Small, low power for carputer

[Nick Rout]

I am after a small low power computer to incorporate into my car (BMW
E39) (and run linux of course).

Requirements are:

* low power.
* small (needs to fit in a small space in the boot.
* vga out (BMW video input is RGB with sync on green (RGsB), which
seemingly can be easily generated from VGA from my research on the
net.
* USB host (to utilise a converter one can buy to interface BMW iBus
to the computer)
* inbuilt or easily incorporated wifi, eg linux compatible mini-pci
wifi card available (so I can sync all my music when it comes home)

Desirable if possible:

* 3G internet
* GPS easily available

Thoughts are, perhaps,

* running android_x86 if it can be run entirely from keyboard input
(iBus interface converts the buttons on the dash into keypresses).
* unknown is whether android_x86 has drivers for popular 3rd party GPS modules?
* I could retire my mythtv frontend, an acer aspire revo, which has an
external power brick, but the power brick tells me it outputs 19v,
which won't be available in the car.

Also there are a lot of nice ARM machines around like the Beagleboard,
but none seem to have a video out that might be convertible to RGsB -
they all seem to have HDMI/DVI.

I am kinda chasing my tail looking at various options, and would
appreciate any pointers!

_______________________________________________
NZLUG mailing list ***@linux.net.nz
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug

[Wayne Rooney]

Post by Nick Rout
I am after a small low power computer to incorporate into my car (BMW
E39) (and run linux of course).

HP Compaq t5000 with a USB wireless adapter and a USB GPS adapter?

Wayne

_______________________________________________
NZLUG mailing list ***@linux.net.nz
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug

[Michael Ranby]

Post by Nick Rout
I am after a small low power computer to incorporate into my car (BMW
E39) (and run linux of course).
* low power.
* small (needs to fit in a small space in the boot.
* vga out (BMW video input is RGB with sync on green (RGsB), which
seemingly can be easily generated from VGA from my research on the
net.
* USB host (to utilise a converter one can buy to interface BMW iBus
to the computer)
* inbuilt or easily incorporated wifi, eg linux compatible mini-pci
wifi card available (so I can sync all my music when it comes home)
* 3G internet
* GPS easily available
Thoughts are, perhaps,
* running android_x86 if it can be run entirely from keyboard input
(iBus interface converts the buttons on the dash into keypresses).
* unknown is whether android_x86 has drivers for popular 3rd party GPS modules?
* I could retire my mythtv frontend, an acer aspire revo, which has an
external power brick, but the power brick tells me it outputs 19v,
which won't be available in the car.
Also there are a lot of nice ARM machines around like the Beagleboard,
but none seem to have a video out that might be convertible to RGsB -
they all seem to have HDMI/DVI.

I have a DVI to VGA adaptor. Came with my video card. Dont know if it
has electrics inside or if its just a path through but it suggests a
solution to your video problem.

Post by Nick Rout
I am kinda chasing my tail looking at various options, and would
appreciate any pointers!
_______________________________________________
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug

_______________________________________________
NZLUG mailing list ***@linux.net.nz
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug

[Volker Kuhlmann]

Post by Michael Ranby
I have a DVI to VGA adaptor. Came with my video card. Dont know if it
has electrics inside or if its just a path through but it suggests a
solution to your video problem.

Forget it. Those jobs have nothing inside, they're just 2 different
physical connectors with a few pieces of copper in between (that's why
you get them for free with your card). They just "make the plug fit",
but they don't convert formats. VGA is always analog, when the DVI first
came out they needed to be "compatible", so they had analog DVI, which
(drum roll) is just VGA on some pins of the DVI connector. The digital
DVI uses different pins. No points for guessing what your adapter does.

DPMI is YAGDC (yet another gaawwdamn connector).

Those ARM chips with digital video out only do digital because then they
don't have to bother with the analog parts of the circuit which,
realistically, isn't selling like hotcakes any more. (Graphics cards no
longer have an analog out signal on their DVI connector, which sort of
makes your KVM switch useless if the other box is still a VGA.)

Sorry Nick but I can't think of anything spot on. I would look further
at the ARM boards, I'd be surprised if there isn't still one with VGA
though it'll probably be an older model. Keep an eye on the Android
situation too.

Volker

[Hadley Rich]

Keep an eye on the Android situation too.

Yes normally I would just recommend going with an android tablet mounted
somehow as an all in one device. But as you're looking to integrate into
an existing system in this case then that's probably not what you want.

There are a couple of ALIX boards with VGA output but these will
probably be underpowered for what you want to do with media. Quite a few
people use fanless Intel Atom boards for that sort of thing but these
are a completely different power class. It's possible to use a netbook
to achieve that too.

