alright, car PC gurus! need some help finding a screen!

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 3:57 am

well, i finally decided that i'm tired of my passenger seat being taken up by my mobile desk, listening to hubby complain about sitting in the back, and after seeing what the lead salesman in WA did with his truck (the concept, not the delivery) i'm going to do it. i am setting up the laptop in the rear and will have a 7" screen in the front. i need to be able to read text. i don't need a touch screen, just the resolution. i'll be setting up a wireless hotspot in the car so that i can take it to shows or events for work. i also do not want to spend too much money as i'm on a budget. i had a 10.2" LCD TV/DVD monitor i was planning to use, but it's too big for the dash and the resolution isn't good enough. still couldn't read text. currently, i have my 7" DVD hooked up to the laptop via S-Video to RCA, but again, can't read text. i want to mount the monitor/LCD on the front dash somehow, either fold down mount or just mounted. not sure, will depend on cost of course. so any help or recommendations on products or where/what to get, i'd appreciate!

McVibe · Post by **McVibe** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:37 am

http://www.gs-screens.com/home.html I got my LCD from there, really great, high quality, great price. Plus it's an individual, not a company so you get personal service. Also you get a $10 rebate if you e-mail him a pic of the screen installed.

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 10:21 am

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe Â»listening to hubby complain about sitting in the back,Eh, Mav - at least that puts a seat between you and that license plate that's up against the windshield that is sure to go flying. lolAnyway, I'm not too schooled in this area but I do suggest to not bother with anything that was meant to be used with DVD players/etc. I'd say that most of those screens do not have a resolution sufficient enough for general computer use. Kinda like back in the day when you could connect your computer to a TV or a monitor, the monitor was the only way to go to avoid fuzzy text. Low res stuff, the TV was good for, but not the higher.What to get, I dunno, but don't mess with a tv or dvd-ish monitor, try to find something geared toward computers.

spoonman · Post by **spoonman** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:01 am

Check this out.....http://www.logicsupply.com/default.php/cPath/52They actually sell all kinds of neat stuff. All of the list displays should be for computer use, some have touchscreens, some don't. If nothing else, it will give you an idea of features and such and you can do some searching on ebay...

Toasted7 · Post by **Toasted7** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:02 am

I agree with the Colonel... you will have to get an actual computer monitor of some type if you need to read text on it. You need the high resolution in order to make the text read-able. The DVD/TV monitors usually don't work unless you spend a fortune on one that can do REALLY high resolution.

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:32 pm

well, this seems to be what the other subie guys recommend for the car pc. i want to mount it face down on the dash so the screen will pop UP and not DOWN. I'm thinking of mounting the license plate on the back of the screen so you can't even see it's there, or mount it onto the windsheild like i have now, just in front of where the LCD screen will be. and wow! not a bad price at all!!! cheaper than the TV/DVD i got last week. that's going back and i'll be getting this instead. after shipping, it'll probably be about the same however. damn shipping to AK! lol.http://www.mp3car.com/store/pr...id=52

rasermon · Post by **rasermon** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:58 pm

http://www.mp3car.com/store/pr...d=143

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:59 pm

unfortunately, it WON'T fit in the 05/06 LGT's. only the base model because the radio is built into the HVAC system. lame!

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 12:22 am

1. Make sure you get a screen with a VGA input (Xenarc, TView, Lilliput). The one from gs-screens.com is useless in your case.2. Pic of the dash? I haven't seen the inside of yours yet, I think..3. How do you want to do this? Radio replacement? Something on top of the dash? Hidden? Etc? You can use the flip-down from Xenarc and mount it upside-down on the top of the dash (so it flips up), then you can rotate the image via software.. It won't be pretty if you're using it with your laptop and not keeping the laptop in the car, because you'll have to remember to flip it back, or have some sort of 'quick set' utility to rotate the image.Also, a 7" is NOT that great to read text on... I mean, it's okay, and you can definitely read it, but if you're planning on doing work with it...eehhhh...What are you using for the PC? Laptop? Are you planning on a permanent install? Something add-on instead of replacing the radio?

