WiGLE.net

Right now, I just throw my laptop onto the passenger seat, and open the lid facing me, but I want to get something a little better to use when wardriving, etc.

Here are some of the things I've seen so far. They are all to expensive in my opinion, but some good ideas.

My favorite one so far, but way overpriced for what it is:
http://www.airdesks.com/CarDesk.asp

Here are some other ones:
http://www.mobiledesk.com

If you got a homebrew project, I'd like to hear about that too. Also, I don't want to have to do any drilling of my vehicle, because that sort of thing is scary.

-NetBandit

After seeing a $25 dollar version on eBay http://www.mobilelaptopmount.com, I decided to made my own with black pipe and Plexiglass for about $10 and it allows a passenger to comfortably sit in the passenger seat. It can be screwed to the floor or transmission hump or mounted under the dash. It just depends on what elbow angles you want to use and your vehicle. You could also mount it to a bar that's bolted to the front passenger seat mounts if you wanted to. It only as solid as the place where you mount it. I strongly suggest bolting it in and tying the laptop to it. You don't want it flying around during a panic stop.

I used toolbox non-skid liner between the laptop and the Plexiglass for extra traction and vibration dampening. It works well. I then have long Velcro straps to hold it down securely. This is not hard to do.

PS, it's mounted solidly enough to withstand serious off road trips in the Ouray / Silverton, CO areas. That's hard to do with non-tripod style mounts.

I have seen the one on Ebay you mentioned. I too, have thought of making one myself. If you don't mind telling, what size (diameter) pipe did you use? Was it PVC or metal? Thanks for any information.

Harvey

I have seen the one on Ebay you mentioned. I too, have thought of making one myself. If you don't mind telling, what size (diameter) pipe did you use? Was it PVC or metal? Thanks for any information.

Harvey

I used 1" OD black pipe. I would not trust PVC at the 1" diameter size. I'd want it to be a larger diameter for a single pole mount. Think of several pounds balanced on the top of a fishing rod. The vehicle and all heavy items inside want to stay in motion so in the case of a single pole style mount, it needs to be strong enough to not move when you stop, accelerate, or turn. Even the lightest laptop needs a stiff sturdy mount. The single pole style works well using pipe if it's securely mounted at the base flange. You don't want a laptop moving around and distracting the driver or worse, coming loose and killing you.

I really prefer the idea of the flexible/bendable tripod style mount. http://www.ram-mount.com/nodrillsystems/rampodiii.htm That's what I was going to do if this didn't work out.

if i'm wardriving in a small car, i often just put it in the back seat or on the floorboard closed (best of course if your laptop doesn't suspend with lid closed). you don't really have to see it once you get used to it, and have it working reliably. if i am wardrdiving in an unfamiliar area, i consider it vital to have GPSdrive running, be able to see it (or co-pilot see it) and preloaded with maps of where i'm going. makes it easy to not accidently re-drive just because it's new to you.

i often use a full-sized van that has two bucket seats and a big doghouse for the back of the motor. it had a small wooden top with two wooden cupholders that was just about laptop-sized. the cupholders screwed off from below, and the laptop sat there nicely. when i was sitting still... i got an aluminum laptop cooler (USD $14), just a tilt-tray with USB fans. some have folding legs, mine is just a single flat piece of aluminum bent to shape. there was a horizontal lip along the front edge of the cooler tray, i bored two holes to match up with the holes where the cupholders were and ran a pair of small bolts through it to hold it down. the tray had tacky rubber bumps to keep the laptop from sliding around, but i made a velcro strap to go around the laptop and tray. it is quite stable now.

perhaps these aluminum cooler trays would work well with other homebrew mounts, as well. they are easy to work with hand tools and are very light.

Article describing laptop car mounts:

Laptop Car Mounts

If you just need to view the screen while driving, like for a GPS application, a small floor stand will do. A laptop desk is designed for those who operate the laptop from the driver's seat, and although that's not a safe practice, the desk type offers more stability for big laptops (17- 15"). I found some examples and buying tips here http://www.pickyguide.com/computers_and ... guide.html
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Watching the screen while driving is a huge no-no. Set up audible alerts for "finds" (almost all major stumbling packages including my fave BSD Airtools have this feature).

Then, I take away all temptation by mounting it in the back window with an array of cut-pieces of L-shaped aluminum and some wood screws. The screw holes it left aren't even visible if I run an upholstery brush over the carpeting. Drill some holes in the aluminum, screw into the rear deck (this would work okay for a car that's not a hatchback if the deck is big enough).

Not shown in the photo are my new antennae and engenius 200mW card. They run out and sit on the roof in front of the hatchback liftgate.

Photos and info:
http://www.focushacks.com/escort/wd/