My Custom GPS-Enable Car Computer System - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

deerefanatic · #1 08-03-2007, 12:22 PM

Hi guys, as some may have heard, I've installed a full-fledged GPS Navigation & MP3 Music enabled PC in my 300SD. so, some pictures are in order......

1: Inverter that powers PC and Screen
2: Ride through battery, keeps inverter running during engine cranking
3: Wiring for PC in passenger side trunk well
4: First pc, a cobble of old PC parts. Didn't appreciate the bumps and bangs of carpc life.
5: Garmin eTrex GPS unit, provides GPS date via serial port to pc for Streets & Trips, Netstumbler, etc....

deerefanatic · #2 08-03-2007, 12:30 PM

Some more pictures of the LCD mount....

1-3: The LCD and Arm
4: Closeup of Arm mount. consists of angle plate bolted to floor with square stock sticking up above carpet, mount tube slides over this stock. mount arm with screen can be removed from interior of vehicle in less than 60 seconds; leaving interior of vehicle nearly indistinguishable from stock.

deerefanatic · #3 08-03-2007, 12:34 PM

My new PC. A Dell Optiplex GX150 Lo-Profile with 1Ghz PIII, 512MB Ram, 20GB hard drive, DVD-Rom, Ethernet, WiFi, and SoundBlaster Audigy 2......

More to come.....

1: The computer
2: Its Insides
3: Ground wire. (Case must be grounded to Chassis or bad hum is picked up in audio cable... AKA a ground loop......)
4: Serial Connection for the GPS.. Blue wire is internally connected to the 3.3v rail of the PC's power supply and will power the GPS whenever the PC is on. Seriously saves on GPS batteries....
5: Wifi Card and SB Audigy 2 with FireWire.......

TheDon · #4 08-03-2007, 01:04 PM

oh man.. that is wicked cool

I was day dreaming the other day that if I was a state trooper I would have to beg the govt to let me use a 560SEL... and that is the exact Idea I had for the computer set up thing ya know.

hows it working for you

how are you going to mount the PC? solid mount? or maybe some springs on the bottom of it

now all you need is the sprint mobile wifi card and you will never have to leave your car to post issues while diagnosing it!..

I wonder.. I just wonder if a smaller screen can be used and maybe the innards of a iMac G3 can be used (running linux) to set up a telemetry system.. ya know.. EGT, RPM's, water temp, oil temp, oil pressure, etc etc etc.... Ideas!

deerefanatic · #5 08-03-2007, 05:06 PM

I like the big screen.. Has lots of room to see stuff.

No springs or anything, the new Dell is in and working great.... 20GB hard drives are cheap for me and in nearly endless supply, so I don't care how much of a beating it gets. And it's on it side, so damage from HUGE bumps in minimal if non-existent

Works good, apart from some little glitches from windows itself... I'm running an XPLite'd copy of XP pro.... boots and loads winamp in 48 seconds after key engagement.......

I have a WiFi card so when I'm at home, I do have internet in car. But no keyboard.... (I use the OnScreen Keyboard to enter addresses and simple commands into Streets & Trips, etc.....) I do have up-front USB connections so I could add a keyboard if I wanted......

I too have wondered about telemetry... With programming (which I know nothing about) and sensors, anything is possible.

deerefanatic · #6 08-03-2007, 05:11 PM

1-2: ATI Remote wonder and Receiver for Controlling Winamp.. Loads playlists, contols playback, shuffle, volume, etc......

3-4: Data cable and port for the GPS

TheDon · #7 08-04-2007, 12:03 AM

still.. pretty frign cool

deerefanatic · #8 08-04-2007, 06:23 AM

Thanks.. I'll try and get some operational pictures pretty soon.......

natgasguy · #9 08-11-2007, 06:06 AM

Very nice set up. If you are looking for any accessories or more integration, check out www.mp3car.com. They sell alot of carputer components. I bought their integrated gps/gsm/wifi/bluetooth sharkfin antenna.

DrewGerhan · #10 08-11-2007, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

I wonder.. I just wonder if a smaller screen can be used and maybe the innards of a iMac G3 can be used (running linux) to set up a telemetry system.. ya know.. EGT, RPM's, water temp, oil temp, oil pressure, etc etc etc.... Ideas!

This is basically what my dad does for a living. He makes computer monitoring systems for steel mills. I told him about this idea and he is excited. He says he has just the thing for it. I'd like to get one setup up so it can monitor the engine and control a security system too. We will probably get started on it this week.

LUVMBDiesels · #11 08-11-2007, 11:04 PM

I am sure you get many quizzical looks from other drivers as you go by "whazzdat, a Benz undercover car?"

I am just concerned about that mount in the event of an accident. It looks like it could do a nasty job on you...

deerefanatic · #12 08-14-2007, 10:40 PM

yah, it probably could....

I need to figure a way to get it more stable too..... I'm tired of the bungee cord.....