midiwall

Quote: Originally Posted by Red3.slow So what would you recommend for a budget system. I'm looking for a mp3 rig as well as something with wifi and a nav system and dvd's if possible A lot depends on what your definition is of "budget". The hardware is the costly part - I got lucky on eBay and ended up with a nice compact system for cheap. It doesn't have a lot of horsepower, but it's fast enough for me and I don't need DVD support. Check the MP3Car.com forums and you'll also find people putting full-size "junker" AT's in their cars. That can save you a lot of cash. Cheaping up the computer side still leaves you with having to come up with an interface... a 7" touchscreen panel runs about $400 list, you can find them for about $300 on eBay and the mp3car forums. But when I first tried doing this 3 years ago, I had a straight 7" monitor with a thumb mouse (like this) and that was looking to work "okay", though dangerous in the sense of having to take your eyes off the road to make anythign happen. Software wise, there's more support for Windows than anything else, but there's starting to be more support for Linux. That can save you the cost of a Windows license and the typical non-free accompanying Windows based software. There's also the option of spending $300-400 on a eBay laptop, add a thumb mouse, add a laptop stand for the car, and jack the audio into a head unit that has external input. We're back to the dangerous thing though...

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__________________
~ Mark
'96 4Runner Limited S/C MI - 370cc injectors, Air! horns, Airaid MIT, ATS A-arms, 285/75/R16 BFG MTs, Bored TB, Brembo slotted, Cobra 75 WXST, Deckplate, Downey headers, Hayden cooler, IPT valve body, Level 10 torque convertor, Meanstreak exhaust, OME/OME rears, On-board PC (XM, Nav, WiFi, etc), Port 'n Polish, Remote Start, SAW fronts, Hilux console, SMT-5, Stubb's sliders, Supra MAF, TJM-17, 2.0" pulley, Viair 450c, Walbro 190, Weasy2k cams

Red3.slow

What about your software (the pictures you have on the first page) is that software something that came on the box you bought?

__________________
-Miles

-Firefighter/EMT

T.E.A
Taxed Enough Already

midiwall

Nothing was on the box when I bought it... There are a number of links at the bottom of the first message, including links to the software I'm running:

• Software
  • Windows XP
  • Centrafuse
  • A.I.M.E.E. XM interface
  • WiFi Hopper
  • MS MapPoint
  • Xport3

__________________
~ Mark
'96 4Runner Limited S/C MI - 370cc injectors, Air! horns, Airaid MIT, ATS A-arms, 285/75/R16 BFG MTs, Bored TB, Brembo slotted, Cobra 75 WXST, Deckplate, Downey headers, Hayden cooler, IPT valve body, Level 10 torque convertor, Meanstreak exhaust, OME/OME rears, On-board PC (XM, Nav, WiFi, etc), Port 'n Polish, Remote Start, SAW fronts, Hilux console, SMT-5, Stubb's sliders, Supra MAF, TJM-17, 2.0" pulley, Viair 450c, Walbro 190, Weasy2k cams

Blizzard

Hello Midiwall,

Have you tried MapMonkey? It uses the Destinator 3 maps. I recommend it as it's tought for touchscreens not like Map Point.

Some friends have achieved to run Tom Tom in PC but it is still slow as it must be run in an Pocket PC emulator and so.

I've my carputer installed since more than a year ago and I'm very very satisfied, it's probably the best interior mod I've done to my 4Runner!

David

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'94 Toyota 4Runner 3.0 Turbo Diesel Intercooler Auto – Trail-Gear 4'' SAS front, Trail-Gear 5'' rear leaves swap, 35's, FR&RR E-Lockers and too many things more to write...

midiwall

Yeup... I wasn't impressed. It has a real bulky feel. Actually, CentraFuse has it's own nav built-in, based on the Destinator 5 maps, it's bulky too - hence my using MapPoint.

There's a CF plug-in now for MapPoint that makes things a lot easier to handle. You don't have to fight the toolbar like you're imagining.


Yeup! I agree!

