Using the on-board computer, the driver can comprehensively evaluate a wide variety of indicators: engine speed and temperature, vehicle speed, air temperature inside and outside the cabin, fuel consumption and voltage. Detailed Analysis of all ongoing processes allows you to quickly respond to problems and instantly determine their degree.

In addition to diagnostics, the on-board computer can play the role of parking sensors, a route planning assistant with the calculation of the amount of gasoline and speed, and store all system events in memory. On-board computers with a display and a tuner can also serve as a radio or TV.

On-board computer - for those who monitor their car

Every car owner dreams of installing an on-board computer in his car, because this device is functional and helps a lot in driving and maintaining the car. Here are some of the main features of the onboard computer.

• Display of instantaneous parameters. These include vehicle speed, current time, engine temperature, engine speed, temperature outside the window and in the cabin, the remaining fuel in the tank, and so on. It also displays all the information received from the main sensors.
• Display of route parameters. Each car computer allows you to get information about the mileage of the trip, its exact time and the amount of gasoline that was used for it. In addition, the display shows information about how much fuel is spent on average per 100 km, about the speed of movement, and so on.
• Fault control. The car trip computer displays alarm signals on the display if there are any malfunctions in the car or some part needs to be urgently repaired or replaced. Data on the condition of filters, candles and oil level are necessarily displayed on the screen.

In a word, the on-board trip computer allows you to operate the car with increased comfort and safety. That is why it is so in demand and popular.

You can buy a trip computer in our online store "220 Volt". We offer you a wide range of products. Here you will find such devices from the most different manufacturers, including from Multitronics. They are presented as budget models, and more expensive.

From the editor:

This is a request for a new section. If you've read the editor-in-chief's column in this issue, you know that it stands for its title. The leader of the column, just appointed by order of the editorial board, is Artyom Bogdanov. For the first time his name and surname appeared on our pages in 2006. Then - in the section "Own game". Subject - computer-based audio system in VAZ-2111. The next one was in 2008. Already in the "Systems" section. The topic is the audio system in the Honda NSX based on ... a computer, of course. The name of the author of the system has not changed, the status has changed - the head of the Digital Car studio.

The functionality of the system has also changed, the term “audio” was no longer suitable for it. Another came up - infotainment. The same "new word". Three years have passed since then, and now Artyom is with us again, this time on a regular basis. In the materials of this column, he will consistently reveal different aspects of the answer to the same question: “How to teach a car to do everything?” For this, in practical terms, is the true meaning of the new word: everything. From music to Skype with all the stops.

Artyom decided to start a series of his publications with an explanation of what, in fact, will be discussed. And why. However, why - we ourselves know. Because the 21st century is around. And for quite some time...

DIGITAL MOBILE

Vinyl... And what about vinyl? I'll explain now. A sweet word for a music lover, I thought, sorting through the found pieces of Armstrong's record. The younger brother who ran past just chuckled and flipped through the next album on his pocket mp3 player. And here…

It's no secret that all (I'm not afraid of the wrath of "purists") modern audio and video media are recorded using a computer. Why not use the same PC for playback, getting rid of inconvenient media along the way? Do not limit yourself either in formats or in volumes of your favorite recordings. This idea must have come at least once to every reader of these lines. But music, no matter how eternal it may be, is only a part of our life (otherwise why would we need a car?). Why not add navigation, video recording, speakerphone, mail and the Internet, which initially live in a computer, no one offers vinyl for them?

The described mise-en-scene with Armstrong and the younger brother happened a long time ago, and long ago I came to the logical conclusion that followed it. There were attempts to make a car (what it was then) with a computer (what it was then), one, quite successful for its time, served as the basis for my first publication in AZ (Project of the Century, No. 8/2006).

Later it turned out that I was not alone in this idea. At first there was an amateur club, later a professional installation studio for car computers appeared. The leitmotif of installations of this type is that nothing is impossible, the limit of the system's functionality is determined only by the customer's imagination. However, it is precisely this fantasy that we still marvel at. The modern customer does not compromise and wants to get the maximum of functions from the newly acquired system, while he is not ready to put up with either cacophony, or a mediocre image, or the chaos of wires and boxes in the trunk. And least of all - with a lack in the car of any functions, capabilities or amenities that he was used to. Or just about the existence of which he knows.

