Radio, Navigation and TV upfront.. Ideas?

[TickleMeTitan]

Hi, new to forum, but read a lot so far. I too want TV and DVD signal in front. I have a 2004 CC, w DVD and GPS Factory install. I also want to use GPS while on the move. Nice posts re that, will try that conversion to make it work on the fly.

Next is the Nav TV thing. I saw that a tuner/TV box is avail from a vendor for 500 bucks. Nice idea, real happy to know it can be done. After reading Armada and Captain, I researched the concept of interfacing a Composite/RCA input to RGB/VGA device output with tuner, and a variety of additional mutiple inputs with remote features. Seems I am finding quite a few devices for 50-125 bucks or less that appear to do the upconversion to VGA, or even XVGA. Is there something special about the Avmans 500 dollar unit that I am missing? Has anyone tried alternatives?

So far, the way I understand it is that the DVD Navigation device, from under th right front passenger seat, sends a rgb signal to the front navigation screen. This is a computer monitor, therfore requires a VGA signal that a computer monitor requires, just like any PC (I think). The rear screen is powered direct by the DVD movie player, and being such, can run off the standard DVD output of composite or S-Video. The rear monitor is more like a regular TV. So, to get the front screen to work from the DVD Movie player, or to add TV Tuner, or Xbox, or any other device (which will work simply as-is on the rear screen), is to upconvert the signals to work on a PC screen (that RGB/VGA thing) and add a switch to switch between Navigation and an outside source.

So, since I already have the basics, of DVD palayer in the center console, and the DVDRom under right front pass seat, my thinking would be to add the external whatever device to the center console too, since I do not need to connect anything between those locations, just one connect behind the Nav Screen Dash area. I searched TV to VGA, TV to PC, searched Composite to RGB, and a combination of the above. I keep coming up with small devices that may work. I am just deciding if this experiment is going to pay off, rather than spending 500, perhaps I can spend 50, at radio shack....

[llajumpvid]

Armadafication did it on freshalloy with the blaupunkt splitter. The problem he had was getting the RGB sync to work correctly with the monitor. I think he had video roll. That is why I think avelectronic unit is vehicle specific as he tweeks the sync. Some of the other cheaper versions I've heard have some roll and are generic application, (meaning they are not vehicle specific) which may be the sync issue causing the roll? You will also have to add a switch that will flip from video source back to stock. No clue how that would be done for sure. Armadafication is an electrical engineer and he has said if he were to do it again he would not go the route he did but get one of the turnkey solutions like the one from avelectronic.

[TickleMeTitan]

Yep, that is what I thought too, but am still wondering....since there is a difference of RGB sigs, one that uses RGB to XGA may work. I guess, I will at least get the wiring part done behind the panel (BTW do you happen to have the correct wire attach at the monitor?) and then connect a sample device between the two and see what happens. I am just not ready to invetst 500+ for front viewing just yet. But is I have those wires hanging, I can try easily some options before making a permanent mount.

[llajumpvid]

Do a 1-day subscription and download from here service manual. If you are thinking about doing this you will need the manual.