RotorGeek Carputer, RearView Cam
 

Ok I am about 60% finished with my Carputer. I will list the parts lator. I will also answer any questions you guys might have.

Hardware

I purchased most of the parts from logicsupply.com. I was able to get my hands on a Navi display with motorized hood on Ebay. I replaced the stock screen with a Xenarc 700 series touchscreen. The motherboard is in the glovebox. It is a Via Epia MII with CF,PCCARD slots. I got an 80gb laptop HD and a DVD/CDRW from a Laptop as well. The power supply is from Opus at 120V it is plenty for what I am doing. I also purchased a small color camera that I installed in the rear Trunk brakelight. I might be missing some stuff but i will remember as this tread progresses.

Software
Windows XP, DVD decoder software, WMedia player, MS streets and trips for Navi, Hymee Scan tool. Greddy software to adjust the canzoomer i just got. ok now for the pics. please let me finish before you post.

more pics
 

More pics

more pics

and more

The last for now. Go ahead and discuss. I will post more tomorrow of the OS and eveything

Noice!

Pretty cool mounting the rear view cam in the third brake light - nice idea. What cam is it?

I got it on ebay. This was my second one becuase the other i purchased sucked.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wide-angle-Secur...QQcmdZViewItem

I also sanded the black paint off and painted it with my touchup paint.

Cool camera - so does your third light still work?

Very cool mod. Do you get any glare w/ the brake pushed? (I am assuming the light still works right?)

Great job so far! I like the camera location, but I am wondering also if the brake light will still work?

woo. it will be usful when you are backing your car or when you are kick assing. lol
is it posible to put one like this on the front??? what is the view angle for this?

Very nice setup!

How are you getting sound into the stereo?

What GPS hardware and software are you running?

What kind of wi-fi do you have?

Are you going to install a OBDII scanner?

Are you using the auto select mode built into the monitor for the reverse camera?

Also, I noticed that you removed the key lock for the trunk...were you trying to mount the camera there?

Very nice! Lucky picking up the Nav hood on ebay. Looking forward to more pics and a review.

You've got to love how he got the factory nav display off eBay, took out the stock screen and replaced it with a touch screen. I don't think you can get any cleaner than that right there.

Another thing I like is how his rear camera is centered on the back of the car by the brake light instead of being on the left or right side.

By the way...when you're reversing in a poorly lit, very dark area, can you still see at all with the camera or is the display pitch black?

Rotary Rasp

i think he put his first camera on those trunk keyhole


RotorGeek

you said your first camera suck? what happen? can you give detail about those camera? brand? and why don't you put your new camera on your trunk keyhole?

Have you go.

Nemesis8
"Cool camera - so does your third light still work?"
Nope. I had to remove it in order to get the cam in there. I will be making a custom LED plate on either side of the cam and hook it up to the stock wires.

fray
"Very cool mod. Do you get any glare w/ the brake pushed? (I am assuming the light still works right?" The light don't work now but it will soon

All4Sky
"Great job so far! I like the camera location, but I am wondering also if the brake light will still work?" Thanks

terrypk1
"woo. it will be usful when you are backing your car or when you are kick assing. lol is it posible to put one like this on the front??? what is the view angle for this?" It is 90 degree Wide angle. I do plan on putting one in the front when i get the mazdaspeed kit. I dont want Curb rash.

Rotary Rasp
"Very nice setup!

"How are you getting sound into the stereo?" PIE Adaptor from mazdaparts

"What GPS hardware and software are you running?" FOR NOW i am useing Microsoft Streets and Trips
2006 with the USB GPS Recievcer it comes with. It's ok but I want to get Iguidance

"What kind of wi-fi do you have?" Right now I have a Cisco 340series pccard. I will be getting a compactflash Bluetooth adaptor lator

"Are you going to install a OBDII scanner?" Hymee sCANalyser from Mazdaparts

"Are you using the auto select mode built into the monitor for the reverse camera?" Nope the camera is always ON. I hit alot of traffic and this way I can keep a better eye on things behind me.

