I've been wanting to add a CarPC for quite a while and I have finally decided to take on this project. I have read just about every thread on here about CarPCs and I have decided that adding a tablet in place of the stock LCD screen would be much easier than a full carputer. However, I still have a couple of questions about using a tablet instead of a PC.

1. How can I integrate my phone into the tablet? I would like to be able to see who is calling me and also dial from the tablet. I know you can bluetooth your phone to a regular CarPC but can you bluetooth it to tablet and control your phone from the tablet (such as view contacts, dial pad, etc)?

2. Can I connect multiple bluetooth devices with the tablet? I will most likely bluetooth the tablet to my Grom system for audio and audio controls, have a bluetooth OBD reader connected to the tablet, and hopefully have my phone bluetooth connected to the tablet. Will all this be possible?

3. How do I connect a composite video source such as my rear view camera? I currently have a video switcher on my stock Nav screen and the screen will automatically switch to the camera when I engage reverse (Or I can turn it on manually with a switch). How would I retain this functionality with a tablet?

I know all of the functionality listed above can be easily accomplished with a full PC but I would really like to stick with a tablet.

Calling ShellDude, 1.3_LittersOfFurry, Daisun, or any other CarPC experts!

 

1. Buy a phablet
2. yes (mostly -- phone integration is iffy)
3. a usb video input with driver sources you can cross compile for ARM and some custom coding for detecting reverse via OBD2. This one is very iffy and fraught with problems on account of OTG fragmentation

 

Thanks for the quick response.

I'm a little confused on 1. I currently have the OG Motorola Droid and am planning on getting the Galaxy S4 when it comes out. I'm pretty sure the S4 qualifies as a phablet but I'm still not sure how the phone integration will work.

I do not want to pay Verizon anything extra for the tablet in the car. I am planning on rooting the devices so will there be a way to tether the devices so I can link the phone functions?

 

I would suggest reading through this thread and PMing the OP any questions you have. I plan on doing exactly what he did but with my Nexus 7 tablet as it also fits perfectly in the Nav Hood.

https://www.rx8club.com/interior-aud...pleted-239266/

 

Clarification on #1

Tablet As Bluetooth Headset

Basically the answer is that it is not going to happen. There is currently no incoming AD2P profile available for Android. It can be an AD2P server, but not a client basically.

I use my Nexus 7 with a custom ROM (one of my own creation) to do SIP dialing. Lenovo has the A2107-AH (must buy the China version) which is a full featured phone, but only runs ICS. There are other tablets, like the GalaxyTab that you can hack to be full featured phones too, and of course there is the Note.

The S4 isn't a phablet.... I draw the line (personal definition) at 7" for phablet... those 5" things are just abominations

 

Forgot to mention... I also have a custom NFC tag that I swipe getting into the car that activates call forwarding on my gnex to my N73G SIP # and the wife knows to text the car directly when I'm on the road.

 

So I found a product by Sony, both the LiveView and Smartwatch, that can bluetooth to your phone and essentially display and control a lot of stuff. For example, the smart watch will show your incoming calls, along with their picture tag, and present an option of answer or reject. It will also show your text messages among other things.

If this <$100 bluetooth watch can display call info, there has to be a similar solution to do this on the tablet. I will continue researching and see if there is a way to get the tablet to do the same things as the smart watch. Or maybe find a way to integrate the smartwatch into my CarPC setup.

 

Check the link I provided... The tablet can answer the call (with software) but there will be no BT stack for call audio.

The watch likely does the same.

 

I think I figured out a workaround. I completely forgot that Grom can connect to Android devices with a micro USB cable and this will allow audio controls via the steering wheel controls and headunit (With their app). I think I can connect the tablet via the micro USB and leave my phone connected via bluetooth. Then when a call comes in, I should be able to see it and answer on the tablet, and the Grom should realize there is an incoming call and automatically switch the audio source to bluetooth. It's not 100% what I wanted, but it should work.

Still have no idea what to do about my backup camera or any other composite video source. I may just have to install a small secondary screen.

 

I would check with Grom first, although their email support is lack luster at best.

I believe the USB / composite audio connection will override Bluetooth or the other way around. In others words its one or the other, not both.

Let me know if you find otherwise.

Shell

 

Seems like bluetooth takes precedence over usb, when a call is made: "You don’t have to disconnect the USB drive or Android phone since it will be automatically muted once GROM-BTD is in use."

http://www.gromaudio.com/docs/bluetooth_manual.pdf

 

Since I don't have the Android tablet yet I'll have to plug in my phone via USB and bluetooth my iPad. I'm sure the phone will work fine but I'll have to see if the phone is muted when my iPad starts to bluetooth stream. I will test this later this week and report back.

 

LOL, I dont know how I missed this. I completely agree about the 5'' being abominations. The reason I still use my OG Motorola Droid is because I used to think that the 4.3'' screens were too big (And I still want a physical keyboard). Well it seems like my dream of wanting a new smartphone with a 4'' screen is long gone (Don't recommend the iPhone because I hate it). Everyone is moving towards these giant phones. The only reason I am thinking about the S4 is because it has ridiculous specs and features. I'll have to see the phone when it comes out though cuz I dont know if I want to walk around all day with a mini tablet in my pocket. Haha

Samsung really needs to bring the S4 mini to the US, but I doubt it will.