Anyone have a car pc?

[rockyct]

I'm fairly certain that I will be building a car pc in the next couple months for my Mazda 3. I've been reading the forums at www.mp3car.com but I'm curious if anyone here has one of their own. I'm leaning towards a dual core atom processor.

 

[zerocool84]

What are you going to be using it for? Why do you need one? Are you going to be integrating it or be putting it somewhere?

 

[Chapbass]

I havent built mine yet, but I have alot of it specced out. pretty excited

 

[rockyct]

I want to move the headunit into the glove compartment (it's huge) and put a 7" touch screen where the heat unit was. The computer would go in a min-atx case underneath the passenger seat. I don't really "need" one, but I'd like to have integrated GPS, music, bluetooth for phone, wifi if I'm at a hotspot, XM radio, and stuff like that. Eventually, I'd like to get a cell phone internet hookup for traffic and stuff but that's really expensive right now. More complicated stuff like OBD II readings, distance sensors, and maybe building a basic text HUD for navigation would come later. The atom 330 seems like it runs pretty well and it's not like I'll be watching blu-rays or playing games on it.

 

[herm0016]

i am planning on building one in the somewhat near future. i plan on integrating gps, music, plug in for mp3. i have an old pIII toughbook that should do the job. It would be really cool to get to to display stats about the vehicle also. the toughbook should be great for a car because everything is already shock mounted and ruggidized.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: rockyct
I want to move the headunit into the glove compartment (it's huge) and put a 7" touch screen where the heat unit was. The computer would go in a min-atx case underneath the passenger seat. I don't really "need" one, but I'd like to have integrated GPS, music, bluetooth for phone, wifi if I'm at a hotspot, XM radio, and stuff like that. Eventually, I'd like to get a cell phone internet hookup for traffic and stuff but that's really expensive right now. More complicated stuff like OBD II readings, distance sensors, and maybe building a basic text HUD for navigation would come later. The atom 330 seems like it runs pretty well and it's not like I'll be watching blu-rays or playing games on it.

Sounds good :thumbsup:

Sprint/AT&T sell those usb connectors so you can use their 3G service on your computer. They work very well.

 

[zoiks]

When I installed a double-din GPS in my Mazda6, I used tips from the fabrication section.
Here's a guy who put a liliput lcd in the dash.
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulleti...da3-dash-lilliput.html

 

[DarkThinker]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: rockyct
I want to move the headunit into the glove compartment (it's huge) and put a 7" touch screen where the heat unit was. The computer would go in a min-atx case underneath the passenger seat. I don't really "need" one, but I'd like to have integrated GPS, music, bluetooth for phone, wifi if I'm at a hotspot, XM radio, and stuff like that. Eventually, I'd like to get a cell phone internet hookup for traffic and stuff but that's really expensive right now. More complicated stuff like OBD II readings, distance sensors, and maybe building a basic text HUD for navigation would come later. The atom 330 seems like it runs pretty well and it's not like I'll be watching blu-rays or playing games on it.

Sounds good :thumbsup:

Sprint/AT&T sell those usb connectors so you can use their 3G service on your computer. They work very well.

Or you can skip that and NOT pay the rape that the data-connect monthly rate is and tether your phone over bluetooth or USB connection for free

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: DarkThinker

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: rockyct
I want to move the headunit into the glove compartment (it's huge) and put a 7" touch screen where the heat unit was. The computer would go in a min-atx case underneath the passenger seat. I don't really "need" one, but I'd like to have integrated GPS, music, bluetooth for phone, wifi if I'm at a hotspot, XM radio, and stuff like that. Eventually, I'd like to get a cell phone internet hookup for traffic and stuff but that's really expensive right now. More complicated stuff like OBD II readings, distance sensors, and maybe building a basic text HUD for navigation would come later. The atom 330 seems like it runs pretty well and it's not like I'll be watching blu-rays or playing games on it.

Sounds good :thumbsup:

Sprint/AT&T sell those usb connectors so you can use their 3G service on your computer. They work very well.

Or you can skip that and NOT pay the rape that the data-connect monthly rate is and tether your phone over bluetooth or USB connection for free

I have Verizon and while I know that was possible in the past, I've heard that they are cracking down on that now.

If I were to get internet through 3G, I'd probably go with Cricket Wireless. They have a $40/month plan that gives you high speed until 5 GBs and after that they have the right to limit the bandwidth. The only problem is that while it appears to have good coverage in San Diego where I live, the coverage outside of that is very limited.