"Also, I noticed that you removed the key lock for the trunk...were you trying to mount the camera there?" I had the cam in there at first. I really liked the consealed look of it but I did not like how I was just seeing the cars mostly on the passanger side. I like it smack in the middle

Japan8
"Very nice! Lucky picking up the Nav hood on ebay. Looking forward to more pics and a review."
Man i was looking for the screen since i got my car. Needless to say I was not losing that bid

JeRKy 8 Owner
"You've got to love how he got the factory nav display off eBay, took out the stock screen and replaced it with a touch screen. I don't think you can get any cleaner than that right there.

Another thing I like is how his rear camera is centered on the back of the car by the brake light instead of being on the left or right side.

By the way...when you're reversing in a poorly lit, very dark area, can you still see at all with the camera or is the display pitch black?"
Thanks for the props. I have yet to try it in very low lit areas. but the cam adjusts alittle to the lighting conditions

foo77
"you said your first camera suck? what happen? can you give detail about those camera? brand? and why don't you put your new camera on your trunk keyhole?"
I really don't want to badmouth a vendor on ebay. It could have been i got a bad one. The REZ on the first was not as good and since it was cheap I got this one. Very happy with it.

("Also, I noticed that you removed the key lock for the trunk...were you trying to mount the camera there?" I had the cam in there at first. I really liked the consealed look of it but I did not like how I was just seeing the cars mostly on the passanger side. I like it smack in the middle )



Lets not forget the bug eye effect caused by the key hole. My camera serves no real purpose, and i'll be the first to say it. -cool factor... lol

It does hide well in the key hole though, I have people look for 10 minutes and not find it.

I see your using a 90 degree camera- that isn't much. I think i'm using a 130 degree which still isn't enough.

What front end are you using?

I can give you Iguidance if you want.

http://rx8.no-ip.org/rc/IMG_0770.JPG

I WANT. I WANT

I am not useing a front end yet. What do you recommend? I have downsized XPSP2 with Nlite. Awesome program.

There are many good options for front end software. I've using Frodo Player w/ bright life skin for 6 months. For the most part I love it, the only downside is its lack of options. Another great one is Centra Fuse, only thing I don't like about that one is you need .net to run it. Lastly, I used Road Runner for a while. Road Runner, like Centra Fuse, had a lot of options. In the end I still use frodo because it so simple to setup and use.

All of these programs are skinable.

Check out mobile-effects.com. Join and post pictures there.

oh and of course, my wesite also:

www.trickrx8.com

That's awesome... nice work. Are you worried about overheating with the motherboard or power supply in that area of the dash?

I have found that our glovebox is a very good place since we have the passanger side vent running directly over it. My CPU has yet to pass 115 degrees. The fan never go's to it's faster RPM either. I am keeping a close eye on it and if needed I will open a small 1/2 inch hole in the AC vent and feed a tube directly over the cpu.

The via mobos are made to run in areas like that. They produce very little heat. My system never gets warm, matter of fact, I've ran it without the fan for a while with no problems.

Yo what up guys. I thought I would jump in on the comments too. I have been watching your posts RR and RG, because I am putting my carputer together now too. I have it 75% installed and cool. I got a motorized screen on Ebay for 250. Its cool for now but I would much rather go with the stock navi housing. I can't believe theres enough room for your mobo and shiza up there too. that would make the install so much easier then what i did which is run it to the pass thru. I am using RoadRunner for a front end with Mazda 6/3 skin and destinator with Map Monkey. I like RR because it has the Ipod style method of finding music (artist - album - track). It is all integrated nicely, and almost matches our 8's. BTW you can easily find Destinator and the dll to make it work on isohunt.com. Anyway good luck with your install and show more pics later.

One question though. Which method are you using for audio input? Do you have ground loop problems? I installed it and had some major ground loop, it was so annoying even with full volume on the computer, that I couldn't stand it. I need to get an isolator, and maybe ground the computer to the radio case.