Disco 2 carputer setup

[banarcus]

For anyone interested in setting up a car based computer in a Discovery 2, I've decided to go ahead with putting in my little dual core atom based pc into my Disco.

Basically I cheated by buying a barebones system which only needed a hard drive. It has neat little 12v power supply that has auto shut down and a timed amp power signal feed to do away with the annoying amp thump on startup.

This is what I bought. It is the size of an average car amplifier:


http://www.mo-co-so.com/v/vspfiles/photos/MCS-BB-LF2-2.jpg

One thing about the barebones pc was that the motherboard was dead and wouldn't respond to my usb devices. I tried everything but it still wouldn't work so it is going back to the US tomorrow. I'll sell off the replacement motherboard on ebay to recoup some of the cash I spent on the upgraded motherboard I bought locally.



To do away with the factory DIN and half headunit, I bought a Directed HD radio tuner that is controlled by the pc. I have also bought a integration loom that allows me to connect the factory Harman Kardon amp into the car pc without cutting any wires. I have yet to take a photo of this but here is a picture of it online:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/08/913.jpg

I bought a Lilliput 7" LCD screen but accidentally bought the non touchscreen model which meant I had to buy the touchscreen and usb controller. It was a 10 minute job to install it and goes well when I tested it on the laptop.

Finally I have Centrafuse 2 with Australian maps. The maps are a tad old but I have some not so old Garmin maps to use when I get the gps responder. Centrafuse also allows me to use my phone through bluetooth and down the track I'll get the OBD II plug to monitor engine stuff.

As I type, I'm installing windows xp and the drivers on my desk and when it is all good and loaded with software, I'll take the dash and console apart and install it. Running out of time though, I've got to go to NZ for a couple of weeks with the tribe and probably do it all in a fortnight.

I'll take photos as I go for anyone interested.
http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mo-co-so.com/v/vspfiles/photos/MCS-BB-LF2-2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/worklogs/139732-06-subaru-legacy-gt-carpc-install.html&usg=__AFB1ZcNeVOzt1AajRzr4wgG9W54=&h=500&w=500&sz=62&hl=en&start=34&tbnid=YufoZFbYcryv5M:&tbnh=147&tbnw=157&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmo%2Bco%2Bso%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%2 6bih%3D619%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C657&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=559&vpy=303&dur=2805&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=122&ty=247&ei=R0ZjTPbPAobuvQPcv8ieCg&oei=PkZjTMPpKI-cuAP35sGeCg&esq=4&page=3&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:34&biw=1280&bih=619

[TJS-70Y]

Keep us posted on how you go. I'm very interested.

Thomas

[Waxenwane]

How is the performance of the hd radio? I have a similar setup and i'm agonising about which one to get.

[banarcus]

Well got back from Christchurch a couple of weeks ago. Missed the earthquake by one week exactly. It's good to be back home.

I ended up pulling the dash and console off so I could get some wiring laid down. Progress:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/09/1522.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/09/1523.jpg

Here is a picture of the actual PC sitting in the footwell. Only a tad larger than the factory CD stacker it replaces:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/09/1524.jpg

Dash back together again and the screen in place. The only problem here is the fact that the bit of the monitor sticking up is a temptation for grubs to break in:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/09/1525.jpg

A picture of the PC sitting under the drivers seat. Note that the seat is forward and when in its normal position, the PC is out of view:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/07/710.jpg

The factory DVD player died sometime before I bought it. I couldn't find the damn thing for a while but I have to say that with it sitting under the drivers seat, you have to be a contortionist to load DVDs into it! I bought a 1/2 DIN sized DVD player and mounted it behind the console. Loaded up the headphones with new batteries and now the kids are happy!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/09/1526.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/09/1527.jpg

I now have to buy something to emulate the 12v feed to power the amps on delay because the little M2-ATX power supply cannot give the amp a full 12V as it drops down to 5V. At the moment I have the amp powering up from another source and I get the damned thump on start up.

I also have to install the software for the steering wheel buttons so that they can function with the PC like they did with the factory headunit.

A few other bits to get are the GPS hardware, OBDII bluetooth plug, a USB wireless dongle and a bluetooth dongle.

All up the PC conversion cost me $800. A recent trip to JB HIFI revealed a similar all in one DIN unit with a fold out touchscreen monitor for over $4000!! I've seen others for over $1500 so I'm pretty happy.

I'll add a few more photos of the PC functions later.

[banarcus]

How is the performance of the hd radio? I have a similar setup and i'm agonising about which one to get.

To be honest Wayne, the HD Director is a bit hit and miss. The antenna is amplified or powered and as you know, stuck like a demister on the rear window. I'd be interested to know whether others with aftermarket head units suffer any poor reception issues.

I'm not too concerned at the moment as I have my eye on a BMW style shark fin antenna with GPS, wifi and FM antenna inside. I should see an improvement then.

AM reception is suprisingly good, but it is the lack of sound quality that bugs me. When I had it running in my house on the test bed, the sound was good so this confirms to me to be the factory antenna.

[Waxenwane]

I ended up buying the Directed HD as well, I am running it of a conventional car aerial and so far happy with it.

[999]

Nice one, I'm about to embark on the same project my self. I already have the hardware except a screen and PSU.

