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Mp3car MTSVO-SC Fully motorized VGA Touch Screen
http://www.mp3car.com/store/product_info.php?cPath =25&products_id=120

(not affiliated in anyway)

It's funny that you mention that they run well in cars, because I was just perusing MP3car.com before I hopped over to /. to start my morning off proper.

I just bought a new car, and had been seriously looking into building a box to house in my car (just imagine the drive to work with a pr0n slideshow rolling). By the looks of things, they primarily deal in the VIA Epia boards over there...hrm *ponders*

here

Have you seen these? $280 7in USB touch screen monitor. Perfect for in car computers. ...I'd rather have a PSP, though :-)

So, someone installed a Mac mini in their VW and this is unique?
http://www.carputermac.com/, http://www.mp3car.com/, lots of people talking about this.

According to a direct call to our suppier at VIA this is an engineering sample only. This unit will not be in production until July. We (all hobbyists at http://mp3car.com/) are all very excited to throw this board in our cars. I am glad someone was able to get their hands on one for a test.

maybe it says in one of the articles you linked ... but i don't think odb-II would be a good thing here just given its refresh rate. i don't remember how many times a second you can read off the port but if you have five gauges thats the total number of reads divided by five. i don't know about you but i think it would be pretty damn annoying to only see things update a couple times a second. i too recomend a visit to mp3car.com. here is a link to their obd-II forum which is more than helpful. http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f =37

Be sure to check out mp3car.com. I'm currently installing a PC in my car that will have an OBD-II interface. The forums there will probably be able to help you with your hardware and software selections.

Check out mp3car.com. They have lots of usefull stuff in their forum for all kinds of carpc related projects.

Lilliput 7" touchscreens are only $279 at www.mp3car.com. Prefect for and undercabinet mounting. Combine that with a mini-itx board and you have a great kiosk or mp3 car player.

Other links of interest:

Linux Touch Screen HOWTO
EPIA HOWTO
Gentoo EPIA HOWTO
Nehemiah Hardware Entropy Generator
VIA PadLock support for Linux

http://www.mp3car.com

A lot of us hobbyists have done a lot of research and put a lot of computers in cars, with fabrication, touchscreens, DC-DC power supplies, and more.

Hahaha, I thought this was a dupe too until i realized that I read it yesterday on mp3car.com, not on slashdot! Man, I should really get away from a computer more often... :-P

7" widescreen touch screen, and it's only 250 bucks!

The Xenarc screens are supposed to be better than the Lilliput screens FWIW. I've purchased a 7inch version with vid capability as well as VGA for under $400 off of EBAY.

I've been looking into this in order to monitor what's going on with my car's standalone EFI system. Since that EFI system's software allows me to build "dashboards" I can do LOTS of interesting displays. I have been collecting URLs and you can see pics of other's progress and discussion here -> http://forum.aempower.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=9604

Some URLs I've collected in no distinct order or organization:

http://www.logisysus.com/catalog/product_info.php? cPath=74&products_id=189
http://logisysus.com/catalog/product_info.php?prod ucts_id=334
http://www.kingyoung.com.tw/s620.htm
http://littlepc.com/
http://www.diamondsystems.com/
http://www.viaarena.com/
http://www.media-car.fr.st/
http://www.everythingusb.com/hardware/index/Griffi n_RadioSHARK_AM-FM_Radio.htm
http://www.xmradio.com/xmpcr/ (I bought one, have added optical output, and have purchased TimeTrax!)
http://www.hauppauge.com/html/wintvpvr usb_datashee t.htm> (have one on the way, thanks EBAY!)
http://store.karpc.com/cat-LCD-Touch-Screen--lcdmo nitor.htm
http://www.mp3car.com/
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigy2NX/
http://www.carbotpc.com/products/
http://www.powerstream.com/DC_PC.htm
http://www.powerstream.com/mini-itx.htm
http://www.media-car.fr.st/
http://drivesoft.net/
http://www.gnetcanada.com/
http://www.lighttek.com/talisman.htm
http://skylab.org/~chugga/mpegbox/MPBS1/
http://www.compucar.be.tf/
http://www.autonode.com/ig710specs.html?
http://www.trc12volt.com/
http://www.intraplexcorp.com/tx3.asp
http://www.sfftech.com/
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/
http://www.dashmatics.com/forum/faq.php

