AKBray907

So my latest project is a tablet mounted into the dash, went with a Samsung galaxy tab 2. Reason for that is the home buttons an such are inside the touch screen so I can fully hide everything but the screen and don't need to adjust for a button. and because android is better for this type of stuff for the endless expand ability, ill probably be doing custom firmware and such on it.

Anyways the plan is to mount it behind the radio bezel, and then disassemble a dock station, using the ribbons from it it not only allows a charge port but also adds another headphone jack. so from this ill run a charging cable to a y usb splitter, one end will go to a switched 12v to 5v 1.5a usb charger, the other side will run to a flush mounted usb that will just sit there. so when I turn on my truck itll keep it charged, but when I have the truck off and no power going through the one side then i can just use my laptop and a male to male usb to sync stuff from my laptop to it simply by plugging into the flush mount usb ill install.

also by using the dock and getting another headphone jack ill be using the new jack for sound and the original up top for an "antenna" there is a back door into the system an you can use the headphone jacks for an fm receiver with the correct software an such which ill be doing. And if not I'll be using an sdr dongle

so now onto the sound side. from the headphone jack from the dock the cable will split into two sets of rca's, one set will go to a 400w (max) 4 channel amp for the door speakers. Itll put about 35w rms @4 ohms for the speakers and I can adjust all the gains an stuff to get it set right, the other set will go to my 2 channel bridged amp and sub combo.

Now i'm not sure how great the double sets of rca's an stuff will work and shielding an what not so alot is going to be trial and error. The stuff will be here all at different days through this week so ill probably start this weekend. ill keep this updated.

also ill be using some software that when the tablet gets power from the power cable it turns on but when it turns off it goes to sleep. So with my switched power from the ignition it'll turn on an off with the truck just like a stock radio.

this will also allow me to setup "torque" which is an obdii monitoring deal and realtime gauges an stuff. And ill fully customize what my display looks like an what i want, also ill be using software that allows a constant volume control bar on the screen so since the original volume buttons on the side will be covered I can control everything that is going on. And eventually once everything is setup right ill be able to just pull up to my house and it'll hook into wifi and auto download all my stuff.

so anyways stay tuned, things will change and whatnot until i get it how i want but that's the fun part.

also here is a quick wiring diagram i did


And a rendering I did

danger

I love seeing stuff like this, especially since it's an Android tablet instead of an iPad. Your customizable options are almost limitless. Looks like it'll be a fun project but very sweet when done. I'm definitely subscribing to this one.

I'd almost rather have this than the OE touchscreen nav system from Ford.

AKBray907

so I'll be using an sdr system for the fm radio in the truck, only issue is it uses the usb input for the tablet and so I wouldnt be able to charge it, so going to splice into it so that the 5v 1.5a switched power will charge the tablet and power the sdr receiver at the same time



** I wrote the wrong thing in the drawings an just now realized it, the cable going into the the tab is an otg cable for the sdr dongle with the power spliced in**

AKBray907

My exact reasons, the expansive possibilities of an android vs ipad is insane. now just the waiting game for parts

smcox1

Can't wait to see this installed.

cody6766

You also need a PS3 controller and some emulators. There's nothing like a little N64 or PS1 when you're sitting around waiting in the truck. Root, install Sixaxis, download the emulators and roms, pair the dual shock controller and you're off. I use it on my phone all the time. Android as great. Your install looks really well done. I'd like to add one to my '11, but the stock deck is too integrated into everything to give up the touch screen. If I was still driving my '01 it would be at the top of my project list.

RiverRandy

Question from and "old school" audiophile'. Will you use the Galaxy as a phone as well? and wouldn't it be easier to put a bluetooth receiver on the amps, and stream the connection? When ever I used to splice into harasses, I lost music quality.

I love this idea and thread, I would like to do this in my '97. Keep us posted

slcoffroad

X2 ^^

This is a great idea have planned on doing it to my 07 here in the next couple months.
How are you going to physically instal the tablet?

AKBray907

I plan to probably use the tablet for Bluetooth call receiving an transmitting and SMS down the road but so far I can only find software for android to android ( I have an iPhone so need to wait for my upgrade). As far as the cables go, I'll basically be building all them using high quality stuff double twisted shielded and grounded external shielding if need be to keep interference down. The reason I didn't want to go with the Bluetooth audio is because of several reasons,
Hardwiring it is simpler and less to go wrong
Also by hardwiring it it's one less device connected to te tablet via Bluetooth or otg, helping save some the CPU a bit allowing me to run other things instead. You can only run so much on one of these tablets before tey start basically putting apps to sleep in the background to allow for the processing speed for current apps depending on size. So this will help minimize that an allow me to run more stuff.
I'll make a fiberglass mold to the back of the tablet that will then be mounted into the dash, the tablet will fit snugly into it and then be held in place using some sort of slight pressure tabs on the corners ( not totally sure yet waiting on space limitations before I have a full design on securing it)

AKBray907

Got a few bits an pieces in the mail tonight, amp for speakers, misc cables and the dock which I've already disassembled for the parts I need