Ba Ute Carputer Project

[billy88]

Hey all,

I have a BA XLS ute which I have currently installed a simple carputer setup, with computer located behind my drivers seat and amp inst behind passanger. I have a 7" touchscreen installed in the triangle piece above the ICC as it seemed like the best thing at the time.

I've had this setup for a while now and decided to upgrade an change the things that bother me.

I got a hold of the standard icc fascia for $30 an started moulding it this weekend. The touchscreen is going to be installed where the usual screen is and the old screen is being located where the tissue box holder is, alongwith some usb ports as I have much needed during the use of the carputer so far.

I also am going to create a control to pause/play next and volume, an possibly incorperate it into the steering wheel controls, but am reconsidering because of keeping the standard ICC opertaional.

I also need to incorperate gps into this setup as I planned on my last but never happened. The setup I have planned is to use Wireless internet to download the information from the internet for use in google earth, and use gps to show exact location. Whereis has now been in-corperated into google earth so it will aid in locating addresses, places.

any other ideas would be appreciated. I will do a write up for the screen installation an any problems incounted, which will be many lol..

The relocating of the icc components will be good for anyone thinking about taking on the challange.

[SubJimbo]

Hey mate:)

It's a great project to do for your Car, I am also in the process of building a Carputer for my BA, still needs quite a lot of work, But I have my main components.

In regards to the GPS, Which Software Frontend are you using? This will help you with your decision in which GPS program/s to use.

and also, with the steering wheel controls, look into the 'Fusion Brain', It is a USB I/O device.. It will help you a great deal.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Edited 16/11/08 02:01 PM by SubJimbo

[XF Falcon]

Looks great man. I've finished my xbox setup, including setting up infrared receiver and that.. but I do one day plan on integrating a larger LCD into the ICC like you have done.

[billy88]

Cheers mate, ill have a look into that fusion brain your talking about..

as for what frontend im using im not sure what u mean.

My theory on how it worked was plug an play then straight into Google Earth Pro an allow it to give info to the prog, I am worried about how much data it will try an download though... would be good to have Google Earth as a secondary program, and a normal street directory for primary.

Still yet to buy the GPS reciever.

I plan for the relocation of the icc components this wkend so hopefully all goes well lol..

[SubJimbo]

Cheers mate, ill have a look into that fusion brain your talking about..

as for what frontend im using im not sure what u mean.

My theory on how it worked was plug an play then straight into Google Earth Pro an allow it to give info to the prog, I am worried about how much data it will try an download though... would be good to have Google Earth as a secondary program, and a normal street directory for primary.

Still yet to buy the GPS reciever.

I plan for the relocation of the icc components this wkend so hopefully all goes well lol..

The Frontend is the program your going to use to control your system via the screen, for example, Centrafuse or Road Runner. There are plenty out there, So experiment with what you like and go from there! (I recommend downloading the Centrafuse 2.0 : 30 day demo from the website and playing around with that first)

As for the GPS, Once you grab a receiver try a program such as Garmin Mobile PC, or integrated into Centrafuse is a GPS program also. There are plenty out there besides Google Earth!

[billy88]

cheers mate, I just like the added feature of visual seeing landforms etc lol

ill give them ago once I get the receiver