Does anyone know if it would be possible to get a TV onto the head unit. Suppose I took advantage of the government coupon deal and got a free converter box that was run off of 12 volts, and a VCR that did the same, would you see any issue as to why this wouldn't work if the VCR outputs were connected via RCA into the video in on the head unit?

Basically, the idea that I have in mind would be to get an antennae, connect it to the digital converter box, and then connect the converter box to a VCR and use the "TV Out" option on the VCR since the Avic doesn't have TV tuning capabilities that I know of.

Has anyone done anything like this or can anyone think of a better or easier way to do this. It is just something I thought about while I was browsing through this site.

Thanks in advance.

The AVIC is a monitor.. Therefore any video source that you plug into its video input will output onto the screen. So yes, that would work

Does anyone know if it would be possible to get a TV onto the head unit. Suppose I took advantage of the government coupon deal and got a free converter box that was run off of 12 volts, and a VCR that did the same, would you see any issue as to why this wouldn't work if the VCR outputs were connected via RCA into the video in on the head unit?

Basically, the idea that I have in mind would be to get an antennae, connect it to the digital converter box, and then connect the converter box to a VCR and use the "TV Out" option on the VCR since the Avic doesn't have TV tuning capabilities that I know of.

Has anyone done anything like this or can anyone think of a better or easier way to do this. It is just something I thought about while I was browsing through this site.

Thanks in advance.

Actually, I have TV in my car using a Digital Converter Box as well.

What I did was go to BestBuy, and they have TONS of different kinds of HDTV Antennas you could buy. I bought one that was very discrete, and goes in my trunk.

I ran the coaxial cable to underneath my passenger seat underneath, where I have my digital converter box. The digital converter box outputs RCA cables (Yellow/Video, RED/Audio, and White/Audio), and I connected it to my AV2 input on the front of my unit which is also RCA Cable.

The converter box gets power from a cigarette lighter, which I use a power inverter/converter. This also happens underneath my passenger seat.

So now, I get clear, digital, high definition, TV in my car.

You don't need a VCR if you have a converter box that outputs RCA (which MOST do). The converter box IS the Digital tuner. Also, I would suggest researching on power converters that convert using Pure-Sine wave electricity so that you won't run into distortion problems.

I've never dealt with the converter boxers before, so I wasn't sure if they were tuners or now. I was just browsing through some of the "General" topics on the forum and went on one of those, "Man, that would be pretty slick." tangents and tried to come up with a way for this to work.

Do you know how much those antennas run for? It's not a feature I would kill to have, but it would be pretty cool. Especially now with the bypass and such.

Thanks for all your help.

Wow, now this would be an awesome mod. I'd love to do this but I hate running wires inside the car.

So now, I get clear, digital, high definition, TV in my car.

From what you've stated, you're not getting high definition. All you're getting out of the composite connection is 480i, regular old standard definition. None of the coupon eligible models of tuners output HD, but on a small screen like this it won't matter.

I've never dealt with the converter boxers before, so I wasn't sure if they were tuners or now. I was just browsing through some of the "General" topics on the forum and went on one of those, "Man, that would be pretty slick." tangents and tried to come up with a way for this to work.

Do you know how much those antennas run for? It's not a feature I would kill to have, but it would be pretty cool. Especially now with the bypass and such.

Thanks for all your help.

Antennas can go as low as $6.00 (unpowered), to as high as $50 (powered).

I bought a $15 one, that was a flat looking thing, and it's discreetly in my car. Mine's unpowered, so I don't get too many channels, around 30 or so standard channels, and the big name public channels come in extra clear.

You can get a powered antenna, but do know that you do have to somehow supply power to it. So if you have like a cigarette lighter elsewhere in the car, or if you know to wire another power source to a inverter/converter, you can get super reception.

The converter box is a digital tuner, so know that you either want to have a remote handy (it should come with one) or near your hand while driving so you can change channels (not that I condone watching TV and driving at the same time)

Wow, now this would be an awesome mod. I'd love to do this but I hate running wires inside the car.

Well, every since I figured out how to pull out panels, and a/b/c pillars out of my car, alot of it is hidden. Really depends on what you want to do.

From what you've stated, you're not getting high definition. All you're getting out of the composite connection is 480i, regular old standard definition. None of the coupon eligible models of tuners output HD, but on a small screen like this it won't matter.

ah, my mistake then. The resolution on the screen is so clear and digital, and on SOME channels, like the weather channel, it does say Ch xx.x HD when I flip to it.

I wasn't aware only certain models were couple eligible. When I went to Best Buy when I first got the government coupon, I was told by an employee that ANY of the converter box that they offered were eligible, and there were alot at different price ranges. What the coupon does is that is just knocks $40 off the price. I got one that was $49.99, and I only paid $10 for it.

