[guruerror]

Okay...where to start? How about I just blurt out some details in a sorta chronological order and see what other questions arise? It's been a few years since I've done the install so, if I make leaps and/or seem to leave out details, just ask and I'll fill in the gaps.

I'm still looking for some of my install photos...as I locate them I'll add them to this post.

My truck is an '05 Lux that came stock with the factory Delphi TNR800 navigation unit and the standard Bose speaker system. I quickly grew tired of the limitations to the stock unit and moved to a Pioneer AVIC-Z3. The AVIC was nice, but I have a real distaste for the non-OEM look of aftermarket headunits. So, wanting my cake and wanting to eat it too, I began researching other options. After much research I eventually landed at mp3car.com and centrafuse.com and decided to make the carpc thing happen.

What exactly is a carpc? A carpc is very simply a computer that you install in your vehicle that runs a front-end application (pretty, touchscreen-friendly interface) that you can use to perform various functions (navigation, media selection, etc.). Centrafuse (or CF for short) is one such front-end application and is designed to run on a Windows-based machine. There are other front-ends, but CF is by far the most refined that I’ve found.

Here are the pros and cons (so the faint-hearted can turn back before reading this whole post):

PROS:

• COMPLETELY CUSTOMIZABLE: the unit can be built to meet your exact needs. (NAV, multizone media playing, OBD-II diagnostics, web browsing, weather, rear camera, sat/HD radio, Bluetooth, video games, etc. etc. etc... http://centrafuse.com/CentrafuseAuto.aspx?pid=93 )
• OEM LOOK: you can get a really finished OEM look. As seen above, an 8" 16:9 touchscreen fits perfectly into our dash opening, and the Centrafuse (CF) software is extremely customizable. Every screen, dialog, button, etc. can be edited in Photoshop (or the like) to get the exact look you desire.
• STRONG FORUM COMMUNITY: CF and mp3car.com have very solid forum communities for carpc enthusiasts. There is lots of good information, helpful people, skinners, and plug-in (app) developers.

CONS:

• TIME CONSUMING: the initial setup can be very time consuming...and frustrating
• DOLLAR CONSUMING: you could easily end up with 2-3 times the price of a top-of-the-line nav unit wrapped up in this
• TECH SUPPORT: you become your own support for troubleshooting and repair...you should have a strong working knowledge of IT hardware before going down this route. The forums are good, but if you just don’t ‘get’ IT and get in over your head you can't just take your car into the radio shop and say, 'fix this.'

While I’ve used CF for the past few years, I can honestly say that I personally don't use it to its fullest extent. A lot of the users on the CF forum push the application much further, with things like voice recognition, Bluetooth phone support, internet media streaming, Nintendo emulators, and the like…I’ve even seen dudes link it to control window motors, climate control and a variety of other things. I mainly use the 'core' functions of CF. Also, my setup is a bit unique in that my focus wasn't on 'rear entertainment'...both of my screens are in the front. My emphasis was on having more information and control in the front of the vehicle. Most of the core applications of CF can function on any screen, so if I am unable to enter a route in the NAV on my screen, the passenger can press NAV and the map moves to his/her screen so they can manipulate it there. The same goes for the Web browser, weather, music browsing, video playback, and other core functions. Most other multiscreen users on the CF forum are mainly interested in playing moves in the back seats to keep the kids occupied...it works equally well for either; it's a very versatile front-end. Here's a link to an 8 minute "Centrafuse - General Overview" video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sCx4mURdxg

That said...here's my current hardware list:

