Hi, I am looking to get started on a carputer project and would like some advices.

1. I planned to install EPIA M10000 board into the upper glove box location. I plan to frabicate a custom case similar to God_of_CPU's Single Din Converter but it will instead take advantage of all available spaces behind it.



Have anyone install to this location before? I want to know what material should I use to frabicate this?

2. God_of_CPU's steering control: The M10000 board doesn't have a game port, I wonder if anyone find a "usb -> gameport" adapter that will work with God_of_CPU's schematic?

3. I haven't get much chance to research on GPS. Can someone recommand me a good USB GPS recivier (avg price) and what is the most popular software? I live in Northwest and I often travel to vancouver, BC.

4. I also haven't get much chance to look into OBDII but it does sounds interesting. I wonder if someone can give a quick review of what it can do for our car and which device I need for the G35?

Thanks

 

I have not been able to fit a motherboard in the upper glovebox. I tried a bunch of different configurations. I wanted to make a single DIN Converter thing for ITX motherboards, but I just couldn't find anyway to make it fit. I tried just to fit a M1 ATX, an ITX motherboard, and 2.5" harddrive in there didn't even bother with a CD too, but theres still just not enough room. It seems like you have enough, but alot of its just not usable. You have to not only find a way for everything to fit in the space, but also find a way to get it through a 2" high hole after assembling it and leave room to allow you to hook up the wires. If you want to use the upper glovebox, you'll probably have to use a NANO ITX. IMHO your much better off just trunk mounting.

For GPS, theres some reviews on mp3car.com I use a Rikaline one.

I'm actually working on a plugin that will work with a phidgets interface kit that will allow you to hook up your steering wheel controls through USB. Probably will be a couple months before I release anything though. If you know how to program, its pretty easy to interface with phidgets though and should work on a similar concept to the game port.

OBD II is pretty limited, besides diagnostics, you can get about 30 real time parameters like speed, RPM, O2 sensor readings, andits slow, only about 2-3 updates a sec. The ISO interface from scantool.net will work with the G35.

 

Thanks for your expertise and valuable advices. I am surprise to hear that a miniITX + M1-ATX + HDD wont fit into that spaces. Such a shame as it seems to be the perfect location for the carputer, even more so if one can fit a slim cd rom there since its within reach of driver. May I ask if it was the Height /weight /depth that you have the more difficulty with? I wonder if we could relocate one of the components to a nearby location to make rooms. I was even thinking out of my mind to make a drawer like case so it can be pull out when needed to be worked on or add devices.

I am also glad to learn about your usb steering wheel project although several months seems far away. May be just in time when I have the first prototype of my carputer But it seems that a phidgets device that can accept analog input will cost a lot of money. Even more so then a PAC SWI-X + IR receiver combined?

It appears that ODBII may not be too useful. I just though if it's cheap to setup then I'll added it just for the "wow" bonus.

 

BTW, God_of_CPU can you recommand a good EPIA board? I read so many thread in mp3car forum I still couldn't make out which board can support the 800x480? Informations are everywhere with no real solid success story. Should got for the M1k, MII12K, or SP13K? Which do you recommmand the most, cpu power are not important as I mainly use it for mp3, occiasonal divx and gps.

Thx

 

I use the SP13K cause its the only one with a half way decent graphics processor. I think they can now all support 800x480 with a BIOS update.

 

I've been reading back and forth between those 800x480 and it isn't clear to me at all rather it really worked or not. It seems that SP13K are better but I am on a low budget and would like to save a hundred in getting the M10K if it can output 800x480 too.

BTW, what's the most diffuclty part when u try to fit the carputer into the upper cubby, was it the height, weight, or the depth that you have the most problem with?

 

Epia M10000 will not output 800x480 but I run it with 800x600 and it looks perfectly fine

 

that's the message I was getting from reading all these threads over at mp3car. It seems that there isn't a real success stories that people were able to run native 800x480. BTW, how much better are 800x480 going to give me, I am trying to weight rather I should spend $100 more on the SP13000 just to get 800x480?

 

Spend the extra $100....you'll get a few upgrades at the same time.

 

thx guys, I've decided on the SP13000.

Coming back to the steering wheels. Since no one were able to find a gameport to usb adapter that works, do you guys think a usb analog joystick would work? if so then how would the schematic be changed?

 

You can go with a pac adapter...pac swi-x with girder software.

 

That combination is over $100+ for SWI-X $60 + UIR recivier $30 + Girder $50

I did many research but the only info I found was the following comments...

"You can also buy a USB analog joystick. Instead of using the variable resistor built in the joystick to generate the voltage you use the analog voltage from your steering wheel. Then of course a digital value is generated on the joystick register."

I am a electronic noob, anyone help explain what this means and if you think it will work and how to setup?