Pioneer AVH-P6500DVD

**edscott** · 12-13-2003, 11:44 PM

For a variety of reasons, I can't go headless. I'm wondering if a monitor like this has promise:

http://www.hookedontronics.com/show_...s.jsp?cid=5874

It's got vga in for a nav system/carputer, has am/fm, dvd playback, power amp, etc... and it's motorized. Only downside is I don't think I can interface it's touch screen to my carputer. Anyone know if I can put an additional touch screen on top of the monitor for running the carputer, or somehow interface with the Pioneer touchscreen?

Assuming I can't interface with the carputer with a touch screen at all, anyone have experiences with using remotes or track-pads only for their carputer? I'm planning on using the carputer for: MP3's, XM, navigation, 802.11 access, etc...

Thoughts? Experiences with this unit? It's got a lot of features that I want so it kills the two birds of monitor and head unit for me and fits in a single din opening (I've only got din and a half available).

Thanks in advance.

-Ed

**Jackso** · 12-14-2003, 11:36 PM

Dude, that's really expensive to really only do part of what you're looking for. What exactly are your reasons for having to use a head unit. I too use a head unit, but only beacuse I'm cheap and lazy. You obviously are not cheap as you're considering spending a grand on a LCD display that doesn't really do what you want. As a side note, if you MUST have a headunit with display and are going to spend a grand, consider using the Sony head unit. I only say this because you're talking about doing XM. Pioneer adopted sirius and Sony asdopted XM, thus the sony head unit would contol the XM system right from the head unit. Not sure of the video input.

Again, the big question is what are you using the head unit for exactly. You can probably really do much better with $1000 and design something more custom that fits all your needs.

**edscott** · 12-15-2003, 12:22 AM

Thanks for your input. What exactly is your experience with this unit? I'm happy to hear what you have to say on the subject.

Here are my needs:
1. Dual-zone;
2. Head unit with am/fm (the other threads in this forum indicate that there isn't a decent am/fm computer receiver, please correct if wrong);
3. RGB in;
4. Preferably, power amp built-in;
5. Aux-in;
6. Needs to fit in 1.5 Din slot + whatever else (if I got DigitalWW display, head unit wouldn't fit, unless there's a .5 din head unit or display out there somewhere);
7. Rotary volume control;
8. Auto-antenna up;
9. Stealth would be nice (fold-up display when not in use);
10. Cell-phone mute would be nice.

It isn't that expensive when you consider that you've gotten a motorized display, an RGB input, dual-zones, DVD playback, am/fm plus a power amp. All those things separate could easily add up to $1000. For example, the DigitalWW unit is not motorized and goes for $550, that is, if it's ever in stock. It doesn't have 1-2, 4-7. Yeah, it doesn't have touch-screen for the carputer (unless you can interface to the Pioneer jack), then you'd get that too.

I said I was going to do XM through the carputer (XM PC), not the Pioneer satellite receiver.

Suggest away.

-Ed

**Jackso** · 12-15-2003, 12:30 AM

Maybe you're right, maybe that is the best solution for you, seeing as how everything you listed that you need it does. Which leads to the question of what you need the car-puter for. Seems that the head unit does everything that you wanted minus the navigation, which can be gotten and added and would be MUCH easier to use while driving.

**edscott** · 12-15-2003, 02:05 AM

Thanks for your input. Anyone else? Carputer is needed for:

1. Nav system (including international maps - stand-alone US-only nav is $1500 or more);
2. MP3 librar/player to sync with my home computer;
3. XM satellite;
4. 802.11 access (for 2 and internet access);
5. DVD playback (if lacking a DVD stand-alone device, e.g. CD type head unit);
6. ECU management.

Anyone know how the 26 pin Pioneer RGB maps to standard VGA connector? Is there an adapter? Anyone know the pin-outs?

The more I looked at Lilliput and DigitalWW, the more I realized how they were lacking in a number of areas, not to mention that the units are rarely in stock, and one of these head units has it all? If I could find am/fm for a pc and reasonable motorized display I might still consider going headless.

-Ed

**Jackso** · 12-15-2003, 02:24 AM

From what I've seen around the forum, most people are now getting their am/fm from a tv tuner card. Some say you can still find the DLink tuner at Ebay too. That's the way to go if you can get one as all of the software that is made by people of the site support it (by all I mean all I've played with). I'm gonna shut up now cuz I think I've outlived my usefulness.

**NJay** · 12-15-2003, 05:26 AM

I doubt there is a cable readily available and since that cable also provides control over the SAT/NAV box I would assume that its only active if the headunit detects that there is something at the other end, i.e might need some way of fooling it.

Also, the Pioneer screen is not high resolution as despite its high price it is still at the end of the day no better than the $200 TM-701L as the resolution is 440xRGBx234. Actually whilst typing I've realised that's not strictly true as if you succeed in hooking it up via RGB that will improve the image compared to the composite only input on the TM-701L. It still won't be as good as the lilliput or Xenarc though.

HTH

**Skippman** · 12-15-2003, 11:50 AM

Jackso, this unit IS XM ready, not Sirius.

While we're on the topic, here's my take.

I recently purchased an Alpine IVA-D900 and sold off my Xenarc. I did so for a number of reasons:

1.) Stealth
2.) Installation ease
3.) Intergration

The IVA-D900 has a resolution of 2,400x480. Much like a HDTV, it will accept standard Y/Pr/Pb inputs with some modification. I'm working with my installer, and Alpine, to construct a Y/Pr/Pb to Navi cable for the unit. The key to remember here is Y/Pr/Pb is NOT VGA. It can accept a VGA signal if properlly formated but is fundementally diffrent. Chief amongst the diffrences is that VGA typically uses RGBHV connectivity (Red/Green/Blue/Horz/Vert) where the Component video (which is what thier using for video) is Y/Pr/Pb (Yellow/Phospher Red/Phospher Blue). The sync is sent via the Green lead to the monitor. You'll need to not only have a custom harness for the HU fabricated but also get a VGA to RGB cable made which would run about another $100.

As an aside, I've dealt with Hooked on Tronics in the past (bought my CDA-7998 from them). They're a great company and I highly recommend dealing with them should you opt for the Pioneer unit. I would advise against buying the Pioneer unit unless you already have other Pioneer components as the screen is not equiped for doing what you're asking of it.

**NJay** · 12-15-2003, 02:14 PM

That IVA-D900 is a lovely piece of kit and is the ONLY headunit to have a panel resolution 2400*480 as all the others are 1440x234. You'ed think that since the IVA-D900 came out ages ago that Pioneer and Kenwood would have come up with something by now.

If you can get the Component to Navi cable I'm sure there'll be a few more going that route