V35 Factory Screen, Carputer Video Board

[vee35]

Hi,

I have been searching high and low, with no success (including on mp3 car). I was wondering if there is anyone who has installed a Computer in their v35 (or M35 I guess) using the standard navigation screen as the computer screen? and what video card you used?

Everyone I have seen, has replaced or added an extra screen. I wish to use the standard screen. I can find video cards that output in NTSC, but was hoping that someone else has explicitly gone down this path, and the experience they have had?

[Chris Rogers]

RGB with 60hz sync refresh. unsure of the data stream needed to fire it up though. started working on it a while back and lost interest.

[vee35]

RGB with 60hz sync refresh. unsure of the data stream needed to fire it up though.

I am using the Composite In, into the TV unit, using the cable I got from you. There are a number of video boards that do NTSC (60hz), but I also read of people complaining of various "issues" when going into a TV, directly from a computer.

I have seen on YouTube people using the TV out from windows mobile phones using composite, and it looks good (eg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjnABOFkJZw&feature=related). My home computer also has a video out (S-Video, and composite adaptor). I have plugged it into my Plasma, and apart from the fact it was set to hi-Res but TV is lowres, it looks good, But I don't know how or if I can switch it to NTSC, or if it is actually even outputting PAL; I think my plasma switches automatically, it appears to when I switch my set top box between PAL and NTSC.

I was hoping someone else has done exactly what I plan to do, and therefore could recommend a video card that is known to work, well.

[vee35]

I basically came to record the answer in case anyone else is interested.

Because I am using the NTSC video in, the actual resolution is controlled by the NTSC standard. Looking on Wikipedia

Each frame consists of a total of 525 scanlines, of which 486 make up the visible raster

That's the vertical resolution, and there are all sorts of opinions on the actual horizontal resolution (its analogue), so I will be running my display card at 640x480. Which also aligns exactly to my phones resolution also; which I will be viewing on the screen for navigation (TomTom), and I will also be interested to see a little phone app I have that plots and records the G-Forces.

ooo... almost forgot, I am using a "HIS Radeon 9250" which I bought from a shop for $65 (sells on eBay for less), It allows you to chose NTSC or PAL, set the refresh rate (60hz) and resolution, move and size the picture around the screen to make it fit. I have tested it on my home TV which allows me to specify to only accept an incoming signal of NTSC, and it looks good. Haven't had the chance to try it on the actual car's screen yet.

Edited April 18, 2011 by vee35

[Commsman]

Thanks for the update John. I'm keen to follow your progress so please keep posting . I hope it all comes together & works well for you.

[vee35]

I have it all up and running at home to my plasma screen, using a cheap power supply. Its now really only connecting it all up. I have no idea how I would feed the wire from the battery all the way to the boot, and from the boot to under the dash or to the center console (USB). I have also purchased a reverse camera (CCD) which will need the wires fed up from where my rear plate is up into the boot.

This long weekend, I will just "test wire" it all up (ie cables running outside of car), and get the final install done by a professional, possibly at the same time I get cruise control fitted. I think most places would either be not interested or overcharge heavily simply to route wires through the car (ie no expensive hardware). Its going to be hard to pull it out if it works, and my Blazt OBDII cable also come in time,

[Commsman]

You'd be surpised at just how easy it is to lift up the trim along the door sills and lay wires there. Even removing the centre console or glove box area is just a few minutes with a philips head screwdriver. Plenty of DIY guides floating around (G35driver.com) or PM me if you want some pointers.

I bet you're not located on the Gold Coast or in Brisbane. If you were I'd catch up & give you a hand. Oh, and hold off on the cruise control for now if you can. I'll be taking EOI on some in the very near future.

[vee35]

You'd be surpised at just how easy it is to lift up the trim along the door sills and lay wires there.

Its not so much the trim inside the car, more so getting the wires from the engine bay, into the passenger area; and the cable from my reverse camera into the boot. I will look at it a little more closely this weekend, because, as I said, if it all works, its going to be damn hard to disconnect it...

Thanks for the offer, I do live in Sydney, and I will look on G35Driver for specifics (and hopefully photos/instructions) on routing wiring