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:04 am

i'll get a pic of the inside for you. but i'm wanting to put it on the dash, flip down screen, but turn it upside down so the screen flips up. using my laptop for the CPU that i'll mount in the back seat.

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:13 am

Yeah, that Xenarc should do.. Mount the laptop how? I assume you mean just for when you have it in the car.. What kind of laptop is it? What OS?

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:44 am

i haven't decided if i'm going to use the work laptop (IBM Thinkpad R series) or my personal laptop (Toshiba Satellite A-series) so i can have all my MP3's on there too.

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:40 am

If you can get a docking station for either one..that'd probably help you out. Also, what are you thinking about for controls? Cordless keyboard? Wired / wireless mouse? Touchpad?Trust me..a lot of thought can go into one of these things. I had been planning on mine since my first car six years ago!Now, do you just want it for MP3's? Or Navigation? Or what? (Yes..lots of questions..sorry..)

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 5:48 pm

I want this for everything, being able to send/receive emails (it won't be easy to read, but if parked, i can). if i have a sale, i want to be able to input it and in 5 minutes, be done! i have my S&T w/ gps that i will also use to help keep track of where i've been and for IRS (mileage accountability) purposes. plus, it's just cool. i already have a wireless gyration mouse and keyboard. everything will be hooked up to a 4 port USB hub. I'll most likely use my personal laptop and mount it so I only need to get it out on occassion. I have my work laptop that I can use for other things and take it in or out of the house, office, sales, etc. I have power seats so it will not fit under there. so backseat most likely. I'm powering everything via 12 volt and may end up with only 1 inverter. I don't like using those since they drain so much power. I'm installing 2 3 cig splitters that will be hardwired into the car and controlled by one lighted switch to turn them on or off independent of the car being on or off. Both have inline fuses, so I should be ok there. the wifi router, laptop, and modem will use the rear (in the trunk) splitter and the LCD screen will either be hardwired or plugged into the front splitter along with USB hub (GPS, Wireless mouse/keyboard receiver, possible Ipaq but not sure yet). I want to install the USB hub in the glove box, but having a difficult time finding where I can drill a hole to run the wires through. They made this car well and covered every inch underneath so makes it tough to run wires. i guess that's good.... but not for me! lol i also have my FM transmitter that will be plugged into that splitter.

MatrixPC · Post by **MatrixPC** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:27 am

Best way to use laptop for carPC is with docking station.It's much easier to power and turn on with the key.For screen, to be able to read text, you must go with VGA screen. 7" or 8" are available. Xernac or Lilliput are better than most other brands.Hit mp3car.com forum and you will find most questions/concerns are already answers in there.

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:19 am

i saw your car pc set up. very nice. because i'll be using a laptop, do you know of any way to be able to power it up without having to do it on the laptop itself?

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:58 am

I don't think there's really any easy way... I have a hacked up USB keyboard that's suspending my computer... You could do something similar..It's hard with laptops because of their power buttons...I agree..look through the mp3car forums for some good ideas..

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:34 am

alright. thanks guys! just another forum to join and a whole new world to learn. lol. i love technology, but getting into the technical and programming/building side of it is not necessarily my favorite. lol.

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:36 am

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe Â»i saw your car pc set up. very nice. because i'll be using a laptop, do you know of any way to be able to power it up without having to do it on the laptop itself? Is there an option buried somewhere in the BIOS for the thing to power on when any key on the keyboard is pressed? Hell, my desktop does that, so it would be a novel idea to have a feature such as that on a laptop...

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:38 am

i have no idea. lol

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:39 am

It's worth a shot, you may or may not have that feature... But if you do, it would solve at least one problem.

