DVD/LCD installation

Thomas Porter · Post by **Thomas Porter** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:44 pm

Just put in an all-in-one Alpine DVD multimedia system with 10.5" screen.
Looks cool, works great through the FM transmitter. Awesome theatre experience in the van.
Points to ponder though - no one was really thrilled about doing such an install. They worried about breaking mounldings etc. and were a little concerned about the electrical system as all is written Japanese.
I did the install myself, having done a great deal of AV stuff in other vehicles.
If you hope to do such an install yourself, be forewarned that it will take ALL DAY and you will need a variety of tools.
Although there was ample room between the headliner and the roof in my highroof, there is painfully little space to run cables and wires between the body and mouldings.
I ended up drilling into the roof pillars and using a wire snake to fish cords in through the uprights. Worked great but there were some creative metaphors flying around.
The nice part though was that the battery box is under the passenger seat and it was a snap to plung a hole and grommet through to get power after coming out from the passenger side pillar.
We put a switch in the shifter housing to bypass the switched power on the unit ( so we can run the unit without key in the ignition on ACC ).
Make sure you measure and remeasure everything six times before cuting into your headliner though. You will also need another set of hands to hold the unit in place while bolting it to the retaining brackets. Sore shoulders after...
And it was a bit of work to get the headliner out to begin with. Lots of screws in the curtain rails, then the grab handles had to go, window rubbers came out, blah, blah,.
The stereo shop was relieved to learn I was going to do it myself. They kindof skoffed at my ability at first but were suitably impressed when I brought it back to show them.
For those who are mechanically and aesthetically challenged, pay the money and let someone else do it. The estimate to install the system was $300. I probably ended up losing money doing it myself -should have been at work, but oh well.
I also installed a 1/4 inch mic jack to run my electric guitar off the sound system. COOOOL. ..my wife things I'm pathetic.
Got to run,
Thomas 8)

Post by **BCDelica** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 6:25 pm

Cheers,

Thanks for the information, something I have been nervous to try.

Could you find someone to take some pictures of the install to share with us.

Thomas Porter · Post by **Thomas Porter** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 9:29 pm

Can't show you the install in progess, it's done. Can show you the after shots though. Will take pics this week and post.
I may reroute the audio line and hard wire it in rather than using the FM transmitter, I like things hard wired when possible. If I do, I'll post some of the other shots. Doubtful though.
I am a location photographer and I will be using this unit to show clients their work on site, ensuring the objectives are met before leaving the set.
We can just jack the camera into the video-in port and cycle through the work with the clients in the jump seats.
Will also use it to review video footage from some our our flyfishing outings at day's end. Supposed to be doing a pilot program with a local production company. They've been after me to do a Flyfishing Saskatchewan show pilot with them for about a year. I'm pretty busy though.
We'll keep you posted on any future tech mods. I'd like to get a satellite dish to transmit images remotely but the bit rate isn't there yet for vehicle mounted units. The only one I've found that foots the bill is trailer mounted and costs around $25,000.
I think it will have to wait. Besides, if there are any type of roads, I'm close enough to a land line to transmit.
With any luck, satellite phone technology will improve in the next few years and I may be able to transmit from a handheld jacked into the laptop.
Anybody put a laptop station in their vehicles yet? That's one of my next projects.
Cheers,
Thomas Porter
http://www.smarterphoto.com

Post by **BCDelica** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:11 am

Hey Thomas,

I would love to see a picture of the completed install. Where exactly in the headliner did you mount the screen?

I have never thought of a laptop station in the family van, there is just so many convenient places for the laptop in a Delica. A 19 LCD widescreen, mounted with a nice 360 mount, somewhere in motor hump area, a Wii and DVD installed in the rear heater bezel, mmmmmmm. That's way down on the list of projects right now, but it'd sure be great for all that time waiting for BC Ferries.

Cheers,
Kev - really wants more flyfishing shows!!

(Both on the Fly)

Thomas Porter · Post by **Thomas Porter** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:34 pm

I took some pics but I've never posted any. How to?
Thomas[/img]

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:48 pm

viewtopic.php?t=364

Thomas Porter · Post by **Thomas Porter** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:54 pm

Here's the DVD player installed. Works great! now dirty films on the road.
Haha! The Saskatchewan River Pirate Strikes Again!
Thomas

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Fanny Bay Delica · Post by **Fanny Bay Delica** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:21 pm

Thomas,

Thanks very much for the pics, looks terrific!! My kid have been bugging me to put one in our Deli but I'm not sure where to place it with the crystal lite roof configuration.