My brother got one that was like $89.99, and with the coupon, it was $49.99 and it actually had component out on that sucker. So his car does get HD then, probably at 480p and up.

Megaman..

so what was the HDTV antenna that you got? I went on Best Buy's website & saw a bunch to choose from. Did you get an indoor antenna? And where did you install it in your vehicle? Rear window or trunk?

Megaman..

 

so what was the HDTV antenna that you got? I went on Best Buy's website & saw a bunch to choose from. Did you get an indoor antenna? And where did you install it in your vehicle? Rear window or trunk?

I got this one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 1806247493

And that one was REALLY good. It had an adjustable tuner on the baseplate, and it's quite small. The reception was pretty good for the price. It receives UHF/VHF which was important to me.

My friend got this one here:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 5217076045

and his is stealth install. It's on the lower part of the window INSIDE the car, which you don't see. It gets pretty good reception as well BUT doesn't get as many channels. I'm wondering if its because its inside the car, or if its because of the design. Anyways, its really small, and discrete, and you can put it anywhere.

As for the installation...In my car, I have it in my trunk BUT I drive a Scion xB2, so the antenna is fully extended, with a clear line of sight from the window. (you know how SUV type trunks are right?) So I get alot of channels and great reception.

I think the main point is that the antenna is by the window for the best quality.

Cool thanks for the reply. I might have to go with the one with the stealth install. I have a Dodge Charger so I would have to mount it either in my rear window or on my dash or something... most likely the rear window tough. I am wondering what kind of reception I would get if I mounted it in the trunk. I live in the DC/Baltimore area, so over the air stuff is not much of a problem. I guess it's just something to play with.

When you said your friends doesn't get as mnay channels as yours, are you talking about UHF channels? And is it a considerable difference? I'm really only looking to get the major channels (CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC and maybe a couple of the weather channels). I spend enough time in traffic... I dont want to end up getting home and sleeping in my car because the TV is so good!

Nice thread! I just applied for a converter box coupon, said it will mail out on 4/3. I like the stealth antenna and would like to mount it under the safari basket of my Xterra. Wonder if it would hold up to the elements?

I'm also gonna need a three-way splitter for A/V inputs. #1 for this converter box, #2 for the video out cable from my HTC Fuze, and #3 for iPod connection. All these will go into A/V 1 in the back of the unit because I don't something always plugged into A/V 2 on the front. I assume when I select A/V 1 intput as a source it will take whichever input out of those 3 is supplying a signal, so no need for an external switcher.

Megaman..

 

so what was the HDTV antenna that you got? I went on Best Buy's website & saw a bunch to choose from. Did you get an indoor antenna? And where did you install it in your vehicle? Rear window or trunk?

 

I got this one:

 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 1806247493

 

And that one was REALLY good. It had an adjustable tuner on the baseplate, and it's quite small. The reception was pretty good for the price. It receives UHF/VHF which was important to me.

 

My friend got this one here:

 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 5217076045

 

and his is stealth install. It's on the lower part of the window INSIDE the car, which you don't see. It gets pretty good reception as well BUT doesn't get as many channels. I'm wondering if its because its inside the car, or if its because of the design. Anyways, its really small, and discrete, and you can put it anywhere.

 

As for the installation...In my car, I have it in my trunk BUT I drive a Scion xB2, so the antenna is fully extended, with a clear line of sight from the window. (you know how SUV type trunks are right?) So I get alot of channels and great reception.

 

I think the main point is that the antenna is by the window for the best quality.

It looks like you got a UHF/VHF antennae while your friend got a UHF only antennae. That would explain why you get more channels. VHF and UHF cover a different channel spectrum.

This is definately something I plan on doing. It would be nice to have local channels. Some examples of times I am going to look forward to:

1) Leaving a game and being stuck in traffic, my buddies can watch either other games or highlights.

2) Tailgating

3) Driving home and trying to find out where the storm is, but the crappy radio won't tell me.

Pretty excited. So good thread!

Does anyone know if there is a DC powered digital converter box so that I would not need a DC/AC converter?

isnt there a tv tuner made by pioneer?

Cool thanks for the reply. I might have to go with the one with the stealth install. I have a Dodge Charger so I would have to mount it either in my rear window or on my dash or something... most likely the rear window tough. I am wondering what kind of reception I would get if I mounted it in the trunk. I live in the DC/Baltimore area, so over the air stuff is not much of a problem. I guess it's just something to play with.

 

When you said your friends doesn't get as many channels as yours, are you talking about UHF channels? And is it a considerable difference? I'm really only looking to get the major channels (CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC and maybe a couple of the weather channels). I spend enough time in traffic... I dont want to end up getting home and sleeping in my car because the TV is so good!