 

[DarkThinker]

Originally posted by: rockyct

Originally posted by: DarkThinker

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: rockyct
I want to move the headunit into the glove compartment (it's huge) and put a 7" touch screen where the heat unit was. The computer would go in a min-atx case underneath the passenger seat. I don't really "need" one, but I'd like to have integrated GPS, music, bluetooth for phone, wifi if I'm at a hotspot, XM radio, and stuff like that. Eventually, I'd like to get a cell phone internet hookup for traffic and stuff but that's really expensive right now. More complicated stuff like OBD II readings, distance sensors, and maybe building a basic text HUD for navigation would come later. The atom 330 seems like it runs pretty well and it's not like I'll be watching blu-rays or playing games on it.

Sounds good :thumbsup:

Sprint/AT&T sell those usb connectors so you can use their 3G service on your computer. They work very well.

Or you can skip that and NOT pay the rape that the data-connect monthly rate is and tether your phone over bluetooth or USB connection for free

I have Verizon and while I know that was possible in the past, I've heard that they are cracking down on that now.

If I were to get internet through 3G, I'd probably go with Cricket Wireless. They have a $40/month plan that gives you high speed until 5 GBs and after that they have the right to limit the bandwidth. The only problem is that while it appears to have good coverage in San Diego where I live, the coverage outside of that is very limited.

I use AT&T, tether quite often I don't think I go over 5GB, not by a far shot, but I tether when I am in a tight spot....

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: DarkThinker

Originally posted by: rockyct

Originally posted by: DarkThinker

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: rockyct
I want to move the headunit into the glove compartment (it's huge) and put a 7" touch screen where the heat unit was. The computer would go in a min-atx case underneath the passenger seat. I don't really "need" one, but I'd like to have integrated GPS, music, bluetooth for phone, wifi if I'm at a hotspot, XM radio, and stuff like that. Eventually, I'd like to get a cell phone internet hookup for traffic and stuff but that's really expensive right now. More complicated stuff like OBD II readings, distance sensors, and maybe building a basic text HUD for navigation would come later. The atom 330 seems like it runs pretty well and it's not like I'll be watching blu-rays or playing games on it.

Sounds good :thumbsup:

Sprint/AT&T sell those usb connectors so you can use their 3G service on your computer. They work very well.

Or you can skip that and NOT pay the rape that the data-connect monthly rate is and tether your phone over bluetooth or USB connection for free

I have Verizon and while I know that was possible in the past, I've heard that they are cracking down on that now.

If I were to get internet through 3G, I'd probably go with Cricket Wireless. They have a $40/month plan that gives you high speed until 5 GBs and after that they have the right to limit the bandwidth. The only problem is that while it appears to have good coverage in San Diego where I live, the coverage outside of that is very limited.

I use AT&T, tether quite often I don't think I go over 5GB, not by a far shot, but I tether when I am in a tight spot....

Do you pay a special tethering fee or do you just have the normal phone data plan?

 

[DarkThinker]

Originally posted by: rockyct

Originally posted by: DarkThinker

Originally posted by: rockyct

Originally posted by: DarkThinker

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: rockyct
I want to move the headunit into the glove compartment (it's huge) and put a 7" touch screen where the heat unit was. The computer would go in a min-atx case underneath the passenger seat. I don't really "need" one, but I'd like to have integrated GPS, music, bluetooth for phone, wifi if I'm at a hotspot, XM radio, and stuff like that. Eventually, I'd like to get a cell phone internet hookup for traffic and stuff but that's really expensive right now. More complicated stuff like OBD II readings, distance sensors, and maybe building a basic text HUD for navigation would come later. The atom 330 seems like it runs pretty well and it's not like I'll be watching blu-rays or playing games on it.

Sounds good :thumbsup:

Sprint/AT&T sell those usb connectors so you can use their 3G service on your computer. They work very well.

Or you can skip that and NOT pay the rape that the data-connect monthly rate is and tether your phone over bluetooth or USB connection for free

I have Verizon and while I know that was possible in the past, I've heard that they are cracking down on that now.

If I were to get internet through 3G, I'd probably go with Cricket Wireless. They have a $40/month plan that gives you high speed until 5 GBs and after that they have the right to limit the bandwidth. The only problem is that while it appears to have good coverage in San Diego where I live, the coverage outside of that is very limited.

I use AT&T, tether quite often I don't think I go over 5GB, not by a far shot, but I tether when I am in a tight spot....

Do you pay a special tethering fee or do you just have the normal phone data plan?

