What it is

It's a 1999 Toyota Avalon

Prior to 2007, my daily driver was a 2005 Dodge Ram, Quad Cab, Long Bed, 1 ton, dually with a 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine.  This truck is used to pull our Heartland Landmark 5th Wheel Trailer.  In November of 2006, my wife got a new car - a 2007 Volkswagen EOS.  This freed up her 1999 Toyota Avalon.    

With the high cost of diesel fuel the last 2 years and the fuel economy of the Avalon over the Ram, it simply made good economic sense for me to use the Avalon as my daily driver and save the truck for towing the trailer.

The Project

Simply stated, the project is turning this stock vehicle with over 100,000 miles on it into a vehicle that is more comfortable for me to use every day.  And whatever it entails to make this transformation - is the project.

Project Highlights

  • Replace OEM stereo head-unit with an Alpine CD Receiver
    - with Apple iPod MP3 Player interface (full control)
    - with Alpine Sirius Satellite Radio Tuner
    - with Auxiliary Input for CarPc Audio

  • Install Xenarc 700IDT In-Dash LCD VGA Touchscreen Monitor

  • Install Sure Power Battery Isolator and DC Power System for additional gear

  • Install Xenarc MP-SC8 Mobile PC
    - with CarNetix CNX-P2140 DC-DC Power Supply
    - with Gyration Wireless Keyboard

  • Install Junxion Box Mobile Router for Mobile Internet
    - with Sierra Wireless 580 AirCard

  • Install Axis 2100 Network (IP) Web Camera

 

 

 

 

Technical Details

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Image Capture:
Axis 2100 Network (IP) Camera, PanaVise xxx Suction Cup Mount, DC power cable, Ethernet jumper

Transmission Gear:

Click image for larger view Junxion Box JB110b Mobile Router The Junxion Box™ wireless WAN router uses a patent-pending software platform to create an easy yet sophisticated, enterprise-grade, flexible and low-cost means of connecting fleets of computing devices like laptops, desktops, retail point of sale terminals and remote monitoring systems with the latest cellular data services from wireless carriers.
DC Power Cable & Outlet
Sierra Wireless 580 AirCard
Wilson Electronics Cellular Antenna
Wilson Electronics Pigtail

Recording Gear:
With the Axis 2100 Network camera, comes Axis Camera Explorer (ACE).  ACE has a feature in it that allows the recording of frames as jpg still images at whatever frequency is chosen.  These frames can then be stitched together as a video file or as an animated gif and put online on the archive page.

Broadcasting Gear:
As of 2-Jul-2006, I am not yet broadcasting.  By the end of July, it is my plan to be broadcasting from the camera, to a server at home, then out onto the Internet.  Bookmark this page and check back later for an update on broadcasting.

Hot Spot:
As mentioned above, a benefit of Chicago RAM Cam is that we are our own rolling HotSpot.  We accomplish this by virtue of the Junxion Box.  The "b" model of Junxion Box indicates the router has a built-in Wireless Access Point (WAP).  The rubber ducky antenna was replaced with a Sharper Concepts xxxx 3db gain Wi-Fi antenna that is mounted on the roof of the RAM.  An RF Industries N-Male to SMA Male adapter is used to mate the antenna to the router.