PC for Drive?

10-20-2004

Hello every one, I was sitting around one day and I had this idiea... Well The idiea was in my head long before I started to wardrive but then this came to me. I plan on mounting an entire PC in my truck. Its extendedcab so space isnt a problem, I was going to run a few VGA cable extensions into the front where the monitor would be sitting, yes... a full size monitor... Then hook up a decent wireless mouse and Keyboard. Any way If not my truck then another car I have is almost at the end of its ropes so I was also considering taking out the seats (besides the driver seat....) and mounting a nice system in there. PC Mount in the back with the monitor where the passeenger seat used to be and the laptop mounted into the dashboard this was just a thought... Then I was going to use a PCI wireless D-Link G card I have and make an antenna to mount outside of the car. That way I can run Windows on one and Linux on the other and not have to dual boot giving me a lot of control and options. Last to hook it all up a converter strip from my lighter to plug it all into. Can any one add some input on this? Perhaps the wireless PCI card wont work, who knows. Also if anyone could add sone input about what they think is the best Linux distro for Wardriving. Right now I use FC2 with the newest krnl. Thanks.

-AOW

The Others · 10-20-2004

Why use a lighter converter strip? Just hook it all straight up to the 12V supply from your battery, with wires and stuff. Save your "accessory position" for lighting cigarettes.

Thorn · 10-20-2004

Take a look here for some ideas: http://www.mp3car.com

10-20-2004

Thanks a lot for the link, If I remember right... House current and Computer current are 2 very different things. Thats the reason for a power supply, it converts a houses AC to the DC a computer needs to run. If I also remember a car runs off of DC as well, HOWEVER, the catch, a power supply has to have 3.3 5 and 12v so I would have to convert things and dampen the power coming into the computer and much more that way its not over kill as well as finding out what wire uses what voltage easier to buy a converter. This is what came to mind when I thought that out any way. I may be wrong? I dont know. Any input on that would be great too.

jrcsnet · 10-20-2004

What he meant is an inverter thats wired straight off the battery. I have one for my car, works like a charm plus leaves the cigarette lighter free for its real use in my car: hanging my university parking permit on when I'm driving around.

wrzwaldo · 10-20-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtOFWar

Thanks a lot for the link, If I remember right... House current and Computer current are 2 very different things. Thats the reason for a power supply, it converts a houses AC to the DC a computer needs to run. If I also remember a car runs off of DC as well, HOWEVER, the catch, a power supply has to have 3.3 5 and 12v so I would have to convert things and dampen the power coming into the computer and much more that way its not over kill as well as finding out what wire uses what voltage easier to buy a converter. This is what came to mind when I thought that out any way. I may be wrong? I dont know. Any input on that would be great too.

If you have the cash go this route. Don't forget to check these out!

The Others · 10-21-2004

You can get some cool mobos at www.mini-itx.com they sell some nice car power supplies for them too: http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=10#p1807 and some fancy screens http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=9#p503

10-21-2004

Alright a few other concers I have are that, the links you sent me are great, Thorn, thanks a lot. I liked how the guy mounted every thing into the center console. A few things I was wondering about was... Cooling problems, every thing is contained into a little box is there any air flow at all? Vents? Im not sure, Also I was going to mount a normal monitor into my truck. 15 CTX monitor, I was wondering if thats bad? Maybe too much power going out? (Considering my truck is always on acting as a generator) 7 and 8 LCD's just arent big enough for me, the only way I could see one of the smaller monitors working for me is if I am running in Linux and use the Virtual Desktops often.

Another thing I was wondering is how to mount the PCI devices, I have a Wireless PCI D-LINK card DWL-520 G. The second issue is that Im not too sure about the whole atenna thing, It has that little midget antenna that would be trapped inside the box, so I was wondering how bad the dBi decrease would be on lets say a... 6ft cable? I know that you can get low loss cable and what not. Last, what would be the best antenna type to mount on the outside of my truck to pick up wireless signals and still be durable. Any thing any one could offer would be great, every thing so far has REALLY helped me.

-AOW

beakmyn · 10-21-2004

I'll chime in.
Some of the mini-itx require no fans. It depends on the cpu you choose. You don't neccesarily need the most powerful cpu.

Are you dead set on using a desktop? Here's my thoughts. A pc is big, and the components are designed for the harsh environment of an automobile.
A few things come to mind

Temperature extremes
vibration, PCI cards could wiggle loose
size
Power requirements
Cables

Yes, you can overcome most of these but you could still run into problems, with vibration namely.

Why not buy a laptop and jottodesk stand for it?
Something like Panasonic toughbook. These things are made for extremes. Plus some models come with touchscreens. Then you'd only have 2 cables. One for the antenna and one for the DC adapter.