• Apple Mac Mini MC239LL/A (Intel Core2 Duo 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM, OCX Vertex3 MAX IOPS 32GB SSD, Windows 7): selected for it's compact size, and is mounted in the dash, in the airbag location, behind my second screen.
• CarNetix CNX-P2140 185w DC-DC power regulator (with the MacPac power cable option): this replaces the Mini's power brick and connects to the vehicle's power, ignition, etc., just like a standard head-unit would. Mounted in the dash behind the main screen. http://carnetix.com/P2140/CNXP2140.htm
• (2) Revosys 8" open-frame, high-brightness touch screens
• (2) Moxa Uport 404 industrial grade USB hubs: mounted in the dash where the OnStar unit used to be. http://www.moxa.com/product/UPort_404_407.htm
• RCJoyCon EX: a small USB device that interfaces your steering wheel controls into the system. http://www.rcjoycon.com/default/menu...board_page =&
• KMTronic Single Channel USB Relay Controller: used to activate the 'remote' on for the amp after the carpc starts to avoid popping. http://www.sigma-shop.com/product/67...annel-pcb.html
• ScanTool OBDLink Scan Tool: a small USB device that interfaces with your OBD-II connector under the dash to gather and report diagnostic information. http://www.scantool.net/obdlink.html
• StarTech USB Composite video capture cable: can be used to input a backup camera, but I use mine to display footage from my GoPro HD which is front mounted. http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-S.../dp/B000O5RIWO
• Visteon HDZ300 HD radio tuner: for AM/FM/HD terrestrial radio
• Garmin 20x GPS receiver: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=32632
• Verizon Pantech 4G LTE modem: for internet access (email, web, weather, etc.)

To mount the Mini I bought a blown passenger-side airbag and gutted it of all its components. I modded this slightly with a Dremel to accommodate the 'under the desk' mount for the Mini. The Mini slides right in to the dash…it’s tight, but it works. The airbag mount then bolts directly to the dashboard so the unit stays secure. NOTE: once the airbag is removed the DIC will start to nagging about airbag service. To avoid this, I measured the resistance across my functional airbag module and bought corresponding resistors from Radio Shack. I installed the resistors in the connector were the airbag module had previously connected. This tricks the truck into believing that the airbag module is still installed...and eliminates the error. http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/s...ghlight=airbag

To mount the passenger-side screen, I first took a mold of my recently removed airbag unit using fiberglass resin. I then took a mold of the existing headunit bezel. I trimmed these up with a Dremel to fit the bezel mold into the center of the airbag mold, then made a mold of that. That's how I got the passenger-side screen bezel. I then molded that to the larger, surrounding piece so the whole thing is one unit. Very solid…very durable. The open frame of the passenger display bolts to the backside of my new bezel to secure the touchscreen in place.

I ran the power straight off the battery, through the firewall and into the CarNetix regulator. I grounded to a bolt on/near the shifter. After the initial install I added a keyed power switch to the dash so I can cut power when necessary...this is mainly for when I take it in for service; I generally switch it off before dropping it off.

To interface the audio-out from the Mini to the truck I elected to NOT go with a Metra/Peripheral/PAC style adapter. These units have the advantage of retaining the door chimes, OnStar, and Retained Access Power (RAP), but they are all JUNK IMO. I've tried at least one from each manufacturer and all have either completely failed, produced a whining with the engine RPMs, or a loud popping when headunit/carpc came on. Instead I used a standard wire harness adapter for a 2005 GM that I got off the shelf at Best Buy. I recall having to adjust the pinout slightly (and could track down that information again if need be) but it works flawlessly. I lost my door chimes and RAP...but found that I didn't miss either. Another gain I noticed is that the output volume is actually LOUDER when doing the direct wiring then when using the Metra/Peripheral style interfaces.

The RCJoyCon device taps into wire under the dash that transmits the impulses from the steering wheel controls. Once attached I then configured the driver for the device with the RCJoyCon software so the various impulses get mapped to corresponding HotKey functions in CF (Vol Up, Vol Down, etc.).

The Garmin GPS receiver I wired up the driver's side pillar to the roof where the factory OnStar/XM antenna sits. I removed the factory antenna and installed a puck-style mount (like you see on the trunks of police cars...looks like big hockey puck). The puck sits directly over the hole in the roof and the Garmin is mounted inside the puck. I get a MUCH better GPS signal with the receiver on the roof as opposed to the factory location in the dash.

Okay…that should get the ball rolling.