__________________
~ Mark
'96 4Runner Limited S/C MI - 370cc injectors, Air! horns, Airaid MIT, ATS A-arms, 285/75/R16 BFG MTs, Bored TB, Brembo slotted, Cobra 75 WXST, Deckplate, Downey headers, Hayden cooler, IPT valve body, Level 10 torque convertor, Meanstreak exhaust, OME/OME rears, On-board PC (XM, Nav, WiFi, etc), Port 'n Polish, Remote Start, SAW fronts, Hilux console, SMT-5, Stubb's sliders, Supra MAF, TJM-17, 2.0" pulley, Viair 450c, Walbro 190, Weasy2k cams

li_runner

Plug & play, car computing is not, and I really don't think it ever will be. I've been through the trenches with this stuff. I agree it's better now than it was 2-3 yrs ago. The screen options have gotten a lot better.

For sure, a car computer is not exactly cheap if done right, I've gone through 3 versions of mine, and finally have a stable solid system. I would say the #1 necessary item would be a touchscreen, any other control is dangerous.


For nav: I have Delou Routis, works really well with a touchscreen.
Power: Opus, opus, opus. 1 device, all your power problems will be solved.
Heat: Haven't had a problem yet up to 100 or so outside, Cold however is an issue, below 20 degree's the HD will not function properly and the computer will not boot.
Shock: 1 80gig 2.5hd down, nothing you can really do. Rubber is a good idea, but I can't make it fit in my case. Reality is, you have a truck it's going to get shocks.


I have said it before, keep your headunit. As reliable as a carpc is now (and it can be), the last thing you want is a blue screen on a long trip. Keep your headunit, and use a aux in. Then you have a good FM tuner still (without the need for another device), and always have the ability to pop a cd in when all else fails, and it will.

__________________
-Pete
RIP *97' 4Runner SR5*
New baby: 07' Sport v6 Shadow Mica

Red3.slow

thanks for the info I might be PMing you later in the year about this project.

__________________
-Miles

-Firefighter/EMT

T.E.A
Taxed Enough Already

seanz0rz

where are you out of red3.slow? im sure there is a mp3car meet close by, as they pop up all over the country. ive been organizing the soCal one for the last few events. check out the forums on mp3car, the gathering one specifically, to see if there is a meet near you.

i really need to get all of those pictures up on the internet. still not done with it(never will be...)

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1998 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6 4x4 in Evergreen Pearl Metallic, Sonoran Steel #1, 285/75R16 BFG A/T, Elocker retrofit, Tundra calipers, brembo blanks, hawk lts pads, CarPC in custom center console with molded Indash touchscreen, KC daylighters mounted on Surco Safari rack, Custom sound system, 4xinnovation sliders, sleeping platform, Shrockworks front bumper, 1" 4crawler body lift, etc.
Pictures
Photobucket is being updated, if a picture i posted no longer works, please PM me.

Keggo

exactly what I want... awesome!

__________________
- Kevin E. G.

SOLD!!!
'91 4Runner SR5 V6 5spd: CLICK!! FOR SALE NOW!

Proud dad of Kai E. G.!

Blue_Stone

Wow! Nice install....Thanx...this gives me hope that someday soon I can try something once I get the funds.

"Actually, it's not that bad - the one major exposed wire is the lead for the GPS receiver which is sitting up on the dash. There's some duct tape holding it in place right now. It'll get tidy'd up, but I need to pull the dash to get the cable behind it. That's now pretty low on my list of things to do."

LOL...Install that Bluetooth, and you can get a bluetooth GPS, and get rid of that "pesky" GPS cable...

I'd probably want the Bluetooth, for use with my cell as a modem, with a GPS, and with my Palm.

midiwall

I thought about it, along with a bluetooth keyboard, but the issue at that point became putting the load on the PC that I'm using. Bluetooth ain't a lot to load down a machine, but I'm not running a lot of power to start with.

__________________
~ Mark
'96 4Runner Limited S/C MI - 370cc injectors, Air! horns, Airaid MIT, ATS A-arms, 285/75/R16 BFG MTs, Bored TB, Brembo slotted, Cobra 75 WXST, Deckplate, Downey headers, Hayden cooler, IPT valve body, Level 10 torque convertor, Meanstreak exhaust, OME/OME rears, On-board PC (XM, Nav, WiFi, etc), Port 'n Polish, Remote Start, SAW fronts, Hilux console, SMT-5, Stubb's sliders, Supra MAF, TJM-17, 2.0" pulley, Viair 450c, Walbro 190, Weasy2k cams