Geeking my GT with Car Computer

[jarredduq]

I've finally done it, and put a computer in my ride. I purchased most of the components from ebay. The hardest part was creating a frame for the monitor using this metra kit (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Metra-Ford-Custom-Installation-Kit-99-5807-/sem/rpsm/oid/84323/catOid/-13100/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do) from Circuit City.

Components used:

Screen: http://www.short-circuit.com/details/monitors/vm7100.html $185
CPU: http://www.short-circuit.com/categories/carpc.html $320
Amp: http://cgi.ebay.com/VOLFENHAG-ZX-8300-4-CHANNEL-1200-WATT-AMPLIFIER-NEON-NE_W0QQitemZ9731325351QQcategoryZ4950QQssPageNameZ WDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The only thing left for me to do it get a new dash fascia, as I had trimmed it for a previous double head unit install. My local wrecking yard was out of them, unfortunately.

It is so cool having a pc in the car, and with EVDO from Verizon, I can watch TV via my Slingbox, or listen to streaming audio from shoutcast.

[2XDreme]

Well done man looks sweet

Couple questions

1. where is volume control?
2. what was involved in making frame?
3. how does puter connect to amp?

I'm thinking this would be good substitute for my alpine head unit maybe
How much a difference in sound quality is there?

Thinking this might be added to list of mods lol

[hatda02]

Very nice job!

[subvibe99]

Also, do you hook up keyboards to carputers or is it all touchscreen. I thought I caught a peek at a keyboard in one of those pictures. Do they run on anything like a windows or linux platform or are they just for music and videos?

[hyunelan2]

From the one screen it looks like the file menu from a *gasp* Mac! Could be a linux platform though. Awaiting answers.

EDITING: I missed the screen with the WINXP logon... doh. It's windows based.
http://www.elantraxd.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4980

[jarredduq]

Well done man looks sweet

Couple questions

1. where is volume control?
2. what was involved in making frame?
3. how does puter connect to amp?

I'm thinking this would be good substitute for my alpine head unit maybe
How much a difference in sound quality is there?

So far, the sound quality is awesome, and I'm pretty picky. I also thought I would have to use an external USB sound card for better quality, but the built-in one on the motherboard seems to work great IMHO. Before I was using an Ipod through the Auxillary input of my previous head unit. The issue was I could never totally get rid of the slight alternator whine (believe me, I tried everything!).

Thinking this might be added to list of mods lol

1. Volume is done via the touch screen.
2. Basically lots of grinding and hot glue :)
3. The amp is hooked up via the sound card output of the computer. I've mounted the amp in the wheel well. The amp for my subwoofer is mounted directly on the sub.

I'll post pictures once I finish the mounting of the computer. I want to give it a good week of testing before permanently mounting everything.

From the one screen it looks like the file menu from a *gasp* Mac! Could be a linux platform though. Awaiting answers.

No, it's running Windoze XP Professional using Roadrunner and Mediaengine (I seem to like Mediaengine the most) front-ends. These are both freeware applications. You can checkout more of the front-ends at http:///www.mp3car.com.

Also, do you hook up keyboards to carputers or is it all touchscreen. I thought I caught a peek at a keyboard in one of those pictures. Do they run on anything like a windows or linux platform or are they just for music and videos?

For the most part it's all touchscreen, but I have a mini wireless bluetooth keyboard when the need arises, such as when using the web, etc. For music playback and GPS though, the touchscreen does the trick.

More info on Keyboard: http://freedominput.com/mainsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=30

[Jlivan]

That's cool! Good Job!

[mlumz]

where did ya mount the cpu?

[jarredduq]

where did ya mount the cpu? In the trunk. Actually, it's not mounted yet, but will be soon. I'll take pictures, when it's finished.

[toymachine566]

very nice........are you going to have any sort of padding for the cpu, to keep the vibrations to a minimum and whatnot, or is it not necessary?

[subvibe99]

and how do you keep it cool? won't heat cause problems in the trunk?

[kizzo]

i seen a guy do this to a honda accord. he had all of his audio files stored on his pc and he used winamp to play them, winamp imo has awesome equalizer options. id take winamp media player over any headunit out there.

good job man, looks awesome.

[jarredduq]

very nice........are you going to have any sort of padding for the cpu, to keep the vibrations to a minimum and whatnot, or is it not necessary?

The case I bought came with rubber shock mounts for the hard drive, plus 2.5" hard drives are pretty much made for mobile use.

and how do you keep it cool? won't heat cause problems in the trunk?

Since my car is a hatchback there is quite a bit of air flow going to the back. The case the cpu is housed in is made of aluminum and acts as a heat sink.

[03SilverBullet]

That looks fu*king sweet! Good work bro!

[2loud2k2xd]

^^^^
x2

dude, thats just plain awesome man.

[subvibe99]

It seems like it may be the best bang for the buck. You can spend that on just a dvd unit but this is a pretty great concept. I'm just not sure that I'm advanced enough with electronics to trust myself with something like this. You don't have to ground it out, like a dvd player, to get it to work while driving do you?

[jarredduq]

I've added more pictures showing the amp and CPU mounting.

It seems like it may be the best bang for the buck. You can spend that on just a dvd unit but this is a pretty great concept. I'm just not sure that I'm advanced enough with electronics to trust myself with something like this. You don't have to ground it out, like a dvd player, to get it to work while driving do you?

No grounding out to get it to work :D. The power supply is key to what makes it work so well. It actually regulates the power and even keeps the computer running even when starting the car. In the couple of days I've been using it, I've been very impressed with the overall stability of the unit. The sound quality is much better than what I got using an IPOD with my previous head unit.

The Navigation software works very well, with very clear instructions. I like how it lowers the volume of the music when giving directions.

