When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
None! Diving into this head first, I plan to mess up a bit til I get it right. More than likely doing the face in fiberglass, looking into some different types options on how to get data to the tablet like maybe a Bluetooth USB hub for the various connectors.
Eh... kinda. Except the air controls will be integrated into the tablet interface and I'm hoping to have cupholders there instead. Dunno how that part will turn out tho
Last edited by Devil Doge; 07-15-2015 at 11:25 PM.
Reason: Fucking autocorrect
Eh... kinda. Except the air controls will be integrated into the tablet interface and I'm hoping to have cupholders thereally instead. Dunno how that part will turn out tho
How are you planning on integrating the air controls into the interface?
I've been looking over the wiring diagrams for the 8, looking for the A/C and radio (really just signal to the speakers), and I plan on making some one-off connectors-to-USB cables and then hooking those into a Bluetooth USB hub which the tablet will obviously be connected to via Bluetooth. Then I'll be making my own app to be have a GUI that does radio/music, maps, and A/C.
I've been looking over the wiring diagrams for the 8, looking for the A/C and radio (really just signal to the speakers), and I plan on making some one-off connectors-to-USB cables and then hooking those into a Bluetooth USB hub which the tablet will obviously be connected to via Bluetooth. Then I'll be making my own app to be have a GUI that does radio/music, maps, and A/C.
Sounds very complicated for a project you have no experience with but I wish you well. Good luck!
I suppose saying I have no experience is a bit misleading. I have no experience specifically in this area, however I was taught how to solder and the basics of electronics as part of my Marine Corps training, and I have done some programming in high school as well as some html on my own time recently so I'm not completely foreign to coding. I'm perfectly willing to take my time to do it right, as I intend to make a living off of cars soon after I'm done with the Marines
Last edited by Devil Doge; 06-20-2015 at 04:34 PM.
Reason: Fucking autocorrect on android devices is a piece of shit.
Eh... kinda. Except the air controls will be integrated into the tablet interface and I'm hoping to have cupholders thereally instead. Dunno how that part will turn out tho
That's going to be an awful pain unless you can work up your own app. It's also going to be unreasonably expensive.
I thought I replied to this thread the other day, but I guess not. I don't particularly care for the body styling drawings of yesteryear, but the center mod is interesting.
Some comments/general pessimism:
The Galaxy tab is trash for that price, go for the 2013 Nexus 7. There's no way you're going to get cupholders in that area, there's just not enough vertical space under the console to create a cupholder, and you're not going to get enough vertical space above the ash tray area to build up a cupholder.
Aftermarket ignition pushbuttons are always a pain for MT cars, one guy here did it years ago but he ran into some major issues with the clutch interlock and the immobilizer allong the way.
You're going to have to pick up a Metra dash kit somewhere along the way as it's the only way to interface between the console controls and the on-board equipment without using the OEM radio. It should allow you to hook up simple buttons (or more likely a dev board) to replace the stock dials and buttons.
As I said earlier, you're going to need to be able to develop an app or app suite that has the ability to:
Control the HVAC
Control the radio
Do all of this via USB
In addition to that you'll need to create/purchase the associated hardware, being:
An SDR (software defined radio)
A digital potentiometer for the temperature dial
A second digital pot for the fan speed
A 6 channel USB DAC (7-8 channel if you want subs)
25w to 50w Amps for each speaker (even if you plan on using an external amp)
Another digital pot (or DAC I guess) to control the volume on the amps
A board to translate commands from the app via USB to I2C/SPI/PWMs and communicate the status of the SDR and others back to the app via USB
And I don't know how the HVAC mode buttons (center set of buttons) work, but its safe to assume it will either take 4 transistors or another digital pot.
Moving the vents shouldn't be an issue, there's nothing really that gets in the way of that. But yeah, the cup holders wont fit. There's really allot of room back there without the radio in place, so as long as the amps are near the back (or outside of the space completely) there won't be too much overcrowding (which can be a real problem when SDRs are involved).
So yeah, it's not too difficult if you take it one piece at at time and are ok with your center console being torn up for a few months, but it's going to be a pain to say the least.
That's going to be an awful pain unless you can work up your own app. It's also going to be unreasonably expensive.
I thought I replied to this thread the other day, but I guess not. I don't particularly care for the body styling drawings of yesteryear, but the center mod is interesting.
Some comments/general pessimism:
The Galaxy tab is trash for that price, go for the 2013 Nexus 7. There's no way you're going to get cupholders in that area, there's just not enough vertical space under the console to create a cupholder, and you're not going to get enough vertical space above the ash tray area to build up a cupholder.
