Car-puter / GPS DIY Build-up

**HangOver** · 20th January 2008, 12:24 AM

Originally Posted by incisor

comes with linux but xp is installable

got to find out whether it is better in xp or linux with wine

let you know when i get it in my hot little hands :P

and i get paid by a nissann owner to do it, bless em :P

if it's one of the cheaper ones with XP and the 2GB HDD, it would be a no go. Or the 4GB HDD maybe. if its the top of the line unit with 8GB it might be OK but XP+GPS maps+MP3's etc 8GB wont go far. Saying that excellent choice with it using static ram HDD
Will it be GPS only?
I seem to rememebr linux variants are a smaller install then XP?
But then both can be reduced I suppose if you have the time.

**cockie55** · 20th January 2008, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by Disco_owner

This is a great post ,

I've been thinking about converting my laptop into a Carputer also , have Oziexplorer and all the maps ,Simpson desert , Kimberly's , vic high country , cape york , all courtesy of the internet, all I need is the GPS reciever ,Bluetooth seems to be the way to go , but do I have any options if I want to install a GPS reciever Antenna and run a cable back to a reciever inside the dash and have a permanant set up?

I am not a great fan of USB and bluetooth GPS's with built in external antenna recievers or some issues with touch screen front end. I have one of these mini PCI GPS boards with external antenna mounted on top of snorky

COMMELL Technical Support Center

It may work for you if you have a sacrificial mini PCI slot in either your MB or laptop

**Disco_owner** · 20th January 2008, 01:09 PM

cockie55

That's a great option , but I doubt I have a spare PCI Slot on the Laptop , I'll check it tonite , if so this would mean I will have a USB spare for connecting other devices if need be, ie Camera , external USB Harddrive , etc , will any external GPS Antenna be compatible with this card ? where did you get your Antenna for the GPS from ? and what typre of Coaxial cable did you use for connection to Card from Antenna ?

Hangover thanks for Info . I am still considering the USB option if laptop doesn't have a Spare PCI slot left...

**cockie55** · 20th January 2008, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Disco_owner

cockie55

That's a great option , but I doubt I have a spare PCI Slot on the Laptop , I'll check it tonite , if so this would mean I will have a USB spare for connecting other devices if need be, ie Camera , external USB Harddrive , etc , will any external GPS Antenna be compatible with this card ? where did you get your Antenna for the GPS from ? and what typre of Coaxial cable did you use for connection to Card from Antenna ?

Hangover thanks for Info . I am still considering the USB option if laptop doesn't have a Spare PCI slot left...

Only mini PCI you have in laptop is probably wireless card.

You do not need special antenna. coax is fixed to antenna and board connector end is standard though I just purchased a Commell antenna (see bottom of that site) so I knew I had a compatible connector. I then snipped couple inches off connector end to create a pigtail inside case with SMA female to male screw connector mounted on outside of case.

Co axial cable connector types is the most confusing ...I get my coax stuff from these people.

Rfshop RF Wireless Microwave Coaxial Connectors Adapters Loads Antennas Cable Assemblies pigtails

Don't forget you can use a USB hub if you are short. I have a made up a dash mount unit which incorporates a powered (5v) USB hub, firewire connect, audio and multi card reader plus a slim line slot load DVD/CD writer/.reader

**cockie55** · 20th January 2008, 09:17 PM

I just posted these pics on other thread that started on hands free phone and got to screen mounting so but maybe it more use here.

This is my 8 1/2 ' touchscreen in a D1. I chose overhead as I think it provides a better and safer view when driving. it is located out of any glare and half the sighting distance compared to dash mount.

It is also fully adjustable (mount comprises a non-slip rubber bush) so with finger touch I can swing it down towards me for driver square-on viewing or swing up for other passengers to view. Screen size and position allows rear seat viewing.

Screen has VGA and 2 X RCA video channels so I can scroll between VGA computer and cameras hanging of the RCA's.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment...ouch-lcd-2.jpg

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment...ouch-lcd-3.jpg

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment...ouch-lcd-1.jpg

It is hung off a stainless bar and spacer arrangement (hidden) using the factory overhead console/sunshade fixings. All wiring down the right hand A-pillar.

PS. QA... on front bar mount antennas in pic ...they are both high gain RFI's and connected to computer ...the black (left hand) one is broadband wireless and white (middle) one wireless network.

**CraigE** · 22nd January 2008, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by jsp

Ron, laptops are EASY!.

