2003 E46 BMW 3 Series Ci Coupe UK Install Complete - custom dash/RR skin - many pics!

**sweetlikealemon** · 02-22-2006, 09:15 AM

The standard diversity antenna that is included with some composite output 12v TV tuners (or FM) tend to use twin jack input, so yes I would have thought the original aim was to source the signal from either.

But, to test any theory further I have tried these antennas in series and paralell. The most succesful was paralell. I have just used a mini-BNC or Coax combiner. i.e. reverse a splitter. Or just bodged the two together.

Back in the day of my "normal" multimedia install the modification above worked very well.

I installed a Freeview Car-TV tuner the other day that came with a crappy antenna that is even worse than anything I have tried.

I think I may just attach a high gain, silver, shiny, large.........chimney antenna to my roof!

**lloydy** · 02-22-2006, 11:03 AM

I just tried my diversity antenna that I got from eBay and I can confirm that it's ABSOLUTE PANTS! It makes no difference to having completely nothing plugged in to the radio card. It's meant to have a booster with it but its crap.

Also been trying a 20db amplified indoor antenna and a 43db amplified indoor antenna and both are ****e! Can barely see anything in analogue and digital is unwatchable.

So... still no working TV and no FM radio. Strange thing is I have run an extension cable from my factory antenna but it has no affect. I think perhaps it has become disconnected somewhere as this doesn't make sense. Out comes the screen again... !!

Can anyone recommend a good antenna for FM and TV ??

LLOYDY

**gokee2** · 02-22-2006, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by lloydy

I know I only have a small engine but I'm a poor 21 yr old PhD student trying to pay for petrol and insurance in the UK! LLOYDY

hehe. you own a nice *** whip man. u are definitely not poor. lol . i like the fact that your carpc and amp is velcroed to your sub. the skin too is beautiful. must have taken a while ehy? you also did a good job implemeting the reset button right at the dash. i know what if feels like when the darn pc hangs or freezes..goin all the way back to the boot (im familar wit it too hehe

) to do reset. ****. lol very nice setup in general. im sure a little wire management would not hurt

**lloydy** · 02-22-2006, 03:43 PM

@ gokee2

Well I am poor now since bought the car! I only get paid a pittance by my university for research and so far it's all gone on my car (and a small trip to California in three weeks time

)!

I know what you mean about the wires. As soon as everyhting is installed 100% (i.e. no ground loop, FM radio, decent TV etc) I will definately tidy it up. No point atm as I'm changing cables and moving things around all the time.

LLOYDY

**Civic03** · 02-22-2006, 04:45 PM

IG is not working... anyone else experiencing this with this skin?

**lloydy** · 02-22-2006, 04:57 PM

This is set up to use the European version of iGuidance. Are you also using the European iGuidance or the US version?

All you need to do is change the path to the iGuidance application in the menu.skin file.
It is current set to C:\Program Files\iNav\iGuidance Europe\iGuidance.exe

I'm unsure of the US version default folder but I'm sure this will be all you need to change.

Hope this helps,

LLOYDY

**lloydy** · 02-22-2006, 05:08 PM

Has anyone downloaded the skin yet? If so, how is it running? Did the fonts display OK etc?

LLOYDY

**3onDubs** · 02-22-2006, 05:15 PM

Very very nice install. I like the bezel trim with the carbon fiber trim...matches perfectly. That's a nice skin...which one is it? I was using the irunner skin.

**xtremak** · 02-22-2006, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by lloydy

So... still no working TV and no FM radio. Strange thing is I have run an extension cable from my factory antenna but it has no affect. I think perhaps it has become disconnected somewhere as this doesn't make sense. Out comes the screen again... !!

Can anyone recommend a good antenna for FM and TV ??

LLOYDY

If your car has the builtin antenna in the rear with the defrosting strips, you will need to power up the antenna amp, this is usually done by the headunit by sending an ON signal to the antenna amp. I cannot recall the color of the wire but if you need details let me know and I will post them here...

Will be testing out the skin as soon as i get off from work, will keep you posted on that...