I've been following some of the threads about what the Silverleaf system can do, and I'm impressed. I'm not impressed enough, though, to spend lots of money. My coach has the flat diagnostic connection, not the round one Silverleaf shows for Bluetooth. I also have an adapter that converts the coach's diagnostic connection to a 15-pin serial connection. I have an unused Mac Mini, and a man at church has a refurbished iPad 2 he wants to get rid of. I understand that finding the right adapter might be a problem, but what else do I need? Or should I just buy something from Silverleaf and be done with it?
On edit: I found this: Belkin® 8" USB Joystick Cable Adapter | Make More Happen at Staples® (http://www.staples.com/Belkin-8-inch-USB-Joystick-Cable-Adapter/product_IM1330398) which would appear to let me go into the Mini. It looks like Silverleaf is strictly Windows, so I'd have to use a Windows emulator, but what else do I need?
BTW, 1600 rpm is 45 mph in 3rd gear or 60 mph in 4th on my coach, so knowing what speed you get at what rpm can help you know what gear you are in. It also is helpful should the speedometer decide to give you impossible readings.
David,
Let me know what you come up with as I am in the same boat. Will be glad to split some research costs to get it working. The $800 Davis charges is way over our budget even though it works on an iPad. That's enough for over a tank of fuel. Bill Chaplin has Silverleaf working well in his Detroit U300 but he runs a PC. On the other hand, a used PC laptop to run it is only $50 or so on Craigslist.
Pierce
While I've been poking around I found this: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=9099365&sku=XET-102513251 (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=9099365&sku=XET-102513251) and wondered if I ought to just go this way. Might be simpler.
Call Silverleaf and speak to their tech. He has all the knowledge you need to get this working for you.
I think he has seen every system there is and can make it work. DAN
I recently bought an HP6510B laptop on eBay for $56 plus $12 to ship. I was amazed when it arrived, literally l ke new. The hard disk was wiped, but there are sources on the Internet for the original software. No problem to reload the software, as the certificate of authenticity is still on the bottom. My plan when I get the coach back from repairs is to send the screen image to my Android tablet.
Tom, if you use something like the Splashtop app on your android tablet or an ipad and the free pc download on your pc then it is not just a screen image on the tablet but the working windows desktop. You run your Pc from the tablet. Works great.
Roger
Actually, I already have Splash top. That is my plan, and I have tried it out.
I believe I can keep the laptop, closed but on, in a carrier next to the driver seat, while keeping the Nook HD+ in a saddle atop the steering column, making a glass instrument panel of sorts. It shouldn't block any of the existing guages. I also have 12 volt chargers for both the laptop and Nook.
I have a nice tablet mount for my 7" Samsung. Found a nice cigar lighter sized two USB charger port. I installed it just above the right AC vent. If you look inside the dash there is already a cutout in the aluminum back side for such a port.
Roger
Roger,
More info on your tablet mount, please.
Jim
Jim,
The mount comes through Amazon from England.
Amazon.com: Multi-Surface Dash / Window / Desk Suction Mount for Samsung Galaxy (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B1S1ZRC/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
It holds any 7" tablet and will hold a full sized iPad but I am not sure how steady it would be. With my Samsung it is very stable.
I use an Asus mini PC with 320GB HD, Windows 7 64 bit, HDMI output to your TV, USB2 and USB3 ports and more. Comes with a wireless KBD and Mouse. < $400.
Amazon.com : ASUS EB1033 EB1033-B001E Desktop : Desktop Computers : Computers & (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008ABL0WI/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Roger
Starting up a laptop and then displaying it on a tablet screen seems as if it would get really old fast. One of the best features about tablets is the ability to stay on all the time with only an occasional charge if sleeping. If Windows is required, there are quite a few Windows tablets out there.
Unless you watch a lot of movies on your tablet, I would strongly recommend finding a tablet with a 4:3 aspect ratio like Apple uses on their iPads. It makes web browsing and emailing MUCH easier. Most Android and Windows tablets use 16:9 or 16:10 for an aspect ratio which makes a nice wide screen but terrible for reading print on web sites with strong reading glasses advised. A 9.7" tablet is usually 4:3 while the tablets advertising 10.1" usually are 16:9 or 16:10. Check in the specs before ordering. An online search will quickly find a Droid or Windows tablet with 4:3 ratio.
Using a tablet as a GPS display, it does not make any difference what the aspect ratio is.
Pierce
My plan is to pretty much dedicate the laptop to vmspc. Both the laptop and tablet will be always powered but via coach 12 volt power, although I will occasionally use them otherwise.
Tom, the laptop should work fine. All it needs is a USB port. See if you can figure out how to be able to close the top without putting it to sleep. VMSpc doesn't need much computer power to run. It does use some disc space if you have the logging functions on but not much.
Roger