MediaNet unlimited $15 /month

Of course, just don't tell AT&T you are doing it, they look the other way when people do this for personal purposes and this is not something illegal really, but they are more strict when it comes to business clients (many accounts means many $).

SO if you just want internet in your car, go ahead and do just what I do for personal use you will be very satisfied.

On the other hand, If you feel like paying out of the nose, get a USB data connect card.

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: DarkThinker

Originally posted by: rockyct
Do you pay a special tethering fee or do you just have the normal phone data plan?

MediaNet unlimited $15 /month

Of course, just don't tell AT&T you are doing it, they look the other way when people do this for personal purposes and this is not something illegal really, but they are more strict when it comes to business clients (many accounts means many $).

SO if you just want internet in your car, go ahead and do just what I do for personal use you will be very satisfied.

On the other hand, If you feel like paying out of the nose, get a USB data connect card.

Yeah, if I had internet in the car it would be for simple internet browsing and traffic. It's not like I'd be torrenting or watching Hulu. Any of the high data traffic, like music syncing, will be done via wifi on the home network.

 

[DarkThinker]

Originally posted by: rockyct

Originally posted by: DarkThinker

Originally posted by: rockyct
Do you pay a special tethering fee or do you just have the normal phone data plan?

MediaNet unlimited $15 /month

Of course, just don't tell AT&T you are doing it, they look the other way when people do this for personal purposes and this is not something illegal really, but they are more strict when it comes to business clients (many accounts means many $).

SO if you just want internet in your car, go ahead and do just what I do for personal use you will be very satisfied.

On the other hand, If you feel like paying out of the nose, get a USB data connect card.

Yeah, if I had internet in the car it would be for simple internet browsing and traffic. It's not like I'd be torrenting or watching Hulu. Any of the high data traffic, like music syncing, will be done via wifi on the home network.

Exactly, though I do watch Youtube videos, but again if you don't abuse the hell out of it they will not care. They have no way of being able to tell if the internet traffic is going through the phone or not, all they know is that you are using your data connection (which is through the sim in your phone anyways) but when they see scary data usage habits they might drop you without a warning, again that is nearly impossible with normal internet usage and browsing...

 

[Raduque]

I want a carpc for music storage/playback, real-time OBDII/engine monitoring (DANGER TO MANIFOLD!!), and to setup a mobile wifi hotspot using a mini wifi/3G router/modem.

I haven't yet figured out how I'm going to do this, PCs take way too long to boot up.

 

[Lean L]

Originally posted by: Raduque
I want a carpc for music storage/playback, real-time OBDII/engine monitoring (DANGER TO MANIFOLD!!), and to setup a mobile wifi hotspot using a mini wifi/3G router/modem.

I haven't yet figured out how I'm going to do this, PCs take way too long to boot up.

Exactly. This is why I don't understand why people have carputers. They take a minute to boot and half a minute to shut off. Way too long.

 

[DarkThinker]

Originally posted by: iamanidiot

Originally posted by: Raduque
I want a carpc for music storage/playback, real-time OBDII/engine monitoring (DANGER TO MANIFOLD!!), and to setup a mobile wifi hotspot using a mini wifi/3G router/modem.

I haven't yet figured out how I'm going to do this, PCs take way too long to boot up.

Exactly. This is why I don't understand why people have carputers. They take a minute to boot and half a minute to shut off. Way too long.

Why are some people complicating matters beyond what they are in reality?

You want something that can do what you mentioned above?

Here is a recipe:

- Asus EEE Box OR an Asus EEEPC (fix that sucker under the passenger seat and forget it...and swap HDD for a small SSD if you want extra reliability)

- A cheap and small power inverter

- In Dash Double DIN VGA 7" LCD Touchscreen

- A 3G phone with any carrier that offers 3G (most probably any phone you have works)

- A USB cable or cradle for your phone for tethering (OR you can tether over bluetooth)

- Additionally, you can have a mini wireless Keyboard under your seat with a built in track point or maybe a touch pad to use when you need to browse the web at ease.

Set the PC to go to Standby (Standby NOT Shutdown) when engine shuts down, then goes back up from Standby in one second when engine is turned on and there you go.

VOILA!

You don't need to build your own computer, you don't need a miracle and you don't need to worry about shutdown and start up times

 

[JulesMaximus]

Honestly, I don't really see the point in a car pc. The only time I spend in my car is driving and between my phone and the head unit it will already handle most of the things you've cited as important.