Maybe something like a Versaview industrial PC that's rated better then a standard pc.

wrzwaldo · 10-21-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by beakmyn

I'll chime in.
Some of the mini-itx require no fans. It depends on the cpu you choose. You don't neccesarily need the most powerful cpu.

Are you dead set on using a desktop? Here's my thoughts. A pc is big, and the components are designed for the harsh environment of an automobile.
A few things come to mind

Temperature extremes
vibration, PCI cards could wiggle loose
size
Power requirements
Cables

Yes, you can overcome most of these but you could still run into problems, with vibration namely.

Why not buy a laptop and jottodesk stand for it?
Something like Panasonic toughbook. These things are made for extremes. Plus some models come with touchscreens. Then you'd only have 2 cables. One for the antenna and one for the DC adapter.

Maybe something like a Versaview industrial PC that's rated better then a standard pc.

VersaView 200R (6155R-NPXPH) $2271.00.

The Opus I linked in my previous post are specifically designed for automotive applications (ie DC powered). The VersaView still requires AC.

10-21-2004

Well Im not die hard for a PC, In fact I do use a laptop right now. Dell Inspiron 633Mhz (I think) 128MB RAM, 20GB HDD or some thing. However, PC's just seem to have a lot more to offer than laptops. Laptops also seem to have more problems than PC's to me any way? PC's are also VERY VERY easy to fix compared to laptops. Lets say... I have a few extra PC's laying around, few AMD chips A LOT of memory. I just wanted to start putting all this stuff I have to use. Also I have a.... $300 or so budgent Im trying to keep to. Mini ati with some thing to convert seems to be my best option, I may have to put the monitor on hold. Im still going to use my laptop, as well as my PC at the same time. One will run Windows and one will run Linux so I have the best both worlds have to offer, with out having to dual boot and reboot often. I mean if there is a reason that any of this wont work thats what Im looking for or a better solution to what I have in mind any thing. Thanks for every thing, this is all helping me a lot getting me closer to the final installation.

-AOW

wrzwaldo · 10-21-2004

As beakmyn stated earlier, vibration will be your biggest problem with a standard PC. But it will work. Post some pics of your work in progress as well as completed if you can.

10-21-2004

Alright, tomorrow once day comes Ill take some pictures of where Im mounting it and how I plan to run the wires and all that good stuff. Im still working on some monitor systems, have a few idieas, as I go on in the install Ill keep updating. Hell, I may just set up a section of my web site for every one to go and see this project, I dont want to waste NetStumblers bandwidth. Check back in a day or so for the link. What luck... for the first time in like 6 months I cleaned my truck today haha... All I can say is before today my truck looked like a programmers room x10 + hit by a storm or two... So you all get the rare view of it.... Clean haha.

Thanks for all the help every one, Im not sure I would be going in the right direction with this.... Ill also work on a rig for the PCI card maybe I can help some other people out in my own works, stop it from coming lose some how.

10-20-2004	#1 (permalink)
ArtOFWar Posts: n/a	PC for Drive? Hello every one, I was sitting around one day and I had this idiea... Well The idiea was in my head long before I started to wardrive but then this came to me. I plan on mounting an entire PC in my truck. Its extendedcab so space isnt a problem, I was going to run a few VGA cable extensions into the front where the monitor would be sitting, yes... a full size monitor... Then hook up a decent wireless mouse and Keyboard. Any way If not my truck then another car I have is almost at the end of its ropes so I was also considering taking out the seats (besides the driver seat....) and mounting a nice system in there. PC Mount in the back with the monitor where the passeenger seat used to be and the laptop mounted into the dashboard this was just a thought... Then I was going to use a PCI wireless D-Link G card I have and make an antenna to mount outside of the car. That way I can run Windows on one and Linux on the other and not have to dual boot giving me a lot of control and options. Last to hook it all up a converter strip from my lighter to plug it all into. Can any one add some input on this? Perhaps the wireless PCI card wont work, who knows. Also if anyone could add sone input about what they think is the best Linux distro for Wardriving. Right now I use FC2 with the newest krnl. Thanks. -AOW

10-20-2004	#2 (permalink)
The Others PeaceDriver Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Dos Palabras, Mandoras Posts: 2,920	Why use a lighter converter strip? Just hook it all straight up to the 12V supply from your battery, with wires and stuff. Save your "accessory position" for lighting cigarettes. __________________ all good ends all ?u=273

10-20-2004	#3 (permalink)
Thorn Did you do the math? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Villa Straylight Posts: 10,084	Take a look here for some ideas: http://www.mp3car.com __________________ Thorn "I'm The Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I am from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I am the man who is going to save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below... You got a problem with that?"

