Custom Console with built in computer

[davkenrem]

http://davkenrem.net/console/index.html

Here are some photos of a custom console I built for my Tahoe. I stole, err borrowed almost all the ideas from installs seen on this board. Please let me know what you think, and be gentle its my first.

http://davkenrem.net/truck/index.html

Davkenrem

[Bail]

Nice!!

You just gave me an Idea.
I was going to make mine out of metal. But I guess wood can work too.

Is that a roll-on bedliner to make the textured surface?

[davkenrem]

Yes, the bedliner paint worked out better than I hoped, If I were to do it again, I'd make the console an inch narrower on each side. The paint in a little rough, but it does not rub off on your clothes.

[Bail]

I got a ton of questions (don't mind me asking)

Where is the Computer located?

I've built a computer with an mini-itx board and I have a 7" Audiobahn TFT screen. I have it under my rear seat using a 12v PSU

Is the bezel around the screen made of wood also?

And could you guesstimate how much this ran you?

[firegood]

what are you running on the computer?? thats a nice setup. where are the mics?

[davkenrem]

I got a ton of questions (don't mind me asking)

Where is the Computer located?

I've built a computer with an mini-itx board and I have a 7" Audiobahn TFT screen. I have it under my rear seat using a 12v PSU

Is the bezel around the screen made of wood also?

And could you guesstimate how much this ran you?

The Computer is mounted under the rear seat, It is a Mini-Itx board in a special case for autos made by Opus Solutions, it wasn't cheap, the case and power supply come as a package for $300.00, I saw what alot of other people did with plastic cases and wood cases and I didnt want to go that way. I have since found a source for simliar cases at a lower cost. I'll post links and pic when I turn on my laptop.

The bezel is made from abs plastic. I had it machined by an instructor at the school I attend.

Cost, not as much as you think, the computer total, less than a grand, and the console, I had the faceplates from a troy console and the radios already the wood was about $25.00 and the paint was $35.00. Maybe $1500 in the whole thing without the radios and faceplates. The computer is connected to GPS and wifi and the antenna which looks like a Onstar antenna is from Hirshmann for about $75.00 it covers, GPS, Cell and WiFi.

[davkenrem]

what are you running on the computer?? thats a nice setup. where are the mics?

I'm running WinXP Pro with a frontend called Road Runner, it is a touch screen GUI that manages the music and other apps. I'm still working the bugs out and it is far from stable, like an embedded app in a production vehicle, I'll post links later.

No mikes, the radios are only scanners, I have them, but they are programmed not to transmit.

[kb0nly]

A couple Q's. The last picture, is the display flipped around or? It looks like it swivels around to hide it, or am i wrong?

The back end of the console there is what appears to be a gray touchpad, i was wondering if that was salvaged from a laptop or?

The only thing i will say, and don't take this wrong because i love the design, is i would have gone with a different finish. I don't know, it just looks kinda rough, not really "neat".

What i would have suggested is some subwoofer carpet in the same color as the interior, i think that the ones on here that have done wood and carpet consoles look super slick finished. They just have that "meant to be there" factory look when they match like that.

Otherwise, nice install! It makes me think that i should have built my own console, and i just might some day if i change vehicles. I'm more of a carpenter than a metal fabricator.

[firegood]

yes please send me a link to that software, all i was able to turn up after a couple of google strings was road runner cable. The console looks better thane the few wooden ones i have seen, but i have to agree with scott - the bedliner makes it look weird.

[davkenrem]

Computer Pics
http://davkenrem.net/console/computer/index.html

[davkenrem]

yes please send me a link to that software, all i was able to turn up after a couple of google strings was road runner cable.

Everything you wanted to know about car computers and then some

http://mp3car.com


All the different frontend software packages

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=60

[firegood]

that really is a small pc. the box to the left, looks like it has breakers in it..you make that yourself? im guessing that the pc uses a dc imput?

[davkenrem]

A couple Q's. The last picture, is the display flipped around or? It looks like it swivels around to hide it, or am i wrong?

The back end of the console there is what appears to be a gray touchpad, i was wondering if that was salvaged from a laptop or?

The only thing i will say, and don't take this wrong because i love the design, is i would have gone with a different finish. I don't know, it just looks kinda rough, not really "neat".

What i would have suggested is some subwoofer carpet in the same color as the interior, i think that the ones on here that have done wood and carpet consoles look super slick finished. They just have that "meant to be there" factory look when they match like that.

Otherwise, nice install! It makes me think that i should have built my own console, and i just might some day if i change vehicles. I'm more of a carpenter than a metal fabricator.

The last pic is a shot of the screen with a cover of ABS over it. it is just a cut out of ABS that covers the screen when not in use.

The touchpad is an ALPS Touchpoint, these were sold as stand alone units. It has a ps/2 connector and is embedded in the console about half its thickness.

I really considered the fabric approach but decieded againsit at this time because of time and cost. The neat thing is I can build another console for less that $50.00 and do it nice if I want. Also this is not a luxury vehicle by any extent It's an old police car, one in pretty good shape but still 7 years old. If I had something newer I surely would have gone that route. Instead of making it look more factory, I was going for utilitarian.

[davkenrem]

http://www.opussolutions.com/index.php


http://protocase.com/products/mini-itx/ ... sp?id=mini[/url]

[Pj]

What Pioneer is that? Can it do XM or Siruis?

[davkenrem]

What Pioneer is that? Can it do XM or Siruis?

DEH-P47DH Satellite ready with aux input and CD changer input

[kb3jkp]

I use road runner + street atlas '06 on my Data911 MDT.....




(I made the background for an officer I know.... it was made using the MCPD's banner on their homepage)

[kc0cap]

I know some others have made thier own consoles. Is there any blue prints or diagrams that can be posted for others?

Just wondering.

[davkenrem]

I just made a cardboard template of how I wanted the side panels to look and then cleaned them up with a yard stick. Cut it out and transfered it to the wood.

It was pretty easy. I do realize that some people don't have mechanical and spatial abilities. I could see the layout and construction in my head long before I started this.


I completely admit I stole most of the design from this:

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... ht=console

[davkenrem]

that really is a small pc. the box to the left, looks like it has breakers in it..you make that yourself? im guessing that the pc uses a dc imput?

The PC use a 90W DC-DC power supply- (see opus link above for details)
The box next to the pc is this.

http://lund-industries.com/PDF/Ct-60%20 ... ctions.pdf

[firegood]

i am absoultly putting one of these in......

[davkenrem]

i am absoultly putting one of these in......

The console or the computer?

[KK5FM]

What model of LCD is that? Does it show text reasonably well? Does it have a VGA input? And what is the native resolution? I really like that console. One of the disadvantages of most consoles is that there is no replacement for the armrests at the right height... you solved that very well!

[davkenrem]

What model of LCD is that? Does it show text reasonably well? Does it have a VGA input? And what is the native resolution? I really like that console. One of the disadvantages of most consoles is that there is no replacement for the armrests at the right height... you solved that very well!

http://digitalww.com/TM700TS.htm

The armrest was something that was a big deal for me and I really love the height of this one it matches the height or the built-in armrest on the seats.

[firegood]

the computer. i had thought of this for a while, however i dident know there was that much work going into the programming. Some of the interfaces on that link you gave me are awsome.