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: iamanidiot

Originally posted by: Raduque
I want a carpc for music storage/playback, real-time OBDII/engine monitoring (DANGER TO MANIFOLD!!), and to setup a mobile wifi hotspot using a mini wifi/3G router/modem.

I haven't yet figured out how I'm going to do this, PCs take way too long to boot up.

Exactly. This is why I don't understand why people have carputers. They take a minute to boot and half a minute to shut off. Way too long.

The amount of software on a carputer is pretty basic so it shouldn't take a minute to boot up. Also, the power supplies are DC-DC and have a timer on them to keep power for a user specified amount of time after you turn off the engine. So, you could have the computer go to sleep and turn back on right away if you're making a quick 20 minute stop. It also has plenty of time to shut down after you turn off the engine.

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Honestly, I don't really see the point in a car pc. The only time I spend in my car is driving and between my phone and the head unit it will already handle most of the things you've cited as important.

I drive a lot. I have 27,000 miles on a car that I bought new 14 months ago. I wanted an integrated system in my car that was easy to use and very clean looking without wires running everywhere like it is now. My head unit isn't anything special except that it has an aux in which will be used for the carputer. There's just a flexibility that you can get with a carputer that you can't get otherwise. If I wanted to get blind spot detection or reverse sensors, I could build some sensors and hook them up to the computer using a Fusion Brain. Also, there's a program out there that can read your OBD II data and log your gas mileage automatically. If you're running the GPS and listening to the music at the same time, a carputer can pause the music to let the GPS give a direction.

I admit that a carputer isn't for everyone but I should be able to get a very nice system setup for well under $1000. That's a bargain compared to having an OEM GPS system and something like Microsoft Sync.

 

[DarkThinker]

Originally posted by: rockyct

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Honestly, I don't really see the point in a car pc. The only time I spend in my car is driving and between my phone and the head unit it will already handle most of the things you've cited as important.

I drive a lot. I have 27,000 miles on a car that I bought new 14 months ago. I wanted an integrated system in my car that was easy to use and very clean looking without wires running everywhere like it is now. My head unit isn't anything special except that it has an aux in which will be used for the carputer. There's just a flexibility that you can get with a carputer that you can't get otherwise. If I wanted to get blind spot detection or reverse sensors, I could build some sensors and hook them up to the computer using a Fusion Brain. Also, there's a program out there that can read your OBD II data and log your gas mileage automatically. If you're running the GPS and listening to the music at the same time, a carputer can pause the music to let the GPS give a direction.

I admit that a carputer isn't for everyone but I should be able to get a very nice system setup for well under $1000. That's a bargain compared to having an OEM GPS system and something like Microsoft Sync.

a $1000?

Did you read my "recipe" Up there ^ ?
It's maybe lower than $600....you can go even lower if you shop around.

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: DarkThinker

Originally posted by: rockyct

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Honestly, I don't really see the point in a car pc. The only time I spend in my car is driving and between my phone and the head unit it will already handle most of the things you've cited as important.

I drive a lot. I have 27,000 miles on a car that I bought new 14 months ago. I wanted an integrated system in my car that was easy to use and very clean looking without wires running everywhere like it is now. My head unit isn't anything special except that it has an aux in which will be used for the carputer. There's just a flexibility that you can get with a carputer that you can't get otherwise. If I wanted to get blind spot detection or reverse sensors, I could build some sensors and hook them up to the computer using a Fusion Brain. Also, there's a program out there that can read your OBD II data and log your gas mileage automatically. If you're running the GPS and listening to the music at the same time, a carputer can pause the music to let the GPS give a direction.

I admit that a carputer isn't for everyone but I should be able to get a very nice system setup for well under $1000. That's a bargain compared to having an OEM GPS system and something like Microsoft Sync.

a $1000?

Did you read my "recipe" Up there ^ ?
It's maybe lower than $600....you can go even lower if you shop around.

Actually, I literally just bought a car pc setup from someone on mp3car for $500. I still need a case for it (~80) and a metra dash kit (~25) but it has a low end lilliput, the intel mobo/cpu I wanted, DC-DC PSU, and a lot of other stuff. I was thinking about using an Eee Pc but I thought the additional cost of this setup was worth it. However, it probably will creep up to $800 or more as I add stuff like OBD II reader and the Fusion Brain.

 

[lsd]

I used an epia m800 which was quite slow but with XP lite it booted and shut down rather quickly. I primarily used it to listed to internet radio but it got quite annoying to set up the tether connection every time that I just stopped using it. I have an iphone now and use of the iheart radio app is so much easier.