Started gathering my stuff.

Have and on order.

Nav Housing - Ebay
Xenarc 700TSV
Mac Mini 1.66 Core Duo
Carnetix CNX-P1900 power supply with CNX-P5V additional 5v output


Stuff I plan on using...so far

iriver FM transmitter - until the Auxmod is ready
wireless mouse and maybe the keyboard
Parallel Desktop for Mac
USGlobalSat BU-353 USB GPS Receiver
RoadBuddy GPS mapping software (maybe)
Belkin 4 port USB 2.0 powered hub
OBDII scantool software of some sort
TV tuner

After a lot of research, I decided to get the Mac Mini since it is reasonably priced and already has wireless and bluetooth built in. It will fit in the small rear passenger compartment storage area between the seats or I might try to mount it where the OEM nav unit is usually installed. Parallel Desktop for Mac allows you to run Mac OS and WinXP at the same time. Since some of the tools for the Mac are under development or not existent I think this will be an interesting way to use whatever I want to use for software. I can also program but have never programmed anything for a Mac (.net mostly) I might attempt to learn how to program the Mac. If anyone has any suggestions for programming software for the Mac, I would appreciate it. I will use the powered usb hub to power down the usb devices with the Carnetix power supply so the Mac will go into sleep mode when the car is shut down and won't wake back up with a usb input of some sort. I don't play PC games (I used to fix game machines as a living and am absolutely sick of them) so that will not be an issue in this install.

Didn't need to do this but since I am kind of a PC geek (one of the gals at work calls me a metrosexual geek, a geek with style) I had to do something like this.

Sounds pretty sweet. I work in the IT field, so I can appreciate what you are doing. Mac Mini is a good choice. I think this will be awsome. Please post pics when complete. Now if you only had internet access........

I'm currently working on integrating the Harmon Kardon Drive + Play into the front ashtray area. Good luck with your install.

Check out this site, it will help alot.
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=51489

As far as WiFi, I seem to have it available at my house even thought I don't know from where. I am sure someone could sniff me out but if they don't have password protection, they are probably not going to do that anyway. I do have a Cingular wireless account and use an aircard in my XP PC for work but, as of yet, do not know if I can do that with the Mac.

hoosier, what will you be using for your display?

Picked up a nav housing off of Ebay and ordered the Xenarc 700TSV that I will install in place of the standard display and from what I have seen, others have done the same thing. The display in the nav station is RGBS which is fine for video, tv, etc., but they tend to not have very good detail from a PC so I decided to shell out the cash for a Xenarc. All of this is more than I want to spend but I think I will be happy with the results when finished. I am thinking of photographing the install as I go along. I have seen some installation photos but more install photos wouldn't hurt. I would like to dock the Mac so I can use it at home.

Thought I picked up a Mac off of Ebay but am probably getting screwed. The seller got delisted and havn't heard anything from him. I looked him up on Whitepages and it turns out he is the only one in the country with his name that is listed. Of course, no answer to phone calls. Have a dispute filed with paypal but will probably only get reimbursed partially.

So... I picked up a new Mac Mini 1.83 locally. All I have so far is the Mac, Nav display unit, Xenarc lcd, XP, Navigation software (trying the Delorme), a usb hub. Waiting on the Carnetix power supply.

So far I am just setting up the software. I am going to have to use the dual boot and use XP for the nav software (works well) until something good comes out for the Mac, if ever. I tried Parallels software, and though it works well, does not work with the GPS receiver in XP since the Mac takes it over when I plug it in. I took apart the nav unit and am trying to figure out how to install the Xenarc in it. From what I have read on this forum, I will leave the original control board in it somewhere so the open and close buttons work. I could devise something to control the motor directly but leaving the board in will be easier. Getting 800x480 to the display is something that requires work with both Mac OS and XP and I have gotten neither to work yet.

Since I had to buy a copy of XP, was wondering if anyone has installed it on more than one machine since the box says only one?

Since I had to buy a copy of XP, was wondering if anyone has installed it on more than one machine since the box says only one?

Is it XP pro or home? Either way you can only install it on one machine. When you try to activate the second computer, it will have you call for activation. If you can get your hands on a Corporate copy, that would work. There is no limit for activation and no limit on what hardware you can and cannot change. With pro and home, when you change certain hardware, you will get the blue STOP screen of death.

I am so looking to do the same thing. just getting the center piece has been a bear.
Question: Why would you need the fm transmitter? The mini will have iTunes, and you can hook up an iPod through a usb port. If you dont want to use a full size keyboard, here is a suggestion:
Freedom Mini Keyboard.

Regarding XP on a Mac, do a search on TUAW.com (the unoffical apple webblog) there are a couple of softwares for GPS that work native with OSX. one is; MacGPS Pro.

