21 replies to this topic

[RoBB22]

ok, i was sent here from the ocau forum, so im just gonna copy n paste what i had there ( http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthre...54#post10413554 )

ok so i dont really like the set up in my car, single cd player that skips real easy on the road, what would be the best way to get a lot of songs in my car?

*was thinking a new head unit (but i think i would lose my button on my wheel? unless i buy an adapter from ford?)

*I'm leaning towards putting an eeepc in there with a cigarette charger (i can also use it inside which would make it more useful ) and then sending a signal with a wireless fm transmitter

are there any other options that would be worth doin? and what would be best way to go about it? (hope this is in the right section )


thanks fellas

Edited by RoBB22, 15 May 2009 - 01:47 PM.

[Big_Valven]

A carPC is much, much more trouble than it's worth in your situation. Why not get an Ipod, or a headunit that supports USB connection and a whopping great hard drive?

A PC would just be massive overkill when nearly every unit on the market has MP3 playback these days.

You can get adapters for the steering wheel buttons - search for Cat10.

[RoBB22]

cheers 4 the help, i wonder how much that cat10 thing is worth?

[Darkness_GR]

The EEEpc would be quite good for a Car-PC best thing would be to get a touch screen to operate the pc easily in the car.

the problem with using the cigarette power is that the power is not stable, and you can run into problems with the computer turning off and on while driving. (not a huge problem with the laptop) you will have to turn the computer/laptop on all the time when getting in the car. and if you leave it in the car it can drain your battery quite fast if a proper power solution isn't implemented. (could look into a DC-DC power supply but could be harder to hook up with a laptop)

other than that using a pc you can add functionality like GPS, Vehicle diagnostics and bluetooth phone connection, but some of these options arn't easy to set up, and would need some research to do correctly. they can be quite a project.

Best way to integrate all these options is to use a software front end like road runner (now called ride runner I think) or centrafuse. which also give you larger buttons that are easy to use with the tocuh screen.

If you are just looking for lots of songs, it would be cheaper to get a new headunit that is IPOD compatible and use an ipod or is USB capable which you can plug in an external drive full of music in. Most decks these days have these features. and been mentioned above the cat10 can enable you to keep your steering wheel controls. not sure on price i think it was above $100 (don't quote me on that)

Cheers, Grant

[RoBB22]

is it possible to hook a touch screen upto a eeepc? how so?
with the power i was going to buy a cigarette power adapter to change it to a normal power point so i (cant think of what there called, but it was $90 for a 140watt one that i was looking at)

[Darkness_GR]

if you get a vga touch screen, you can just plug it into the auxilery monitor and the thouch screen part works through usb

I'm not sure what you are trying to do with the inverter and cigerette plug? could you explain it more and possibly post up a diagram?


CHeers, Grant

[RoBB22]

http://imshopping.re...xs/4238/4/4.JPG

That's a lot like what i looked at locally, what do u guys think of it? but it was 140watt

[Darkness_GR]

that is just an inverter, you could just plug the eeepc into it and then hook the inverter up to your car. it will work but the cars power fluxuates so the power from the inverter will also do that. and won't be real stable. and could have the possibility of a power spike and kill your laptop.

I would get a dc-dc power supply it will get rid of the inverter problems, you would just have to hook up the right power connector to the out put of the power supply (I believe the laptop takes 12v from memory but check this)

on second thoughts because it is a laptop the power cord only charges the battery.... so you should just be able to buy an extra accessory to plug it into the cigarette lighter (you could also cut the cigarette lighter part off and just hook it straight up to accessory power if you don't want to see the plug.). this will keep it going for you but you would have to manually start up and shut down the laptop. or rig something else up to do this.

Cheers, Grant

[RoBB22]

http://www.onlinecomputer.com.au/product_i...d1e8d454c3944d7
how good does that look

[Darkness_GR]

the eeetop isn't too bad but it is a 15" monitor. if you can fit it in and still look quite good, i would say it would be a good buy.