If your laptop/notebook doesn't have a PS2 you can run a small relay from the USB port as well.

The above taken from another forum

So what does one actually need to do this. I hate having to turn my laptop on and off from a secure place all the time?
Is the diagram of what is required or how a laptop on off works/
I am assuming looking at the diagram you will need 2 relays (what size and type?), a fuse and a PS2 or USB cord??
Thanks
CraigE

**bruiser69** · 4th February 2008, 06:36 AM

Save yourself the grief & money,
Laptop will not last offroad, believe me!

Check out Logic Gear XL488 GPS. (Google it)

Unit runs WinCE and will accept 4gb SD cards.

Has 512Mb RAM. 4.3" touchscreen, inbuilt Li ion battery, bluetooth handsfree for phone, Etc Etc
AV input for reversing cam etc, will play any video, audio or still format.
Tutn by turn voice commands, 2D or 3D, red light, fixed cameras & school zones. You can also download free offroad contour maps from Govt site, and unit will detect and use them. Us price <$180, Aus $399 or less if you shop around.

**cockie55** · 4th February 2008, 07:16 AM

bruiser69 this is a carputer thread....that Kmart handheld unit you mention will do bugger all....not to mention having no external antenna so hanging it out the window to pick up a signal is hardly fun

**bruiser69** · 9th February 2008, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by cockie55

bruiser69 this is a carputer thread....that Kmart handheld unit you mention will do bugger all....not to mention having no external antenna so hanging it out the window to pick up a signal is hardly fun

I don't agree. First of all the 488 and 350 are basically computers running WinCE with 20 channel GPS module included. This means they can run ANY application designed for WinCE. Hypo (from 4WD & camper trailer site) took the Logic Gear 350 , which is the pocket sized cut down version of XL488 on around Aust trip, inc across Simpson desert without being out of coverage for entire trip. He used Oziexplorer CE and a collection of over 2000 contour maps downloaded for free from Govt sites. These have POIs as well as every offroad track you would ever need. He has given me a copy, and DVD has over 600,000 POI inc repeater stations, airstrips, homesteads etc for anywhere that 2d/3d maps don't cover.

If you want to have a full spec PC in vehicle, do what my mate Graeme did, and install one of the in dash DIN mount PC'S designed for this application.
He did this because a serious offroad trip thru West & central Qld destroyed his new laptop/GPS that hehas mounted in previous troopy.

Cheers..B

**D3Jon** · 23rd February 2008, 12:50 AM

Originally Posted by incisor

anyone using an asus eeepc with oziexplorer.. ?

just been commissioned by a client to do it for him ....

something different...

Bought an Eee for that very reason and can confirm that it works a treat

I've got the 4Gb version (only one officially sold in Oz at the moment). Really pleased with it. Much faster than you might think too, boots really quick into XP (faster than my 'powerhouse' desktop because of it's solid state disks).

A few pics first... (didn't happen without pictures right

)

My tip is don't get the 2Gb version off Ebay as it has a slower processor, lower capacity battery as well as less disk space.

On my Eee I'm running XP Pro, OziExplorer 3.95, Garmin MapSource 6.13 & ER Viewer 7.0, only uses 1.77Gb of the 4.0Gb drive.

Not running any anti-virus at the moment as too memory hungry, just relying on Windows firewall. But the Eee takes DDR2 memory sticks and can easily be upgraded to 2Gb of 667 Mhz without any drama's. Mine's running absolutely fine with the standard 512Mb of RAM with the swap file set at another 512Mb.

I also use a 4Gb SD HC card (dirt cheap now) in the inbuilt card reader for map storage, so I have also installed 2Gb of Sat images for use in Ozi as well.

It comes with all the XP drivers for the wireless, screen, touchpad, network adapter - and they work fine.

Thought about keeping Linux and running through WINE, have seen a thread elsewhere that this can be done with USB GPS devices (albeit with a bit of a fiddle), but I'm using an older GPS (Etrex Summit) via a USB to serial converter lead and I figured this would never work in Linux/WINE without writing my own driver.

XP installed seamlessly, the Eee drivers went on without a hitch and then Ozi and everthing else went on just like a normal PC. It's actually faster than a normal PC IMHO because of the lack of moving parts (e.g. hard drive) and obviously more robust.

Rumour has it that Asus will soon be bringing out a version with a larger screen that will also be a touch screen, more memory and XP installed, although obviously the price will be higher because of the Windows licence costs.

If you need any info on my set up then don't hesitate to ask

Jon

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