hynder Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I'm in the process of installing a PC in my Zed and I thought I'd share my experiences with you on the way. I've got a '03 JDM and have already changed the nav to UK spec, upgraded the HU to a double DIN with IPOD and Bluetooth and I've installed a 10" woofer with amp. The car came with a JDM OEM camera system (2 front wing mounted and 1 rear mounted) which has been a bit of a bugger to interface with the nav system. After a lot of fiddling and trial and error I managed to integrate it and I also added a DVB-TV tuner along the way. Now that technology has moved on, there are a lot more pruducts on the market designed to make a car Pc install alot more easier so I have waited long enough and am now taking the plunge. It should be a doddle as I have had the interior stripped down more times than the dancers in Bugsy Browns (Aberdeen members will understand!!!!) Anyway, I have all the hardware and software and I'm just taking my time. I bought a VOOM box pentium based PC, transflective 7" touchscreen, carnetics 1900 dual power supply and various dongles/tuners etc which I'll go into later. When I got the UK spec nav from an X-trail, it came with a display also so I have used the frame of the display to transplant the transflective array into. Check the pics below. This means there is no bother with modifying or cutting bits off the cubby / trim as I would like to be able to return the car to OEM nav when I sell it. It is actually quite a neat unit. I've carried out bench testing of all the gear and installed all the various applications and drivers. I installed the Centrafuse Auto graphic interface which I'm spending a bit of time customising before I install it. Anyway, that's as far as I have got so I'll keep the forum up to date with my progress but haven't got any timescale yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narcotix Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Sounds good ... Keep us informed with the progress and pictures etc ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Nice one matey, will reply to your PM in a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurrish Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Im also here if you need any help/assistance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andlid Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Will watch this thread with interest What is the VOOM box? A google search threw up some satelite reciever... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srobrien Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Looking good mate, not sure if i've seen you zed around the deen yet. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maz0 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I've considered doing this my self for a while using one of many old laptop carcass's laying around. Should be interesting to see how yours turns out! keep us updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andlid Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I've considered doing this my self for a while using one of many old laptop carcass's laying around. Should be interesting to see how yours turns out! keep us updated. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 For those interested, my setup will be up for sale in a few months. Mac-mini (Core2Duo 1.6GHz I think), Carnetix PSU, USB GPS, Centrafuse (fully licenced) etc etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hynder Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 Not sure if I've seen you about either srobrien. Has your Zed any distinguishing features? I'm driving a blue Zed with full Vertex Aero kit and GT4 wheels. My profile pic is an old one. The Voom box or VoomPC is just the type of case which looks like an amp. My plan is to mount it in the cubby behind the passenger seat so that I have full access to it. I've attached the link. I bought the pc from an ebay seller who makes these things up. He basically throws all the components together then it's down to you to make it work. Looking at it all now, I could probably have saved a few quid if I bought the components individually, but the guy made sure it was all compatible before selling it to me. It also has a Solid State Drive for faster booting which I upgraded. It originally came with linux but I couldn't get used to the operation of it, so I created a partition on the SDD and installed XP so it is now a dual boot system. XP has the priority and I never see the Linux at all. http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=10858 http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/nextgenca ... ec0Q2em322 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Unfortunately, although Linux is very quick, there isnt the demand for the software out there for CarPCs, so you wont ever use it. XP is the way to go, you only want basic functionality and low resource usage and best driver compatibility. You'll be looking at CF all the time anyway, not the OS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurrish Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I used a cut down version of xp.....got it to boot in under 10 seconds with an ssd...forget linux..it is not pretty nor is it friendly. With the imminent launch of CF 3 its the only thing that should be in your mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 CF3 is out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurrish Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 CF3 is out Ooooo really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurrish Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Now if only you could make it read sensors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srobrien Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Not sure if I've seen you about either srobrien. Has your Zed any distinguishing features?I'm driving a blue Zed with full Vertex Aero kit and GT4 wheels. My profile pic is an old one. Apart from a CF bonnet with 2 great vents in it, not really , definatly not seen yours i would have recognised such a destinctive kit. You should get yourself along to some NE meets. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurrish Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Saying that though i could link my utec into the pc and have it launch from an application within cf I see another venture into car pc's coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yokomo Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 lol on the drive remaps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurrish Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 lol on the drive remaps! yeah i dont see why not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hynder Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 CF 3 or CF Auto is what I have installed and it looks pretty smart. I am new to all this and seem to have picked it up okay with a few pointers from Chris' I I have managed to modify the boot screens to display the NISSAN logo (thanks Nurrish!!) but still get the small 'Windows is starting' and 'Windows is shutting down' messages which is a slight pain but a minor niggle. Nurrish, what do you mean by a cut down version of XP? I have disabled all the Boot / start up applications in msconfig and got the boot time down to 32 sec...........bloody slow in comparison though!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurrish Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 CF 3 or CF Auto is what I have installed and it looks pretty smart. I am new to all this and seem to have picked it up okay with a few pointers from Chris' II have managed to modify the boot screens to display the NISSAN logo (thanks Nurrish!!) but still get the small 'Windows is starting' and 'Windows is shutting down' messages which is a slight pain but a minor niggle. Nurrish, what do you mean by a cut down version of XP? I have disabled all the Boot / start up applications in msconfig and got the boot time down to 32 sec...........bloody slow in comparison though!!! You need to look in the right places I got a version which is basically a bare bones without any crap....i will have a look around for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 CF Auto is CF3 from what I can gather. They want $49 for me to upgrade my version which I CBA with as I'm getting rid of it in a few months. You can get CF to read sensors if you are very good at programming, using USB daughter boards and some sensor kit which I forget the name of. Its very hardcore though. I think to change the "Windows is starting up" writing, you need to modify the binary that control startup and shutdown, its not as simple as the logos by any means, and its pretty dangerous to the system if you feck it up. I always shyed away from it as I didnt want to kill my system. I beleive you have to hex edit the binary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hynder Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 Pretty heavy duty then.................don't think I'll go down that route then!!!!! Heres some more pics of the CF 3 and one of the carnetix PSU being bench tested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hynder Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 Ok, things are progressing. I received a cubby blanking plate from JAS (Japanese Auto Solutions) A great company for sourcing NISSAN parts which are hard to find. Since I was needing to remove the NAVI control panel, I had to replace it with a blanking plate which needed to be modified for the screen menu / brightness controls, a PC reset button and I also have a switch hooked up to a power relay so thet I can switch off the main power if the PC crashes without having to disconnect the battery. Since it was not designed to be a panel, filed down any protrusions and filled in any holes and gaps with Araldite. I then gave it a couple of coats of Satin black before mounting the controls and switches. It looks okay and I am pretty pleased with it. Next is to mount the Carnetix power supply where the old navi unit was. Make up a LOOM for the power and controls Run in USB, GPS and Touch screen cables. Then the final part will be fitting the PC into the Glove box at the back of the passenger seat and also to mount the DVD ROM in the cubby next to the old NAVI unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurrish Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Wow i am impressed!! good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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