a postage stamp! processor speeds are good enough now to run most applications and touchscreens are everywhere, they must be cost effective now or they never will be!! I realise a proper audio unit will always be better than a computer but what i want it for it a computer will be good enough,

 

Question? how did you find the hard drives handled the lumps and bumps of the roads?

 

sorry, that did sound really negative towards carputers, I did'nt mean it that way - It was fantastic, it did everything I could of asked for and I enjoyed developing them and improving with new features all the time. It used to attract a lot of attention at meets too. What I meant is that it will always be for the enthusiast only, rather than going mass public.

 

Hard disks - Use a 2.5" Laptop drive. Built to handle shocks much better than a 3.5" PC Drive. Never had any problems with vibration or bumps, and ofcourse being slimmer and quieter is an advantage also. I used to use the VoomPC case (compact, vented and heatsinked and looks like an Amp) with everything mounted with rubber washers.

Edited March 5, 201015 yr by Yowser

sorry, that did sound really negative towards carputers, I did'nt mean it that way - It was fantastic, it did everything I could of asked for and I enjoyed developing them and improving with new features all the time. It used to attract a lot of attention at meets too. What I meant is that it will always be for the enthusiast only, rather than going mass public.

 

Hard disks - Use a 2.5" Laptop drive. Built to handle shocks much better than a 3.5" PC Drive. Never had any problems with vibration or bumps, and ofcourse being slimmer and quieter is an advantage also. I used to use the VoomPC case (compact, vented and heatsinked and looks like an Amp) with everything mounted with rubber washers.

 

No mate, It didnt sound negative at all, I always appreciate your input and good advise, Its definatley an enthusiast`s project, I will be using mine as more as a show feature than an actual hardcore all rounder, I`m quite exited in getting datascan to run as i`m driving, Only coz i cant afford a r35 :flowers:

The System would presumably be a complete unit, that you just need to wire up the usual power inputs and speaker outputs.....but the GPS receiver for the Satnav will probably be seperate and you will need to include this also...could be built into part of the standard trim of the original vehicle though.

 

yeah it should come as a complete unit with satnav ariel. was just thinking about issues like it being bound to a cars ecu or summit silly like that.

 

the one in the xtrail looks good enough for me but saying that i havnt seen any carputers so couldnt compare.

 

thanks guys