Hopefully some of those will be of help to others considering this sort of thing, I'd be interested in working with others to research this! My plans are to mock up something with the touchscreen and front-end software working with the WINTV, XM PCR, my MP3 collection, GPS mapping, the RLTC software, and my AEM datalogging software. IF it works well (or even halfway well) THEN I'll buy hardware to put IN the car. No sense spending the money if the interface turns out to suck or be too distracting while driving. I'll likely be able to play DVDs too but honestly that's pretty se

Yep, search the software forum on Mp3car.com for linux and you should get at least two hits. Also you can check out the following sites:
thexcar.com or DashPC

Chop
"You must be new here."

You go buy an M100 with an ITPS for ignition control. Then you go download MediaEngine or another interface of your choice at MP3car.com. Finally, go buy your Lilliput 7" TFT touchscreen on eBay.

If you're into self installs and whatnot this gives you a lot more flexibility at less cost.

Chairboy, how about just using HTML tag like here? ;)

BTW, nice bike! I hope to see it soon.

MediaCar is good, solid software. it does the job, and does it well. Info & Forum

Go to the forums at mp3car.com. You'll find all the "nerd out your car info" you could ever want to know.

On another note, has anyone seen the Hoojum case for the nano-itx? I thought it was pretty cool.

I have one myself and I love it :)

It's a terrific resource for those of us who want GPS, MP3s, wardriving, etc. and don't want to have to haul seperate devices around for all of it. Also, lots of links to free GUIs that people are developing for carputers.

Check out the Show Off Your Project forum for some cool implementations.

Slashdot tends to link car-pc stuff as if it's new and different from time to time, and they always link to some fringe stuff like one particular piece of software or one person's particular (usually fairly hackish) installation. They have actually linked to the dashpc project before -- when the interface was built in perl/tk and barely worked! (Actually it's still pretty hard to install and make work -- I'd say it's at least as hard to install as MythTV) Anyway, the reality is that there are hundreds or even thousands of computer projects driving around out there, and there are many possibilities for what one can do on any type of budget from an old 486 embedded board with a LCD display that plays MP3's to a full-on LAN of fast pc's for backseat passengers to play games.

The best resource I found when I started looking into car-pc stuff were the message boards at MP3Car.com. They have sections for hardware, software, cabling, audio, gps, networking, OBD-II, etc. There are thousands of users on there, and everyone is very helpful. The archives contain a lot of good information that became invaluable to me when I was building my own car-pc project. It is currently going through a new overhaul where I am fixing some problems with the original design and functionality and adding some new stuff like OBD-II and reversing camera as well.

Slashdot tends to link car-pc stuff as if it's new and different from time to time, and they always link to some fringe stuff like one particular piece of software or one person's particular (usually fairly hackish) installation. They have actually linked to the dashpc project before -- when the interface was built in perl/tk and barely worked! (Actually it's still pretty hard to install and make work -- I'd say it's at least as hard to install as MythTV) Anyway, the reality is that there are hundreds or even thousands of computer projects driving around out there, and there are many possibilities for what one can do on any type of budget from an old 486 embedded board with a LCD display that plays MP3's to a full-on LAN of fast pc's for backseat passengers to play games.

The best resource I found when I started looking into car-pc stuff were the message boards at MP3Car.com. They have sections for hardware, software, cabling, audio, gps, networking, OBD-II, etc. There are thousands of users on there, and everyone is very helpful. The archives contain a lot of good information that became invaluable to me when I was building my own car-pc project. It is currently going through a new overhaul where I am fixing some problems with the original design and functionality and adding some new stuff like OBD-II and reversing camera as well.

Another site with a plethora of information on doing this is MP3car.com If you have the time, I recommend going through the site. Tons of information about the kind of power supply you will need (obviously a DC~DC converter).

I want one myself!

I'm planning on building one of these computers over the summer (what? A slashdot poster with grand plans in a nebulous phase of completion? Never have I heard of such a thing!) based on information over at the mp3car.com forums. You should especially check out the OBD-II forum, which is addressing your specific question.

