Updated my In Car PC

[Steve F]

So my XJ has been running an incar PC for a few years now but I've recently updated the software on it.

Its an eeePC with a 160GB harddrive and the 1.6 processor in it. It lives in the modified center console of the XJ.

I've upgraded Centrafuse (The front end software) to 3.1 (3.5 is just out but I'll wait a little before I upgrade).

I've also just added some additional hardware and software. I bought a OBDII reader from ebay (made in china etc), it cost me $16.79AUD when I bought it + around $6 shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140505220038&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

It comes with all the cables etc and its just a case of plug it in to the OBDII port and hide it away.

Since my eeepc is mounted in the modified center console (Pic 1) I ran the cable up under the dash, along the center console and mounted the reader between the drivers seat and console, hidden but I can check the LED status if I need to (Pic 2)


Pic 1, the LAN cable has a button on the end, press it and the laptop wakes up from sleep or hibernation. No need to take the laptop out to wake it up. It's really only an option if it isn't connected to your starting battery though as eventually it will drain a car battery.

Pic 2, ELM 327 OBDII interface. Power comes from the USB port of the laptop. The cable for the OBD port tucks under the console and the USB cable goes under the console to the PC.

So once I had the OBDII connection sorted I needed some software, Centrafuse has some built in stuff but it's pretty boring.

I bought DashCommand http://www.palmerperformance.com/products/dashcommand/windows/index.php for around $50AUD.

Its easily embedded into my Centrafuse front end and looks like part of the application after a bit of tweaking (like changing the background to match)

Anyway,onto some pics of DashCommand embedded into Centrafuse. Some of the standard gauges dont work with the XJ but its all customizable and I'll build my own set I think with just the stuff I need.

Ignore the figures, I haven't set the tank size and just planted it up the hill and away from my place for the GPS pics It also needs to do some learning.

 

[Steve F]

And some general pics of the whole thing

The centrafuse front end, or the first screen anyway, all configurable and skinable.

The dashcommand front end, tweaked to match the centrafuse background. You can see it does a lot more than just gauges also includes logging, clearing codes etc.

Navigation screen, it does the 3D screen as well but I prefer a 2D map.

Oziexplorer, I have all of Australia on TOPO maps and some areas on details HEMA maps.

Anyway,that's about it for now. It also does all the usual music and video, it also has the XJ manual on there and will open in a PDF reader as well as 3G wireless modem, bluetooth and more.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Steve F]

And an old pic of the mounting of it, the IPAQ is long gone now. The only thing I have hassles reaching is the aircon controls but I know which position is which so it's no big deal.

Cheers
Steve

 

[sgt rock]

very kewl- !

 

[bldeagle10]

dude! that thing is amazing and i need it! im going to have to invest in something like this one day

 

[1leglance]

That is a really great setup and nice job fixing it to your own taste.
I use a netbook on a laptop stand so I can take it out easily but for someone who wants a perm setup yours is one of the best I have seen.

 

[Jeremy Fisher]

I'm curious, where is the gps antenna and the accelerometer?

I'm not too familiar with Asus computers. Nice set up though!

 

[Steve F]

I'm curious, where is the gps antenna and the accelerometer?

I'm not too familiar with Asus computers. Nice set up though!

The GPS is an external USB mouse style, mounted on the dash. It uses a calculation to get the acceleration and deceleration figures, not sure what it is but you need to setup quite a bit like weight, final drive gear ratios, tyre size, engine size, frontal area etc.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Jeremy Fisher]

The GPS is an external USB mouse style, mounted on the dash. It uses a calculation to get the acceleration and deceleration figures, not sure what it is but you need to setup quite a bit like weight, final drive gear ratios, tyre size, engine size, frontal area etc.

Cheers
Steve

Ok that makes sense. And the stereo runs through the laptop's sound card to an amplifier I guess?

 

[Steve F]

Ok that makes sense. And the stereo runs through the laptop's sound card to an amplifier I guess?

The car stereo is mounted behind the screen, it has an audio in so the audio out from the laptop just plugs directly into that and I dont need to touch the car stereo. I kept the standard stereo as the USB radio doesn't have great reception so out of the city if I need to listen to the radio for anything I still can. Normally I just listen to one of the hundreds of CD's on there though

Next step is to create a pod for the stereo and mount it on top of the dash and mount the screen in the dash instead of in front of it. I think if I take the surround off etc I should just about have enough room.

Also when I drive into the garage at home the laptop can sync the pics I save on it (I just plug the camera in and backup the card after a day of taking photos) with the home PC through the wireless network. I can also remote onto the laptop in the XJ from the house and load any updates etc. Much easier to do from the lounge room rather than sitting in the XJ

Cheers
Steve

 

[tdesanto]

what screen are you using and how readable is it in bright sunlight?

 

[Steve F]

what screen are you using and how readable is it in bright sunlight?

I cant remember now, its from a ebay and its a couple of years old. Not the best in direct sunlight which is one of the reasons I'm going to mount it in the dash and sink it back a bit. In saying that it's been fine for the last 2 years, might be a problem if you planned to watch movies on it while on the move and didn't want to miss any but for GPS etc it's fine.

Cheers
Steve

 

[tdesanto]

No, I just want to be able to read the maps during the middle of the day when it's really bright out, or when the sun is lower and has a more direct angle into the vehicle. The tablet I'm using now is unreadable in bright daylight.

The sunlight readable screens I've seen on carpc.com are pretty expensive. I think over $600 for a 7" sunlight readable display. I was hoping for something that same size, but maybe 1/3 or 1/2 as much...touchscreen of course.

 

[Jeremy Fisher]

No, I just want to be able to read the maps during the middle of the day when it's really bright out, or when the sun is lower and has a more direct angle into the vehicle. The tablet I'm using now is unreadable in bright daylight.

The sunlight readable screens I've seen on carpc.com are pretty expensive. I think over $600 for a 7" sunlight readable display. I was hoping for something that same size, but maybe 1/3 or 1/2 as much...touchscreen of course.

Nah, you can find them for waaaay cheaper than $600.

Here is one.

I don't know the dimensions of a double din unit but I do know that you can fit a double din in an XJ with some minor trimming. I think 7" is close to double din size.