[gotzuk]

Gave up the hunt yesterday to find a decent looking HU to rip apart and decided to go ahead and use the original HU.
So, spent the morning opening up the center console and taking out the stereo.
The faceplate of this unit (Matsushita/Panasonic) just clips onto the main casing and there are no wires to connect it to the main unit, only two built in sockets.



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Removed the 6CD changer, tape player etc. from the HU chassis and was left with this.

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The following pics show the barebone chassis with the faceplate clipped on, then with the MSI mainboard in place and then with the slot loading DVD drive mock positioned behind the CD loading slot of the HU faceplate.

So for now the hardware placement is;
Mainboard, HDD, Arduino, DVD drive behind the HU and the M4ATX PSU and GPS behind the touch screen in the dash top pod.

[Guna]

So, would you loose the 6 CD changer and the DVD drive occupies that slot?

[gotzuk]

Originally Posted by Guna

So, would you loose the 6 CD changer and the DVD drive occupies that slot?

Yes, The 6CD changer is removed and the DVD drive takes it place. This setup is the best compromise setting I could think of. What do you say? Apart from dismantling the HU, no modification has been done to any HU component till now.

The only part to get hacked would be the PCB for the front panel, but I am trying to make a replica pcb with only the circuits/connections required for controlling the PC. I have already found the layout for the original PCB, need to use it as a template to create the customized PCB. This would also allow me to use a HD44780 protocol LCD which will be designed into the PCB, onto which various info can be displayed from the PC. If this can be accomplished then the original PCB will not be tampered with. All in all, if all goes well this should be a totally reversible mod.
Cheers

[frankmehta]

So is the Arduino working?? Or are you thinking of something else now??

[gotzuk]

Originally Posted by frankmehta

So is the Arduino working?? Or are you thinking of something else now??

Arduino is working as it should. The PC now detects the Arduino as a USB HID Keyboard. I have a basic code running which can send a combination of virtual keyboard buttons(upto 6) for every mechanical button press to the PC. Tested it with CF and it works perfect. I have no formal education in software so I am waiting for a friend to tie up the loose ends and button up the code for me.

In the mean time, a visit to Driven in East of Kailash, (looking for an amplifier, since the HU is no more) and a subsequent meeting with Gunbir, has added more complexity to the mix

Cheers

[gigy]

Since its s SUV i hope there is adequate space behind the headunit to take care of the connectors and the cable bends. Looks good

[gotzuk]

Originally Posted by gigy

Since its s SUV i hope there is adequate space behind the headunit to take care of the connectors and the cable bends. Looks good

Thanks gigy.

Not really! The space behind the headunit after it is installed is really tight as the cooling coil enclosure is right behind. The motherboard extends about an inch behind the headunit chassis so standard cable connectors are a very very tight fit.

I am trying (unsuccessfully) to source right angle USB connectors and 3.5 mm audio jacks to fit it all in comfortably.

[gotzuk]

Update:
The PC is up and running and so far it has been rock solid in terms of reliabilty.
I am currently using RideRunner mostly for media playback through Foobar (much better sound quality than the native CF media engine) and Centrafuse for SatNav/ Internet Radio/ Google Maps etc.
Audio is processed via Audiomulch for crossover/time alignment and output to a Asus Xonar D2X sound card for analogue out.

For internet I am using a Airtel 3G USB datacard connected to a Asus WL330N3G portable router/ which is powered through a USB charger and is connected to the PC via ethernet cable.
The router can also connect to multiple wifi devices and in effect turns the car into a mobile hotspot.

For FM radio I have picked up a Directed HD Radio and have installed it behind the glove box but I am yet to connect it to the PC.

The stereo faceplate is currently non functional as I have not been able to take out time to wrap it up. More on that front soon though (hopefully)!

[Guna]

Originally Posted by gotzuk

Update:
The PC is up and running and so far it has been rock solid in terms of reliabilty.

Can you please post the pictures?

[gotzuk]

Hi Guna, here you go! I have also started a thread on the audio upgrade
The PC unit, finally had to hack the HU chassis to let the motherboard and sound card ports to exit from the sides as there was no way to exit them both from the rear due to space constraints.




The handsfree mic and GPS antennae.



The cup holder had to be removed so that cables could be attached, now the cup holder's front plastic panel (the one that is pushed to release the holder) is under the scalpel to accommodate USB and AUX ports.