Avalon Carputer!

[Jigg007]

FIRST. (it is more likely than you think!) Oh look at me, so much dry internet humor.

I'll just start with the finished system. Or I should say, whats finished from tonight!


System is a POS old HP computer I had lying around. 2.8Ghz P4, 512MB ram etc. Running Windows XP and Centrafuse 3.0 for multimedia.


Cant see most of it, but maybe thats a good thing. I have plans to change this comptuer and have it run on a DC-DC power supply soon. Up next is how everything, or most of the electronics are powered.



2500 watt AC inverter, powers 31 band eq and three way crossover, and a 1600 (8 ohms sucka!) watt PA amplifier for the sub woofer.

Screen is a 7" USB touchscreen made by lilliput. It was really the only component I had to buy, and at $200 it was quite upsetting. but is the front end of the system, so it is quite enjoyable. Sadly signal is VGA only, no DVI (which is weird, if you think about it!)



The way the avalon DIN setup is, some super c-c-custom brackets were required.


I made a little module that regulates the car voltage to a 5 volt and 12 volt, remote turned on regulator. This powers the screen and a USB hub for touchscreen and other USB devices.




Power and distrobution for the rear systems, there is a battery in the truck which takes all the abuse.


8 amplifier channels for the bi-amped doors. (older, messier picture!)

You can also see my 500mW wifi antenna on the rear deck, melting in the sun!












Currently I have the WiFi operational, and obviously local media on the machine is playable. I'm messing around with a USB FM radio, and maybe even ShoutCast if I can jump local WiFi. The software Is loaded with Navigation, and I'm trying to get a SIRF III gps module to interface.

Thanks for putting up with all the pictures!

And I hope to have a video of it up soon!

[Kiwi-Corolla]

Wow! Very cool! . So creative. Looks like a great set-up. Well done

[Chunkywolf]

I considered doing a setup like that but I couldn't turn down the pioneer system I have since it was only $370 new. I've played around with centrafuse a bit on my laptop, and it doesn't seem like it would be that easy to navigate while driving either. Is this correct?

The fit and finish looks quite nice.
Is your car running, but at like 200rpms??

[Jigg007]

Originally Posted by Chunkywolf

I considered doing a setup like that but I couldn't turn down the pioneer system I have since it was only $370 new. I've played around with centrafuse a bit on my laptop, and it doesn't seem like it would be that easy to navigate while driving either. Is this correct?

The fit and finish looks quite nice.
Is your car is running, but at like 200rpms??

No, my car is not running in any of the pictures. Or I could say.. Yes, I wired my starter to a switch so i can pop the car in drive with the ICE off and be Green!

With the skin in use it puts a dedicates a pretty large area of screen to track control, and volume. Not to mention its touchscreen, so I'm not farting around with a mouse. I have played with the idea of a 3d orbit mouse type joystick thing for media controls, you know, something that requires no visual interpretation to operate.


Easy navigation, depending on what you want to do. Changing tracks and volume while driving is easy enough. I played with Centrafuse on my computer for about a month, you wouldnt think much of a difference with touchscreen, but its quite natural/intuitive.

Sadly my old pioneer DEH 6900UB was generating too much noise on the RCA outputs, so its shelved until I find somewhere else for it. I loved that radio, it was a sad day when i put it back in its box after 3 years. But from the "only 370$" Id imagine you struck a good deal on a double din LCD type unit.

[Chunkywolf]

Yeah, I saw the tach low, with the key to on, and no CEL, so I thought something was up. The unit I found was a 2din w/ bluetooth/nav/etc, since pioneer was clearing out the f series last year due to complaints of lag(which cleared up after a free update).

I will definitely look into centrafuse again if I can get a touchscreen somehow, since I can understand how that would make a difference in my perception of it. It's features look pretty cool to mess around with.

[Chunkywolf]

On a side note, how do you have the beringer xover wired if it is mostly xlr/trs last time I saw one?

[pmesfun]

I always planned to do this the future. That is just awesome.Are you a member on mp3car .com

[Jigg007]

Originally Posted by Chunkywolf

On a side note, how do you have the beringer xover wired if it is mostly xlr/trs last time I saw one?

Sharp eye!

the crossover .. Ill just make a diagram because drawing is easier than writing.



And no, I am not a member of mp3car.com. Though many of my google searches have led me there!

[The Digital MagE]

that hdr image of your car is great!

as for the rest, i just hope it doesn't get you killed. in my perception, driving is serious business. anything that distracts, could be deadly. every time you look down at your computer screen, THINK about how you're leaving yourself open... please. for your own sake. even if you're not hurt, it sure would be a shame to whamo that car!

[Jigg007]

Originally Posted by The Digital MagE

that hdr image of your car is great!

as for the rest, i just hope it doesn't get you killed. in my perception, driving is serious business. anything that distracts, could be deadly. every time you look down at your computer screen, THINK about how you're leaving yourself open... please. for your own sake. even if you're not hurt, it sure would be a shame to whamo that car!

I do perceive driving as serious business, and get quite upset on people who do not respect the same! Thanks for the concern though. One of my main reasons for doing this was to have something to fart around with when I'm stranded between classes at school or the like.

But of course, during the first couple of days I was a giggling schoolgirl over how awesome it is and had a hard time not touching it!

The thought on somebody whamo'ing my car is in my head every day, and that sucks. I know how little it will take to total it, and if somebody rear ends me, that would be the worst!

But hey, with no girlfriend the time and money has to go somewhere

[sonic2wb]

dam u beat me to it jigg!!!

[sonic2wb]

what screen did you use?

[Chunkywolf]

He probably bought it elsewhere since he mentioned it was $200, but here is a list of similar screens. I'm pretty sure the one he bought is in here somwhere: http://store.mp3car.com/Monitors_and...reens_s/21.htm

[Jigg007]

what screen did you use?

http://store.mp3car.com/Preassembled..._p/mon-072.htm

Was the model however I used the older version with the CCFL backlight, snagged it on eBay new for $200.

I planned for it to have DVI/HDMI capabilities, but was disappointed when I had to use VGA, which can be quite apparent at times. Though I'm sure the processor on the screen outputs DVI, and theres just conversion to VGA. And bypassing that of course is $$$, right?

dam u beat me to it jigg!!!

Yeah, I was cookin' this project under the radar for quite some time. And Its still a long way to go before I have it the way I want it. I'm not sure to continue updating this thread with progress as I go or just make a new thread a while from now!

[asindwani]

Nice side view photo, looks like a good idea to put the AVALON logo on the passenger door