Which way to go

Submitted: Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 21:44

ThreadID: 49164 Views:2340 Replies:6 FollowUps:10

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LAPP

Can anyone assist with their experience in selecting components for a PC based navigation system. I am thinking Ozi Explorer naviagation software but also want to push it through say, a 7" in-dash touch(?) screen, be able to link in a rear camera, and other entertainment inputs e.g MP3 TV DVD CD.

What cost effective in-car "computers" or "systems" would make a robust base to build such a system around? Does anyone have any examples of what they may have done along these lines?

i am frustrated with the small Meridian Gold hand held GPS screen but carrying a full blown laptop seems to be at the other extreme.

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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:05

Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:05

Like this??
!MPG:35!

!MPG:34!

!MPG:33!

Having just used it for the past 6 weeks running all the Auslig, Hema and Westprint maps, I have to say its the best system I've used, and I was using a tabletPC in the past.

Screen is an in dash Jaycar 7inch screen.
Camera is a 25mm infrared
GPS is a Garmin 2+ with ext antenna and hooks up to the tosh via an old fashioned com port.
Computer is an old Tosh which runs off 12 volts and runs on W98SE. The computer has a composite video out (yellow) that hooks directly to the screen and maintains good resolution. It lives in a well padded pocket between our seats - is easily pulled out if needed.

To switch the screen from camera to computer is a single button press.
The screen is not a touch screen. To work it while travelling, we use a cordless mouse - just run it on your thigh, or better still, your wife's thigh :-))
A strip of velcro stops the screen from falling down on corrugations.
The mouse lives upsidedown on the dash (velcroed) so the pointer doesn't inadvertently move.
You'll need to play with resolutions - we use the screen at 16:9, and the tosh puts out 4:3 at 800x600.

It was all a bit of trial and error, but we are now at the stage, where we turn it on in the morning, pack the computer away and work it all from the mouse for the rest of the day.

Cheers
Phil

AnswerID: 259620

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:17

Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:17

Just to add, that I really like the old computers for this application because:
#1 They have a COM port - no USB-COM converter hassles.
#2 The Tosh runs on 12 volts - no inverter required
#3 It can live in the vehicle
#4 All the cables come out of the back, so it packs away easily - nothing worse than having the power lead, USB stuff, VGA or video all coming out of the front and sides like the modern ones do.
#5 Can't kill them on the corrugations

My other biases:
Having a screen sitting high in the centre of the dash is great - hardly take your eyes off the road.
The PDAs are limited in their mapping capabilities, and have no photo storage.
Bluetooth GPSs seem to be more hassle than they are worth.

The other options that are coming along are the compact computers like the Samsung Q1 that you can mount where the screen would normally go.

FollowupID: 521108

Follow Up By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Friday, Aug 31, 2007 at 10:58

Friday, Aug 31, 2007 at 10:58

My tosh - at least the hard drive, died on the corrugations.

Gottagetanewone.

FollowupID: 521150

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Friday, Aug 31, 2007 at 23:27

Friday, Aug 31, 2007 at 23:27

Andrew, sorry to hear about your Tosh's HDD :-((

Out of curiosity, was it mounted horizontal or vertical. I was worried about having mine sit vertical, but so far its been OK.

FollowupID: 521244

Follow Up By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Saturday, Sep 01, 2007 at 08:29

Saturday, Sep 01, 2007 at 08:29

Mine was on a laptop stand horizontal, but didn't die while in use... it could have been a bit free inside the laptop bag in the back when it happened... I'm not really sure.

FollowupID: 521262

Reply By: LAPP - Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:15

Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:15

Phil,

Thanks for the reply. What great photos too!

When you switch to camera where does the button to do this live and what type/where did you get the camera from?

AnswerID: 259621

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:26

Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:26

The button to switch screens is next to the LED. The power switch is the round one. The other buttons on the the left are to adjust brightness etc etc The screen tucks away in the dash when not in use.

The camera is pretty expensive from Jaycar ($150) but you can get the same camera off EBay for $50 delivered.

Getting an old computer with the right specs may not be easy.Mine has a 6 Gig HDD which is enough for me. And getting one with the yellow video out is pretty uncommon. If you use a converter to convert VGA to composite video, you will lose resolution and it may be too blurry. Some computers will have an S-video out which can connect to the screen via simple adapter, and they are not too bad. If you can get a screen with VGA input, then you should get the best resolution, but the Jaycar screen doesn't have that. Its all a bit trial and error unfortunately.

FollowupID: 521110

Reply By: LAPP - Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:27

Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:27

Yep, I definately like the idea of the in dash screen. I have a spare Din spot in my 1997 Prado for one.

Note your comments about input/output locations on the laptop - good point. Sounds like the hard drive seems to cope with the bumps. That is one of my concerns re new or old computers.

Do you run any music off the laptop through a sound system?

AnswerID: 259622

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:32

Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:32

Music - no - we take MP3 CDs away and play them thru the Pioneer stereo

FollowupID: 521114

Reply By: LAPP - Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:34

Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 22:34

Thanks for the technical details Phil, that will help me along the way.

I will need to do more homework but you have been a great help.

Keep an eye out for a picture of the Prado which I will try to load when I have a bit more time.

Chow for now
Paul

AnswerID: 259623

Follow Up By: Everonwards - Friday, Aug 31, 2007 at 10:29

Friday, Aug 31, 2007 at 10:29

Crikey Phil- what a great set-up. Could you post the make/year of the laptop? Thanks TonyT

FollowupID: 521148

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Friday, Aug 31, 2007 at 23:22

Friday, Aug 31, 2007 at 23:22

Tony,
My Tosh is a Satellite Pro 4200series.
Underneath it says "Toshiba 4280 system unit"
Model No PS428A-ON152
64Mb RAM, 6gig HDD, Single USBport.
Not sure what year, but it came with Windows 98SE, so I'd guess its 1998-1999.

Cheers
Phil

FollowupID: 521243

Follow Up By: Everonwards - Saturday, Sep 08, 2007 at 10:53

Saturday, Sep 08, 2007 at 10:53

Thanks for that Phil. Cheers. TonyT

FollowupID: 522420

Reply By: jdbb - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 16:25

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 16:25

I have a Toshiba 4600 with a 15v - 5A power supply. What is the best way to get this supply in the cruiser?

AnswerID: 260105

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Sep 08, 2007 at 19:31

Saturday, Sep 08, 2007 at 19:31

A few options:
#1 Best option: Use a 150-300watt sinewave inverter (?$200)which can be used to run chargers etc as well. A cheap ($60)inverter will do the same job, but in theory can trash some electronics - I haven't seen it though. I prefer to ditch any cig sockets and hardwire it in.
#2 Buy a 12V-15V converter from Jaycar (?$80)
#3 Simplest option: Connect your 15volt computer to the car's 12V supply. I've run two Toshes this way over the years and they run fine. Only downside is that their batteries may go flat. But even with a totally dead battery, they work fine.

Depends on whether you believe in the KISS principle

FollowupID: 522473