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:41 am

well, i want the laptop to be closed and NOT have to push any buttons on it itself. of course, i know there are some laptops that have the volume and power buttons exposed on the exterior side so you don't have to open it up and then turn it on.

vibe-04 · Post by **vibe-04** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:45 am

First thought -- security. In an early reply you mentioned covering the screen with license plate. Good idea. Anything that is visible is prone to be stolen. We've lost two laptops from smash and grabs this year. Seond thought: Touch screen. Go the extra mile and get a touch screen with pop-up keyboard. I've seen these in action and they work well. Let's face it, I doubt you are going to be writing the next "Great Gatsby" and there is not much real estate for a keyboard. (Note: what the heck do I know, maybe you will write the next great american novel.)Technically I suggest as other have that a docking station be used and mount it somewhere other than your trunk. It wil be too cold in there for the hard drive. Also, if you have the cash, I've seen wireless monitors Link http://www.viewsonic.com/produ...tors/ but I don't know the price. You could pop it in your bag from home, car commmute, then office or even client site with wireless to your car. Tres cool!I'm running a Sony laptop that comes with a detachable base station. It serves as a wireless Internet connection and DVD player for my son. It was a write off because the "user," get this, put the laptop and creamers, yes three coffee creamers into her bag then bumped into someone on a elevator. The creamers burst and coated through the LCD layers. So I took the layers apart and cleaned them after it was written off. Cheers and good luckAndrew

MatrixPC · Post by **MatrixPC** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:41 pm

The reason I suggest docking station is that any mod you do, it will be on the docking station.

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:16 am

i'll have to see if they make a docking station for either my toshiba (preferably) or my IMB Thinkpad. i need something i can turn the power on or off too, so i don't have to open the laptop.

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 8:32 am

Most likely they definitely will for the thinkpad. Toshiba will depend on what model it is.Some PCs will support 'Power On Keyboard', if you have a keyboard with a 'Power' 'Wake' 'Sleep' set of keys, it should turn the computer on with a keypress. I know the docking station for my Pastor's Dell Inspiron has a power button on the dock..which you could just modify to accept a power-on signal..Laptops are good for CarPCs..but this tends to be the main annoyance with using them as such. Turning them on!

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 10:16 am

IBM has one that has a power button on the replicator, but you still have to DOCK the laptop. i guess it's better than having to open it up but i was hoping to have a little cleaner install. i guess later on i could always do a real car pc, but for now that would do.nothing for the toshiba, but i'm not surprised.

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 8:23 pm

What's wrong with Docking the laptop? I would think that'd make it easier because then you just have to unlock it and pull it out, rather than disconnecting everything, everytime...I finally got my setup to the point where it's not randomly hibernating every few minutes..woohoo! I still might rip it out next year and put in something that'll actually go on standby..that way it'll power up in mere seconds, instead of half a minute..

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 1:10 am

i wanted to have the port replicator in the glove box so it'd be easier to get to. but there is a power button for the unit on the replicator itself. i'll just put that end closer to me so i can easily turn it on. I'll have to go back and change the settings again so the laptop won't do anything when it's closed or go into hibernation after 10 mins, etc.

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:40 am

Most systems will have a 'Dock' profile, where they follow the power / hardware configurations specifcally setup for the dock. IE, hibernating, sleep, etc.If the dock has a power button, it shouldn't be too hard to hack into it and actually wire it in to remotely turn it on and off..

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:55 pm

without knowing what i'm doing there, i'm a bit hesitant to go that far. lol. but i think i've got location and all worked out that it should be pretty easy to get to. i pick up the screen tomorrow! whoo hooo!!!!

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 2:43 am

Yeah, that can definitely be down-the-line! Making it so the system behaves differently in and out of the dock is very simple to do, though.

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 8:45 am

ahhh.... the project continues.....i'm currently on my soon to be installed Car PC (the pc part anyways). need to update and install all the settings for work and GPS, etc. i think i'll take off a little early today and try and get some of my wiring done in the car along with extending the on/off switch to the puter itself. i'm going to figure out which is the hot wire so i can install a separate lighted switch on my dash. it's not too bad actually, kinda slower than i'd like, but then again, it was an ebay special so i can't be too choosy for the price. lol. it's definitely home made looking. i'm waiting for a missing part on my LCD screen but plan to get everything else done so all i need to do is pop that part in and voila, i'm done! we'll so what happens and if i have time though.

