Ok so I installed a computer in my car yesterday.. **NOW WITH WORKING PICS**

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W

wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
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Right now it just runs mp3s, all ripped from my cd collection, about 6 hours worth. Will add a DVD player in a couple of days. I used an extra box and video card with TV-out, feeding into a 5.6" LCD mounted up front. The comp is powered by a 175-watt dc/ac inverter I bought at Walmart for $35, and connects to my radio using a $30 fm modulator like you use on cd changers. The thing that took the longest was running the wires, probably an hour to do that. In about a month, I am getting a USB GPS unit so I can quit getting lost when we go out of town. I was suprised how easy a project it was. Afterwards, I drove around town doing errands listening to commercial free music, nice! Well that was my day today :)

Ok, pics are up right here. Some popups.
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
It sounds really cool, and I applaud your initiative.

But (there's always a "but") IMHO, you defeat the purpose of digital audio by going thru an FM modulator...that gives worse sound than FM radio itself.

Good luck though.
 
OverVolt

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
I wanna see pics, where'd ya put the beast, in the glove compartment? What about specs?
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
I'd like to see pics too. Hiding ANY type of audio/video gear in a vehicle is always a challenge.
 
M

Mucman

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
7,246
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Originally posted by: MichaelD
I'd like to see pics too. Hiding ANY type of audio/video gear in a vehicle is always a challenge.
Click to expand...


Yeah... before I say "nice work" I want to see how it looks :p. It's not hard to put a computer in a car, but it is hard to put a computer in
a car and not have anyone notice it's there. :)
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Originally posted by: Mucman
Originally posted by: MichaelD
I'd like to see pics too. Hiding ANY type of audio/video gear in a vehicle is always a challenge.
Click to expand...


Yeah... before I say "nice work" I want to see how it looks :p. It's not hard to put a computer in a car, but it is hard to put a computer in
a car and not have anyone notice it's there. :)
Click to expand...

*nods head*

Yeppers.
 
W

wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
0
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I will put up pics in a bit, waiting for it to cool down outside. I was sweating like a pig in the TX heat! 98 and 52% humidity today :(

Yeah I know fm-modulated is not as good as digital. But I had no other choice. My headunit is factory and does not have line level input. I could have easily added an mp3-capable headunit into the car with better sound, BUT, the computer idea was actually cheaper (since I had the old computer and modulator already) AND I get to add DVD and GPS capabilities later, which you cannot do with a headunit that I know of.
 
T

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
well actually, you can do DVD through your headunit, although as far as i know it still requires a seperate box to actually hold the disc reader.
 
W

wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
0
0
Pics coming soon, but only of the finished product. I really didn't think anyone would want to see how I did it. Besides you can google "mp3 car player" to see lots of similar installs, which is how I got my idea :)

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti
You didn't take any pics? Would have made a nice post on Slashdot.
Click to expand...

 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Originally posted by: wyvrn
Pics coming soon, but only of the finished product. I really didn't think anyone would want to see how I did it.

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti
You didn't take any pics? Would have made a nice post on Slashdot.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Yes, we would. Geek is good. :cool: Besides, how many of your Troglodyte coworkers could even BUILD a PC, let alone adapt one for automotive usage?

Be proud!!! Stand tall!!! Take Pics!!!!!
 
Siddhartha

Siddhartha

Lifer
Oct 17, 1999
12,505
3
81
I use my laptop for the same purpose. I power it through the cigarette lighter and connect it to the car's sound system through a cassette adapter. Though, I am getting noise, 60 Hz?, from the DC-AC inverter which is really annoying. I bought the fm modulator but have not got around to installing it yet.

Getting the GPS sounds like a good idea.

I have over 2,000 mp3 files on it so it is great for long trips.
 
J

JonnyBlaze

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
3,114
1
0
gotta get a wireless lan card so ya can download new music while ya drive :)

iv allways wanted to do this, just never had a car worth more than my pc so never have :)

JBLaze
 
J

jfall

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 2000
5,975
2
0
Congrats.. but playing mp3s through an FM transmitter, that is just wrong. Did you protect the hard drive from shock in any way?
 
W

wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
0
0
Buy a ground loop isolator from Radio Shack. If you are using your cigarette lighter, then you will need to put a cig lighter plug on the end of the isolator wires. Prob go for about $12 total. The isolator will remove noise caused by the voltage differential between the inverter and the car, or something like that. I didn't have to use one, but I have before on previous applications.

Pics taken, uploading them to my yahoo account now...

Originally posted by: Dr Smooth
I use my laptop for the same purpose. I power it through the cigarette lighter and connect it to the car's sound system through a cassette adapter. Though, I am getting noise, 60 Hz?, from the DC-AC inverter which is really annoying. I bought the fm modulator but have got around to installing it yet.

Getting the GPS sounds like a good idea.

I have 10,000 mp3 files on it so it is great for long trips.
Click to expand...

 
W

wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
0
0
This is the coolest part of the project, I think. I mounted the hard drive on 4 liquid-filled rc-car shocks in side my case to protect from hard bumps. I got a deal on those at the local hobby shop :) Then it is mounted to the case using rubber grommets and silicon sealant (tubes you get at home depot which I had one since I just worked on my house) to minimize vibration. Sweet if I do say so myself :cool:

Originally posted by: jfall
Congrats.. but playing mp3s through an FM transmitter, that is just wrong. Did you protect the hard drive from shock in any way?
Click to expand...

 
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wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
0
0
Didn't resize the pics from my digicam, so they are taking a while to upload on my 128k up :D

edit: loading the last 2 pics now

Originally posted by: Atlantean
Just take some pics of the progress thus far.
Click to expand...

 
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DanFungus

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2001
5,857
0
0
sweet! I'm going to do the same in my car, but it's going to be expensive for me...I'm going to go full out! I'm interested in how you did it though :D Tips are ALWAYS good!
 
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