Computer in FJ62 Project

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yukon365 said:
Moby- What amp did you end up using? I've been looking for a small form factor model with just the basic functionality, but haven't been convinced by any that I've seen. I don't need 10,000W of power or anything. Thanks for the info. I probably should've just rocked the all in one solution from above, but I have some kind of sickness that leads me to do things the hard way.


Also, where did you get your anti-reflective coating?
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I just went with a regular size Alpine amp. I've seen mini amps for nano ITX form factor installs where the entire set up fits in a double din space. Can't remember where I saw it though, sorry, try searching mp3car.com forums.

The anti glare is done as part of the monitor. I got mine from www.mo-co-so.com. I don't think that it is a DIY thing.

One other update - I've almost got my Innovate LC-1 wideband O2 controller install finished. The LC-1 is all installed. I just need to figure out my serial to usb driver problem and then I can write a Centrafuse plug in to get wideband data in my front end software.
 
Saturday Night Update

I've been working on this for a few hours, and got some of the features set up. I got the mini touchscreen working and set up with the computer, Centrafuse 3.1 installed, and the GPS connected and communicating with CF, as well. It took some doing. I'm finding out that CF is still very much a program for the technically literate. I consider myself moderately literate in that I'm not a coder, but will edit registries and whatever if I have instructions. CF is far from ready for primetime. The interface is cool, though. iTunes integration is marginal. I'm finding out that old uncle Steve Jobs didn't have the CarPC market in mind, because the drm'd files don't work well with CF. Dang.

At this point, my main concern is the GPS integration. I'd figured that there was a plugin for the CF software to use my existing Garmin North America topo maps, but it turns out that I need to buy Garmin Mobile PC. Another $60 or so. This project is getting a bit pricey. Not to scare anyone, but stuff adds up. Especially when the integration isn't super seamless, and I'm not 100% sure it's going to be just how I want it. I was hoping it'd be a zoomable topo map with the trails on it, with a little icon representing my FJ62 in the middle. We'll see if it plays out like that.

Any suggestions or help from the geniuses on MUD are always greatly appreciated!
 
Have you tried xport? It does a kind of multi-cast thing sending the data feed from one com port to many others. I've heard that it helps solve some of the port conflict problems. It's free: XPort

Sorry about the random message. I guess I need to learn that threads actually extend to a second page!
 
yukon365 said:
.... I was hoping it'd be a zoomable topo map with the trails on it, with a little icon representing my FJ62 in the middle. We'll see if it plays out like that.

Any suggestions or help from the geniuses on MUD are always greatly appreciated!
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I have run Topozone on my laptop with my Magellian, it's looks exactly like what you describe. I'm starting to think a Netbook might be an easier solution.
 
yukon365 said:
I've been working on this for a few hours, and got some of the features set up. I got the mini touchscreen working and set up with the computer, Centrafuse 3.1 installed, and the GPS connected and communicating with CF, as well. It took some doing. I'm finding out that CF is still very much a program for the technically literate. I consider myself moderately literate in that I'm not a coder, but will edit registries and whatever if I have instructions. CF is far from ready for primetime. The interface is cool, though. iTunes integration is marginal. I'm finding out that old uncle Steve Jobs didn't have the CarPC market in mind, because the drm'd files don't work well with CF. Dang.

At this point, my main concern is the GPS integration. I'd figured that there was a plugin for the CF software to use my existing Garmin North America topo maps, but it turns out that I need to buy Garmin Mobile PC. Another $60 or so. This project is getting a bit pricey. Not to scare anyone, but stuff adds up. Especially when the integration isn't super seamless, and I'm not 100% sure it's going to be just how I want it. I was hoping it'd be a zoomable topo map with the trails on it, with a little icon representing my FJ62 in the middle. We'll see if it plays out like that.

Any suggestions or help from the geniuses on MUD are always greatly appreciated!
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Yeah, Centrafuse is cool idea, and I'm glad I bought it, but it still has a looong way to go. In particular for a product where the design intent appears to be around 3rd party extensibility I was very disappointed to see their plugin API surface.

Your scenario with Garmin is around an API to access their map data. Their MobilePC software is effectively that API, which is why you need to buy that to access the raw map data that you already have. Rebellium, the Centrafuse plugin, then attempts to glue MobilePC into a Centrafuse experience.

At a higher level a CarPC is still very much a hobbyist deal (or paying a professional installer). Whether it is a Mac-mini, windows, Centrafuse, Frodoplayer... it's a lot of time and effort to get an integrated, permanent install CarPC that works effortlessly (looks stock in the car, no window, dash, or floor mounted monitors, fast boot like a radio, easy to use without taking eyes off the road, all the features you want just the way you want them...).

FWIW - I'm still trying to close the last 10-20% gap to get all the way to "effortless" with my install. But I'm having fun with it, so I guess that's what counts. Keep at it :beer:
 
Any progress to report?

I started pricing out parts tonight, I'm looking at the Zotac mini itx MOBO, but I'm not sold on it. The USB interface seems to be a bit sketchy, it looks like the Intel Atom MOBO has issues as well.


What I did find;
The Pico PSU-90 90W power supply, it runs off 12V and plugs into the ATX PS con on the MOBO. $34.95 It probably won't run to many extra but should be good enough for the PC and monitor.

Lilliput also has a USB touch screen, the video and touch screen interface all happen via USB UM-70/C/T $165.95

Plextor PX-64M1S 64GB Solid state SATA hard drive $95.00

Nat Geo Topo $49.95

I ordered a Microsoft Pharos USB GPS $18.99

$364.84 and no MOBO yet.:eek:

It's starting to look like a reliable MOBO is going to be around $180

$544.84

Not counting an OS and whatever other SW I would need.
 
rusty_tlc said:
Any progress to report?