10-21-2004	#7 (permalink)
The Others PeaceDriver Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Dos Palabras, Mandoras Posts: 2,920	You can get some cool mobos at www.mini-itx.com they sell some nice car power supplies for them too: http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=10#p1807 and some fancy screens http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=9#p503 __________________ all good ends all ?u=273

10-21-2004	#9 (permalink)
beakmyn root\.workspace\.garbage. Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,796	I'll chime in. Some of the mini-itx require no fans. It depends on the cpu you choose. You don't neccesarily need the most powerful cpu. Are you dead set on using a desktop? Here's my thoughts. A pc is big, and the components are designed for the harsh environment of an automobile. A few things come to mind Temperature extremes vibration, PCI cards could wiggle loose size Power requirements Cables Yes, you can overcome most of these but you could still run into problems, with vibration namely. Why not buy a laptop and jottodesk stand for it? Something like Panasonic toughbook. These things are made for extremes. Plus some models come with touchscreens. Then you'd only have 2 cables. One for the antenna and one for the DC adapter. Maybe something like a Versaview industrial PC that's rated better then a standard pc.

10-20-2004	#4 (permalink)
ArtOFWar Posts: n/a	Thanks a lot for the link, If I remember right... House current and Computer current are 2 very different things. Thats the reason for a power supply, it converts a houses AC to the DC a computer needs to run. If I also remember a car runs off of DC as well, HOWEVER, the catch, a power supply has to have 3.3 5 and 12v so I would have to convert things and dampen the power coming into the computer and much more that way its not over kill as well as finding out what wire uses what voltage easier to buy a converter. This is what came to mind when I thought that out any way. I may be wrong? I dont know. Any input on that would be great too.

10-20-2004	#5 (permalink)
jrcsnet Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 76	What he meant is an inverter thats wired straight off the battery. I have one for my car, works like a charm plus leaves the cigarette lighter free for its real use in my car: hanging my university parking permit on when I'm driving around.

10-21-2004	#8 (permalink)
ArtOFWar Posts: n/a	Alright a few other concers I have are that, the links you sent me are great, Thorn, thanks a lot. I liked how the guy mounted every thing into the center console. A few things I was wondering about was... Cooling problems, every thing is contained into a little box is there any air flow at all? Vents? Im not sure, Also I was going to mount a normal monitor into my truck. 15 CTX monitor, I was wondering if thats bad? Maybe too much power going out? (Considering my truck is always on acting as a generator) 7 and 8 LCD's just arent big enough for me, the only way I could see one of the smaller monitors working for me is if I am running in Linux and use the Virtual Desktops often. Another thing I was wondering is how to mount the PCI devices, I have a Wireless PCI D-LINK card DWL-520 G. The second issue is that Im not too sure about the whole atenna thing, It has that little midget antenna that would be trapped inside the box, so I was wondering how bad the dBi decrease would be on lets say a... 6ft cable? I know that you can get low loss cable and what not. Last, what would be the best antenna type to mount on the outside of my truck to pick up wireless signals and still be durable. Any thing any one could offer would be great, every thing so far has REALLY helped me. -AOW

10-21-2004	#11 (permalink)
ArtOFWar Posts: n/a	Well Im not die hard for a PC, In fact I do use a laptop right now. Dell Inspiron 633Mhz (I think) 128MB RAM, 20GB HDD or some thing. However, PC's just seem to have a lot more to offer than laptops. Laptops also seem to have more problems than PC's to me any way? PC's are also VERY VERY easy to fix compared to laptops. Lets say... I have a few extra PC's laying around, few AMD chips A LOT of memory. I just wanted to start putting all this stuff I have to use. Also I have a.... $300 or so budgent Im trying to keep to. Mini ati with some thing to convert seems to be my best option, I may have to put the monitor on hold. Im still going to use my laptop, as well as my PC at the same time. One will run Windows and one will run Linux so I have the best both worlds have to offer, with out having to dual boot and reboot often. I mean if there is a reason that any of this wont work thats what Im looking for or a better solution to what I have in mind any thing. Thanks for every thing, this is all helping me a lot getting me closer to the final installation. -AOW

10-21-2004	#12 (permalink)
wrzwaldo I amuse you? Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9,127	As beakmyn stated earlier, vibration will be your biggest problem with a standard PC. But it will work. Post some pics of your work in progress as well as completed if you can.

10-21-2004	#13 (permalink)
ArtOFWar Posts: n/a	Alright, tomorrow once day comes Ill take some pictures of where Im mounting it and how I plan to run the wires and all that good stuff. Im still working on some monitor systems, have a few idieas, as I go on in the install Ill keep updating. Hell, I may just set up a section of my web site for every one to go and see this project, I dont want to waste NetStumblers bandwidth. Check back in a day or so for the link. What luck... for the first time in like 6 months I cleaned my truck today haha... All I can say is before today my truck looked like a programmers room x10 + hit by a storm or two... So you all get the rare view of it.... Clean haha. Thanks for all the help every one, Im not sure I would be going in the right direction with this.... Ill also work on a rig for the PCI card maybe I can help some other people out in my own works, stop it from coming lose some how.

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