Displaying reverse camera on a carputer?

coachreed · 05-08-2004, 11:01 PM

I am planning my carputer and have been doing so for quite some time now. I had originally planned to use a 7" widescreen TFT monitor with a touchscreen overlay as my main monitor. I have a reverse camera that I was going to set up on a relay to be displayed on my monitor when the vehicle is in reverse... easy enough... but... now I have purchased a Datalux LMV10R monitor and plan to have that as my main monitor... now the problem is... How do I get the reverse camera to be displayed on the Datalux? Is this possible? I don't want to have a second monitor in my dash but will do it if I have to. I also have 6.5" Alpine monitors for the headrests and was planning to install the 7" in my passenger side dash in place of the airbag... I have a couple 5.6" monitors laying around from a past mobile A/V system and guess I could set one of those up for the reverse camera, but would rathter have it displayed on the main Datalux monitor... any input would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Coach... I mean Randy (I often forget who I really am)

Undergoing LS1 Conversion as we speak!
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NitroNic · 05-09-2004, 11:19 AM

So you want to, if possible, use just one display, and have it automatically display what the reverse camera sees whenever you shift to reverse?

Does the display have more than one input on it? And of what types are they? If it doesn't, you could have some switch that switches the input from the computer to the reverses camera, actuated by the reverse lights or some other circuit that closes when you shift to reverse. Then when you shift out, it would return to the computer.

coachreed · 05-09-2004, 09:09 PM

Thanks for the reply... but unfortunately, the monitor has only one input... which is a regular monitor (VGA) input... my reverse camera has composite... so I'm kinda stuck. Like I said, I was originally going to use my TFT with touchscreen overlay... and I would just set up a relay to switch video source when I put the truck in reverse... now I'm planning to use my Datalux LMV10R monitor for the main display. I guess I could find a video board that has a composite input but I don't want any delays for the reverse camera. I guess my other option is to go ahead and install a second monitor (5.6" in the dash) JUST for the reverse camera OR I can go back to a TFT monitor... but then I sacrifice the picture quality... at least for text... ugh! Anyone else?

TTYL!

Coach... aka Randy!

wi77iam · 05-09-2004, 09:15 PM

Get a TV tuner PCI card or USB. They all have a composite input. You could then maybe hook your reverse relay to the serial port to turn on the TV viewing software.

pimpJ · 05-09-2004, 09:26 PM

yah, TV tuner would make it crazy easy, but would take a lot of power if that's an issue.

NitroNic · 05-09-2004, 09:29 PM

Hmmmm.... there's gotta be some device out there that converts a composite signal into VGA...since they're both analog....you could probably build a circuit if you couldn't find one. Then you could still use a switch like you had planned before. Do some

ing on that... you're bound to come accross such a device.

eCar™ · 05-10-2004, 04:25 AM

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...84&postcount=2

coachreed · 05-10-2004, 09:58 PM

THAT looks like a winner... I guess I need to learn how to search and get results! Thanks for the replies guys! I guess I need one of those cheese box thingies... TTYL!

Coach!

ryuandwings · 05-10-2004, 10:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by eCar™

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...84&postcount=2

You beat me to it

Do you have yours setup yet?

I just tested mine in the car and automatic worked

I still have trouble with switch but it is working.

eCar™ · 05-10-2004, 11:04 PM

I have the components. But I'm going to buy another Cheesebox for the car. I am using the one you sent me to watch TV on my desktop.

coachreed · 05-11-2004, 07:14 PM

I didn't see a price or ordering information for the Chees Box... at least nothing straight forward. What does that thing cost? I definitely want one. That will be the answer to my problem on the reverse camera... Anyway, TTYL!

Randy

ryuandwings · 05-12-2004, 02:55 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by coachreed

I didn't see a price or ordering information for the Chees Box... at least nothing straight forward. What does that thing cost? I definitely want one. That will be the answer to my problem on the reverse camera... Anyway, TTYL!

Randy

I will dig up my recipt tonight and find it for you.

kingtut · 05-12-2004, 03:24 PM

I hope it is cheaper than this http://www.aver.com/Merchant2/mercha...Code=MTVBOXEX5
It would do the same. Her is full product http://www.aver.com/products/tvtuner_AVerTV_box5.shtml

djg · 05-12-2004, 06:23 PM

You can buy the Cheesebox here: http://www.svideo.com/video2vga.html - They delivered mine within a week of ordering.

I got it hooked up this weekend just as eCar described - I unsoldered the switch off the board and ran a pair of wires out to a relay triggered by the backup lights - works great. The switch on the board is a double pole-double throw but you only need a single pole-single throw to trigger it. The Cheesebox needs a constant 12v to keep the vga passthrough active - I used the Opus +12v to supply it and the camera (a reverse camera off eBay), together they draw about 170 ma. There's about a 3 second delay when it shifts to the camera but the switch back to the vga is instantaneous.

Dave

kingtut · 05-12-2004, 10:49 PM

Almost 50 bucks cheaper than the Avermedia box, might give it a shot.