M T L T L

Looks to be a cheaper, simpler n better alternative to the USASpec n Navtool combo. However I dont like their dirty marketing. Their price used to be 365 and now they selling at 395 with mention of their regular sale price being at 599.

http://www.autotoys.com/x/product.php?productid=9231

vletnguyen

iTrader: (1)

i had it, bought it for under 250 if i remember correctly.
i first seen it here.
https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rl-audio-bluetooth-electronics-navigation-90/i-006-diy-autotoys-com-nav-video-interface-both-audio-video-738316/

I am thinking about buying it again since my unit died when i was installing back up camera.
At the time I bought it, it was easier and cheaper then nav tool and usa spec

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

sweet repost

M T L T L

^
I haven't been on the forum for a while. And this unit is the new n improved version so it might be a little different than the one on the original post.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

haha

oo7spy

If you read through jhal's experience, the unit does work and is a great alternative IF they send you the right equipment.

There were quite a few complaints about non-existent customer service and skepticism that you would even receive the right parts. Proceed with caution. This purchase definitely should go on the credit card.

Matt W

I was going to take this route but I ultimately went against it. Combined this is cheaper than a NavTool + USA Spec combination. If you think about it, this is an all-in-one solution so there are less steps needed to be done to watch video etc. this has 4 video inputs! That is pretty nice because you can do a front camera setup like the actual Honda Legends they sell in Japan.

If you are primarily listening to an iPod though and don't need the extra video inputs then I think the USA-Spec + NavTool is the best route also having STEERING WHEEL CONTROL for my iPod was a big then and I am not sure the sound quality from the USA-Spec unit can be beat by this Autotoys one.

M T L T L

Anyone knows a similar device that can take Audio n Video signals a little bit like this unit not from an iPod but from a component or composite source ? I wanna play audios n videos from a portable media player that can read any type of file.

Matt W

If you are looking for high quality video and high quality audio the navtool and usaspec unit both specialize in those. Although I have my media center setup which is nice the majority of the time I use my 6 year old iPod to play music with the usaspec unit, honestly you can't beat having steering wheel controls

db22

Every now and again everyone should play their favorite DVD-A just to remind yourself of how average the Ipod sounds.
The IPod is for quantity not quality.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Speaking of which I need to get the new Lynyrd Skynyrd DVD-A this weekend.

oo7spy

I am confused. All of the nav hack units available have composite inputs for standard RCA audio video. This unit appears to be the only one setup for direct iPod integration for both audio and video. For the NavTool iPod video, you need the iPod to composite cable.

db22

If you can tolerate the 50's technology of composite video then MP3 should be a no brainer.

Matt W

I think he is asking if there are any all-in-one solutions like the AutoToys unit which integrate both the audio and video using one unit, rather than two units if you did the NavTool + USA-Spec combination.

As far as I know these are the only two options avaliable.

There is also the TVandNav2Go option which I believe is substantially cheaper than the NavTool option, and they both serve the same purpose.

As far as the most cost effective solution and probably the better solution would be the TVandNav2Go + USA-Spec combo because the NavTool people are trying to ream everyone with their new $400 dollar price tag which is outrageous.

Opps I lied, looks like you can buy them on ebay for cheaper from NavTool. Make them an offer of like $230 thats what I did when I bought mine and they accepted it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2005-2008-Ac...1bdbb0&vxp=mtr

Matt W

We don't need anything better than composite input for our navigation screens. The resolution of the screen, if I remember correctly is 800x480, the maximum resolution of composite ntsc is 720x480. You would gain 80 pixels of definition with a more expensive input option..not necessary.

M T L T L

^
Right on point.
I'm looking for a unit that "inputs" and "outputs" both audio n video signals. I would couple that with a little portable media player to play the audio video files. The benefits of such a configuration is; 1 Ur not limited by the capacity of iPod iPhone and 2 the media player would probably read much more file types as oppose to the limited format played on iDevices (mp4)

oo7spy

I'm still confused. Are you asking in addition to this unit? All that has been talked about here are the three options Matt mentioned. This unit, NavTool, & TVansNav2Go. The latter of which don't have audio capabilities.

M T L T L

^
No, I was just repeating my self incase I was not clear the 1st time. I guess the only other option would be the audio video adaptor made by some dude in Russia, if you remember from earlier threads. That would be even more riskier to purchase than the autotoys unit.

db22

The problem is the encoding of the "standard def" signal into NTSC, encoding is the weakest link.
Composite is an analog, chrominance interleaved system that produces the worst color signal that you can see. Standard def is a digital system of seperate Luminance with two half bandwidth chrominance color difference signals. Both Comp and SD have the same vertical and horizontal resolution possibility but the Comp reduces the image quality significantly by cheap encoders and even cheaper, in the case of the RL products available, decoders.
HD has numerous resolutions but the most popular viewing environment is 1920 by 1080 and has approximately 5 times the information that SD has and can exhibit about 10 times what NTSC can provide.

db22

I consider this forum to be a collection of "driver enthusiasts" and as one myself I strive to ever increase my technique, skill and driving ability. I cannot ever see the day when I will ever advocate additional distractions, such as a TV, within the drivers view. Cars in the 60's and 70's were beyond the capability of many people but todays cars provide way too much devotion to peripheral brainwork and have produced a driving standard that is continually in decline.
The speed limit in the 50's and 60's was 65/70 MPH because that was considered safe. Todays cars provide infinitely more safety but the speed limit has not increased due to the ability of drivers has proportionately declined.
If we didn't have CD's to change, menus to read, screens to watch and phones to answer then maybe skillfull driving could be moved up the priority list of things to do while getting from A to B.

oo7spy

Agreed. There is a very significant amount of economic loss due to traffic conditions caused by people who can't look straight ahead for more than 5 minutes.

Matt W

Still doesn't change the fact that we won't get any more image resolution from something different than composite. The new Navtool supports 24-bit color depth anyways, probably more depth than our screen. When it comes down to it, there is really nothing you are going to notice on a small screen in a car that a $100 dollar more expensive device would allow you to see

db22

If You cannot tell the difference between SD and composite then you are one of the lucky ones that can save $100.

vletnguyen

iTrader: (1)

I found this.

http://venturatechnology.com.mx/prod...HONDNAVLINK-02

or

http://venturatechnology.com.mx/prod...NUNIVID-PRO-X1


cheaper then autotoys since the cable is included and we cut out the middle man?

thinking about dealing with them

vletnguyen

iTrader: (1)

I just spoke the one of the guys at ventura technology and they said to order the http://venturatechnology.com.mx/prod...HONDNAVLINK-02 unit as the other unit ( same as mine) is discontinued.

he ask me if i wanted to help with a new version that is coming out later this year with even more features. we'll see how that goes

M T L T L

Did u ask what is their method for inputing the audio signal into the car system ? Do they tap onto the XM module in the trunk à la USASPEC and/or they plug the audio wire at the back of the head unit ?

ParaSurfer1979

Too bad there is nothiong like this for Android. Toyotas new navigation incorporates Android and apps. Pretty neat stuff. Or was it an after market add-on? I forget now....lol.

vletnguyen

iTrader: (1)

MTLTL- he said the the current version is plug and play in the back trunk where the nav/xm unit is.

Parasurfer- He said android compatibility is in the works

ParaSurfer1979

Nice... This would be a major upgrade peice for newer Hondas/Acura infotainment systems bringing them up to todays cars systems.