Thesis Car-PC Project Reloaded

[glockmane]

So, da es sicher einige interessieren wird und ich auch noch in der groben Konzeptionsphase stecke, möchte ich euch von Anfang an mit ins Boot holen!

Die letzten Informationen liegen ja nun schon einige Jahre zurück und auch in Sachen Computertechnik hat sich seither einiges getan, sodass jetzt ein guter Zeitpunkt ist das Thema wieder aufzuwärmen und hoffentlich auf das nächste Level zu heben!

Ziele des Projekts:

- Ein vollwertiger PC mit Windows 8.1/Windows 10, oder alternativ OSX/Linux (warum nicht, allerdings interessiert mich primär der Windows Part)
- Ein Display mit mindestens HD-Auflösung (720p)
- Verbindung PC -> Display via HDMI
- Erhaltung des originalen Connect Bordcomputers und Umschaltung via SOS Taste
- Audioausgabe des PCs über die Autolautsprecher/Autoradio (???)
- Leistungsfähig genug für Multimedia (HD) und vielleicht sogar das ein oder andere Spielchen für zwischendurch
- Streaming von Medieninhalten vom Smartphone via WLAN
- Skype Videotelefonie (falls Internet verfügbar ist)
- GPS Navi (gibt es überhaupt gute Navisoftware für Windows? Der Maßstab für mich ist Here Drive auf Windows Phone/Android)
- eventuell Fernsehen über DVB-T oder DVB-S
- eventuell OBD Diagnose

usw. usf., gibt natürlich noch unzählige weitere Möglichkeiten, mal sehen, was mir noch einfällt..

Benötigte Hardware:

- PC im Mini-Format, z.B.:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ ... stick.html

(Quad Core Atom Z3735F, Intel HD Graphics, 32GB Speicher, BT/WLAN, microSD, USB 2.0)

- 7" HD IPS Display (scheint es von Liliput zu geben, leider recht teuer, genaue Recherche steht noch aus)
- HDMI KVM Switch
- VGA -> HDMI Konverter (für das analoge Videosignal vom Thesis Connect)
- HDMI Gender Changer (um aus dem männlichen HDMI des Sticks eine weibliche Buchse zu machen)
- HDMI Kabel
- VGA Kabel (wird an das Thesis Connect "gebastelt")

- [Optional] USB Hub/Switch (je nach Anzahl gewünschter USB Geräte)
- [Optional] USB-Touchscreen
- [Optional] Logitech K400 Tastatur mit Touchpad
- [Optional] USB GPS Maus (für Navigation)
- [Optional] USB DVB-T Empfänger (für TV-Empfang)
- [Optional] USB UMTS/LTE Stick (für Internet-Empfang)

Das Thema Audio habe ich noch nicht weiter bedacht, vielleicht habt ihr ja ein paar Infos für mich!

Ich werde das Thema stück für Stück erweitern, für Kritik und Anregungen bin ich dankbar!

[vlad47]

Hi,
if you will need some help, just feel free to ask. I have this all installed in my thesis for three years Only the old picture is showed individually, because in your version it won't change into the old connect automatically by pressing C (comfort) button on front seats and also the heater function (webasto) isn't showed automatically. Than I realized that I would be switching between them all the driving time because I want to see the map and the consumption all the time. Well there are more reasons I've decided to make it this way.
Just to revise.
Hardware
- intel dual core 2850, 2gb ram, 250 hdd
- lenovo wireless ultrasmall keyboard with mouse button
- 720p touchscreen with 1080p input controller supporting auto rear camera switching
- soundblaster x-fi external soundcard with cristalizer
- holux gps tracker
- logitech webcam pro 9000 for front recording
- wideangle rear camera
- evolveo venus double dvb-t tuner using original rear window antena
- 2x powered usb hubs
- 3m usb cable in the glovebox compartment
Software:
- win 7 prof (had tried win 8 for a few months but it was useless because netframework behaves here differently)
- hibernationcontrol program coded by myself to meet all my requirements
- latest centrafuse
- automapa
- bluesoleil bluetooth handsfree
- dimmer
- can't remember the software name for the front camera recording with auto inserting gps data to the picture
- gpsport
- dvbviewer with centrafuse plugin
That's for sure I've forgotten something but these are most important.