You can get an active digital to analog converter to use with an ARM
board that only has HDMI output.

hads

[Mark Foster]

Post by Nick Rout
I am after a small low power computer to incorporate into my car (BMW
E39) (and run linux of course).

*snip*

Post by Nick Rout
external power brick, but the power brick tells me it outputs 19v,
which won't be available in the car.

You should expect to use a voltage adaptor which can take your
(unregulated) 12V Automotive power supply and turn it into a (regulated)
supply of higher voltage. These are readily available
aftermarket-branded with a variety of connectors for most major brands.
Alternatively a low current Inverter that'll get you back to 240V would
work, though less efficient of course. By low current I mean ~150W
which are pretty cheap and readily available.

And from what i've seen your best bet is going to be a netbook
conversion of some sort.

Even an old EeePC 700 series may do what you ask, with whatever
peripherals it doesn't have inbuilt, added via GPS. Mine has 3x USB
ports, VGA out, built in ethernet and wireless, and runs Ubuntu painlessly.

(I've run Eee Series kit in my car on my 150W inverter without drama.
The power brick on my Lenovo suggests input Max 100-240V @ 1.5A (which
for 100V is 150W... so i'm assuming that at 240V for the same wattage
the Amperage will be far less, and thus, my Lenovo is also fine.)

Mark.

_______________________________________________
NZLUG mailing list ***@linux.net.nz
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug

[Steve Holdoway]

Post by Mark Foster

Post by Nick Rout
I am after a small low power computer to incorporate into my car (BMW
E39) (and run linux of course).

*snip*

Post by Nick Rout
external power brick, but the power brick tells me it outputs 19v,
which won't be available in the car.

You should expect to use a voltage adaptor which can take your
(unregulated) 12V Automotive power supply and turn it into a (regulated)
supply of higher voltage. These are readily available
aftermarket-branded with a variety of connectors for most major brands.
Alternatively a low current Inverter that'll get you back to 240V would
work, though less efficient of course. By low current I mean ~150W
which are pretty cheap and readily available.
And from what i've seen your best bet is going to be a netbook
conversion of some sort.
Even an old EeePC 700 series may do what you ask, with whatever
peripherals it doesn't have inbuilt, added via GPS. Mine has 3x USB
ports, VGA out, built in ethernet and wireless, and runs Ubuntu painlessly.
(I've run Eee Series kit in my car on my 150W inverter without drama.
for 100V is 150W... so i'm assuming that at 240V for the same wattage
the Amperage will be far less, and thus, my Lenovo is also fine.)
Mark.

I'd have a browse on
http://www.mini-box.com/Car-PC-Automotive-Computing-Solutions or similar
for ideas. VGA outputs, safe ( beware on engine start! ) power supplies,
the works. They do seem to be out of stock though.

No idea if there are closer equivalents, or if they deliver here...

Also, there are a few linux compatible usb gps units with external
aerials around. They might look a bit silly on the outside of a bmw
though, although most seem to work inside ok. Cable makes it easier to
mount than snapping a plugin one off. I suppose an USB hub would also
make life easier.

http://www.gps2003.com/gps-receiver.html is an example, although not the
one I was thinking of.

Cheers,

Steve

[Jaco]

There are a number of ALIX-type x86 boards that should fit the bill
(http://pcengines.ch/alix.htm), available locally from Hads @ NiceGear
(http://nicegear.co.nz/single-board-computers/).
Or even the FitPC (http://www.fit-pc.com/) or one of the Plug Computer
incarnations (plugcomputer.org, globalscaletechnologies.com)

Alternatively you could build something using the Arduino/Android stack?

- J

Post by Nick Rout
I am after a small low power computer to incorporate into my car (BMW
E39) (and run linux of course).
* low power.
* small (needs to fit in a small space in the boot.
* vga out (BMW video input is RGB with sync on green (RGsB), which
seemingly can be easily generated from VGA from my research on the
net.
* USB host (to utilise a converter one can buy to interface BMW iBus
to the computer)
* inbuilt or easily incorporated wifi, eg linux compatible mini-pci
wifi card available (so I can sync all my music when it comes home)
* 3G internet
* GPS easily available
Thoughts are, perhaps,
* running android_x86 if it can be run entirely from keyboard input
(iBus interface converts the buttons on the dash into keypresses).
* unknown is whether android_x86 has drivers for popular 3rd party GPS modules?
* I could retire my mythtv frontend, an acer aspire revo, which has an
external power brick, but the power brick tells me it outputs 19v,
which won't be available in the car.
Also there are a lot of nice ARM machines around like the Beagleboard,
but none seem to have a video out that might be convertible to RGsB -
they all seem to have HDMI/DVI.
I am kinda chasing my tail looking at various options, and would
appreciate any pointers!
_______________________________________________
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug

_______________________________________________
NZLUG mailing list ***@linux.net.nz
http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nzlug