What makes CarPC different from other head units? Firstly, of course, a special shell program for convenient finger control. Naturally changeable and customizable. Secondly, an unlimited choice of functional software.

Here is an example: the most modern (according to the manufacturers and that part of the public that was convinced) multimedia navigation head units are “charged” with one navigation program, less often - a choice of two is offered (oh miracle!).

Now steadily working on the territory of Russia navigation programs I counted more than ten, with and without traffic jams, with or without 3D graphics high definition to the aesthetics of the card from the Belomor pack. In the CarPC environment, you don’t need to choose in advance: everything is loaded immediately, anyone can use it, the rest, if not needed, lie on their disk, they don’t ask for bread ...

Third, omnivorous. Modern civilization has generated an insane amount of information storage formats. The car audio industry is mastering them with a creak, one every few years. Having begun to list all the formats and media that CarPC can handle, we run the risk of going far beyond the pages generously provided to us in the magazine and, for sure, bite off the neighboring headings as far as Nedam's Store. Here are just the most common audio formats: mp3, WAV, APE, FLAC. The first one is taken by all “radio tape recorders with a disk”, the second - only a few, the third and fourth, highly valued in our time - none. With video - even more colorful. Once, digging deeper into the “codecs” installed in the system, I found a bunch of formats that I heard about for the first time. About 400 in total. Need it? There will be ... At the same time, playing different formats does not mean changing media or switching settings from remotes. Just one touch on the touch screen.

A unique feature of CarPC is unlimited, total compatibility with any peripherals. Flash drives, portable hard drives, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi adapters, modems for accessing the Internet, TV tuners, cameras, diagnostic adapters, joysticks, keyboards and even printers or cash registers - connect via USB and ... work without asking too many questions.

Many eminent brands noticed the tempting direction of car computers from afar, and I think it was the versatility and universal compatibility of everything with everything that soon scared them away, and the CarPC directions turned out to be curtailed.

It was they who rooted the axiom “a good multimedia combine cannot be cheap” in our heads. And each additional function must certainly cost a pretty penny and not have alternative options implementation. Only an expensive adapter or Navi block with the same label as the "head". Once upon a time, such a game was started with CD changers, and, I believe, it is precisely because of this that changers first stopped developing, and then completely left the scene. A few years earlier than we could...

The computer, due to its mass character, received undeniable advantages in front of potential competitors: the familiarity and clarity of the interface, unlimited functionality and ... price. The reverse side of mass. Practice has shown: by assembling the kit yourself, for the amount of 1000 trips to the subway, you can get a further expandable infotainment combine with Internet access and all office applications. The same infotainment…

What tasks do you have to solve (or rather, you will have to, everyone will be there, I don’t doubt for a second) in the course of integrating a multifunctional computer complex into a car? Later, we will talk about the details and pitfalls of each separately, now - in general terms.

In one of the first places in importance - organically and ergonomically (now widely used concepts) to introduce the main part of the system - touch screen. Ready-made Plug & Play solutions are already starting to appear here: consoles, visors and transition frames, and even 2DIN options.

Why not a laptop or Tablet PC? - you ask.

Broken glass or a broken lock, I'll tell you. - Maybe someone likes it. For most, not so much. Control experiment (at your expense): put the iPhone on the dashboard and move away to a distance of 100 meters.

And even without this inhuman experience, it is clear: it is much more convenient and pleasant when you start the car, and after a few seconds the system starts up on its own and already welcomes you with a pleasant-looking interface. No wires, connectors, chargers, "cigarette lighters" and power buttons. And no cards of a regular customer of the World of Autoglass store.

After all, an undoubted plus of a well-integrated system is a completely “regular” design. Feel the idea: no luminous buttons, labels and removable panels - only the screen on the panel, as if it was registered there from the factory or at least grown into the center console as a monolith, will not cause thieves to profit from a thoroughbred device. In this form, this is not even a device, but a detail ...

