Sunlight-Readable Monitor for Fishing Boat

**marcram** · 06-28-2009, 12:35 PM

Hello,

I'd like to get suggestions from you guys. I currently have a boat pc installed under our center console that uses gps integrated with google earth. About a year ago, I bought a Xenarc 705 tsv monitor to test out my system on the water. I have set up this monitor so that the panel is removed after each fishing trip because it is in a saltwater environment, however the power plug and the vga-data cables are getting corroded because they are permanently installed and exposed to the salty air. Additionally, the sunlight readability is pretty bad, as the monitor will encounter direct sunlight virtually all of the time. I also don't need a touchscreen as I have a roller-ball mouse that works well.

I'd like to come up with a better solution for my monitor. There are marine-dedicated units that are rated to be sprayed or even submerged, but most of these are $2k or more. I think this is overkill for my application as I would probably still want to remove the unit when not in use, as our boat is kept on a lift that people can potentially steal from. Do you all think that an upgrade to the current 705 would be a good idea or even possible? I'd like to get a transflective screen, and I know that some companies offer upgrades in the past. I could also remove the touchscreen currently on the monitor. I could also buy a new cable and permanently connect the power and vga cable to it, waterproof seal the connectors, cut the cables, and then solder on a waterproof (non-corrosive) connector for easy removal by just a single connector.

Or.. can you guys suggest a new transflective monitor that could be waterproof moded the same way? I think optical bonding will be better for the satwater, marine environment for humidity and such. Xenarc seems to have some nice, cheap units that are made from aluminum (anti-corrosive). This one looks like it would be perfect for mounting on the boat:
http://www.xenarcdirect.com/product.php?productid=16144
but it lacks the sunlight readability. Also, I'd like for the monitor to be VESA mountable or be able to mount on a heavy-duty arm mount. Maybe a RAM mount. I'd also consider building the whole unit from various parts, but it seems that you have to order in bulk to get the parts. For instance, I would really like to get this transflective panel:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...J-MFW-A-AAN-ND

Thanks a lot for your input.

Marc

**malcom2073** · 06-28-2009, 12:47 PM

IMO the lilliput 629-GL transflective screen is by far the easiest to read in the sunlight. I've used them on multiple occasions and nothing else really comes close. I can't really speak as to the water resistance of it, but for sunlight readable you can't do much better

**marcram** · 06-28-2009, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by malcom2073

IMO the lilliput 629-GL transflective screen is by far the easiest to read in the sunlight. I've used them on multiple occasions and nothing else really comes close. I can't really speak as to the water resistance of it, but for sunlight readable you can't do much better

Is that the one modded by mp3car, or a standard model?

Thanks for the response,
Marc

**malcom2073** · 06-28-2009, 12:54 PM

mp3car no longer has them in stock, but you can get them from here:
http://store.mo-co-so.com/lilliput62...ble-p-236.html

**marcram** · 06-28-2009, 01:09 PM

Does that one have a VESA mount? Easy mounting is pretty critical for my application. What does the back look like? Separate power and video cables?

Do you have a feel for how it compares to this one:
http://store.mp3car.com/New_7_Transf..._p/mon-052.htm
... or this one:
http://www.xenarcdirect.com/product....cat=249&page=1

Thanks,
Marc

**marcram** · 06-28-2009, 01:11 PM

Also, would you recommend removing the touch-screen layer?

**malcom2073** · 06-28-2009, 01:14 PM

I'm fairly certain it does not have a vesa mount. It does have separate power and video cables. I have no pictures of them are we use them a lot at work, I don't actually own one.

The one I linked is the same as the first link you linked, apparently mp3car got some back in stock, the only difference is who did the transflective attachment. the 702TSV is not transflective, so it will not be nearly as readable as a transflective monitor no matter how bright it is.

Edit: If I recall correctly, removing the touchscreen layer from a transflective bonded screen ruins it, I could be wrong though.

**marcram** · 06-28-2009, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by malcom2073

I'm fairly certain it does not have a vesa mount. It does have separate power and video cables. I have no pictures of them are we use them a lot at work, I don't actually own one.

The one I linked is the same as the first link you linked, apparently mp3car got some back in stock, the only difference is who did the transflective attachment. the 702TSV is not transflective, so it will not be nearly as readable as a transflective monitor no matter how bright it is.

Edit: If I recall correctly, removing the touchscreen layer from a transflective bonded screen ruins it, I could be wrong though.

Thank you so much for this information!!

The bezel also seems to be different, but this really doesn't matter.

There seem to be 3 models, I guess only the last one is optically bonded?
MCS-629-TFE1
MCS-629-TFE2
MCS-629-TFE3

**marcram** · 06-28-2009, 05:29 PM

OK, I'll probably end up with one of the following:

1)
Lilliput EBY701 Transflective Optically Bonded Daylight Readable
$600
http://store.mo-co-so.com/lilliputeb...ble-p-205.html

2)
Lilliput 629-GL Transflective Optically Bonded Daylight Readable
$675
http://store.mo-co-so.com/lilliput62...ble-p-236.html

I think they are using the same optical bonding/transflective technology, but are based on the EBY701 and 629-GL. The pictures do not reflect this. Will I see a big difference in sunlight readability between these two. Anyone know if they are either/both aluminum.
Brightness ratings seem to be the same, but I think the 629 has more contrast.