[2XDreme]

How did you get the discounts on these products

All the links you have given us have these parts listed for more than you say you paid

[jarredduq]

How did you get the discounts on these products

All the links you have given us have these parts listed for more than you say you paid

Yes, I noticed that too. I didn't get any special discounts. What I noticed is that the prices seem higher when you go to the sellers site directly, rather than searching from within Ebay.

[SoulReaver]

Nice work man it looks great but i have
just a few questions ??? thinkin i might have to do that
1how is the gps is it included on the mother board or is that something you had to install yourself...
2and what the max hard drive you can put on it...
3 can you add a DVD

[jarredduq]

Nice work man it looks great but i have
just a few questions ??? thinkin i might have to do that
1how is the gps is it included on the mother board or is that something you had to install yourself...
2and what the max hard drive you can put on it...
3 can you add a DVD

1. I'm using this GPS: http://www.semsons.com/homogpsregmf.html. Software: http://www.semsons.com/ignavsof.html
2. Currently I'm using a Seagate 80gb hard drive. I think they make 2.5" hard drives as large as 120gb.
3. Yes, I plan on adding a DVD drive in the center console. Something like this: http://www.bixnet.com/usslpoexcdco.html

[2XDreme]

Instead of using the cables from computer to power that DVD drive you could make your own power cord to supply the 5V needed to the drive
I think this option would be lot better than using a port from computer

[jarredduq]

Instead of using the cables from computer to power that DVD drive you could make your own power cord to supply the 5V needed to the drive
I think this option would be lot better than using a port from computer

I'll power it off the powered 4-port USB hub I have in the console.

[chillbro1]

That is one nice setup!

"Good Work" is all I can say!


Peace,


Chill

Good = Great By the way....

[mlumz]

any problems with the amp getting too hot in the tire well? Been thinking of doing the same thing with mine.

Also any problems with the sub causing the HD to skip?


Very nice setup.

[2XDreme]

yeah i was wondering if subs would interfere with HD myself actually

[jarredduq]

any problems with the amp getting too hot in the tire well? Been thinking of doing the same thing with mine.

Also any problems with the sub causing the HD to skip?


Very nice setup.

No problems so far. The amp is only pushing the front and rear factory speakers, so it isn't working that hard. The sub is being pushed by a seperate amp mounted on the sub itself.

No problems with skipping, as the hard drive is shock mounted within the case. I drive on some rough roads on the way to work, which have definately put it to the test!

I am absolutely thrilled with the performance of this setup so far, again the sound quality blows away the IPOD setup I had before.

yeah i was wondering if subs would interfere with HD myself actually

The computer is far enough away to not be affected my the magnetism of the sub.

[jarredduq]

I've posted more pictures that include screenshots of the slingbox, Google earth, and the Kyocera EVDO router.

[Birdman]

Technically if you're worried about hard drives being beaten up, you could go with a solid state CF card (not micro drive cf) there are no moving parts, so nothing skips :-P the only problem is I think the largest is like 12 gb's (I have a 6 gb in my dell axim)

P.S. they are bootable.

Have you thought about selling these?!?!!?!?

[SuperGLS]

Wow, looks good. (Sorry I just saw this post for the first time).

What power supply are you using? I've been looking at the MacVroom (www.macvroom.com) forums a lot lately and they seem to love the CarNetix P1900.

[jarredduq]

Wow, looks good. (Sorry I just saw this post for the first time).

What power supply are you using? I've been looking at the MacVroom (www.macvroom.com) forums a lot lately and they seem to love the CarNetix P1900.

I'm using this: http://cgi.ebay.com/M2-ATX-DC-DC-ATX-auto-car-PC-power-supply-mini-ITX-EPIA_W0QQitemZ170005540710QQihZ007QQcategoryZ80172 QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

I've not had any issues whatsoever with this power supply. Works like a fine swiss watch.

[unison18]

Can you add more Picture and diagram for amp and carputer ~~ plz???
we want to learn from you.

[cobase]

Damn you. I had priced this out a few months ago but I couldn't find a touch-screen for less than $700 or so, so I just kept my money have a little bit saved up. Now you come along and show me how to do the whole thing for less than $600, on my same car, and it looks awesome. Good job buddy, but damn you.

[jarredduq]

Can you add more Picture and diagram for amp and carputer ~~ plz???
we want to learn from you.

Unfortunately, I've sold my Elantra, but I've installed the same system (except for the screen) into my Sonata. I've detailed the install quite a bit more with that install.

Basically, the amp (as shown in the Elantra install) is connected to the audio out jack on the computer using a 1/8" jack to two RCA's. Since the amp is 4-channel, I put an adapter to split the input for the rear speakers, as well as send a pair of outputs to the subwoofer amp.

It's kind of ghetto, but it works, and once it's been dialed in, I don't care about changing the levels of the various speakers.

Here's a link to my new install in the '07 Sonata: http://www.hyundai-forums.com/index.php?showtopic=12685&hl=carpc

[jetskiscott2]

Nice work. I"m setting up my Elantra soon. I have a VoomPC along with an Xenarc 700tsv 7" monitor. One question... How do I get audio from my PC to my car stereo's RCA inputs? I have outputs on my PC, but nothing seems to work. The only audio I'm able to get is when I'm using USB speakers.

[jarredduq]

Nice work. I"m setting up my Elantra soon. I have a VoomPC along with an Xenarc 700tsv 7" monitor. One question... How do I get audio from my PC to my car stereo's RCA inputs? I have outputs on my PC, but nothing seems to work. The only audio I'm able to get is when I'm using USB speakers.

Try plugging a pair of headphones in the audio out jack on your computer to make sure the sound is working. Also go to device manager and make sure your on board sound is working correctly.