I am an apple geek and have also been looking for apps as well for the tuning side of things...


Keep us up to date, and good luck

might think about a bluetooth dongle... it can run a key / mouse / gps wireless...

just an idea.

beers :beer:

yeah, it's better to get blluetooth keyboard, mouse, as USB keyboard+mouse can accidentally awaken ur Mac after carnetix puts it to sleep. A lot of times I had it out of synch, my car is off, but the Mac is on. When i start my car, the mac goes to sleep.

I got a Dell that came with XP and use the CD to install on more than 1 PC, shdn't be a problem.

I'm only running Frontrow at the moment. Still looking for a suitable GPS software for use in Singapore. Most are for the States. The Lilliput that I use has 2 more video, I got a rear camera on one and maybe thinking of a stand-alone GPS for the other input.

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=85417&stc=1
http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=85416&stc=1

i would look in to a bluetooth gps reciver..... not sure how to handle that in Singapore, but wireless and good stuff....

check out garmin..

beers :beer:

Airspeed, do you have any pics of the installation of the Lilliput in the nav dash? I have the Xenarc and have pulled apart both the Xenarc and nav dash. It looks like the nav opening is slightly smaller than the screen and wonder if the Lilliput is the same way? I would like to know how you installed your screen.

Right now I am booting into XP Home, have the Delorme GPS program (US), and using Centrafuse beta for a front end. It seems like a slick interface but it is beta and there are some things that do not work just right yet. I will probably keep using XP until something better comes along for the Mac. I work mainly with Microsoft products because everything at work is MS and can write programs. I have always liked Mac but know less about it. I have not looked into programming for the Mac but that is one of the things I will do later. Centrafuse has an interface for reading PCM data but I need to get the interface unit and cables. Right now they don't have gauges, which I like, but may later.

I am going to run a usb hub powered off of the carnetix optional power module which will shut down the usb inputs keeping it from waking the mac (future use). I may mount a usb hub near the front for mouse and keyboard. I don't want to deal with changing batteries for the bluetooth peripherals. The nice thing about the Mac and XP is that it already comes with bluetooth and WiFi and the XP install recognizes them both if you follow the Mac Bootcamp installation which creates an install disk for the drivers. Very well thought out by the Mac people. I got the 1.83 core duo and, for the price and size, I think it is a good deal. I could have gone cheaper but would have done alot more assembling and I just don't have the time or patience right now.

Using the Dell XP installation disks, in my experience, allows you only to install on Dell machines.

I am using an FM transmitter to run the sound through the head unit and will install the next Auxmod board when it becomes available.

I just got Powerstrip and good instructions on how to run 800x480 for XP and will try to set that up this week. I am going to get everything working the way I want before I tear into the car.

i would look in to a bluetooth gps reciver..... not sure how to handle that in Singapore, but wireless and good stuff....

check out garmin..

beers :beer:
Yup swoope, I do have the Rikaline bluetooth GPS receiver.
Problem is getting an OSX software that has Singapore's map.

Airspeed, do you have any pics of the installation of the Lilliput in the nav dash? I have the Xenarc and have pulled apart both the Xenarc and nav dash. It looks like the nav opening is slightly smaller than the screen and wonder if the Lilliput is the same way? I would like to know how you installed your screen.

Sorry, but I didn't have time at that moment to take any photos. But yes, I do remember cutting the top part of the metal frame from the stock Nav LCD holder to fit the Lilliput. I also cut the center of back frame away so that it supports the Lilliput LCD on the left and right only. Wish I had taken photos to show you, but I'm reluctant to take it apart at the moment.

Ok, i just got the pic here. It's not my install, but I followed him in cutting the top part. If you see the part in circled, to the left of it is the rear backing. That's the part I cut and use the left and right side to support my Lilliput LCD.

Pictures courtesy of Mavros Piravlos
http://www.geocities.com/mavros_piravlos/rx8naviscreen/naviscreen.htm

http://www.geocities.com/mavros_piravlos/rx8naviscreen/1.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/mavros_piravlos/rx8naviscreen/2.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/mavros_piravlos/rx8naviscreen/3.jpg

A mac mini in an RX-8. I can't wait to see this develop! :) It never occured to me how awesome front row would be for a carPC. You have your photos, videos and music all with your little mac-included remote. Great idea.

Yes, please keep us updated! I sadly do not have stock nav system, otherwise I'd have one of those babies in already! I'm just waiting for the right deal to buy that piece. If you need a good wifi sniffer- try Kismac. It's a bitchin program, and has GPS integration, so it plots out points that have wifi as you discover them, and saves that data. Oh, and it's free.

Have you decided where you're going to mount the mini?