Does the pc boot/wake up when you turn your key?

[banarcus]

Nice one, I'm about to embark on the same project my self. I already have the hardware except a screen and PSU.

Does the pc boot/wake up when you turn your key?

Yes, as soon as the key is switched on to accessories, the PC wakes up out of hibernation, about 8 seconds to music. When I turn off the key and remove it, the PC will hibernate after 30 seconds. The issue I have is that the M2-ATX power supply unit will not give the harmon-kardan amp a continious 12v rather it drops to 5v which is no use to me. Apparently a common problem with the M2-ATX.

I'll upload it all onto youtube and post a link as soon as I download it off my camera.

[CJT]

Wile searching the net I found this install for a double din touch screen in a D2.

If you dont mind cutting and shutting your dash a little and losing the slide out cup holders this is quiet neat.

[Franz]

Wile searching the net I found this install for a double din touch screen in a D2.

If you dont mind cutting and shutting your dash a little and losing the slide out cup holders this is quiet neat.
Chris,

Do you have a link for this thread?

Cheers,

Franz

[CJT]

Chris,

Do you have a link for this thread?

Cheers,

Franz

Here you go.

Double Din Dash Rebuild, Land Rover Discovery - DIYMA.com (http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/diyma-build-logs/47864-double-din-dash-rebuild-land-rover-discovery.html)

[mrapocalypse]

I think I'll stick to my Iphone 4 Blue tacked to the dash.

[banarcus]

I actually read that thread and thought about doing a similar thing with mine. I've even seen pictures of the climate control module mounted up high above the rear view mirror and a double din put in its place.

Fixed an issue I had with the digital radio. It was very distorted and lacked quality but it was the on board sound settings on the motherboard that needed sorting. Sounds better than the factory head unit now and it even digitalises an AM signal and turns it into FM quality.

[rangetime]

This is nice looking, from whom in the US did you get this? As i live here it should be easy for me to get.
Thanks man!
Dave

[banarcus]

This is nice looking, from whom in the US did you get this? As i live here it should be easy for me to get.
Thanks man!
Dave


Gday, yeah I bought if from mobile computing solutions or mo-co-so in philly. Chris is the bloke to speak to. He helped me out really well and after sales service was really good, especially from an international perspective.

I have also just test fitted my GPS dongle antenna thingy and a USB wifi antenna so I can just stream music and other things over from my home network. It's now starting to all come together.

I'll post up some photos when my batteries charge up on the camera.

[Krayzie Keegs]

Nice unit mate I have started my Carputer (like that) got the comp much the same as yours but only needed to add a dvd ($60) but as for the screen still on the fence do I get a 8" and mount on the dash (thats the set up we did for dads D1) or change the head for a pop out. but dont know about the angle can you see the maps good with out moving your head from a driver pos.

But can you get the Controls to work for a new unit????? My cd player was dead when I got the car so that is a great place to put the pc did not think of that.

OziExplorer with melways and Rooftop maps is what i use but ozi cames with a few good topo maps to they did me well in Tas.

[banarcus]

Nice unit mate I have started my Carputer (like that) got the comp much the same as yours but only needed to add a dvd ($60) but as for the screen still on the fence do I get a 8" and mount on the dash (thats the set up we did for dads D1) or change the head for a pop out. but dont know about the angle can you see the maps good with out moving your head from a driver pos.

But can you get the Controls to work for a new unit????? My cd player was dead when I got the car so that is a great place to put the pc did not think of that.

OziExplorer with melways and Rooftop maps is what i use but ozi cames with a few good topo maps to they did me well in Tas.


I can still see the screen easily with the way my 7" is mounted but sometimes glare can spoil this. I was also looking for a single DIN setup with a fold out screen but they weren't VGA so I stuck with what I have.

I've got the factory steering wheel controls working well. I use a little gadget called joycon. I hardly use the touchscreen while I'm driving now.

I've yet to install oziexplorer, this is on the cards once the hardware is finalised. Definately on the cards though.

I took a video of my setup recently, I just need to upload it onto youtube or similar. That's my task now.......

[banarcus]

I tried uploading a video of my setup but because it has music being played from it, youtube is now muting it because of some violation. I'll try uploading it to another server.

[cockie55]

This was my solution....8 1/2" touch screen on a vesa ball pivot. Up close, angles towards driver or others and shaded position (limit glare/reflection)

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/projects-tutorials/8192d1209104481-onboard-pc-touchlcd.jpg

banarcus what radio hardware are you using???

[banarcus]

This was my solution....8 1/2" touch screen on a vesa ball pivot. Up close, angles towards driver or others and shaded position (limit glare/reflection)

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/projects-tutorials/8192d1209104481-onboard-pc-touchlcd.jpg

banarcus what radio hardware are you using???

Oops cockie, it's been a while since I've been in here.

I have a Directed HD radio with a custom serial lead plugged into the COM port and an audio line. It plugs into the standard LR antenna. It's controlled via centrafuse and gives a very clear sound. I listen to AM stations a fair bit otherwise I'd would've went for a much cheaper FM only module. I bought it from this mob: Directed DMHD-1000 HD Radio Receiver (http://www.mo-co-so.com/Directed-DMHD-1000-HD-Radio-Receiver-p/mcs-dir-hdr.htm)