We have come to the most interesting for a considerable part of readers who are committed to eternal values. What does "digital car" sound like? As a rule, already in the basic version of all systems based on Car PC, there is a built-in 24-bit sound card. For some users, this is enough. If not enough - it doesn't matter, no one in the registry office signed with this card. Texas Instruments and Burr-Brown DACs installed in external "sound blasters" are already something. Numerous experiments have shown that it is possible to make a high-class audiophile system on CarPC, not to mention multimedia - complex, cinematic, with surround sound. But despite the functionality sound cards, the most interesting is the combination of a computer and an external specialized sound processor using the SPDIF digital bus (optics or coaxial). This scheme allows you to "unload" CPU from the "subtle matters" of sound. With all the commitment of our "club" computer technology and the components must be recognized: best results are achieved precisely along this path, so that traditional car audio manufacturers, even with a total transition to CarPC, will not be left out of work. I mean, of course, the most progressive of them. At the same time, by the way, sometimes an enviable harmony and mutual understanding of components is established in the system, unattainable in traditional systems, when the processor (for example, Audison bit one, which fits very well into the architecture of the infotainment system) is configured from “its own”, on-board computer.

Another task - management (in the simplest case - replenishment) of the media library in the car computer is easier and more convenient than in any other environment. An elementary, on the verge of a primitive solution is to carry flash drives with you, but this is no longer in step with the times if you can synchronize with your home Wi-Fi collection in an almost “unmanned” mode.

An important feature of a full-fledged car computer is the possibility of a phased partial upgrade. Not enough five hundred gigabytes for matured music collection? Put a disk on a couple of terabytes. Enough for the first time, but we'll see. Want to connect multiple cameras? How much to put in pieces? The processor is more powerful - please, gas welding work is not required. Are you going to conquer Yakutia and Sahara by car in one navigation? solid state HDD to help you - no heating, no moving parts.

Modern automakers "sing" in unison with manufacturers of expensive radio tape recorders: digital tires - each has its own, protocols are unique. Here, the installers of additional equipment seem to step on the foot. And the “digital car” in such a situation is one of the universal means of avoiding a conflict of desire and opportunity. Few develop matching peripherals for CarPC, but already now there are several adapters, in particular, for OEM monitors of Audi, Lexus, Toyota. There are frequent precedents for the withdrawal of standard monitors and the installation in their place of new, touch, computer (VGA / HDMI), high resolution, with on-board information displayed on them.

It's been seven years since I started my first digital car. There were meetings and partings with cars. One thing united them - they all stood automotive computers. My tastes have definitely not changed. And with each of our next meetings, yours will become closer to mine, I'm sure ...

Integral studio solution for VW vehicles

Not just sound… CarPC can diagnose the car in a simple way…

...maybe in advanced...

... or special, for example - to monitor the operation of the relay unit

Equalizer can be arranged and software tools CarPC, but we came to the conclusion that an external processor is better

The "new word" may appear in the machine in a scattering of individual blocks ...

... among which there is still the main, system

What if there is no display in the car? Here is an example: Toyota LC 100 before visiting us and after

Examples of infotainment systems in different cars: Landrover Discovery 3 with a large overhead monitor for the driver

The monitor is even bigger, but the passenger has a Mercedes S500

Volvo XC90, screen - in the "house"

Also a screen, also a house, but the car is IS 250 (I don’t remember the brand)

Subaru Tribeca. We don't need a house here.

CarPC penetration into the inner world of the car: VW Golf instrument cluster display

Options for implementing an "advanced" display for working with CarPC

There are more navigation systems than will fit on the main screen of the navigation mode. From 3D graphics to the "pack" Belomor "

The spectrum of the periphery is limited only by fantasy (which means nothing). From keyboards to analog controls

Shells provide unlimited freedom. Like "Windows 7" - please. If you don't like it, please...

On-board computers
We live in the computer age. And computerization has affected not only our homes and offices, but also cars. Many modern cars are equipped with on-board computers.
On-board computers can significantly protect the driver and passengers, save on expensive diagnostics at the auto center and warn in time about the presence of a malfunction. All this is due to the fact that they:

• Receive and analyze information from various automotive sensors,
• Display current status indicators various systems car,
• They “tell” the car owner what needs to be done to avoid a malfunction or eliminate it.

There are many functions of on-board computers. Here are the most important ones:

• The on-board computer monitors the number of revolutions of the engine, and also monitors its temperature.
• Keeps track of how fast the vehicle is moving
• Checks the oil level, and also monitors the serviceability of candles and filters,
• Monitors fuel consumption depending on various conditions: vehicle load, engine usage, roadway quality, etc.
• Shows the temperature both inside the car and outside.
• Many on-board computers are equipped with speech synthesizers, thanks to which they can speak any information, for example, about the state of a particular car system, which allows you not to be distracted during the trip.
• And much more

Any noticed problem is immediately displayed on the screen and stored in the memory of the on-board computer. There you can also see troubleshooting information, how to properly operate the car so that such malfunctions do not appear in the future, find addresses service centers etc.

