car pc

Submitted: Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 21:15

ThreadID: 27644 Views:3940 Replies:10 FollowUps:5

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andy

I plan to assemble and install a Car Pc for navigation, audio and maybe networking. Before doing so, I would like to hear about your experience with the survival of 2.5" hard disks in very dusty conditions (we have the windows open most of the time) and under heavy corrugations.

Also, are there lists for hotpots and areas where GSM is available on the net?

Thanks for your help

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Reply By: Groove - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 21:25

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 21:25

I have had a laptop mounted under the drivers seat for a while now, connected to a small lcd screen in the dash.

The hard drive has survived with no problem at all, Cape York and many other trips.

AnswerID: 136850

Follow Up By: Groove - Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 16:11

Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 16:11

this is how I set my screen up

http://members.iinet.net.au/~supa/car_web/new_installation.htm

FollowupID: 390753

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 22:22

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 22:22

I mount everything electrical (including computer) with velcro. It cushions it nicely.

Cheers
Phil

AnswerID: 136855

Reply By: Woobla (WA) - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 22:37

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 22:37

Hi Andy,
What sort of PC are you contemplating installing?
Jeff

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AnswerID: 136856

Follow Up By: andy - Thursday, Nov 03, 2005 at 07:27

Thursday, Nov 03, 2005 at 07:27

Hi Jeff,

the setup I plan uses a mini-itx mother board from via with
uncooled cpu (670 MHz), 512 mb ram, 80 gb 2.5 inch hard disk
and an external usb dvd writer. Display will be an lcd touch screen
with at least 8 inch diagonal size.

regards
Andreas

FollowupID: 391219

Reply By: arthurking83 - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 23:06

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 23:06

I would personally go for a Lappie under the seat too, and with one of those "lillyput" touch screens selling on ebay (I noticed Jaycar are selling similar items now!)
You could run all you info/entertainment needs through it!

For another perspective, check out Craigs project over at GPSAustralia

A very neat setup.
And someone else there recently showed some pics of a real good looking LCD screen install in the dash of their GU patrol project

cheers.

AnswerID: 136863

Reply By: Scubaroo - Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 00:02

Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 00:02

http://www.bitdistribution.com.au/ do a 12V PC designed for in-car use - about the size of an external CD burner. Saw them at the 4WD show in Melb.

AnswerID: 136866

Reply By: Bob of KAOS - Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 05:59

Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 05:59

Andy
The GSM dist map is on the Telstra site. (Basically in and just around most towns)
A second hand laptop is the cheap/reliable option. A used Toshiba of about 700 MHz with a dud screen recently sold for about $70. That would be ideal with an external display.
The advantage of the Tosh is that despite being rated at 15V it runs on the cars 13.4 V without the need for inverter/power supply.
I use a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse.

AnswerID: 136875

Reply By: Member - Sam (NSW) - Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 07:33

Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 07:33

I can't seem to find the link, but i have seen a 12V single DIN sized computer for in-dash mounting.

AnswerID: 136879

Follow Up By: Member - Sam (NSW) - Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 07:35

Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 07:35

And I am pretty sure the link that Scubaroo posted is a different mob.

FollowupID: 390627

Reply By: happpyg - Monday, Oct 31, 2005 at 22:53

Monday, Oct 31, 2005 at 22:53

I have mounted my computer under the drivers seat in my own box. 3.5" Hard drive cops a weekly offroad belting & has survived 12 months now with no problems. Started with 7" Lilliput & now have 10.2" Xenarc LCD Screen

Details here : www.happyg.mine.nu/carpc/index.html

AnswerID: 137226

Reply By: Member - gujimbo - Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 22:23

Tuesday, Nov 01, 2005 at 22:23

Greetings Andy i put together a system based on a VIA Epia-M motherboard
this is all attached to the rear cargo barrier , just behind the fridge slide.
The monitor is a 7" lilliput lcd touchscreen.The system has survived trips to
the Flinders Ranges and to the Vic High country,its main use is GPS navigation
and as storage for digital photos and MP3 music play.
Some photos attached on my rig page.

Regards JIM

AnswerID: 137355

Follow Up By: andy - Thursday, Nov 03, 2005 at 07:20

Thursday, Nov 03, 2005 at 07:20

Hi Jim,

your setup looks very similar to what I am planning.
Is your system (hard disk) running all the time and is the lcd
screen large enough for seeing details on maps?
What is the URL of your rig page?

Cheers
Andy

FollowupID: 391218

Follow Up By: Member - gujimbo - Thursday, Nov 03, 2005 at 17:07

Thursday, Nov 03, 2005 at 17:07

Greetings Andy

The harddisk is a 40gb laptop type harddisk(smaller,more robust and lower power consumption=less heat).When we go offroad the system is allways running Ozieexplorer for navigation and track plotting and the MP3 player which transmits to the car radio (on FM).
On numerous trips to the Flinders Ranges and Vic high country, no
problems at all.

The mapping is some of the Hema maps on cd , some Natmap and some that i have scanned and calibrated, all up nearly 7GB of map data.

The 7" lcd display is mounted on the windscreen front passenger side with a RAM suction cup, although the screen is a touchscreen model my passenger finds it easier to use a mini trackball.

The size makes it easy for me to have a quick glance for position check.

I dont have a specific url only the photos i have posted on my rig page under exploreoz.

Regards JIM

FollowupID: 391290