31 replies to this topic

[andrew_the_fox]

OK guys, after much debate I have decided I would very much like to do a carputer. Now, I am not so good with cars but I am pretty handy and very good with computers, I have been building and rebuilding machines for a long time. What parts do I need to get a basic carputer, maybe to run as my head unit, and XM, and navigation?

I did a lot of searches on here, and else where, and it just seems people are coming up with pages to brag, not to really tell how they did it. Which is understandable but still wheres a good place to start? I've got about 500$ saved towards the project, and just need help gettin er' off the ground.

Any help appreciated, thanks guys!

a.fox

Edited by andrew_The_fox, 28 March 2006 - 03:15 AM.

[Shearer]

www.mp3car.com has all your answers

[andrew_the_fox]

wow there is sooo much stuff on there

::droool::

still cant find any writeups on it, i want like a list of stuff i need so i can try and keep it in budget. Dont berate me yet, if theres writeup on that site and i havent found yet just gimme sum time, i feel like a kid in a candy store on that site

[AnthonyR]

Yeah, I went the laptop route and have fully functional and integrated navigation, Sirius sat radio, etc

I picked up Pras' old dell laptop and am running a power invertor to power it. Then I have Bing's touchscreen that I took apart and recessed into the radio opening. I have an Sirius Alpine tuner (SIR-ALP1) with MitchJS' computer interface. And I run a SB Extigy for a sound card thru a 2way electronic crossover and finally to my 2 amps. And for software I use the Roadrunner front end and iGuidance for navigation.

[Shearer]

Yah, laptop route is prob. simpler, at least that's what I'm gonna do anyways

[550]

There really is no write up.

I mean, you can do i however you want to do it.

You can get a mini ITX motherboard and mount it in your glove box behind a plexiglass shield and make it light up too.

The ncie thing about a carputer is you can do it hoever you want

Just find out... do you want touch screen or another input device?
What do you really want to do on it. (do you need heavy memeory and processing power. Alogn with storage.

If you get rid of the radio do you need an FM tuner?

[andrew_the_fox]

I really like the idea of mounting the system inside the glovebox! thats my personal thought. I would like to run an XM tuner, an FM tuner, CD player, and navigation.

This is so new to me, and I just have no clue where to start. If I just buy the parts and build up a little computer small enough to fit my glovebox is that a good place to start? How do I go about getting the radio and all that stuff to run in the computer?

Is there any programming involved? Programming is one area I am not strong in. What do I do about power?
thanx for the help guys, I am going to start buyin parts soon

[maiku]

rule #1 is PLANNING

don't go out and buy parts
read what others think about
and take your time

do you want a retractable in-dash player, or totally replacing the double-din radio
do you have an amp for the speakers?
do you want GPS?
do you want touchscreen?
do you want a laptop or desktop setup?


find out what you want in a carputer
do some test runs on a computer at home to find out what kind of interface you like

Work in Progress:

[Aequitas_Veritas]

Heres my skin I designed for when I can afford a carpc:

[andrew_the_fox]

do you want a retractable in-dash player, or totally replacing the double-din radio : I plan on replacing the whole double din

do you have an amp for the speakers? no sir

do you want GPS? yes

do you want touchscreen? yes

do you want a laptop or desktop setup? whats easier/cheaper?

[Aequitas_Veritas]

do you want a laptop or desktop setup? whats easier/cheaper?

Read this for Laptop vs. Desktop:

http://www.mp3car.co...ead.php?t=54361

And alot more good info is linked here:

http://www.mp3car.co...ead.php?t=51489

[HPTDoh]

modded x box is the way to go

XBMC rules all

Touchscreen? Nav? XMBC sucks

[hotch]

working on a page on mine

[andrew_the_fox]

what are people using for the interface?

i keep hearing "roadrunner" but was unable to find a website or sumthing for it.


im so confused with this, confused but excited

[1337-850]

what are people using for the interface?

i keep hearing "roadrunner" but was unable to find a website or sumthing for it.
im so confused with this, confused but excited

I use Road Runner, it has its own site, run by some dude, if you read the MP3 car Road RUnenr Thread you'll hear about him, Guino or somthing. Anyway, I use my Thinkpad Laptop via Docking Station under the drivers seat, and power invertor to power the dock. That way I can just take my laptop out of the car when I'm not using it. All the wires I had/have to run are the VGA, Aux Input, USB touchscreen cable and GPS - USB Cable, PLus power to the invertor. No need to run a USB cable for the cell phone, becuase I have PhoCo for my cell via Bluetooth for complete phonebook and touchscreen dialing compatablility. Using the Xenarc Touchscreen or flip out VGA (without touchscreen) combined with the Griffin Power Mate, which fits very nicely in the cup holders on the 850, you should have a Darn good setup.
1. You'll need all thats listed above and an after-market HU
2. You'll need to be able to mess with Roadrunner in orde rto get all ur apps running, and GPS working.
3. You'll need a GPS program, I use Streets and Trips 2006, combined with a Holux Sirf III GPS Antenna.
4. If you want cell phone integration, you'll need a bluetooth phone, and compatible computer. (and the Phonecontrol software)

[AnthonyR]

http://www.mp3car.co...isplay.php?f=72

Read up on there for your roadrunner info. It's just a good front end to bring everything you need in the car to one easy to use place.


And you don't need an aftermarket HU if you have a 2 or 4 channel amp to power the speakers

[Arnis]

http://www.rrdownloads.net/

[HtownTurboBrick]

1. i know that i'm impatient so this is gonna end up killing me, but i'm about to start my carputer project...i'm just having the most irritating time trying to make a useable skin for the roadrunner front end. 2. i have no clue what i'm doing and the technical jargon for making a useable skin on mp3car.com is beyond anything i can comprehend. any tips u guys?

i've been doing audio installs for a good while now and i figured the carputer would give me a new challenge...turns out the install of my laptop, screen, amps and what not will flow pretty much as any other install would, except for the obvious difference w/ the laptop, but still not something i can't handle...but as for creating a working front end that i can customize to my own needs, i'm getting my butt handed to me.

Edited by HtownTurboBrick, 30 March 2006 - 02:28 PM.