Stic-puter?

[Stic-o]

Ahh the carputer. I have thought about this many times, I just could never find the money or the stuff lying around to do it. Until now. I recently picked up a 8" LCD screen that I was going to put in the Volvo for a navigation system, but that looks to be way to much work. So, in the explorer it will go! The screen will work for a few different purposes, The main purpose will be for Stic-Cam, as a live view, and may even include a 2nd cam. The other will be more for entertainment and "just because". This will be the carputer.



The Screen

The screen will be mounted where the ash tray and power point are now. I will be building a extension for the short center console. It will be upside down "L" shaped so it will wrap around the T-case shiftier. The screen will then be in front of it, and off the floor about 3" so the dvd drive will fit under it. This should allow perfect view when in 4-lo. When it in 2-hi there will likely be some of the shiftier in the line of view, but not to bad.

The Carputer

The carputer will be made from a 6 year old Dell Inspiration 3800 laptop running Win 2k that I had lying around. It's not the fastest thing but for the truck it will do for now. I have already removed the screen from the laptop, this will not be needed. I need to find a dvd drive for it that will be mounted by it self under the screen and eject to the passenger side area. Luckily this laptop has a extension cord type plug in so you can run two drives. One in and one external, which ever you want to be where. I will also find a DC adapter for the laptop. I'm not completely sure where the laptop will go yet. Maybe under the driver seat. The carputer will be able to play games, watch movies, or work on a excel spreadsheet. Navigation may be added later.

Stic-Cam add-ons

Stic-cam will be using the screen for live video feeds. This was the original use for stic-cam. I can't tell you how many times I've gone over a hill and not know what's on the other side. Looking down at a screen viewing a camera off the front bumper would be some nice help. The screen allows me to run two video inputs, which means two cams will be possible. Just have to work out the recording part.

 

[Ranger379]

hey, sounds like a pretty cool set-up, cant wait to see how it turns out. i like the idea of the camera on the front bumper good luck with it!

 

[Stic-o]

So I figured out that a cd drive will not run off the cord supplied for the 5 1/4". So I'll have to get a USB External DVD drive. This will probally be better anyway.

 

[Stic-o]

Got the screen in and mounted. Used some sheet metal to make it look nice. Here is how it turned out.

Screen shows Stic-cam on the bumper

 

[Ranger379]

hey looks pretty good, what kinda camera is it? how does it look at night? is it green like night vision? i heard some look like its daytime out on the camera when its really dark, i bet turns out to be very useful, hows the computer part coming along?

 

[badge49]

SWEET! You just solved my question of where to relocate my CB!

 

[Jefe]

 

[boominXplorer]

Damn you work quick!!! Looking good.

 

[Stic-o]

Well try'n to get this thing done, but not going to well. The laptop I'm using is so old I have to use a dial up conection I don't have a card for it, and all I want to is update everything.

I installed a USB bluetooth on it. My idea is use the bluetooth in my cell phone and then I would have a internet conection in the truck. and once I get my new cell phone next month with 3G, I'll have a broadband speed conection I just can't get my current cell to talk to it. They both just say searching....

Also ordered a dvd drive for it, but now I find out it has a different plug in on the back Not sure what to do. What I really need to find is a cheap USB, using PS/2 power