motoxrider295

After having investing in all the electronics on my TL including:

-Invision Revolution II headrest TV's
-Xbox 1
-New Alpine CDA-9886
-Alpine Type-R Components (Front) Type-R Coaxial (Rear)
-Alpine MRP-F450 (High's Amp)
-Alpine MRP-M850 (Sub Amp)
-Kicker Solobaric L7 12inch





I wanted to take the bar further by adding some broadcast television to my beloved TL. Working at a car audio shop you tend to have some innovative electrical thinking and I thought of how easy it would be to add TV to any in-vehicle monitor due to the convenience of the new ZENITH DTV CONVERTER BOX. After Feb 09 as everyone should know analog broadcasts are being shut down so, out comes the DTV Tuner Box from Zenith to aid in receiving the new digital signals. This make a universal and relatively inexpensive add-on for TV.

Requirements:
-Some type of monitor/display for your vehicle or Navi monitor hack for your OEM Nav
-DTV Converter Box mine was made by Zenith, (picked up from my local Circuit City $60 w/o coupon, $20 with coupon), just make sure it has Video and Audio outputs
-Power inverter my guess is about 50-75 watts, nothing to high maybe $30-$40
-Extension Cord $5

My total cost was $65 not including my original headrest investment.

Though my DIY isn't too thorough its an easy install as long as you can use a pair of wire strippers and a ratchet.

1. Find a location for the DTV box that is easy enough for you to mount/place/wire/install or anything else required for where you want to put it. I chose to mount mine with some velcro on the rear deck next to the factory sub location. It had a perfect square to hold the box in turns along with the velcro. Picture below:



2. Once I had chosen the box location I began to route the wires behind the carpeted panel that the box sits on, I tucked them in between the window and panel, routing them around the back panel to the door and down the side of the seat to the bottom of the backseat.

3. I then found a location convenient for the power inverter, since my amps were mounted in the back with 12 volts of high current amp wire from the batter I figured that would be the perfect source for the inverter. I mounted it in the left side of the trunk behind the carpet with the extension cord running through the back seat to come out from under the seat wear the DTV box would plug in and hide the connection easily under the seat when snapped back in place.

4. Next is to route the signal wires for the output to the TV. I had mine follow the power wires down to the seat then hidden under the plastic panels to the seat and then to the headrest box. This will vary based on your monitor situation. Just hide the wires well and make sure they won't get damaged or pinched.

5. Once the wires are all hidden and hooked up thats it! Hide all the wires, wire lume them up zip tie them neatly and securely and enjoy. This pic is of my headrest TV's with my channel 6 displayed.

02type-s

Thats awesome! How do you change channels tho? And what kind of channels do you get?

motoxrider295

You will get any local channels your in distance of, but the advantage is they're digital so no static. Most of the channels are even in widescreen. To change the channels the Zenith box came with a remote, or you can hit the button on th box. Remote also allows you to view the guide, signal quality, programming.

fsttyms1

I would find a different place to mount that unit that is more out of the way. It looks horrible sitting in the rear window

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

can u put the DTV Converter Box in the trunk or does it have to be by a window?
looks like a mod that i might do next. got the head unit, dvd player, ps2, sound system, now tv show

JCharged

iTrader: (5)

Damn I would love this.

I want to watch TV shows while I'm at a rest stop or something or have it for my passengers since I love to travel and don't want them to be bored.

motoxrider295

I know the location isn't the greatest but to change the channel it has to be in reaching range or range of the remote so in the cabin was the only option. Enough people kick my xbox under the seat so I decided this wouldn't be the worst location, I may change it later. If you look in the picture of the DTV box to the right you can see my antenna mounted if any one wants to do it this way.

-I put a hole in the plastic removable panel in the front of the sub housing and the antenna sticks about 3 inches out. Not real noticeable and I like the location.

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

so once u have the dtv box you just hook it up to an outlet, tv screen, and the audio and your done? u got tv.

motoxrider295

Thats it just give the box what it needs. Simple huh?

FL3.2TL

Any way to extend the antenna with a range booster? Very creative and nice idea! Thanks for sharing

motoxrider295

I'm working/shopping around for a better antenna, this one is the best I have found so far, at my reach at least. Its available on ebay for a couple dollars. I had one that extended about 2FT in opposite directions but the amp on it didn't work so it wasn't doing any better. Whats nice is the DTV box has a signal meter on it so no guessing. I'll keep people updated when I find the best antenna.

AznWay

iTrader: (8)

Nice upgrade to Headrest TV.

Now this is going be my next mods.

6MTUA5

iTrader: (2)

...and flying projectile FTL

Blaze.45

Awesome idea, although the mounting place will attract thieves like flies on sh*t.

Blaze.45

I just had an idea... why not mount the converter box in the fold-out arm rest?

That way you could use the remote, or just change the channel on the box. Then, when you go to Ghettoville... just fold up the arm rest and viola!

Razzi

that's pretty effin awesome. get local channels wherever you go

motoxrider295

I'll give that arm rest idea a look, I do want to change it.

