7" Transflective monitor with T/S kit available now at the Mp3Car Store

**Eternalodyssey** · 06-26-2006, 04:58 AM

Defenitely looks like its worth the upgrade. Too bad my screen fabrication is already too far along for me to go back and trash what I have already done. Theres always the next vehicle though!!

**RedGTiVR6** · 06-26-2006, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by XxAndyxX

Wow, great to here this screen is actually the real deal!

Anyone know even how to go about doing the mod yourself? I wonder if it requires expensive machinery or something...

Originally Posted by durzel

Is the price on this likely to come down at some point?

I probably don't need to buy a monitor for at least a couple of months, and I'm having difficulty justifying such a huge price difference compared to a basic Xenarc 700TSV.

both of your questions have already been asked and have already been answered in this thread. Read upwards a bit and you'll get the answers.

**parksgm** · 06-26-2006, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by XxAndyxX

Wow, great to here this screen is actually the real deal!

Anyone know even how to go about doing the mod yourself? I wonder if it requires expensive machinery or something...

Heck, if you'd just SEARCHED, then you'd see that there have already been multiple books written and published (with pictures) by 1,255 other users on this site. But, to save you time, and keep you from having to lift a finger or think, I'll repost their answer:

In short, yes. It's both easy AND doesn't require any expensive machinery. Let's do it!

Take some aluminum foil (doesn't have to be new...you can use an old burger wrapper or chewing gum foil if you don't want to spend ANY money AT ALL) and glue it to the back of your screen-thingy using Elmer's glue (I'd make sure and get the "skool glue" if I were you...that way you can wash it out of your overalls if you spill some on yourself). Screw it up? That's ok! Just get another burger!

Next, we've got to get rid of that nasty glare that's keeping you from watching your skin flicks in the middle of the day while driving (hey, it's not an addiction unless it interferes with your job, right?). Don't worry though, 'cause this is E-A-S-Y too! Just go get some "Testor's Dull Coat" at your local Hobby Lobby (or craft store of your preference). This stuff is GREAT! It comes in a spray can, and is normally used to make the surfaces of model military aircraft or tanks or such dull and lifelike, but we're going to use it to cut glare on your screen. Just spray it on! Best of all, it's not expensive like those so-called "optically matched" glare filters those scammers at mp3car.com use on their upgrade!

That's it! If you've followed these steps precisely, your screen will be EXACTLY IDENTICAL to the upgrade that the mp3car.com store is charging over $600 for, and you've got it for FREE. Geez Luiz! Why pay more?

(Apparently I'm feeling sarcastic today. Sorry.)

**Durzel** · 06-26-2006, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by parksgm

Yes. It's both easy AND doesn't require any expensive machinery. Let's do it!

Take some aluminum foil (doesn't have to be new...you can use an old burger wrapper or chewing gum foil if you don't want to spend ANY money AT ALL) and glue it to the back of your screen-thingy using Elmer's glue (I'd make sure and get the "skool glue" if I were you...that way you can wash it out of your overalls if you spill some on yourself). Screw it up? That's ok! Just get another burger!

Next, we've got to get rid of that nasty glare that's keeping you from watching your skin flicks in the middle of the day while driving (hey, it's not an addiction unless it interferes with your job, right?). Don't worry though, 'cause this is E-A-S-Y too! Just go get some "Testor's Dull Coat" at your local Hobby Lobby (or craft store of your preference). This stuff is GREAT! It comes in a spray can, and is normally used to make the surfaces of model military aircraft or tanks or such dull and lifelike, but we're going to use it to cut glare on your screen. Just spray it on! Best of all, it's not expensive like those so-called "optically matched" glare filters those scammers at mp3car.com use on their upgrade!

That's it! If you've followed these steps precisely, your screen will be EXACTLY IDENTICAL to the upgrade that the mp3car.com store is charging over $600 for, and you've got it for FREE. Geez Luiz! Why pay more?

There's nothing wrong with debating the price, it is after all over twice the price of a brand new Xenarc 700TSV. No need to be a smartass about it.

Not everyone is keen to drop $679 on a 7" monitor, even if they do have the money to hand (thats more than I paid for my 20" Dell widescreen TFT).

**parksgm** · 06-26-2006, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Durzel

No need to be a smartass about it.

But I SO enjoy it. ;-) Sarcasm makes the world go 'round.

I agree with you though, $679 is a chunk of coin...I think it's amazing that no one ever came up with a viable, affordable solution for increasing the backlight brightness (besides the one-off LCD project) after all the reasearch and time put into finding an answer. While the transflective upgrade is probably the best, and most elegant solution, I still think there's got to be a cheaper way...

**Durzel** · 06-26-2006, 10:36 AM

I've been keeping a running total of my CarPC costs to date, and whilst it is still (currently) cheaper than an equivalent double-din unit, it would definitely surpass it if I was to buy this monitor.... which is annoying really.

I was looking at an Alpine IVA-W200 before going down the CarPC route, and until I had seen the pics of the Xenarc against this transreflective upgrade I had no idea the Xenarc was so unreadable in sunlight, even when not direct. Based on these pictures I can only assume the Alpines, Pioneers, etc have transreflective screens. And to think I had been told on good authority that the Xenarc is better than the Lilliput? Shocking really.

I'll probably end up buying this transreflective kit purely because despite the price tag I would only end up getting annoyed with glare, etc if I didn't. That said I'm going to hold off on it as long as possible in the hope the pricing becomes a little more realistic.

**parksgm** · 06-26-2006, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Durzel

I was looking at an Alpine IVA-W200 before going down the CarPC route, and until I had seen the pics of the Xenarc against this transreflective upgrade I had no idea the Xenarc was so unreadable in sunlight, even when not direct.

You and me both...

Originally Posted by durzel

Based on these pictures I can only assume the Alpines, Pioneers, etc have transreflective screens. And to think I had been told on good authority that the Xenarc is better than the Lilliput? Shocking really.

I find it difficult to believe that with the number of LCDs going into car nav systems, there is not a sunlight readable LCD available anywhere... I think the problem is that the mp3car.com crowd requires VGA or better resolution AND sunlight readability AND touchscreens.

Since my install isn't complete again secondary to some unforseen power issues, I'll wait until I have everything working smoothly before connecting a $700 screen...

**sebberry** · 06-29-2006, 12:35 AM

An OEM navi screen from my car's manufacturer costs around $800 CDN I think.... so this price seems reasonable...

Then again, I have no idea how much of that $800 is profit.

I wonder how much Mp3car.com makes on these... I wonder what the cost of the materials used in the upgrade cost...

**replicant** · 06-29-2006, 12:44 AM

i believe they are making a VERY small (if any) profit. this has to be done in some amount of bulk for the price to be reasonable. zip-lock can correct me on that, but nameeri, the original guinea pig paid a good bit to have his done as well.

**Naamanf** · 06-29-2006, 12:54 AM

Okay here is a though for those of you with Xenarc monitors. The Hitachi panel that the Liliput use are the same. It's the control board/power supply that are different. That being the case, you "should" be able to use the panel with all the Xenarc parts.