mike0615

I have a laptop that i want to connect to my stock navi screen. anyone here can help me out with that?

DSMmaniac

Very curious as well...

*oops, just looked at the date*

progman32

Might as well revive if it will help someone. From what I understand from the wiring diagram (attached), you need to get an RGB to an RGB/Sync adapter, and you need to run the laptop at a very specific resolution and refresh rate. I'm currently building this one (with some modifications which will allow switching between video sources) for my current carputer project: http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/c.../vga2rgbs.html

I'll let you know my experiences. If you know about PCB manufacturing I will be able to supply PCB layouts in a bit.

BlueKnight

Perfect. I have been hunting for this information so that I could do exactly what you are talking about. How has your sucess been? Do you know what resolution the factory screen is running?

Also, why not just use a computer that has a video card with RGB output capabilities (like an ATI all-in-wonder)?

BlueKnight

Does anyone have the signal info for the RGB connection?

Rotary Rasp

iTrader: (2)

It's been said many times before, you're better off replacing the oem screen with a 7" xenarc or something simular. Then resolution on the oem screen is too low for a computer to be of any use.

BlueKnight

You are right that people keep saying this so let me explain why that is of no interest to me and then maybe someone will help me with the info I need ....

First off I already have two screens in the car. I also already have TWO navigation systems, one being a Pioneer that is way better than anything I would put on a computer.

Secondly, I am only wanting to use a computer to be able to feed gagues onto the factory nav screen and see data logs. I do not care at all about any other function of a computer through the mounted screens.

I can already feed a computer to my Pioneer screen but I want to be able to see both at the same time and do not like the look of mounting gagues on top of the dash or on a post.

Last but not least, I already have a ton of computers, large and small, that I can use for doing what I want to do and provided that I can get the right information I can likely do what I am intending for under $100. Something tells me that with all of the cost constrained members of this forum that will be of interest to others as well.

progman32

Hey all, I haven't had time to work on this. School has been getting the better part of my time. However, I'd take a look at this thread, it contains some more info, particularly about resolutions. My converter hardware has run into a glitch (I somehow messed up a connector housing), so I haven't gotten a test run yet. I'll let you all know. Here's a pic of the current board, sans broken connector, taken from a camera phone (my digicam is at my parent's house...). It's all surface mount parts. I've also quickly built an adapter cable with built-in resistors (around 50k, each RGB signal to ground) to fool the card into thinking it has a monitor attached.

EDIT: I also attached my kicad project folder. The board has both a RGB to RGB/S converter and a source selection input to choose between stock nav and computer. BEWARE- this is UNTESTED and largely undocumented. Once it works, I'll actually do a braindump and pretty it up. Enjoy.

BlueKnight

what tool did you use to do the PCB layout? No sense in me reinventing the wheel. And thanks for pointing me to that post. GREAT info. Pretty much has enough info for me to complete this project but again, no sense in starting from scratch if you have an almost ready to go design.