Aftermarket ignition pushbuttons are always a pain for MT cars, one guy here did it years ago but he ran into some major issues with the clutch interlock and the immobilizer allong the way.
You're going to have to pick up a Metra dash kit somewhere along the way as it's the only way to interface between the console controls and the on-board equipment without using the OEM radio. It should allow you to hook up simple buttons (or more likely a dev board) to replace the stock dials and buttons.
As I said earlier, you're going to need to be able to develop an app or app suite that has the ability to:
Control the HVAC
Control the radio
Do all of this via USB
In addition to that you'll need to create/purchase the associated hardware, being:
An SDR (software defined radio)
A digital potentiometer for the temperature dial
A second digital pot for the fan speed
A 6 channel USB DAC (7-8 channel if you want subs)
25w to 50w Amps for each speaker (even if you plan on using an external amp)
Another digital pot (or DAC I guess) to control the volume on the amps
A board to translate commands from the app via USB to I2C/SPI/PWMs and communicate the status of the SDR and others back to the app via USB
And I don't know how the HVAC mode buttons (center set of buttons) work, but its safe to assume it will either take 4 transistors or another digital pot.
Moving the vents shouldn't be an issue, there's nothing really that gets in the way of that. But yeah, the cup holders wont fit. There's really allot of room back there without the radio in place, so as long as the amps are near the back (or outside of the space completely) there won't be too much overcrowding (which can be a real problem when SDRs are involved).
So yeah, it's not too difficult if you take it one piece at at time and are ok with your center console being torn up for a few months, but it's going to be a pain to say the least.
Hey, thanks for the input, I really appreciate it. Lets me know what I'm really getting into.
Ok, so to address some of the stuff you mentioned...
Firstly, I do plan on making my own app. At the moment I have run into a slight block on that, as my computer doesn't have an Intel chip and apparently my version of Android requires it for the emulator. Probably just going to drop it back to a previous version and tweek it to work with 4.4.2.
The ash tray will be deleted, as I don't smoke nor ever will, but I agree that its highly doubtful that I'll actually get a cupholder in there. If I can fit the bottle version of NOS in there, I'll be happy. Cans and maybe small bottles and I'll be happy.
I would be going with the Nexus, as I have one, but when I redid my contract with AT&T I received a Tab 4 for "free", and my wife took the Nexus. =/
I'm personally wanting to stay away from the Metra kit, just because it ONLY interfaces with the radio. The only part that I need from the radio is the signal output to the speakers. Which brings me to a question, why do I need individual amps for each speaker? If I can make connectors/steal them off the Metra, what is keeping the tablet from simply pushing the signal to them like normal? I'm confused, but thats probably because I don't have that much experience with audio components either.
I2C/SPI/PWMs <--- what is this?
A 6 channel USB DAC <--- and this?
I do plan on it taking a while for the whole thing, but where I'm at I'm not getting any good radio stations and my A/C is currently not cold. I can either have hot air blowing at me from my A/C or just open the window. 110+ temps don't really feel that bad when its coming from outside, but from the vents sucks =/ And the buttons/eventual toggles will probably be much much later, I'm not in a hurry to get those done its just something I want in the eventual future. If I get those done in the next 2-3 years I'll be happy with it.
Ok, so I did a VERY quick knock up of the concept. It's a bitch to keep the tablet up with duct tape in the desert heat.
The vents are a little higher than I think I'd like, but we'll see about that when the time comes.
It's quite clear that I CAN fit two NOS bottles in the bottom at the moment. Idk how that will do after I start molding the pretty parts to make it look stockish.
I think there will be plenty of room behind the face of the whole thing for any necessary hardware I'll need to make this work.
I've got a lot of work ahead of me, but this is my first major project. I need to get some speakers for my ipod while I take apart my air and radio controls
You really think I didn't notice? I work with sarcastic ***** all day. I really don't expect anyone to approve of my designs at this point simply because I draw them on paper(albeit not well) and they're a bit radical departure from the norm.
If you don't like it and post about it saying so all day long, great for you! If you actually post something that's helpful, I'll be greatful.
Anyways, I'm going to print out some of the electrical schematics for the 8 here in a little bit. This way I have a physical copy and can figure out what I need in my connectors.
Also, the previous sketches are just ideas that I was tossing out there to see what people like and to get an idea of what I actually like. My frame is currently damaged and I don't have the time or money to fix it, so I'm not working on body stuff right now.
I don't understand why the senior members of most any car groups enjoy putting down creativity. Is it a **** idea or looks terrible? Say so. Being a sarcastic ***** doesn't help anyone but you feel better about yourself. We're all adults here..
06-19-2015, 01:16 PM