Personally, I'm going to just buy (now a slashdotter is going to buy software? A sign of the apocolypse!) Delta Dash because it is supposedly great with my WRX.

I'm planning on building one of these computers over the summer (what? A slashdot poster with grand plans in a nebulous phase of completion? Never have I heard of such a thing!) based on information over at the mp3car.com forums. You should especially check out the OBD-II forum, which is addressing your specific question.

Personally, I'm going to just buy (now a slashdotter is going to buy software? A sign of the apocolypse!) Delta Dash because it is supposedly great with my WRX.

lots of much more impressive installs at mp3car.com

This guy's setup is pretty nicely done. It's the first decent Macintosh one I've seen -- it's all in the software, and this fellow has done a quality job.

There are some really impressive installations out there. You can see a lot of them on the mp3car.com finished project board. In case anyone is curious, this is my installation.

~GoRK

This guy's setup is pretty nicely done. It's the first decent Macintosh one I've seen -- it's all in the software, and this fellow has done a quality job.

There are some really impressive installations out there. You can see a lot of them on the mp3car.com finished project board. In case anyone is curious, this is my installation.

~GoRK

Or you could always build your own on the weekend...

I was going to use PC104 to build a computer for my car. They're perfect because of their size and low power, but it's almost as simple these days to get a mini-itx board and do it that way. I ended up going with an old 486, but i'm hoping to rebuild the project... mp3car has a lot of projects like this, a few use PC104

See http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/index.php for more details.

DC-DC Power supplies:
The best one is Opus Solutions
Another good one is Keypower

You can find a lot more info at MP3Car.com, and especially at the forums there.

Twostep

DC-DC Power supplies:
The best one is Opus Solutions
Another good one is Keypower

You can find a lot more info at MP3Car.com, and especially at the forums there.

Twostep

Laptop Hard Drives?

What kind of a hard drive configuration would you use in automobiles?

Just curious,

-- Joshua

mp3car This link is to the forums, check under power supply. You might look at LCD for low power and small displays. They should have what you need. enjoy.

This took me a long time to find as after all that google doesn't list it directly, but try here for what you're looking for.

My thoughts exactley, Arby is very well known and respected on Hardforums and MP3Car fourms.

An ubergeek if there is one. Not like some of the slackers here who don't do windows icase it will weaken their contribution to the gene pool.

have they ever thought, as the system he has built is totally standard X86 hardware, that generation one uses Windows because it may have probs, but works out of the box. generation two might just have custom software to do the Job. But I'm sure he won't use linux. If he is going to do wireless, he better base it on OpenBSD to be on the safe side.

Windows has it's uses. and this case it is quick and dirty, functional, and a proof of concept, and it actually works.

While they are still trying to pull the last few bugs out of their wonderful curses front end, before starting to code the PostgreSQL based data and file storage system, Arby is cruising with the tunes playing. I have a project in the pipeline. It may be windows, it may not. I don't know yet. GPSDrive looks cool, and is free, but so is GPSS, and both do voice directions, so who knows.

There is a lot more inf on this at MP3Car.com, the user sites are a bit out of date, but the forum is excelent.

Also, it looks like Q-PC sells premade car computers, though I haven't seen any info about one.

I am building a car computer myself, that will completely replace my radio with a 8.4" touchscreen, running a custom program that does Radio, MP3's, DVD and GPS navigation.

Twostep

There's a webpage here. He did it with a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder, an older Mac Powerbook (utilizing Airport for file transfer), and a lot of ingenuity. His page also goes into detail, instead of just photos.

(I'm thinking about trying the same thing with my 2001 XTerra.)

... and roll your own.

Look at MP3Car.com which has the details you need. Check out the forums.

Currently the Epia MB with a laptop HD via a 2.5 to 3.5 HD converter a slimline DVD/CD-R. You can use the S video or composite for a mobile LCD or serial based character LCD or go all the way and run VGA or SVGA LCD. Schematics on building the Sproggy DC to DC PSU or buy an ATX DC to DC power supply which is probably the hardest component to find.

On mp3car.com's forums you can find schematics for Delayed relays, noise suppression, why NOT to use an inverter, etc. For pics: mp3 webring list or searchmp3cars list.
Look at Mini-itx which has the spacecase that was discussed here on /.
So much for your afternoon.