[glockmane]

Great work Vlad! This is more than I thought about I definitely will contact you if I got any trouble! A few questions that come to my mind after reading your post:

Is it right, that you are using another display for the pc? Can you give us a picture, how the screen is placed in the cockpit?

What screen did you use? It is a shame that 7 inch displays are so expensive, while you can get a whole Windows 8 tablet for under 100 Euro, but sadly with no video input to display the Thesis Connect.. Maybe I'll just take a cheap tablet with 1080p screen, add a usb switch and connect a usb sound card like you and leave the Connect system as it is.. How did you connect the sound card with the onboard sound system? Can I drop the CD changer for this, so if I set source to CDC I will get PC Audio?

OK enough questions for the moment, thank you very much for any help!

Best regards
Stefan

[vlad47]

Yes I was using 7" LCD. For more than two years I had it on a place of the original screen, with original screen not using. I kept the comfort seats menu in my mind . It was only just a middle step, because I was still not sure if I want to have the screens switching or separate. After many month after made the final decision. As mentioned the reasons before I consider separate as the best choice. Till now this final carpc project part still needs to be done. I have it all solved, but still not made because I not in hurry and at the moment I'm working on skyhook sensors problem solving. The screen would be above the central outlets. All changes I do, I do it that way, so it can be changed back to the thesis original state. The screen would be hold via metal plate which would be connected in the upper outlet gap (on both sides). So after dismounting the eyes won't see anything damaged because it would be in the outlet. And I have also one whole spare central outlet. I have everything prepared, but haven't still decided what would I use as the lcd frame. If to choose alcantara, leather or only some paint on the plastic. The connection is already prepared. quite a lot of connectors and two black flat cable harnesses. Each one with 8 pins. They would be attached to the metal frame in to the outlet, one per one side.
I've used as you mentioned the cd changer, disconnected audio cables from it and carpc sends the audio to the connect. The sound from the changer is sent to the carpc so if I set to play audioin in the pc, than I can listen the changer.

[glockmane]

Thanks for the quick answer, I think I'll start a low cost project first and take some things I already have and extend it with some things I'm going to buy for this project..

PC:

Lenovo ThinkPad 8

CPU: Intel Atom Z3770 (4x1,46Ghz)
RAM: 2GB DDR3
Display: 8 Inch IPS 1920x1200 MultiTouch
Modem: LTE
Storage: 64GB
USB: microUSB 3.0 (=port for charger)

I already own this Tablet and bought a USB3 y-cable to charge the tablet while using the USB-Port.

Things I'm going to buy:

- Mini ISO (8-pol) to Cinch cable

- ASUS Xonar U5, USB 5.1 Soundcard

- A 5 port (or more) USB 3.0 hub with external power supply..

- some more USB devices:

- Logitech K400 wireless keyboard with touchpad
- DVB-T receiver
- Webcam
- Wireless XBOX 360 Controller? (as alternative input device for XBMC)

On this part I'm unsure if this mini ISO adapter cable is the right one for this job? For power supply of all the parts I think the 12V in the glovebox would be the best option..?

Also I question me if stereo input is correct here, as the Thesis has 6 (?) speakers plus a subwoofer? Can you give me a hint, how this is handled here?

Some thoughts about Internet/WLAN/Streaming in the car:

I got a 6GB LTE card from Vodafone, which I will use in the tablet and it will be shared with the tablet-wlan (in router mode).. So a connected smartphone can use its internet connection and I can stream music or videos from the smartphone or use smartphone as a wlan-remotecontroll for anything on the tablet and youtube/tv.. On the softwareside XBMC could act as a DLNA receiver to get this funcionality..

Best regards
Stefan

[vlad47]

I don't know what do you want to use this ISO connector, I'm not using it. I have a car adapter for the pc from 12V (from central cigarette lighter). If you want to use a webcam for the front recording, take care if your computer would have enough power because webcam recording with encoding takes quite a lot performance. From the cd changer there's only stereo sound, from connect to the bose amplifier go 4 speaker signal and only the bose amplifier powers the great number of speakers. I haven't found useful to have internet connection here all the time so I share the internet from my phone when needed.
If I can advice you don't buy such a big keyboard, try this one I'm using:
http://shop.lenovo.com/ISS_Static/ww/ag ... 503_V1.jpg
Usable with one hand, also the mouse
If I understand that correctly you also have decided to add another lcd , but when you will be buying it, I recommend to buy a driver board with AV2 option for auto rear cam turnon function.

