Car-puter. Two months later... :) - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

smadz_302 · 10-17-2003, 05:06

Hey guys I fianlly got the digital camera some new batteries so I've taken some pics of the Audio system I have recently 'built' into the car.

First of all here's the car incase you don't know it
ED Fairmont

I've ripped out my head unit and the audio system now consists of a Dell PC (Pentium III 500Mhz with 40GB Hard Drive). TV Screen is driven by the GeForce 4 with TV-Out.

Driver Side
Passenger Side

Keyboard in glove box is a USB laptop size keyboard.
The computer is controlled by an Infrared Remote (made by creative) you can see this in the pic sitting next to the T-Bar.

Sub and Inverter

To set this up I've used a 300W inverter with a 900W surge which does the job VERY easily. And the sound out of the PC goes through a Clarion EQ that has volume control and Sub Control. Of course then the sound is also amplified by a 4 channel and a 2 channel Amplifier.

Computer in boot

I've had it in the car for about a month now and it has been flawless. I have video clips and movies on the hard drive too so it makes me designated driver quite common these days

Next updates to it will be an external USB DVD Drive. Cos the remote works with Power DVD, winamp, media player etc.

The PC runs Windows 98 (for now) cos it's compatible with all the IR software etc.

Anyway iif anyone else is interesated in doing the same I can point out some things you need to make it work. Or if anyone else has done this I would like to see their install.

cheers guys

Walkinshaw · 10-17-2003, 05:13

Thaught about voice activation using MS Voice SKD??

Ive thaught about the same sort of thing. The only thing holding me back is the price of decent motorised slave screens (or possably touch screen). I would keep my HU as it has an AUX in and is of very very good quality.

But essentialy i would use the computer for the same things. MP3. Video. TV (with PCI TV card and antena wired into the car), and use it to control other functions such as interior lights, etc etc all controled from a touch screen or microphone mounted near the driver.

Troutman · 10-17-2003, 05:14

What a fascinating project! Great stuff mate, I hope to check it out at the next event.

FoMoCo4eva · 10-17-2003, 07:37

ah..............holy crap!!

that has to be the most original mod I have ever seen. Damn well done.

But that dog on the rear parcel shelf...wtf. Does the missus have anything to do with that?...no offense if otherwise.

XRated · 10-17-2003, 08:09

Very cool! I wanted to do this myself but as soon as I start thinking about the screen, I am put off (price). How does it all work? Like, when you start the car, does it just start up and play songs or what? Isn't it dangerous to have the computer moving around like that (bouncing/vibrations from car)?

Can you get some pics of the screen?

Excellent work!

smadz_302 · 10-17-2003, 13:15

Walkinshaw: Thanks for the ideas the voice activation thing will DEFINATELY be the next thing I try.

I built the system as CHEAPLY as possible. Believe it or not the WHOLE system EQ, Inverter PC, screen, Hard Drive, TV-OUT Card, SUB Amps, Speakers, Keyboard, Remote WHOLE THING! Cost me UNDER $1000!!!!

The screen is not of the best quality i bought it from E-Bay. It only cost me $120 (+$35 postage) It's LCD and not an active matrix and because it uses TV-OUT the quality aint the best. But after mucking around with Screen res and stuff it's VERY readable and DivX look f#$ing AWESOME :D

I also ran a scan disk after using the system 2 months and NOT 1 BAD SECTOR OR ANYTHING!!! I was weary about the hard drive not liking bumps etc especially considering the pedders suspension makes the ride a little bumpy.

I've made a play list in winamp and chucked in the startup directory so after 1 and a half minutes of booting up :( it starts playing automatically. This doesn't bother me cos I warm up the car longer than that before driving it anyway. Had to put in a constant power switch so that thew PC gets constant power while cranking and also made a few mods to MS-DOS.sys sos that it doesn't run scan disk because "the computer did not shut down properly"

It works sweet. I'll show it off at the next meet. Missed out on the last one where ya's went on the saturday cruise.

Heritage · 10-17-2003, 16:17

Etremely cool mod mate, well done.

EFFalcon · 10-17-2003, 19:45

good work, i like the look of that :D
if i were to do something like that, i'd put some wireless network stuff in it. make file management much easier from home :)

SmokedEB · 10-17-2003, 21:34

HEHE, this has given me an idea for what to do next to my EA. Looks great mate.

barry_v · 10-17-2003, 21:43

i had a linux mp3 player in my boot for a while. the trick is to mount the hdd sideways.