Yes, please keep us updated! I sadly do not have stock nav system, otherwise I'd have one of those babies in already!

That doesn't stopped me to have a CarPC, just finished to mount everything yesterday.... now im in beta-testing, but some advanced features are already in place (eg: wifi scanner). Sorry for the bad quality pics, i've just got it fastly.

FrontEnd Main Screen (notice the green icon on the top left, it show you while a WiFi hotspot is in the area and autoconnects you to the internet)
http://utenti.lycos.it/npole2000/carpc_in1.jpg

GPS (GaroNav on Dest3 base)
http://utenti.lycos.it/npole2000/carpc_in2.jpg

WiFi Hopper - Scan for WiFi hotspots and writes a database to georeference the signals, you can import these coordinates to your navigator and use them as POI's (Points Of Interests). Notice the long list, most of them are open (not encrypted), and yes IT IS LONG.. because these were logged in a small trip (just 8km and ouside town... i'm using a 9db gain antenna.. internal)
http://utenti.lycos.it/npole2000/carpc_in_wifi.jpg

Yes, please keep us updated! I sadly do not have stock nav system, otherwise I'd have one of those babies in already! I'm just waiting for the right deal to buy that piece. If you need a good wifi sniffer- try Kismac. It's a bitchin program, and has GPS integration, so it plots out points that have wifi as you discover them, and saves that data. Oh, and it's free.

Have you decided where you're going to mount the mini?
Zenmoused, have you tried contacting Paul @ Mazmart? I purchased my nav housing from him a few months ago, and he was a blast to work with. Comparing the one I received from him, to the few I ever see on ebay...his is perfect...there was no imperfections in it...was packaged nicely...and answered any questions I asked. The reason I purchased the Nav Housing was so that I could get a CarPC..which im in the process of making.

Thanks! I'll check that option out! BTW- looks VERY nice.

That doesn't stopped me to have a CarPC, just finished to mount everything yesterday....
Do you have any pictures in daylight?
I'd like to see where/how you mounted it.

Do you have any pictures in daylight?
I'd like to see where/how you mounted it.

How: i'm using the modded top console (1din) ..i'll post daylight pics asap. ;)

Thanks Airspeed, after pulling my nav housing apart I figured I would use the same piece and cut it like you did.

I have not installed anything yet as I am figuring out what software I will use. As it stand right now, I have finally gotten the Mac to display 800x480 on my xenarc 700tsv. I have tried bootcamp and XP and Parallels and XP so I can use Street Atlas 2006. I found a driver for Parallels for the Earthmate LT20 and after I figured out how to get the video resolution right in XP, I will be using Parallels and XP for my nav software. I am trying AMP for a front end and once everything boots up I can switch back and forth from XP (Home) easily. I am thinking about using an external antennae for the Airport card. Right now, in my house, I can get an open wifi on my XP laptop but not a strong enough signal on the Mini to use.

I ordered the Carnetix power supply awhile ago and still have not gotten it. I am going to contact them tomorrow. They had emailed me and said something or other was on back order.

As far as using XP on Bootcamp and Parallels, all it took was a call to Microsoft and they gave me a new number key to run XP after I installed it in Parallels. If you do that, figure on being on the phone for awhile.

I would like to get everything running the way I want before I install it in the car but don't have all of the pieces yet. I would like to get a TV receiver and a rear view camera but haven't been willing to part with the cash yet. So far I am finally happy with my choice for software and GPS.

One other neat thing about using Parallels. When I boot into XP from OS X at 800x480, XP comes up as 800x480. I had a heck of a time getting 800x480 to work on XP with Bootcamp (never did).

hoosier, where are you planning to mount the mini?

I started a carputer project a few years ago but kind of abandoned it because of lack of solutions at the time for the stereo integration. Since there's a little more out there now, I'm picking the project back up and am installing the screen this weekend.

I built a pc, got the JDM nav tray, the screen, pretty much everything I needed except for a few cables and I still don't have a stereo integration method. You said you're going to be using a FM transmitter until the new auxmod is ready, but my experience has been that FM transmitters suck with more than a foot or two of transmission range. Just curious what you're planning.

Hoosier- you were asking for some tips on coding for mac. XTools/XCode are the best and easiest developer environments for OS X. For me, I'm waiting for a 1/2 din touchscreen to come out, then it'll be a Mac Mini party!

I picked up an FM transmitter just to try it with the GPS I am running in Parallels and it worked OK but the xmitter goes to sleep inbetween voice activation so it would go from static to voice to static. Not happy with that.

I still have not decided where to put it. The tray inbetween the back seats is large enough for the Mac Mini but I want to be sure it has enough ventilation.

I have been travelling for work lately so have not been able to put much time into it.