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:40 pm

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe Â» i'm going to figure out which is the hot wire so i can install a separate lighted switch on my dash. Good to hear it's coming along! But...I have a question about that... ...what?You know the power switches in computers (unless it's an AT style power supply) are just contact closures, right? They don't carry any voltage..However, that doesn't mean you can't get a lighted switch. You just need to be slightly creative about it.

mcgusto82 · Post by **mcgusto82** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 2:02 pm

damm girl!!! i thought this was done and finished ways ago.pictures please!!!!

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 5:08 am

Quote, originally posted by Jahntassa Â»Good to hear it's coming along! But...I have a question about that... ...what?You know the power switches in computers (unless it's an AT style power supply) are just contact closures, right? They don't carry any voltage..However, that doesn't mean you can't get a lighted switch. You just need to be slightly creative about it. well, i want to mount a better switch to the dash so i can turn it on and off, preferably lighted. perhaps i'll get some pics of the current set up and you might be able to tell from the pic? the power to the light won't be a problem, just how to hook up the rest. only 2 wires, a white and blue one on this itty bitty button..... i'll just get some pics.and yes, this has been a very long long long project. hopefully it will be coming to an end this week! my christmas present to myself! finish the damn project before the end of the year! lol. i'm even taking today off to get everything else done so when the part comes in on monday, i can easily swap it out and have it up and running.

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 7:38 am

here are some pics of the current set up..... or wiring mess.... or whatever you want to call it. lolhttp://photobucket.com/albums/...0LCD/

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 11:58 pm

Ahh..thought you were still going with the laptop.Do you have anything to act as a shutdown controller? The power switch is only a momentary switch, if you hold it down you'll just shut off the computer.Maybe extend wires from the LED output on the Motherboard and put the power LED up front? With a little pushbutton?You really REALLY want to get some sort of shutdown controller. Though you haven't mentioned what you're using for a power supply. Some of the carPC specific supplies (that run off 12v have controllers built in.

mcgusto82 · Post by **mcgusto82** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 2:55 am

wow. that is one big mess. loli didn't even try to make sense of any of it.hope you get it done soon. i can't even think about working on my car in this weather. it's nipply outside.

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:52 pm

alright, the PC is in and the LCD is powered. i've been playing with it to see what it can or cannot do... it seems it's set up for wake on LAN, so when it gets power, it automatically turns on. now, i still want to have an extended switch so i can turn it on remotely. here's the switch i have for this, but i don't know how to hook it up. it's 4 wires, and the guy i bought the pc from says i should use 4 wires from the LED and the switch it comes with. so if i take a 4 wire phone line and hook up the 2 wires for LED and 2 for the switch (not sure in what order...) then the power and ground to the switch itself?and here's some updated pics of it all working...and the wonderful mounting job i have so far (i have to figure out a better way to mount this as inorder to see the screen without a glare, it needs to be about an inch and half in- you'll see from the pics).

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 8:29 pm

Yeah, my mounting job is pretty much that homemade too :lol:Dunno if the LED output on the motherboard will be able to drive the light in that switch... it's possible.. but a lamp isn't a LED. Basically it looks like you'd want to connect like this, with the letters/numbers representing those on the switch:3 : power wire4 : power wirea : LED -b : LED +The 'power wire' going to the motherboard is nothing more than a contact closure, so it doesn't matter which wire goes on which side.You given any thought to using a front-end on that? I've been using Centrafuse since about march, nice MP3/Video/DVD player that you can integrate pretty much any program into.

vibe-04 · Post by **vibe-04** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:49 am

Might have some useful info for you. http://honduh.com/showthread.php?t=656 Check it out, Nice!

alright, car PC gurus! need some help finding a screen!

alright, car PC gurus! need some help finding a screen!

Re: alright, car PC gurus! need some help finding a screen! (trdvibe)

Re: alright, car PC gurus! need some help finding a screen! (trdvibe)

Re: alright, car PC gurus! need some help finding a screen! (trdvibe)

Re: alright, car PC gurus! need some help finding a screen! (ColonelPanic)

Re: (trdvibe)

Re: (trdvibe)

Re: (trdvibe)

Nice thread: two of my favourite topics: cars and computers.

Re: (trdvibe)

Re: (Jahntassa)

Re: (Jahntassa)

Re: (trdvibe)

Good notes on a car PC DIY