Re: Car PC project

["Paul Gordon" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>
>Most headends have some sort of AUX in adaptor available, but coz
they're
>wire
>protocols are nearly all proprietary these can be on the pricey side.
Some
>of
>them have been reverse engineered - I think the furthest down that path
is
>the Sony Unlilink protocol (do a web search for Gnunilink). I bought a
new
>sony headend off ebay and hacked up a gnunilink board so that I could
use
>the
>head-end's controls and display to interface to the PC. Having said
that,
>I'm
>currently experimenting with a VFD display that I'll prolly use in
tandem
>with it.
>

Well, my head unit does have an AUX select button on it, so I'm pretty sure
I've got one, - I just need to determine where the input connection is....

>That's what I have - the car database syncs with the house database
>automatically when it's sat on the drive. Make sure you can mount your
wifi
>antenna somewhere away from the bodywork - it does a damn good job of
>attenuating the signal! I use a little USB jobber on the rear parcel
shelf.
>

Good point, - my first thought was to use a PCMCIA card and one of the ITX
boards with the built-in slot, but as you say, signal strength could well
be
an issue, - doubly so if it's got to go through the PC case as well as the
car body... So I have now gone off that idea, and am thinking along the
lines you suggest, of using a USB2 dongle instead... - I'm thinking of
putting this on a 1m USB extension lead, and hot-glueing it to a rear
window
(mine is a hatchback, and the rear parcel shelf is both mobile and
removeable...) - Also means I'd have a wider choice of ITX boards to choose
from, and more flexibility in case choice as well... - I'm looking at the
Netgear WG111 adapter... - what one do you use?


Cheers

Paul G.