CJITTY

wow, I have an Alpine IVA-W200 full screen below my NAV screen..I guess this would be an easy mod for me, but I would just have to figure out the converter location so it can get signal. I wonder if they have a magnetic mount exterior antenna in small form factor? I have my XM antenna color matched and on the right rear corner of my trunk..that would be cool if they had something like that I can put on the other corner of the trunk and color match if possible.

Never thought about something like this, since I just watch DVDs but my head unit can take another outside a/v source...hmmmmmmm, perfect for road trips with the wifey to keep her mind off how long the drive is lol

CJITTY

here are the dimensions from CNET for the box

* Width 8.5 in
* Depth 1.8 in
* Height 6.4 in
* Weight 1.7 lbs

Connections

1 x RF input ( F connector ) - Rear,
1 x Composite video/audio output ( RCA phono x 3 ) - Rear
1 x RF output ( F connector ) - Rear

eggyhustles

Nice..

btw get a custom box for that sub made..prefab boxes suck

CJITTY

^^^yes, get the uncald4 custom box in the black market..i love mine!

motoxrider295

Ok so I found an antenna that gets incredible reception but I think no matter what antenna I have watching while driving isn't going to happen. The antenna is a flat amplified antenna from circuit city made by RCA, it says designed for DTV, (I'm guessing that doesn't mean DTV while moving!) It seems as though the antenna signal drops and resumes so rapidly while driving that the converter box can't buffer a steady stream. So here lies another problem...

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

with your old antenna, while u were driving was everything ok?

motoxrider295

No it wasn't with any antenna I've found driving seems to be the only problem. Because the signal drops and spikes so frequently and contains such a high bitrate being digital, the box cannot play it smoothly. With this new antenna I do get incredible reception parked.

Here's the new antenna I used RCA model number ANT1450B.


I was able to hide this antenna in the stock bose sub box. Hidden from any sight inside or out.


I took your suggestion and put it in the armrest. It looks very nice from inside the car and even if you looked in the backseat windows at that angle you can't see it. If I want to really hide it I actually have to slide the converter box up a little bit then put the armrest up and it still doesn't even go up all the way but it doesn't look like your trying to hid anything.


So after all that I get incredible reception (just for now not when driving), nobody can see my converter box unless they're in the car, and no visible antenna either. I'm making progress just no perfect yet.

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

u cant connect the antenna to the car antenna?

motoxrider295

No not near the signal quality.

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

i got the $40 coupon for the convert box and it say that i can the the following boxes for zenith, zenith DTT900/901 and the zenith DF2000. i can also get many other brands. which one of these zenith boxes do i need/ will work, and can i get other ones besides the one u got?

fsttyms1

Still not digging where its mounted. I would mount it in the trunk or somewhere else (glovebox/behind it) . Id get a IR repeater and use that to get the remote signal to it.

acuraspeed604

i would just rewire the the remote reciver sensor place the box in the truck and just wire the sensor to the front of the car OPEN THAT BOX UP

Concept-S

--Agree

motoxrider295

Here's an update to the TV in your car I started, much better all around!

Final location for converter box...


Avic-D3 so I can watch it now!


Amps in the floor setup make the trunk much nicer with fresh carpet!!


And I kept the wood cut-out and carpeted it so when the trunk means being functional then I can do it with out scratching the plexi...

phee

iTrader: (5)

i would take the PCB out of the case and mount it under the trunk lid, but above the carpeting

MurdaZ

iTrader: (1)

wow why didnt i see this thread a long time ago, i was looking at the old analog pioneer tv units to connect...soooooo doing this soon

acuraspeed604

i would open that dtv box rip the remote sensor out and place it by the head unit somewhere and relocate the box into the truck

motoxrider295

I don't really see in any spots in the trunk that I like under the rear deck is almost out of question due to the torsion bars for our trunk lid. Not enough room behind the carpets and my floor is filled with amps and wood so I guess for me I'm just gonna leave it.

CJITTY

great update..did you ever get any better reception while moving? Or do you have to be stationary for signal?

Superb

you have to be stationary to receive DTV signal. I have this on my carpc and I've learned that the signal locks on to a fixed position. Signal is pretty much lost once speed is above 5-10 mph

if anyone figures out otherwise, i'd love to kno how they got it working

CJITTY

that sux, yeah that would be if you could roll with TV...your rims are hella sick man!

97AcuraCL

good to have for future reference! thanks for the write up!

CJITTY

Quick question, I have a cigarette lighter inverter that isn't getting any use. It powers and charges my laptop on road trips. Do you suppose i can just use that w/o hard wiring an inverter? I know hardwire would be a cleaner install but I guess as a temporary thing to see if this is something I would pursue. If I did this, I would use the armrest cigarette plug.

There are plenty of times I'm sitting waiting to pick up the wife or just stuck in traffic and standing still for 5-10 minutes...at least catch some local news on the drive home or something or catch a "Cheaters" episode leaving a parking garage at night lmao