Also, the on-board computer can:

• Display vehicle mileage in kilometers,
• Draw a vehicle flow chart
• Calculate the amount of fuel that is needed for a particular trip,
• connect to the internet,
• Serve as a parking sensors screen,
• Prepare reports on the functioning of all vehicle systems,
• control the air conditioner,
• And much more.

That is, the driver can configure the on-board computer to suit their individual needs.
Most often, an on-board computer is installed in a standard place on the dashboard. However, sometimes it can be mounted directly into the roof of the car. It can be installed on vehicles with any engines: injection, carburetor or diesel.
As you can see, the on-board computer allows not only to repair the car on its own, but also to prevent its breakdown, which saves money and avoids accidents.

Car on-board computers completely replace and replace classic devices. For some, this is a great opportunity to open a new device, and someone categorically does not want to change their old equipment, but only by purchasing, you can find out how useful this thing is. Before making a rating about these devices, we will tell you what on-board computers are in general. On-board computers of simple models allow the vehicle owner to find out information about the state of the fuel in the tank, engine speed or temperature, as well as the temperature outside the car. But there are models newest generation, higher class, they have more functionality.
You need to select an on-board computer based on your car, and in order to choose suitable model with the necessary functions, we have compiled rating of on-board computers in 2018, which will describe in detail about each type of device.

The first three in our ranking, occupied by the well-known model of Multitronics, the Russian brand, which lets in on-board computers from 1987 to the present day, is in first place. This brand creates devices for both our domestic auto industry and foreign cars.

In the first place, the on-board computer of this model is great for cars with gasoline and diesel engines. The capabilities of this device are impressive, thanks to advanced diagnostics, and huge amount functions, your car will always be under control. While in motion, the device notifies of any malfunction and its elimination. Powerful processor for 32 cores, will provide accurate and high-speed operation. The device has USB connector, to connect to a computer, so you can update the on-board computer software, as well as edit and even save the settings that you have set. Built-in voice notification for any errors or malfunctions and their elimination. And the final detail in the description of the Multitronics C-900 model will be complemented by the presence of a universal mount, with which the device is installed on the vehicle panel.
(+) Large high contrast color display. Four color schemes, to switch to a convenient image.
(-) There are no shortcomings, this model has proved itself only from the good side.

In second place on our list is the popular model -. This on-board computer supports a huge number of original protocols, thanks to which the device can be installed in any car. On-board computer Multitronics VC731 has a color display with a resolution of 320 * 240 and excellent image quality. Device diagnostics will be carried out up to 30 parameters, quickly and accurately displaying all errors on the screen, or notifying with a voice synthesizer. The "Fuel quality control" function will allow you to track the consumption of your gasoline and warn of any change, and the "econometer" will control and calculate the amount of gasoline on the way. Complete with an on-board computer, you will receive a 2-year warranty.
(+) New, updated interface, "Hot Menu", allows you to quickly open the desired functions without wasting time.
(-) Long user manual. We attributed this trifle to the minuses, since it has no more shortcomings.

Third place, which will allow you to quickly and accurately get all the information about the state of various systems in your car. Universal system connection, will allow you to use the device in any vehicle. The device is easily installed on the dashboard of the car, and has a protection in the form of a visor from the sun's rays. With the help of voice notification, which has 21 emergency warnings, you will ensure complete comfort during the trip. Multitronics TC750 users leave only positive reviews, because the device has a large number of functions and works stably for a long time.
(+) Ability to connect the on-board computer to two parking radars, this will ensure the complete safety of the car during parking.
(-) Due to the large number of functions, it is a little difficult to figure out the settings right away.

The next model in the rating list is well-known by our manufacturer and entered the market after restyling in 2012. Designed for use with UAZ-Patriot, UAZ-Pickup vehicles. The device boasts of its large amount of functionality. With its help, you will always be aware of all problems or failures in management. Liquid crystal display, with a resolution of 128 * 32 dots, as well as an accurate image. Fuel level and external temperature sensor, thanks to this feature, any trip will become comfortable. Operating temperature range (-35 to +60 degrees). And of course free update Software over the Internet.
(+) Equipped with a self-diagnosis system (gasoline and diesel engines).
(-) Installed on the dashboard near the air duct, so accurate installation is required to properly install.

