USB-C touch screen VS a tablet

[Saint Alban]

Yikes, hopefully this is wrong. Just a flat out miss if true.

If the constant feed is the only issue, I’m sure there are work arounds. I just wanted to know if a double DIN would physically fit into it, but after asking in different ways to different reps, they’re not giving me any real details about that yet.

 

[Letas]

If the constant feed is the only issue, I’m sure there are work arounds. I just wanted to know if a double DIN would physically fit into it, but after asking in different ways to different reps, they’re not giving me any real details about that yet.

Sure, but I would imagine most consumers feel that some sort of audio and/or display is pretty much a need these days (not all, I know! Some appreciate the lack). Offering a plug+play solution for customers to have it running day 1? Great. Finding "workarounds"? Not so good.

 

[smack daddy]

I could be completely wrong about this, but I believe SA has said that if the user wants to have a infotainment-like screen in the vehicle that displays the vehicle's data, it needs to run the Slate app, which means a tablet computer is required, Android or iOS.

A monitor is not a computer, it's just a screen that attaches to a computer.

However, if what you are thinking of is running said Slate app on your phone, but having it mirror to the larger monitor, I suppose that might be possible.

But why? Why not just get a tablet? They run all the apps you could ever want and it eliminates the mirroring BS.

Then you would have another data plan for it kinda kills the trying to do the cheaper thing. Might as well get a name brand truck and get a subscription.

 

[smack daddy]

I think we're going to need to scour the automotive junk yards for 1972 Ford Maverick push-button radios. Will match the manual rollup windows, however!

Perhaps an eight track I still have a few beach boys endless summer

 

[KevinRS]

If the dash fits a double din, or 2 single dins, and is the same all the way across, I can envision someone filling it with buttons, knobs and lights. a couple of radios, 8 track, cassette, cd changer, CB, SW, and more, all the way across the dash.

 

[IamSpotted]

If the dash fits a double din, or 2 single dins, and is the same all the way across, I can envision someone filling it with buttons, knobs and lights. a couple of radios, 8 track, cassette, cd changer, CB, SW, and more, all the way across the dash.

I was honestly planning on a Uniden Bearcat 880 and a Baofeng GMRS-50v2. Gives me a CB radio, receive only scanner for police/fire/ems, and GMRS communications. Both are single DIN and I had been thinking of putting them behind the seats, but now that you mention it, in the dash behind the panels would be pretty cool too. Stack them one on top of the other.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I was honestly planning on a Uniden Bearcat 880 and a Baofeng GMRS-50v2. Gives me a CB radio, receive only scanner for police/fire/ems, and GMRS communications. Both are single DIN and I had been thinking of putting them behind the seats, but now that you mention it, in the dash behind the panels would be pretty cool too. Stack them one on top of the other.

What are you plans for mounting antennas for these two radios?

 

[IamSpotted]

What are you plans for mounting antennas for these two radios?

I have two thoughts. The first is to use NGP Antenna kit for the radios. It would be easiest. The other thought I had was if the roof is removable in the way the side panels look to be, I could remove the roof and put a large sheet of aluminum under it. Then I could bolt the antenna base through the roof and onto this sheet to serve as a ground plane. Run a braided grounding cable from this sheet to the chassis at each bolt location and insulate the aluminum from the steel chassis using grommets to avoid galvanic corrosion on the chassis. I would still need to tune the SWR for the CB but it should be doable with a 5ft or even a full quarter wave antenna.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I have two thoughts. The first is to use NGP Antenna kit for the radios. It would be easiest.

I'm not familiar with the abbreviation NGP so I had to look it up. Is this what you mean?
Should You Be Using No-Ground Equipment?
(sorry for the pop-up ads - it was my first search result.)

Also, is Citizen's Band still very active these days?

These compact & handheld CB transceivers look appealing:

Cobra 75 All Road AM/FM CB Radio
Midland 75-822
Uniden Pro 538 AM/FM Handheld CB Radio

I think they all can receive NOAA weather broadcasts.

I would be very interested in finding a CB/Weather radio that also receives AM/FM broadcasts.

 

[cadblu]

I have two thoughts. The first is to use NGP Antenna kit for the radios. It would be easiest. The other thought I had was if the roof is removable in the way the side panels look to be, I could remove the roof and put a large sheet of aluminum under it. Then I could bolt the antenna base through the roof and onto this sheet to serve as a ground plane. Run a braided grounding cable from this sheet to the chassis at each bolt location and insulate the aluminum from the steel chassis using grommets to avoid galvanic corrosion on the chassis. I would still need to tune the SWR for the CB but it should be doable with a 5ft or even a full quarter wave antenna.

Slate has revealed that the roof panel is not removable like the side panels. It’s bonded to the roof structure and its removal would permanently damage it. I think a rear bumper mounted antenna might be possible running a grounding cable to a ground plane under the bed.

 

[sodamo]

Disappointed that panel not designed to be removable

 

[SichuanHot]

Lack of proper double din radio support is a major oversight on a supposedly "DIY friendly" car.

 

[IamSpotted]

Lack of proper double din radio support is a major oversight on a supposedly "DIY friendly" car.

Until the truck is released and that is verified, I'll be in the wait and see camp.

I'm not familiar with the abbreviation NGP so I had to look it up. Is this what you mean?
Should You Be Using No-Ground Equipment?
(sorry for the pop-up ads - it was my first search result.)

Also, is Citizen's Band still very active these days?

These compact & handheld CB transceivers look appealing:

Cobra 75 All Road AM/FM CB Radio
Midland 75-822
Uniden Pro 538 AM/FM Handheld CB Radio

I think they all can receive NOAA weather broadcasts.

I would be very interested in finding a CB/Weather radio that also receives AM/FM broadcasts.

As far as activity goes, CB isn’t nearly as popular as it used to be, but it’s still used. I had one in a Nissan Frontier when I was stationed out in El Paso. When the conditions were right, you could pick up transmissions from way farther away than normal because the signal would bounce in the atmosphere. I even remember picking up people as far away as Oregon a few times.

Handheld units work pretty well, but I personally prefer the mobile units with an external antenna.

Unfortunately you probably won’t find a CB radio that also receives AM/FM stations. The frequency ranges are just too far apart. CB operates around 27 MHz, while AM broadcast is roughly 530–1700 kHz and FM broadcast is 88–108 MHz, so most radios are designed either for CB or for standard AM/FM broadcast, not both.

 

[drizzle]

I bought this little car play screen from Amazon that was suggested by someone on this forum, and I’m pretty amazed how well it works for under 50 bucks. This is not a high end solution and a good double Din would be much better but it does work pretty well.

https://a.co/d/0bGWnm6I

 

[Saint Alban]

I was considering this too, however I still don’t know how I’d get it to work in the Slate. I would like the in-dash mounted speakers (if they’re any good) and they would need an aux input to plug in this screen, not to mention power. Also, if this will be using Bluetooth to connect to my phone, will the Bluetooth steering wheel controls be able to work with this? So many variables. This is why I’m hoping the app will just act as a CarPlay/android auto screen.