My new RoverPC

[overlander]

I am please to share with you,:wings: to the horror I'm sure of the Land Rover purists out there, my 90% RoverPC project in my Land Rover Defender 110. I am a big advocate of convergence, and this is the realization of all my informational and entertainment goals for my Rover. :safari-rig: When fully complete, I will have HD radio, MP3 player, UMPC moving map for streets and seperately for US Topo, DVD, wireless internet and handsfree phone integration all in one touchscreen unit.

This to me is a much better, cleaner system than having seperate radio, gps, laptop, etc. with wires and cigarette lighter nightmares running all over the place. And the fact that it uses primarily standard desktop PC components means that parts are easily and cheaply replaceable.

I have onboard dual batteries, and this entire system runs off the 2nd deep cycle Optima battery, protecting the starting battery from depletion. Further, the system uses an automotive intelligent power supply, that will start up the computer and amp when the Rover is started, hybernate within a minute after ignition is off, and hard cutoff if battery voltage drops too low.

This is likely going to offend many spartans in this forum, however, given that my 110 doesn't have a single ECU in it, to include anything for the mechanical TDI diesel, I decide to treat myself, as any damage to the pc won't leave me stranded.

Main Screen on the 7" Xenarc Touchscreen. Mounted on a MudUK Defender Console.

IGuidance 4 moving map navigation software

power/reset and usb buttons in front of Tuffy box

Plenty remaining space in that Tuffy!

Bottom of tuffy with PC hardware seen through plexi partition..

As depicted, the motherboard, DVD drive and power supply is mounted in the bottom of the cavernous 12" wide Tuffy Box, and only takes up the bottom 3", leaving plenty of room for other things on top. I've added a plexiglass partition to seperate the motherboard spacing from the top, and there are twin cooling fans to move air through the bottom of the tuffy. Reboot and hard power buttons, as well as 2 usb ports, are in the unused radio box area. Ultimately, I'll have a 2m radio in there as well.

Hardware Specs:
Jetway J7F5 Via 2.0 GHZ motherboard
1GB DDRAM
M2-ATX intelligent power supply (180Watt)
bluetooth dongle
Wifi B/G external broadband antennae
Xenarc 7" TSV touchscreen
Opus 4 channel marine amp
USB GPS receiver/antennae

Software specs:
Windows XP home
RoadRunner front end
Digital FX3.0 Roadrunner skin
INav Iguidance 4.0 UMPC navigation software
Xport serial port splitter

Being a technology junky, I was awed and inspired by many others in my exploration into the world of the carPC. For any others interested, hopefully this will offer some ideas. More to come.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Reboot and hard power buttons, as well as 2 usb ports, are in the unused radio box area. Ultimately, I'll have a 2m radio in there as well.

Why not leverage the PC and make a VHF SDR that's integrated into the RoverPC? That would be slick. Then GPS APRS would be easy to integrate, not to mention all the other features you would be able to do once you've added a receiver and gone to DSP.

 

[overlander]

Unfortunately, I don't know what those things are, as I don't have my technician license as of yet. That's an 09' goal of mine. When building my RoverPC, I did some prelime research on PC based ham tranceivers, but didn't come up with anything. You'll have to school me on how I can further leverage this system!:chowtime:

 

[DaveInDenver]

Unfortunately, I don't know what those things are, as I don't have my technician license as of yet. That's an 09' goal of mine. When building my RoverPC, I did some prelime research on PC based ham tranceivers, but didn't come up with anything. You'll have to school me on how I can further leverage this system!:chowtime:

SDR = software defined radio
GPS APRS = GPS automatic position reporting system (i.e., GPS tracking via radio)
DSP = digital signal processing

You can buy off the shelf receivers (the way to go unless you can layout mixed signal PCBs, most people can't). These will often be PCI slot boards or USB, but you can still get an ISA board. But in any case, these are just the RF front end, IF and some sort of ADC (analog-to-digital converter). Once the signal is digitized, then you can do whatever you want with it. The demodulation is done in software (i.e. DSP) and so you can build as simple or complex of a back end as you wish. You are essentially doing pretty much what a modern radio does inside, just splitting the function between a receiver board and your computer.

 

[overlander]

Thanks for the summary. Definitely something to consider. I have one PCI slot with the wifi card in it, but can add a 2-in-1 to add another slot for this type enhancement.

 

[XXXpedition]

this is awesome!!!
can you do that in my truck as well??? ))))))

i'm looking for a gps unit, can't decide what to buy.
i would have a terrific spot replacing the top of the center console with a small comp/screen combo but this is way too advanced for me...

very well done!
thanks for sharing
sven

 

[overlander]

this is awesome!!!
can you do that in my truck as well??? ))))))

i'm looking for a gps unit, can't decide what to buy.
i would have a terrific spot replacing the top of the center console with a small comp/screen combo but this is way too advanced for me...

very well done!
thanks for sharing
sven

Don't underestimate yourself. It's doable.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show-off-your-project/80695-jeep-wrangler-jeeputer-xenarc-fanless-pc-lots-pics.html

 

[craig]

Looks great!

 

[evldave]

this is awesome!!!
can you do that in my truck as well??? ))))))

i'm looking for a gps unit, can't decide what to buy.
i would have a terrific spot replacing the top of the center console with a small comp/screen combo but this is way too advanced for me...

very well done!
thanks for sharing
sven

You know given all the discussion of 'copying' or 'pirating' designs on the board lately, I wonder how hard it would be to build/sell these (at cost of course)...If you by a pre-build car PC (from say www.xenarc.com), you are looking at serious $$ plus no security like in a tuffy. So you could probably pre-build the whole unit (minus the touchscreen which you'd have to mount separate) as a plug-n-play box...

And don't worry I have zero plans to steal this idea I don't have time to build my own (I've got monitor/PC/everything ready to go, but no time)...but if you wanted to start a side business, this is such a nice setup and good design I bet you could get a few takers...

 

[overlander]

Thanks Evldave! I have a bit more refining to do in the setup and software tweaks before I call it mature and finalized. I would say I'm at 90% there.

I'm learning about the importance of proper grounding of motherboard and amp to prevent ground loop feedback, the proper routing of speaker wiring to prevent magnetic pickup, and the amount of OS software tweaking needed for touchscreen customization. I'm also waiting on one other software product to come out, that will make this a complete expedition system (not to include my adventure into ameteur radio licensing and the convergence of shortwave into this system , as well as refining the "ruggedization and weatherproofing" the tuffybox and touchscreen for extreme conditions. I have a few ideas on that yet to be implemented.

 

[RHINO]

being a complete noob to comp stuff, is this like a laptop with a remote touch screen? i dig it!!

 

[Andrew Walcker]

Looks very slick and I like the idea of getting rid of all the separate components! How are you planning on managing the heat radiating from the exhaust just below the PC? On my 90 the area under the center console can fry an egg.

 

[Michael Slade]

Ummmm...WOW! :yikes:

 

[overlander]

Looks very slick and I like the idea of getting rid of all the separate components! How are you planning on managing the heat radiating from the exhaust just below the PC? On my 90 the area under the center console can fry an egg.

Actually, I can't perceive any heat from it. The fans, as quiet as they are, keep it pretty cool. I also have closed cell insulation on top of the seat box below the tuffy. the amp and the tuffy are mounted on top of it. heat is a non-issue from this.

If you are referring to managing the heat from the engine exhaust, same response with the closed cell.

 

[mrbishi]

very very neat install - I love it!

Trying to work out where to fit something similar in mine at the moment