Fifth place opens on-board computer, model, which is perfectly installed in the standard compartment for the radio (1DIN, 2DIN). The device is equipped with a color display automatic adjustment(day / night), as well as voice notification, thanks to these functions, the trip will be more comfortable. Possibility of more than 100 settings and connection to your laptop to save or transfer travel statistics. Removable front panel will complement a number of good ratings about this model of on-board computer.
(+) Powerful 32-bit processor, support for a large number of protocols, advanced diagnostics, up to 200 parameters.
(-) The disadvantages of the device include a complicated menu.

We put the on-board computer in sixth place, with a new 16- bit processor, which will ensure high and accurate operation of the device. The device can be installed in any bay you choose (1DIN, 2DIN), for convenient use. Removable front panel as well as a casing for its storage, comes with the device. Graphic display with various backlights, and a sun visor. In case of difficulty with the screen, it will help voice guidance, which will notify you of any errors or fuel consumption during the trip. And also, the ability to connect two parking sensors (front and rear) of your car.
(+) The operation of the on-board computer is carried out from the control units of cars or from the speed sensor, this makes the device universal.
(-) Almost every Multitronics model comes with a huge number of functions, due to this it is much more difficult to understand the menu.

In seventh place is the on-board computer of the brand, completely different from previous models, made in original design and is installed in the air duct in Gazelle-Business, UAZ-Patriot cars (dashboard before and after restyling). The on-board computer has a 32-bit processor that allows you to perform all work on high level. Auto power on headlights, at the beginning of the movement, as well as the display of slipping wheels. Connection to desktop computer, thanks to availability of USB connector, and the possibility of updating the software. The on-board computer can connect simultaneously to two fuel level sensors, as well as connect up to two parking radars. Multitronics C-580, has a large amount of various functions and is easy to operate, and in addition to all this, has an attractive price.
(+) On the display of the device, 9 different parameters are displayed at once, which will allow you to monitor the condition of the vehicle with complete accuracy.
(-) There are no flaws in this model, it is completely easy to manage.

The eighth place in our rating is occupied, with the ability to connect to the diagnostic block of any car. "Hot menu" system, with which you can carry out fast access to desired functions. And also, a log of trips and gas stations, more than 20 of your trips will be saved for accurate calculation of the next trips. For a good and easy parking, or if you are not bad at feeling the dimensions of the car, you can connect the on-board computer to up to two parking radars. More than 200 ECU diagnostic parameters, diagnosis of any errors that have occurred, as well as a color display, with up to 4 different color schemes. All these important details are collected in the Multitronics CL-590 on-board computer.
(+) Use with gas equipment will allow you to calculate fuel consumption as accurately as possible.
(-) No voice synthesizer.

The next place is on-board computer, the ability of which, to understand up to 11 types of on-board systems, as well as to diagnose more than 30 different parameters. Support for many diagnostic protocols, both domestic and foreign cars. Equipped with a 32-bit processor, as well as a digital display, with the ability to display up to 9 parameters. Instead of a voice synthesizer, the on-board computer has a buzzer that works in case of any malfunction. You can always transfer any settings and even saved parameters to a desktop computer.
(+) The advantages of this device include extensive functionality and convenient control. Multitronics CL-550, the most a budget option, which is in no way inferior to its predecessors in work.
(-) There is only one minus of this device, a non-removable panel.

In the last place of our rating, we put the on-board computer model, an excellent choice for AvtoVAZ owners. It is easy to install, in a regular place of the car and just as easy to manage, and thanks to the instructions supplied with the device, installation will not take much time. A display with a maximum resolution and an operating temperature of up to -30 degrees will please any owner of the domestic auto industry. Voice notification, with speaking about any emergencies, and with the help of this, you can easily and quickly eliminate the cause of the error. By purchasing this model of on-board computer, you get good helper on the road, which will monitor and correct any errors in your car.
(+) Completely new software interface and work in all weather conditions.
(-) Slightly different in size from other models.

All presented on-board computers in the rating can be bought from us in the online store, either by placing an order through the basket, or by calling us by phone. If you have any questions, call us, we will definitely help you. Our store delivers nationwide!

This article can be searched for: on-board computers 2018- rating, best, comparison, review, test, top, review, marvel of technology, how to choose.