Hey guys

I was originally going to get the new eclipse head unit (AVN5435) but I thought a carputer was ALOT BETTER idea.

But first I have sum questions...

1) I’m going to get the double din dash kit....is there a touch screen monitor that can fit in it???(The touch screen would take the place of a double din head unit....jus in case I lost u )

2)Does the carputer allow you to hook up multiple monitors to it? if so, can those monitors view multiple things?(for example: have the monitor in the console show the navi, and monitors in the headrest have a visualization from winamp or sumthing)

3) What is the sound quality of the music that is played from the carputer?

4) Using the internet, what is the best way to do it. And how fast are your connections?
- I saw a video clip of the black box car computer system and they used their cell phone as a dial up modem.

5) How is the navigation in the carputer compared to 1 in the stock navigation? Also is the calculating route time any shorter?
-My stock navigation can take up 30-45 second depending on the destination(same state)

:NOTE: The eclipse head unit can calculate a route from coast to coast in 5.5 seconds

6) What is the quality of signal strength while using the radio?
- My stock head unit has no problems it picks of stations no matter where I am.

Those are the questions I have for now. Any1 with a carputer please respond with positives and negatives about their carputer.

and once again thanks for all your help

 

ITS BEEN SOME TIME SINCE IVE DONE A CARPUTER, BUT HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS IN CAPS

Hey guys

1) I’m going to get the double din dash kit....is there a touch screen monitor that can fit in it???(The touch screen would take the place of a double din head unit....jus in case I lost u )

YES BUT IM NOT SURE IF A 7IN SCREEN WILL FIT WELL, 6.5 SHOULD BE NO PROB

2)Does the carputer allow you to hook up multiple monitors to it? if so, can those monitors view multiple things?(for example: have the monitor in the console show the navi, and monitors in the headrest have a visualization from winamp or sumthing)

IF YOU BUILD IT WITH DUAL MONITOR SUPPORT, THEN YES. IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE MOTHERBOARD/VIDEO CARD(S) YOU PICK

3) What is the sound quality of the music that is played from the carputer?

AGAIN, DEPENDS ON YOUR SETUP. I USED AN EXTERNAL EXTIGY (USB) WITH A LOW LINE LEVEL OUTPUT TO MY PIONEER H/U AND IT SOUNDED GOOD

4) Using the internet, what is the best way to do it. And how fast are your connections?

I NEVER DID THIS BUT I WOULD IMAGINE HAVING SPRINT WITH A BLUETOOTH CONNECTION WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO GO...

5) How is the navigation in the carputer compared to 1 in the stock navigation? Also is the calculating route time any shorter?
-My stock navigation can take up 30-45 second depending on the destination(same state)

IT ONLY TOOK MINE A COUPLE SECONDS... BUT HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS? REALLY? AS LONG AS IT DOESNT TAKE MORE THAN 10 SECONDS (AND IT SHOULDNT)

:NOTE: The eclipse head unit can calculate a route from coast to coast in 5.5 seconds

6) What is the quality of signal strength while using the radio?
- My stock head unit has no problems it picks of stations no matter where I am.

AGAIN DEPENDS ON HARDWARE USED...I USED A H/U THOUGH SO I HAD MY RADIO FROM THAT

 

The screen that you would probably have to put in is a xenarc or lilliput... the major 2 brands I guess... both come in a minimum of 7" and both can be molded quite easily into your dash if your willing to put a little time for research and have a nice weekend project. http://www.mp3car.com ...can give you alot of ideas and alot of help from the people on those forums. You could also go with one of those motorized screens that are din-sized and just pop out and mount your screen in there... they have a custom made one that fits the xenarc, info can be found on mp3car.com.

Oh and if you decide to go with the molding idea, I would skip the double din finisher and just use the old one... you are gonna do some cutting anyways to fit a 7" flush, just find the AC controller. If you have an 05... cutting will just be a little harder.....

There's a million possilbilities when you're talking about carputers, I'm actually in the process of trying to workout the kinks of putting a mac mini in...

my setup will have the mac mini audio out going through an aftermarket HU tho, it seems that this setup is the best way to get quality audio from carputers.... you could get a radio tuner unit instead of trying to get a radio turner card for the computer and chances are the sound and reception will be better with a HU.

Just like tekknikal said, going with sprint is the best bet for wireless internet, EV-DO is comming out in the summer and you can do a #777 with your cellphone and have broadband speeds anywhere... otherwise you could always have a wifi card and everytime you go near a starbucks, b&n, etc you've got internet... you shouldn't be surfing while you driving anyways...

Navigation really depends on the software and hardware you are running... faster computer = faster navi lookup... guess that was obvious huh? lolz...

...anyways, post pics when ur done, good luck...

 

hey
thanks for all your help guys
2slo2bfurious- good call bout the double din finisher
u saved me a few $$$$$

i have another qestion though....

lets say i do use a 7" touchscreen monitor where would i be able to mount a Head unit? the place would have to be accessable.

 

The digitalwheelz screen works with VGA xenarc touchscreens and was designed specifically for carputer use. Revision 2.0 will be available in a week or two. https://g35driver.com/forums/audio-video-electronics/54447-digitalwheelz-2-0-pics-inside.html

The digitalwheelz screen will let you keep your existing head unit so it will make for the easiest install, but If your intent on replacing your headunit with a screen, I also make a DIN converter which will allow you to install an aftermarket headunit in the upper glovebox as long as its under 7" in depth. http://www.digitalwheelz.com/G35DinConverter_About.htm

As a third option you can just go completely headunit less and hook your sound card directly up to an aftermarket amp.

 

i have the stock navi so i dont have a upper glove box

thats exactly what i was thinking, but how good is the quality??

 

It depends on the sound card you use obviously, but it can be as good as any other head unit, particularly if use optical or digital connections through out. I know of people who have won sound quality competitions using carputers.

You should definitly use a DC-DC power supply rather then an inverter to avoid ground loops though if sound quality is a concern, but other then that it shouldn't give you too many problems.

 

I am selling a Xenarc 7" touchscreen, Double Din finisher and A/C controls. Touchscreen has been used since May 5th and the Double Din finisher and A/C controls are new in the box. All for $650. Here is a pic of the screen...