Subi's carPC

[subi_man]

Following the lead of some others here, I have been gathering some components for my very own carPC. I've had it assembled and working for a little while, but finally got some time to start installing it this weekend. Should be 100% finished tomorrow, but right now it's in and working

I'm running a small Dell Optiplex SX270 Windows XP PC with Pentium4 2.8gHz, 40gig HDD, 1GB RAM &CD-Rom.
Add a Lilliput 7" touchscreen, Carnetix CNX-P2140 power regulator, GPS receiver, Centrafuse and OziExplorer software (with Australia 250K & HEMA 4WD maps) and you have a fully working carPC All up cost just over $600 (the most expensive bit being the screen). I also splashed out for an aftermarket Kenwood headunit (on sale for $110)

Later I plan on adding USB Bluetooth, USB Next-G wireless broadband and OBDII reader with Tactrix cable

Thanks to Smeghead (especially for the logo), 'Saurus and Greedy for help and encouragement along the way.

The PC


The power regulator. This is a very neat bit of gear - it controls the PC switching on and off using the Hibernate feature. With the PC running, turning off the key will hibernate and power-down the PC. Turn the key on and everything starts up just where you left off


Bit of a mess! Most of this will be hidden under the passenger seat.




Lilliput touchscreen (man there's some dust in my Triton )


Voila - it lives!!


Centrafuse "frontend" - controls all your software, music, iPod etc


OZIexplorer (what I REALLY wanted this setup for) Wow, it's even telling me where I am parked right now


I will post up pics of everything tidied up tomorrow, but for now it's time for a celebration!!!

[Stapler401]

bam!
thats flipping brilliant. well done

Dave

[Binksy]

Friken awesome Subi.
How do you find the useability of OZIexplorer? Was thinking of running it on my laptop.

Binksy

[Homer]

MAGNIFICENT!!!

I read your second paragraph and skipped to the first 4 pics and was thinking insurance claim

Sounds like you had a good team

[mad992]

[Aussiewander]

Thats s#%t hot stuff subi, all the stuff about computers is a blur to me I think i will stick with the portable gps for the time been as i struggle to use it even. But that is a top idea !!!

[ratstriton]

That look's great subi can you run the gps and music at the same time.

[subi_man]

Thanks guys - yes you can run the GPS and music together

Tidied it all up this morning, the Triton is back together and road tested... and I took some daytime shots

[MR T]

im looking at doing somthing similar but with a 8"laptop
i was mwondering how much you paid for a gps dongle (think thats what its called)

[subi_man]

GPS was only about $30 from eBay (no-name thing from Thailand or Hong Kong) works well so far

[Greedy]

Well done Subi! Great to see it installed.

[Jitsukablue]

Muts nuts, nice build!!!

Is centra fuse the software we can see running the photos? So it's a touch screen... when it boots up or comes out of hibernate, do you have to run anything or is the default screen the centrafuse?

I have a suggestion that will prevent some work in the future. It'd be a good idea to ghost your hard drive so you can restore it to default when windows inevitable screws up in a year or two's time.

[Greedy]

I have a suggestion that will prevent some work in the future. It'd be a good idea to ghost your hard drive so you can restore it to default when windows inevitable screws up in a year or two's time.

Cynic (sic)!!!

[Wallace]

Well done Subi, just wish I was that computer literate..............

[Buzzy]

I love this stuff. Will be talking with you soon subi to get a few ideas of ya.
Top work mate

[subi_man]

Anytime Buzzy, although I am no expert by ANY stretch of the imagination!

Muts nuts, nice build!!!

Is centra fuse the software we can see running the photos? So it's a touch screen... when it boots up or comes out of hibernate, do you have to run anything or is the default screen the centrafuse?

I have a suggestion that will prevent some work in the future. It'd be a good idea to ghost your hard drive so you can restore it to default when windows inevitable screws up in a year or two's time.

thanks Jits, yeah Centrafuse is that main touch screen you can see - when the PC boots up or comes out of hibernation that's the screen that appears (or if I'm running a map on Ozi then that's what comes up)

Good suggestion to ghost the drive (especially as it's probably subject to some bumps and knocks), but I have NOOO idea how to do that Is it easy to do - any tips? (told ya I was no expert Buzzy!)

Cheers

[Iron_eagle70]

Said it in Stalkbook and I'll say it here... Nice work Subi... When does the order screen come up... Lol...

[Storm Trooper]

well done subi nice work....

how much work went into fitting the screen? and what did you do with the factory display?

[subi_man]

The main reason for the aftermarket stereo headunit was so I didn't have to go to the trouble to relocate the multi-function display (I get all the info I need from my Scanguage). I do miss the outside temp reading though.

The touchscreen wasn't hard to fit, It comes with it's own stand that I screwed in place but I did have to cut the plastic to increase the width in the opening (you can see it in the 5th pic).

Cheers

[smeghead]

Nice one Subi...

Looks the bollocks...

[Iron_eagle70]

For those techheads out there, finally found it. Eee Pc is going touchscreen. From what I can find there will be two models T91 and T101 (8.9 and 10 inch respectively) thinks that the 10 might be a bit big for the car. But will be a good entry level to start with a carpc.. I'm sure there is some software out there that can start and shutdown the system on as the ignition is used (saving having to buy any further external power packs, would just need a normal ac adapter and the machine would run on it's internal battery until it shuts down).

No release dates that I can find yet but it's looking like it will have an easily navigational front end that will even negate the need for things like centrafuse. From the demos it is customizable and could set up all the icons you needed on the screen just like centra.. I'm sure a Triton/diamond logo could be put on too. It might even have built in GPS and G3 mobile.

OBDII line and the triton's Aux cable for sound and bob's your uncle..

Can't wait..
Thanks Subi for reigniting my thought process on this..

[smeghead]

Iron, if you can't wait for the eee pc touchscreen, there are kits available to add a touchscreen to the older eee pc's...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Asus-EEEPC-Solde ... 7C294%3A50

[Iron_eagle70]

Smeg,

The new one is smaller and screen turns to form a tablet so will be easier to integrate into dash/outback storage..

[subi_man]

Nice one Subi...

Looks the bollocks...

thanks for all your help along the way mate - and the logo is icing on the cake

[subi_man]

For those techheads out there, finally found it. Eee Pc is going touchscreen. From what I can find there will be two models T91 and T101 (8.9 and 10 inch respectively) thinks that the 10 might be a bit big for the car. But will be a good entry level to start with a carpc.. I'm sure there is some software out there that can start and shutdown the system on as the ignition is used (saving having to buy any further external power packs, would just need a normal ac adapter and the machine would run on it's internal battery until it shuts down).

No release dates that I can find yet but it's looking like it will have an easily navigational front end that will even negate the need for things like centrafuse. From the demos it is customizable and could set up all the icons you needed on the screen just like centra.. I'm sure a Triton/diamond logo could be put on too. It might even have built in GPS and G3 mobile.

OBDII line and the triton's Aux cable for sound and bob's your uncle..

Can't wait..
Thanks Subi for reigniting my thought process on this..

what would be the cost for a setup like this Iron?