Well, the thing with digital tuners that is a MAJOR difference from analog rabbit ear tuners...If you have poor-none reception, you will NOT get the channel at all. An analog tuner will pick up poor reception, and display it on the screen with alot of static. So yea, the quality of the reception from the antenna will lead to more TV stations. (Major channels usually have very good broadcast reception quality, so you need not to worry)

Nice thread! I just applied for a converter box coupon, said it will mail out on 4/3. I like the stealth antenna and would like to mount it under the safari basket of my Xterra. Wonder if it would hold up to the elements?

 

I'm also gonna need a three-way splitter for A/V inputs. #1 for this converter box, #2 for the video out cable from my HTC Fuze, and #3 for iPod connection. All these will go into A/V 1 in the back of the unit because I don't something always plugged into A/V 2 on the front. I assume when I select A/V 1 intput as a source it will take whichever input out of those 3 is supplying a signal, so no need for an external switcher.

If my antenna was on the outside of the car...I'd get a quality OUTDOOR antenna. Don't opt for the cheap indoor ones. They make flat, nice, antennas (most of them need to be powered separately) for around $50 I think.

I think its just expecting a input, so your three way splitter will work BUT you have to change AV1 input to iPod, every time you want to use the iPod.

It looks like you got a UHF/VHF antennae while your friend got a UHF only antennae. That would explain why you get more channels. VHF and UHF cover a different channel spectrum.

If you look at the antenna link I posted, one of the features for his stealth antenna is "Receives local HD and DTV signals; supports UHF and VHF signals"

Well, the thing with digital tuners that is a MAJOR difference from analog rabbit ear tuners...If you have poor-none reception, you will NOT get the channel at all. An analog tuner will pick up poor reception, and display it on the screen with alot of static. So yea, the quality of the reception from the antenna will lead to more TV stations. (Major channels usually have very good broadcast reception quality, so you need not to worry)

This is definately something I plan on doing. It would be nice to have local channels. Some examples of times I am going to look forward to:

 

1) Leaving a game and being stuck in traffic, my buddies can watch either other games or highlights.

2) Tailgating

3) Driving home and trying to find out where the storm is, but the crappy radio won't tell me.

 

 

Pretty excited. So good thread!

Weather Channel and keeping kids/adults entertained is a big plus

Does anyone know if there is a DC powered digital converter box so that I would not need a DC/AC converter?

Probably not because Converter Boxes are meant for indoor use with a TV...so you probably won't find a DC one since all houses are AC.

isnt there a tv tuner made by pioneer?

Yes there is but 2 things.

1) Extremely expensive, a converter box with a coupon will cost you free-$10 at the minimum

2) TV Tuner by pioneer is ANALOG. When the DTV transition is finished, it will be useless. You might as well go digital right now.

so mega ALL i need is bunny ears, digital converter box, and power inverter??

Couldn't you just use your car's antenna for TV reception?

It might not work in the boonies but in any major city it should to the trick...Right?

so mega ALL i need is bunny ears, digital converter box, and power inverter??

yes...and RCA cables to your headunit. That's all you need.

Couldn't you just use your car's antenna for TV reception?

 

It might not work in the boonies but in any major city it should to the trick...Right?

Well....is your car antenna a coaxial cable? If it is then yes, just wire it your converter box. You'll probably want to get a Y-Splitter as well so you can still retain AM/FM radio.

Is a true stealth install possible w/ having to be able to change the channel, even w/ the remote you need to be able to see the converter, Is that correct?

Is a true stealth install possible w/ having to be able to change the channel, even w/ the remote you need to be able to see the converter, Is that correct?

You have to see the IR port of the coverter box because you have to use the remote to change channels.

When I said stealth install for my friend, I meant his antenna was hidden in his car. The converter box for his car, as well as my car, sits underneath our front passenger seats. The TV Remote works by pointing it towards the leg space of the front seat passenger. My friend and I both believe it works because the IR bounces off somewhere in the leg room into the IR Receiver inside the converter box.

This TV tuner and antenna I saw on amazon looks like could work in this setup. Any thoughts on that?

http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Digital-Atsc ... pd_sbs_e_5

I want TV, but I do not want anything in the passenger compartment. I would like it all stealthily hidden.

I have a universal remote that can transmit RF, it just requires that you stick the little RF-IR sensor on the face of the digital converter then run the RF sensor wire up to the front of the car somewhere. It may be over engineering, but since when has that been a problem.

so whats the best power inverter and antenna to use i already have my converter box also how are you guys wiring up the power inverter? Same way i did my mini add a circuit on my radar?

im in the middle of the install but where do my rcas go into the back of a f900bt? i need to know fast thanks