It is also 19 volts so you would have to figure out a way to power it properly, and just reading it a bit better it seems a little light on features for a grand.

Cheers, Grant

Edited by Darkness_GR, 27 May 2009 - 10:41 PM.

[RoBB22]

Darkness_GR, on May 27 2009, 10:39 PM, said:

the eeetop isn't too bad but it is a 15" monitor. if you can fit it in and still look quite good, i would say it would be a good buy.

It is also 19 volts so you would have to figure out a way to power it properly, and just reading it a bit better it seems a little light on features for a grand.

Cheers, Grant

yeah i thought so aswell, but lucky im in no hurry to get one, give them a bit more time and see of they come down in price

[sid280]

Rob I was thinking about going down the eeepc path for a while, i have the 7inch version with a solid state HDD (tougher), I was planning on running mine through the cig lighter because (in my car) the power is cut when the car is cranking and likely to get spikes. If you are worried about spikes / surges you can put a switch somewhere that always defaults to off when power is cut and needs to be turned on manually after the car is started.

You can get a 7 inch touchscreen from ebay or try and find some importer in your local area for under $300 and it will have all the cables and most likely a cig lighter adapter as well. 7 inch is almost the same as 2 din so can be fitted without too much mod otherwise the slide out touchscreens cost more...

The eeepc soundcard is ok but certainly not great - but would do for a basic install, Jaycar sell a Front/Rear fader (limited stock atm) which would allow you to plug directly into a 4 channel amp and wire up front + rear speakers. Throw a 4-5 port USB hub in the center console / glove box for plugging in USB keyrings/hdd's full of music and load up a carpc interface and thats the basics of the system done.

On that note: Last week I went out and bought a pioneer headunit with USB keyring capabilities because its cheaper / easier / faster to get running, and I wanted to get a steering wheel adapter.

[RoBB22]

sid280, on May 31 2009, 06:42 PM, said:

Rob I was thinking about going down the eeepc path for a while, i have the 7inch version with a solid state HDD (tougher), I was planning on running mine through the cig lighter because (in my car) the power is cut when the car is cranking and likely to get spikes. If you are worried about spikes / surges you can put a switch somewhere that always defaults to off when power is cut and needs to be turned on manually after the car is started.

On that note: Last week I went out and bought a pioneer headunit with USB keyring capabilities because its cheaper / easier / faster to get running, and I wanted to get a steering wheel adapter.

so what made u decide to go with just a head unit? to much hassle?

also went to jb hi-fi today, and fella there said it costs like 300 for the cat10 converter and said its not worthwhile keeping

[sid280]

RoBB22, on May 31 2009, 09:43 PM, said:

so what made u decide to go with just a head unit? to much hassle?

also went to jb hi-fi today, and fella there said it costs like 300 for the cat10 converter and said its not worthwhile keeping

A few reasons - Its cheaper and easier to install is the main thing, and I'm in a hurry because my current radio standard and cant even play CD's or tune FM above 90.0 - yay jap imports. Plus i can put on a Pioneer steering wheel adapter quiet easily, I always wanted one of those on a car.

[0restes]

I recently bought a Pioneer DEH-P7050BT as they were on special as run out stock $800+ HU for under $500 hmm.. yes please about the only thing that is missing from that HU is DVD support so you can watch movies or listen to super high bit rate music that Audiophiles tend to get into.

I've hooked my ipod up to it now and it's more then plenty really, a car PC is over the top for most needs unless you want to start watching movies and then you can buy HU's that support divx/xvid now anyway. A simple midrange Alpine unit with ipod support will give you everything you want, plenty of storage space, and as the above said it'll be a lot easier to install/wont drain your battery like an inverter constantly hooked up to your car will.

Do you feel like running a dry cell battery to be able to give a car PC setup enough juice?

I'd be working out what sort of adaptors Ford offers and for what brand of head units.