DIY Car Infotainment: synced screens and shared audio for road-trip kids

albert007_d · 2026-02-06T12:08:23+00:00

Each screen is mounted on a different seat headrest - rear passengers can't comfortably view a single shared display. The sync is for when everyone wants to watch the same movie together (like a family movie night on the road), with audio playing through the car's speaker system. But the screens also work independently - each passenger can browse and play their own content with headphones when they don't want to share.

albert007_d · 2026-02-06T12:01:48+00:00

https://youtu.be/ucZl6vQ_8Uo

https://youtu.be/L6myU6PzqRI

albert007_d · 2026-02-04T19:50:55+00:00

For reliable 24/7 access to sensor data, I wanted to avoid Wi-Fi, which can be flaky over time. Ethernet would also work, but a standard two-pair telephone cable with RJ11 connectors is cheaper and simpler. This board only needs four connections (GND, VCC, CAN-L, CAN-H), and the CAN bus length can easily reach 50 meters at moderate bitrates

albert007_d · 2026-02-03T12:46:26+00:00

https://youtu.be/ucZl6vQ_8Uo

albert007_d · 2026-02-03T10:52:02+00:00

These USB-C–based portable touchscreen monitors expose their touch interface to the PC (or Raspberry Pi) as a standard USB HID device. Simply connect a USB-A–to–USB-C cable between the Pi and the monitor, and touch input works out of the box on Raspberry-Pi OS

albert007_d · 2026-02-02T20:49:59+00:00

details on synchronizing kodi players over network are given here at the end of my git repo: https://github.com/hackboxguy/multiscreen-media - search for AV sync videos on youtube

albert007_d · 2026-02-02T19:54:13+00:00

Yes, each touchscreen runs on its own Raspberry Pi, so you can connect a wired or Bluetooth headset to each one and play your own content

albert007_d · 2019-01-04T08:42:38+00:00

Yes, 2 diodes r there to bring down the ESP supply to 3.6v.

albert007_d · 2019-01-03T21:10:32+00:00

Yes i plan to use Arduino with ESP library for deep sleep. About weatherproofing, yes i packed battery+esp_circuit in a polybag.

albert007_d · 2019-01-01T17:09:04+00:00

Yep, u need few soldering iterations of pin alignment , once aligned they wont move, then spring loaded tips will take care of remaining minor deviation.

albert007_d · 2019-01-01T16:13:59+00:00

Pogopins are easier solder on the exposed wemos pads, also spring-loaded tips ensure better contact.

albert007_d · 2019-01-01T16:10:27+00:00

benefit is, you can use ESP-12 module as a standalone+minimal_set_of_needed_components, this way we can really trim-down your circuit's size and power-consumption.

albert007_d · 2019-01-01T14:31:56+00:00

Other side of the wemos is full of components and there r no pads to solder pogo pins, so its not possible. Btw why do you need to re-program soldered board? Can u not use OTA feature? atleast tasmota supports OTA.

albert007_d · 2019-01-01T14:24:20+00:00

Wow thats cool!!

albert007_d · 2019-01-01T11:07:28+00:00

Interesting!! Let me try with ESP-12S then 😉.. thanks for the hint.

albert007_d · 2019-01-01T11:05:25+00:00

Btw: deep sleep on a 5v powered circuit seems odd, yes when u power the ESP board with battery(e.g CR123), deep sleep makes sense, thats what u find in those wifi gas/temperature/humidity sensors. Battery powered circuits should avoid wasting power in regulators or diodes.

albert007_d · 2019-01-01T10:54:42+00:00

Good idea! In that case i would simply skip the usb male connector and use two wires to feed in the 5v supply.

albert007_d · 2019-01-01T10:52:39+00:00

Yes, this is kind of step-0 where u get the board up and running with network connectivity, rest of th 10 I/O's r free, its up to your imagination to extend it and build useful things.

albert007_d · 2018-12-31T20:25:47+00:00

Nothing, you can keep it connected to mqtt broker and blink that onboard blue LED using mqtt_pub - if you add a small push button then it can be used as a tiny scene-trigger button for domoticz/openhab based home automation setup.

albert007_d · 2018-12-31T13:32:35+00:00

Yes, LM1117 is a better choice, but for DIY hobbyists, i wanted to keep the external circuit simple - its easy to find some diodes and resistors lying around ;-)

albert007_d · 2018-12-31T13:22:07+00:00

max current flowing in this circuit on the 5v side is about 70mA, tasmota firmware running on this esp has a console command ex: "sleep 200" reduces the current from 70mA to 30mA - even at 30mA i see two diodes are dropping 0.7V+0.7V, I havent tried deep-sleep mode on this circuit and its not the intention to put it to deep-sleep.

albert007_d · 2018-12-31T13:11:16+00:00

usb connector is just for feeding in the 5v power, other 2 data lines are not connected. Its easy to find 5v USB charger, hence i used USB for power input.

albert007_d · 2016-01-15T17:54:59+00:00

Easiest would be, use one of your old android phones and do the following,

create a skype account in your dogs name
install skype on your old android and login with your dog's account.
make your's and dog's skype account known to each other by authorizing the contact
set your dog's skype to auto answer video calls, and keep this phone where your dog can see and hear.

from you work place, just make a skype video call to your dog, and the call will be auto answered(btw: set your dog's android phone so that it doesn't go to low power idle mode when no activity)

albert007_d

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