New carputer in-progress.

[erond]

This doesn't really seem to fit in the audio or the computer section, but feel free to move it around if it doesn't belong here.

I finally got enough "extra" cash together to buy everything I needed for adding a carputer to my '99 Explorer. Other than "it would be nice for MP3s and GPS and whatever", I didn't have a specific purpose other than the geek-factor. I didn't want to replace the HU (stock sound is fine for me), but I noticed that there seemed to be just enough room behind it to install a mini-itx motherboard.

I lost my step-by-step pictures, but took it back out to tweak it and take more pics to give a rough idea of how I did it. Clicking on the thumbnails will give larger pictures and more descriptive text.


Pictures are at this gallery.

Still some more detail work to do, and I have to mount the Lilliput VGA screen, but the major work is done.

Specs:
Via ME-6000 600MHz fanless motherboard
512MB DDR
120GB hard drive
bluetooth + WiFi
ITPS + PW-70a and Lilliput touchscreen from mp3car.com.

 

[wired_af]

Looks good. That bluetooth should come inhandy. Only thing I would worry about is somethin shortin out that motherboard.

 

[erond]

There's about 3/8" between the firewall and the back of the motherboard, and about 3/4" between the PW-70a snapped on to the ATX power adapter and the console brace. The sled is also very rigid (locked down at 4 points), so it won't move into anything.

I do need to wire-tie some of the truck wiring out of the way, though.

 

[Bobby Locs]

Looks great, something I also wanted to do...

 

[RiverRat]

That is cool! Where did you put the hard drive?

 

[jeff96]

nice, how much did all this cost you?

 

[erond]

hard drive

That is cool! Where did you put the hard drive?

I actually originally wanted to have a totally no-moving-parts system. Planning on booting Linux from compact-flash. I'm now thinking I'll make a dual-boot Linux/XP system.

It looks like there is enough room under the console pockets. If not, I'll grab a spare from a junkyard and remove the pockets for the room.

I'll hopefully be able to finish next weekend, inlcuding mounting the monitor.

 

[erond]

nice, how much did all this cost you?

Grand total was about $600, with almost half of it being for the monitor.
I also already had hard drive, bluetooth, and WiFi around.

 

[Electrohacker]

I made my own carputer recently as well. but I didn't go into that much detail. I basically thres a microatx computer in my trunk and ran wires to a control pannel and a touchscreen LCD... it works rater well, but I might install it permanently soon...

 

[erond]

Why?

One of my goals when I decided to build this was to make it as unobtrusive as possible and not take up any usable room. Plenty of room to put a full size case in the back, but I didn't want to do that. I was also thinking about putting a Casetronic or other mini-itx case under a seat, but folding the back seats would have been a problem and I didn't want a back-seat passenger kicking it under the front seats.

The hard drive wouldn't fit under the console, but I found another place for it. My tissue holder now has 120GB capacity.

A couple of new pics up, but still working on it.

 

[heyok]

Looking great! Keep posting. Really like the pics.
Can you tell me what software you plan on running? I assume that you will play MP3s and maybe Divx. Will you be using any map type software?

Cheers,
Al

 

[gordhunt]

You should get and SATA drive and cable as the cable is way narrower and looks nicer if you can see it when it's done.

 

[Electrohacker]

you don't nessecarily need a sata drive or port to use sata... they make adaptors...

 

[erond]

Can you tell me what software you plan on running? I assume that you will play MP3s and maybe Divx. Will you be using any map type software?

I wanted to make it a Linux-only system, but I'm still playing around with the kernel trying to get it to recognize the touchscreen. I haven't found any nice-looking GPS software, so I may end up dual-booting with XP just for that.

I have my "druthers", but everything is subject to change (and has changed ) as protyping/production are occuring at the same time.

 

[Electrohacker]

try media engine... it had gps touchscreen support. it runs over XP and acctually replaces explorer

 

[erond]

Physical install is done!

All the pieces are put together. I just need to finish getting drivers and software installed.

Pics have been updated.

 

[erond]

It liiiiives.

Pictures are at this gallery.

Still some more detail work to do, and I have to mount the Lilliput VGA screen, but the major work is done.

"Done". Finally got bluetooth and GPRS working, so I have internet access in the truck.
It's only dialup speed, but hey....

New pictures on the gallery, including two showing it in operation.

 

[erond]

One of the details that I've been trying to figure out finally got solved by a comment made by somebody else. I've been trying to figure out how to get sound from the motherboard to the radio without replacing the whole thing (no audio in).

Captain Obvious said, "Use an FM modulator/transmitter." and it worked just fine.
It is a bit disconcerting hearing the Windows boot sound when I start the truck, though...

 

[96ExplorerXLT]

Thats sweet man! how much did all that run you? Very cool install job as well! Props!

 

[IAmTodd]

Awsome install. I'm thinking about doing this once again. Although I think I will be going the route of using an MicroATX in a wooden of some other type box in the rear. I have most of the components I would need, The only real thing I would need would be a converter larger enough to run the PS. And now for the screen.