Yes, /. needs a DIY section for hardware hackers.

... and roll your own.

Look at MP3Car.com which has the details you need. Check out the forums.

Currently the Epia MB with a laptop HD via a 2.5 to 3.5 HD converter a slimline DVD/CD-R. You can use the S video or composite for a mobile LCD or serial based character LCD or go all the way and run VGA or SVGA LCD. Schematics on building the Sproggy DC to DC PSU or buy an ATX DC to DC power supply which is probably the hardest component to find.

On mp3car.com's forums you can find schematics for Delayed relays, noise suppression, why NOT to use an inverter, etc. For pics: mp3 webring list or searchmp3cars list.
Look at Mini-itx which has the spacecase that was discussed here on /.
So much for your afternoon.

Yes, /. needs a DIY section for hardware hackers.

... and roll your own.

Look at MP3Car.com which has the details you need. Check out the forums.

Currently the Epia MB with a laptop HD via a 2.5 to 3.5 HD converter a slimline DVD/CD-R. You can use the S video or composite for a mobile LCD or serial based character LCD or go all the way and run VGA or SVGA LCD. Schematics on building the Sproggy DC to DC PSU or buy an ATX DC to DC power supply which is probably the hardest component to find.

On mp3car.com's forums you can find schematics for Delayed relays, noise suppression, why NOT to use an inverter, etc. For pics: mp3 webring list or searchmp3cars list.
Look at Mini-itx which has the spacecase that was discussed here on /.
So much for your afternoon.

Yes, /. needs a DIY section for hardware hackers.

For +12 and -12, it uses LM2587, another switching regulator, then steps the -12 down to -5. This seems like overkill to me; the efficiency gained isn't worth the extra parts.

For +12, I would use an LM1084 (powered from the car battery), which doesn't have the effeciency of a switching regulator, but doesn't require any inductors.

For -5 and -12, I would use 2 ICL662s (powered from +5 and +12, respectively), which will only supply 300mW each, but that's all we need for negative supplies.

The "typical application"s of the ICL662 and LM1084 should work fine; check out the datasheets.
National Semiconductor (LM ics)
Maxim-IC (MAX and ICL ics)

(BTW, last time I checked, coilcraft doesn't give away samples for the inductors that the website references)

> Does anyone know of a source for an appropriate power supply, or a kit, or even just plans for one?

I'm working on a PC-based MP3 player for my car, so I've done a fair amount of looking. There are a couple of sets of plans floating around the net, but the current they generate is inadequate for my purposes. This is a good resource, with links to many examples of DIY projects.

The only commercially-produced DC power supplies I've found are made by Arise. They have several models that might suit the purpose, like these.

If anyone is aware of a better solution, I'd love to hear about it!

[LordCrumb]

Here is a nice compact and cheap case that uses standard components for the insides (ATX mobo, ATX PS, standard drives, etc.).

Build it to your needs.

This was done in a fashion about a year ago.

This guy has a mount for a Powerbook in the back of his Pathfinder wired up to an LCD touchscreen he installed into his dashboard. It was done mostly to run SoundJam to play MP3's. He hacked his keyboard so that switches on the steering wheel issue commands for skipping, volume, etc. Finally, he has an AirPort card installed so when he is parked, he can upload songs from the Mac in his house.

A pretty cool hack, if you ask me.

This is good. Previously, the best commercial computer-in-car setup was the Q-PC.

Otherwise, many people have just hacked an old PC to work in their trunk or under the passenger's seat, see MP3Car's registry.

Hopefully my car will be on there soon. I'm going to try straping a wireless keyboard around my neck, and type with my right hand with a half Qwerty setup, with sound output only, for safety's sake. There's already software written for this setup-- visually impared people have to work with this type of setup every day.

http://www.mp3car.com/usersites/moahdib/albums/htm l/index.htm

Since its slashdotted, I can't see all the details, but folks have added quite a bit to the base mp3-carputer. If you get a full screen, and a GPS receiver, you can do in dash GPS, others have added movies, wireless internet, games, etc. All available on the fly. However, this is FAR from original as another poster pointed out. Check out MP3Car.com. There's a bulletin board and examples. These guys have been making DC-DC power supplies and plexiglass cases for a long time.