Installing a PC in the Cab: How I Did It

[MCrossley]

only difference with mine is I do not have the firewire ports... I already have the wireless LAN between truck and trailer with my laptop; its great, I get the MP3's right from my server in the trailer

 

[JHerrlich]

LOL!!! Geeks. As soon as I get my truck back, I'm going to attempt to integrate my P4 laptop with everything I can on my truck. GPS, OBD bus monitoring, MP3 player, wireless internet, and all of that.



You should see what I have in my house...

 

[bighammer]

Wow, and people worry about a cell phone becoming a distraction... .





I guess I just don't get the "why" of installing a computer your truck.

 

[XcumminsX]

Hmm i am very interested in doing this with my truck. . In my 03 i have the center console then under that i have another console... I am thinking about getting a mother board, video card, floppy, cd-rom and making it so it fits it that area... Then i will run the cord for the moniter under the rug and up threw the vent to the moniter which i will make an adapter at work out of steel the put into the cig light socket... . how does that sound?



Nick



BTW. . does the moniter have a normal wire to connect like a big moniter or how does it work???



Thanks

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by XcumminsX

Hmm i am very interested in doing this with my truck. . In my 03 i have the center console then under that i have another console... I am thinking about getting a mother board, video card, floppy, cd-rom and making it so it fits it that area... Then i will run the cord for the moniter under the rug and up threw the vent to the moniter which i will make an adapter at work out of steel the put into the cig light socket... . how does that sound?



Nick



BTW. . does the moniter have a normal wire to connect like a big moniter or how does it work???



Thanks

This is almost exactly what I did. Except I made a bracket from Aluminum, and fit it inside the panel heater vent instead of the lighter.



My new monitor has a standard 15-pin VGA connector (just like a big monitor on your desktop). It also happens to have 2 A/V inputs as well (for DVD players or whatever). It does not have any speakers.

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by XcumminsX

Rbattelle... One question... how did you use to power the computer. I know i cant plug it in anywhere. . right??



Nick

Right. Conveniently, the monitor is 12v, so I just wired it into my auxillary fuseblock via a relay.

 

[Mille4212]

I know everybody is running the OBD-II software but I was just wondering if anyone tried this one from Cummins Power Store? http://www.powerspec.cummins.com/site/home/download.htm

 

[JHerrlich]

I think the problem with the powerspec software is that we don't have a standard Cummins ECM or Connector. I'd love to be able to use it though.

 

[rbattelle]

I was under the impression that the Powerspec software was just a desktop application for fleet customers to more easily spec-out their next engine based on what it will be used for...

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

All is well still? I was thinking ... Could you remote mount a wireless gateway with a 211 range extender antenna good for 2K feet?



This one is a 590 foot. They went up to 2000 feet 6 months ago so it may be more now.



#ad

 

[mgonske]

Flying J's wireless provider, Ton services, makes and external wireless antenna available. It's shown in this link, and they sell it at Flying J:



Wireless Accessories

 

[rbattelle]

I still have the PC in the cab, and it still works great. I continue to move toward the navigation system idea. I've got an amplifier now that I can connect the computer sound card, so I could also play MP3's if I wanted to. I also picked up a power supply kit that will run directly off the vehicle electrical system (currently I power the 120v power supply using an inverter), but it came as a kit that must be assembled.

 

[snowracer69]

thanks for bringing this back up! Probably a month or two away from doing it, but nice to have this info.

 

[txhawg]

Neat setup. Where'd you stuff the keyboard? Does the system reboot when you shut the truck down?

 

[RKerner]

Why not use a gps receiver for your pc/laptop?

A person could use this:

gps receiver for pda/laptop

instead of adding a handheld gps connected to the 'puter.

 

[rbattelle]

Neat setup. Where'd you stuff the keyboard? Does the system reboot when you shut the truck down?

I keep a small keyboard in the back underseat storage area. I rarely need to use it... only when making software updates. The computer is connected to a constant-hot power lead, so shutting the truck down doesn't kill it.

 

[Matt400]

Hey Ryan,

Thats pretty trick! It would really be nice if the H/D OBDII requirements were the same as the L/D stuff so you could get enhanced data also.

I have been thinking about getting one of these along with this software as a back up to what I use at work. When they get the Chrysler enhanced stuff for Cummins it might be fun to just mount it in the truck wireless and then pop it out when I need it at work... interesting.

 

[rbattelle]

Matt, I've looked over the Autoenginuity website and I find their marketing somewhat misleading. With the exception of the wireless capability, their ENTIRE list of stuff that "we offer that others don't" can be had with Alex Pepers software (www.obd-2.com). Now, I'll be the first to tell you Autoenginuity's screens look nicer, but they don't seem to offer functionality any greater than anyone else.



obd-2.com is now offering CAN-compatible scanners and the software is now CAN-capable. Unfortunately, they're sold out at the moment so I can't get my hands on one.



-Ryan

 

[Matt400]

Autoenginuity's screens look nicer, but they don't seem to offer functionality any greater than anyone else.

I think what grabs my attention on AE is the PDA version and that they "translate" mode 6. I don't know if Alex's software translates it or just displays in its normal readout. For me translation is important for work because it reduces time spent on researching the hexadecimal meanings.



I know many in the repair industry use Alex's stuff and like it. It came out before AE did. AE is pretty heavy into bi-directional controls which I need also.

 

[rbattelle]

Certainly, there are advantages to both.



-Ryan