I started pricing out parts tonight, I'm looking at the Zotac mini itx MOBO, but I'm not sold on it. The USB interface seems to be a bit sketchy, it looks like the Intel Atom MOBO has issues as well.


What I did find;
The Pico PSU-90 90W power supply, it runs off 12V and plugs into the ATX PS con on the MOBO. $34.95 It probably won't run to many extra but should be good enough for the PC and monitor.

Lilliput also has a USB touch screen, the video and touch screen interface all happen via USB UM-70/C/T $165.95

Plextor PX-64M1S 64GB Solid state SATA hard drive $95.00

Nat Geo Topo $49.95

I ordered a Microsoft Pharos USB GPS $18.99

$364.84 and no MOBO yet.:eek:

It's starting to look like a reliable MOBO is going to be around $180

$544.84

Not counting an OS and whatever other SW I would need.
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I been reading and re-reading this thread. Checking the web sites everyone has posted.

I reach the same conclusion - why not just use a netbook or even a tablet pc?
 
I've been following them for the possibility of a very low power PC, but that is becoming less of a draw. There are now reasonably fast very low power draw computers available. I have a no name generic PC with 5 laptop HDs in it serving as a security camera monitoring video recorder, and network video server. It only draws 40W.
 
Bogo said:
I've been following them for the possibility of a very low power PC, but that is becoming less of a draw. There are now reasonably fast very low power draw computers available. I have a no name generic PC with 5 laptop HDs in it serving as a security camera monitoring video recorder, and network video server. It only draws 40W.
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I was doing a power budget for the project I outlined above and came up with around 50W max, and 20W on standby.

I may build a micro ITX desktop just for grins anyway.
 
How do these lilliput monitors compare to other brands? They seem like a fair price but not many reviews on some of the monitors. I'm wanting to mount my monitor above my rearview mirror on an angle that will be mounted to my rollcage. I have about 7.5" of height to work with and with it mounted here, I shouldn't have to worry about sunlight washing it out.

Nick
 
iDOTpc.com | Mini ITX Case, Mini ITX Motherboard, DC-DC Power Supply - iDOTpc International, Inc Is one of the places where I've looked in the past.

Also Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more! has some boards. Combined with a case from the above place.

Right now I'd maximize the system memory over going for a faster CPU. Also I'd get a SSD drive over a rotating hard disk. That is for the core system. Big bulk storage you are still pretty much stuck with rotating media. There are big SSD drives out there, but they are expensive. Much cheaper to RAID two rotating disks for durability.

Note: A CompactFlash card can be attached to an IDE bus with a $10 adapter. Embedded Storage That would likely be more durable than any SATA connected drive. The SATA connectors on the cables are not vibration robust. The pin and socket structure used for IDE and CompactFlash is. A SATA drive connected directly to a PCB is a different story. That can be more robust for vibrations if done well.
 
The only things I can see an optical drive used for is loading the OS and software, as well as new music. A USB optical drive would likely work if the motherboard can boot from a USB drive.

The Solid State Disk (SSD) is maybe more important. No moving parts so it is much more tolerant of abusive conditions like I'd expect in a truck that routinely drives off road. I'd already have one in my laptop, but my laptop is old enough that it uses 2.5" IDE drives and nobody I've seen makes a large capacity IDE SSD drives with fast controllers in them. I still may grab one for the laptop when 256 GB or 512 GB units become reasonable in price.

Do any of the PC mapping software products have touch screen optimized user interfaces? I currently use Delorme's Topo USA, but it is an older edition. The version I have would require a very small finger to actuate many of it's on screen buttons. Fine for a mouse and cursor, but impossible with a high resolution touch screen. They are even a bit small for navigator use in a moving vehicle.
 
Most of the micro ITX MOBO's can load the OS from a USB thumb drive so no real need for an optical drive.

SS Sata drives are reasonably priced, I can't see any reason to use a mechanical drive in any application anymore.

You need a third party touch screen utility as far as I can tell. After that most SW these days use point and click mouse actions for the GUI. You might need a on screen keyboard utility for text input though, ease of access keyboard would work.
 
Bogo said:
The only things I can see an optical drive used for is loading the OS and software, as well as new music. A USB optical drive would likely work if the motherboard can boot from a USB drive.

The Solid State Disk (SSD) is maybe more important. No moving parts so it is much more tolerant of abusive conditions like I'd expect in a truck that routinely drives off road. I'd already have one in my laptop, but my laptop is old enough that it uses 2.5" IDE drives and nobody I've seen makes a large capacity IDE SSD drives with fast controllers in them. I still may grab one for the laptop when 256 GB or 512 GB units become reasonable in price.

Do any of the PC mapping software products have touch screen optimized user interfaces? I currently use Delorme's Topo USA, but it is an older edition. The version I have would require a very small finger to actuate many of it's on screen buttons. Fine for a mouse and cursor, but impossible with a high resolution touch screen. They are even a bit small for navigator use in a moving vehicle.
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I would consider an SSD a requirement. I've rocked my car PC set up in my FJ-62 at 20mph down bad logging roads without any issues. I can't see even a laptop grade drive surviving that type of usage.

Also consider the best anti-glare screen you can get. I got MoCoSo's top of the line anti-glare for my in-dash screen and I'm very glad that I did. Maybe with a net book, tablet or laptop where you have a mount that can change the angle of the screen this wouldn't be as big a deal, but for an in-dash screen in a dash not originally designed for a screen it is.

Garmin's Mobile PC is not optimized for a tocuhscreen, but it isn't bad either. Unfortunately when I bought Mobile PC it listed their topo maps as an optional map package. Unfortunately I just talked to them and they said that was a mistake, their topo maps don't work well with Mobile PC and is no longer recommended.
 
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