[glockmane]

My plan was to connect the external Sound Card to the cinch side of the cable and the mini ISO side (blue connector) to the Thesis Connect, but I'm not sure if this will work?? I don't Need CD at all if I can supply media via USB, microSD or WLAN (DLNA).. The Keyboard is only needed sometimes as I will load XBMC at boot time and load media with the Smartphone as remote controll (works like a charm in my flat).. So I basically turn on the Tablet, browe media library on my Smartphone and press Play to Play it on the tablet.. But you are right, a smaller Keyboard is the better choice! Also I think you are right, that a second Screen is a good solution, as I don't have to modify the car that much and you don't have to Switch between the two Systems.. But I'm not going to use a seperate LCD Screen, I simply take the tablet as it is, no Need for an extra Screen! The rear cam Option is a great Thing (especially with Auto activation), but I'll think about it later and maybe I can implement this Option without an extra Screen..

Best Regards
Stefan

Edit:

Wenn das alles so funktioniert wie gedacht, dann gibt es schon sehr bald erste Eindrücke, dann natürlich auch auf Deutsch und auch in Form von Bildern/Videos.. Kurzform: Ich plane ein handelsübliches Windows Tablet zu verwenden und über eine externe Soundkarte (optional) mit dem CD-Wechsler-Anschluss am Thesis Connect zu verbinden.. Der CD-Wechsler ist mMn überflüssig, da ich durch das Tablet genug Quellen zum zuspielen von Medieninhalten habe (Internet/Youtube, USB, microSD, DLNA-Streaming via WLAN..). Als DLNA-Fernbedienung soll mein Smartphone (Windows Phone 8.1, Android geht natürlich auch) dienen, welches den DLNA Empfänger auf dem Tablet (z.B. XBMC/Kodi) steuert. Über einen USB Hub mit externer Stromversorgung können allerhand USB Geräte angeschlossen werden (Tastatur-Empfänger, DVB-T, Kamera..).. Die Stromversorgung für den USB Hub wird über den Zigarettenanzünder im Handschuhfach erfolgen.. Vorteil dieser Lösung wären einerseits die Kosten, andererseits wäre so gut wie keine Modifikation am Auto notwendig (nur Wechsler raus, Soundkarte dran).. Einen guten Platz müsste ich allerdings finden und die Kabel müssen möglichst unauffällig verlegt werden, denn es soll nicht nach einer Bastellösung aussehen.. Ich halte euch auf dem Laufenden!

Edit2:

OBD über das integrierte Tablet wäre natürlich auch eine feine Sache

[vlad47]

I have the audio cables soldered directly, so it's only about the choice. On the other side of the cable there's a cinch connected to the soundcard which is mounted under the passenger front airbag (above the glove compartment) in the dash.

[Mücke]

Abwarten und Tee trinken.

[glockmane]

So, kleines Update:

Habe den Wechsler ausgebaut und das Kabel von Mini ISO auf Cinch verlegt.. Leider klappt das so nicht.. Habe mein Handy mit laufender Musik dran gesteckt und das Connect sagt, einfach "Kein Wechsler".. Wenn ich es mir recht überlege, funktioniert das vielleicht auch einfach nicht so und ich muss doch so eine Box verbauen mit Klinke und SD.. (LoudLink) Wäre ja auch irgendwie zu einfach gewesen..

Edit: Diese simplen Adapter scheinen nicht mit jedem Radio zu funktionieren, dem Connect reicht der Audio Input nicht wirklich aus, es will gerne noch ein Signal, dass der Wechsler präsent ist.. Deswegen wird es wohl auf die Loudlink Box hinauslaufen, oder eine Menge probieren (und kaputt machen will ich ehrlich gesagt nichts).. Ich warte mal noch ab, ob Vlad noch eine Antwort gibt, ansonsten wird der Loudlink bestellt..

Small Update:

Extracted the changer and tried with the cable but it only says "No Changer" (phone with Music connected..)..

@Vlad

Can you please explain your Solution more detailed? Did you use the original changer cable (Mini ISO DIN 8) and soldered it with 3,5mm Audio cable? Thanks very much..

Edit: Seems that the Audio Input is not enough for the Connect, it expects a Signal that the changer is present.. I think I'll buy the loudlink box (emulates the changer) but still be interested, in how you solved this..