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        General >> News >> Car Computers
        
(Message started by: admin on Apr 21^st, 2004, 7:08pm)

Title: Car Computers
Post by admin on Apr 21^st, 2004, 7:08pm

Some of you may know that I have moved to the USA and I'm just getting up to speed with what people are doing over here with their cars (most of them are complete nutters and everyone seems to love Hondas LOL) however I have just discovered Car Computers and I am in the process of building one.

I am using a Shuttle PC (search for this stuff on www.google.com or www.mp3car.com) which is very small and using an AMD Athlon XP CPU, 120GB harddrive, 512MB ram and an 8" touchscreen - it runs Wiindows XP Pro. The computer is fitted in the boot and the touchscreen on the dash with a DVD drive in the glovebox. I also have a USB hub in the glovebox which has a GPS receiver, XM PCR (Satellite radio receiver only available in the US) and an amateur band PC controlled radio receiver attached. The Shuttle has a wireless network card with external antenna and TV receiver card installed. I have also installed one of Alex Pepers ODD2 interfaces (I bought a Chevy Venture van which has OBD2) and his digital dashboard software.
Everything is powered from a UPS and Invertor but I will eventually invest in a DC-DC unit.

Using a piece of software called MediaEngine which gives me a graphical user interface for the touchscreen I can now play MP3's, use the Navigation system with GPS, listen to satellite and FM radio on the move, scan Amateur radio and watch DVDs and videos when stopped. I can also monitor the cars OBD2 system on the go.

I see that there are some people in the UK doing similar things but I don't think it's been mentioned on the Scorpio site before - it's great fun thinking of new applications that you can run on it and not very expensive to setup either - the price of a good headunit and amplifier.

If anyone wants more info then let me know - I will do a page for the site as soon as it's finished and looks a little more professional that it does at the moment :)

Regards

Steve
Webmaster

Forgot to say that it also links to my Wireless home network when parked in the Garage and I can browse the Net and download new files to it as needed. Lot's of people are using wireless home networks over here and no-one seems to know how to make them secure so you can browse the net when stopped at traffic lights etc on quite a few occasions LOL

Title: Re: Car Computers
Post by JohnJ on Apr 21^st, 2004, 8:16pm

Right I've told the wife to pack the bags! ;D...No were going over to Florida for three weeks in September....cant wait....can imagine its going to be a life time experience...I've told the wife that I'm getting a iPod overthere but that could change depending on what comes into my head....Also love playing mp3s.

JJ ;)

Title: Re: Car Computers
Post by john.n on Apr 21^st, 2004, 8:54pm

Steve.YOU ARE THE MAN!! john.n :D

Title: Re: Car Computers
Post by Baz on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 9:34am

....and to think we all knew him when he only had an old Scorpio!!!

Title: Re: Car Computers
Post by Boblavens on Jun 20^th, 2005, 7:13pm

No wonder they appear to be MAD drivers to us!!!

bob