Car Computer

[tiujana]

What a great site. Have been browsing for a while and am about to recieve the Vic maps. Also am in the process of building a car computer and have found this site very interesting and helpful.
Some enquiries in Adelaide finally led to a fully installed car computer being $2660.00. Expensive for me but could turn out to be a good deal, anyway decided to biuld one myself

Here are a few details and contacts so far.
I purchased a MATX power supply from Kurt at ThunderBird Computing over the net for $220.00 delivered

www.thunderbirdcomputing.com.au

Just has bank deposit but worked out OK. About the same price as Ebay or direct from the USA. This is an power supply that can be wired directly to the 12volt car supply and programmed with jumpers when to start and shut down

I also purchased a 7" touch screen on ebay from a seller named qaam1 (qaam@optusnet.com.au) for $300.00 delivered. Seems to work ok so far.
Link to item =
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270039959278&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:AU:11

Another link that I found (after I purchased of course) that supplies lots of parts and is cheaper (MATX $150.00) is:
Luca Lucioli
08 62620430
0403067857
Platinumsolutions.com.a

I have a Discovery 2 and am biulding a computer from an old 700MHz P111 board that will fit into the existing storage space at the back. I have a Dell PDA that is excellent but also want to play about 20GB of MP3s through the car stereo system. If anyone knows if you can connect a line in to the CD changer wires that hang down under the drivers seat that would be great. Unsure if unit has a line in at rear as yet, need a special tool to remove stereo.

Will post more info and links when available. Tahnks for the maps

[festy]

My father has a D2, apparently it does have a line in but I haven't looked for it myself...

What are you doing about mounting your screen?

[tiujana]

Still thinking about that, have sat there for ages trying every possible place. Dont really want to drill holes in the dash. Am working on piece of board to stick/tape to the top/middle of the dash away from air bags, then screw the monitor stand to that.
Any better ideas welcomed

[festy]

Apparently a popular option with D2s is to screw/bolt a piece of wood into the recessed bit on the top of the dash (take the rubber mat out) and attach your mount to that. Then, when you want to remove it - just unbolt the wood, and the rubber mat covers the holes.

[hangover]

Do you have space under the front seats ? If i build a car pc i think that is where i would put it, D1's had the cd changer there and i have heard of guys using an old changer case for their car pc's.

[ianswalkingthedog]

On the D2 if you use the centre pencil tray and screw into it be aware that it is only self skinned foam. The best thing to do is to take out the radio (very simple with some bent coat hangers) then put a steel plate about 1mm thick and a reasonable size in through the radio hole under the dash then screw through into the plate making sure you only just go through it as the radio needs to go back. As a result you effectively stiffen the dash and have a fairly solid mount. When you remove you just put the rubber mat back. Simple!

[tiujana]

Thanks for that great idea, was going to try and use velcro in the recess but that sounds good. Will supply some pics when I get aroud to it

Thanks again

[hangover]

Also you can do as Ian suggested and use silicon to hold the steel in place so you dont have to drill more holes than you need to.