PatInTheHat

Can someone please clear this up for me. If I sent up a LCD screen and a Car PC how does this integrate into my factory system?

Would I be able to listen to AM/FM while getting Nav directions? (I'm guessing no?)

edblor

Unless you have the Navigation system, I do not believe there is any reasonable way to hook up an LCD and/or a CarPC.

I am, right this moment, putting together my CarPC (VoomPC case, M12000 Mini-ITX mobo, WinXP....). I however will be going the Corksport route and pulling the stock HU in favour of something else. Not sure what the else will be, but my options will be pretty endless.

G/L,

Ed

Arby

If you have a carpc, why would you want any of the stock system?

I'm totally stripping everything from the stock system for my install.

PatInTheHat

I really liked the look of the factory nav but I wanted to improve it.

edblor: from what I have learned from car audio shops they basically have told me the same thing.

Can anyone verify that if you did not go with a factory nav that it will be impossible (or next to) to connect a CarPC?

Arby

I'm not sure what you're asking.

Are you just trying to get carpc audio into the stock system? That's very do-able.

edblor

My CarPC is up, running, tested, and funtionable

I'll be ordering the Corksport dash face, and the Bose harness so I can use the existing speakers. I'll remove the stock head unit, and replace it with whatever double din HU meets my needs and price range at that time.

My HU needs will mostly be video/audio in (from the CarPC), and a short list of HU features (perhaps touch screen).

I should be looking at well under a grand for the HU and Corksport kit.
too

G/L and keep the Qs coming....we all benefit!

Cheers

PatInTheHat

Arby: Yes I believe so

PatInTheHat

Anyone able to answer this for me?

kimota

Heya Pat,


Okay hopefully this will help

You will be able to listen to AM/FM radio while getting Nav directions with restrictions listed below

Option 1. If using CarPC for Nav and stock stereo for AM/FM radio you will only be able to listen to radio but ONLY have visual available for Nav (no audio indicators such as turn left or right)

When using CarPC as listed above sound from CarPC is just an aux input like having and ipod or CD connected to an aux in. So you can’t have PC sound and AM/FM from stock playing at the same time its one or the other.


Option 2. If using CarPC for Nav and Radio you should be able to listen to Radio and receive audio direction from Nav.

Note front ends that support radio last time I read are only doing so with FM and you will need an additional radio receiver to do so for you CarPC. The front-end I'm currently using (StreetDeck) does not support radio as of yet.

I fairly sure RoadRunner does support radio but you can read all about it on mp3car.com


You do not need the factory Nav to have a CarPC actaully everybody that I have read about that has factory Nav using a CarPC, replaces the factory screen (its not a touch screen) you can use a retractable Nav holder for your LCD (thats what I did). The only advantage factory Nav will give you installing a CarPC is that your screen will have a motorized opening and closing, thats it!

Ohh I'd I highly recommend putting CarPC in glove box as RX8 trunk get hot as hell (well in south Florida it does).


hope this helps if not just tell me to shut up

P.S

If you are depending on a Car stereo shop for your CarPC install your in for a LOT of trouble as there is a lot that can potentially go wrong. Your best bet would be to do it yourself but do a lot and I mean a lot of research before hand.

PatInTheHat

Kimota: Thank you very much, this answers a lot of my questions.

I'm not familiar with how aux input installs go? Do they just set it to an unused button such as "Tape"?

Basically since I want to go with Nav/Satellite/Mp3/Bluetooth it seems unlikely I would listen to either my am/fm or CD so that works out pretty good I think.

kimota

Hi Pat

If keeping the factory radio ( I did) you will need to add an aux input to the factory stereo as it does not have one. . This will allow you to get PC sound to your speakers. There are several option to accomplish this the one I used was the Mazda car stereo to PC adapter it simply attaches to the back of your factory stereo then connects to your PC with a USB cable and has a 3.5mm stereo connection that plugs into your PC's sound card.

PC sound will be on the EX channel, cycle through the mode button on your steering wheel to access EX. Using the method described above will allow you to keep all your steering wheel stereo controls depending on the front end you use.

Good luck with the install, if you have any more question I'll be happy to answer if I can

PatInTheHat

Kimota: Thats awesome. A big thing for me was keeping the steering wheel controls. One question about this kit; when it says "Original harness to connect to the back of the CD changer capable stereo" does this mean you are loosing the CD changer?

Also is this kit essentially the same as this one?
http://www.mazdaparts.com/ProductDet...000-1154409213

Edit again: Ugh and this one?
http://www.sylfex.com/products/AuxMod/

So many choices even with an aux mod.

kimota

I thought the same thing but you still will be able to use your CD changer .

The kits you listed are different I dont believe they have a usb connection and are intended for aux inputs most people using these are strictly looking for aux in for devices like an Ipod not CarPC. The Mazda car stereo to PC adapter is intened for CarPC integration. Keep in mind it will also funtion as an Aux in but depending on your frontend it may not support all steering wheel stereo controls.

I believe volume +/- and mute will work regardless of which you use the issue will be if your the next and previous buttons on steering wheel will work with your FrontEnd.

PatInTheHat

Kimota: well this makes my decision much easier then. Thanks for the help. My next task I guess is to visit the mp3car forums and figure out what all to get