jadz

This is the monitor that I plan to initially install in the Cadillac. Its a high quality TFT screen with both VGA and RCA video inputs (but with only dip swithces to select video sources, so I’m not sure that I can easily swithc….)

Last week I got my first car (thanks mom) and I couldn’t be happier. The 6 way power heated leather seats and the gas devouring 4.9L engine do everything that I want them to. The car is a Cadillac STS. Since Annu brought up getting rims I would like to see a set of Neeper Saphire 18″’s on this baby, but we’ll see. I do still have my studen loan to pay off. A few of the pics of the car can be seen here.

Oh yeah. I also got a job working at IMP Aerospace, which is why I got the car (to drive to work and such). My mom said I should by something good with my first paycheque so I made up my mind and got a Mini-ITX mother board and power supply and car module. The board measures 17cm x 17cm and will be able to fit in my dash (which I plan on borrowing/stealing from my dad). I can attach a standard HD to the system so I will probably put a 80GB and my unused slot loading Pioneer DVD drive.

This setup should give me about twice the quality as most other people running TV’s in their cars as it will be running at 800×600.

I have use of a CASIO Cassiopeia E-115 pocket PC. The unit comes with a base station that connects via a serial connection to the computer to synchronize information such as contacts and appointments. I also had access to a GPS unit that output NEMA via a serial port. Using the information I acquired in Dr. Hughes classes I fashioned a simple null modem and hooked the output of my base station serial modem to the GPS unit. I then installed pocket streets which opens the com (serial) port and receives NEMA data from the GPS unit. This worked great except for two things, the cords were very long and it was a pain in the ass to set up in the car.

My next step was to go to eBay and find a second base station. This was done quickly and I soon had a new base unit. To this base unit I added a lexan support structure that wraps around the unit as the original station is intended to sit on a desk and did not offer the needed support. I then cut the serial output from base unit, as I did not need a long cord going to a computer, I just needed a short one going to the GPS unit. I then attached a Garmin GPS receiver to the lexan support structure. The Garmin unit has serial output, which I wired into the base unit, where it connects cord that once would connect to a computer (again with a null modem).