Ever thought of replacing 7" screen in Pioneer/Kenwood/etc fold units w/lilliput?

clean customs · 03-14-2005, 12:21 AM

I was thinking about a clean unit, and thought about buying a used unit (if I had the money) and replacing the screen in one of the aftermarket screens with a lilliput screen. You could keep all the functionality of the stock unit while still being able to switch to computer. The have aux inputs, and you would use the video ouput of the unit you buy, and plug it right back into a video input in the unit that goes under the seat. Same thing with the computer though, you would have to conver the VGA to RCA's and use another video input to show on the screen. While viewing that screen, you do all the computer stuff. when you switch to the other video input that is the actual system, you can use the buttons to scroll and do whatever else it does. You can then utilize the radio, DVD, and other options it provides.

You would also be able to use the amplifier the radio provides instead of needing an amp as well. This may seem like it takes the point out of having the computer, and the only reason I thought of it is becasue I wanted to use something that looked nicer that was in dash. The radio is normally the worst part of any front end, and you could would also have the DVD/CD player right there as well.

The older units were 6.5, but the bezel is so wide I bet I could fit one in. Those I can pick up for around $350 on a good day to try it out, but it all depends on the unit that comes with and whether it has the amount of optional audio and video inputs you would need. You could even plug in the output of the headunit into the aux input of the screen to use (that sounds better) and use a button to switch over.

Is this a stupid idea, or a waste of money, or does it take the point of the computer out. I don't, I just get the radio and DVD/CD in a pretty package.
Just something I was thinking of.

Edit: in something like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...758004753&rd=1

dave2 · 03-14-2005, 12:32 AM

Its not a BAD idea, just a lot of people have been waiting because thats an expensive way to do it. Yes, in theory that would work, but I don't know if you will be able to fit a different LCD into the top half of a head unit from (insert company here). Also, it's possible that the unit won't function properly without a screen that works, but I doubt it.
Also, you will NEVER be able to fit the controller board in the top half of a screen/ dvd combo. You will have to extend them to wherever you manage to fit the controller board, and make the cables flexible, which usually means hard to find cables. Then you will have to build an enclosure to hold the controller, and still fit that into your dash, very close to the screen unit, since the cables cannot be extended very long.

And it in no way removes the need for a computer. The computer gives you endless possibilities of stuff you can do, and the radio is just a conveniant method to hold the screen.

And it would go like this. Remove screen from headunit, replace with modified lilliput screen, run cables to controller board, making sure they don't interfere with the motorization. Then the video output of the unit would go to the aux input. Possibly, you could decode where the video signal was sent through the unit itself, because without the built in screen, you will lose ALL menu items from the unit. I don't remember any screens that displayed the OSD menu on the auxiliary screens.

Dave

0l33l · 03-14-2005, 12:49 AM

Bad idea... the radio is controlled by the screen. So if you remove the screen, then the radio is also gone. Then you're just left with a pretty housing.

clean customs · 03-14-2005, 12:56 AM

Yea, the one concern I was having was running the wires from the screen to the controller. I dont' think removing the wires from the original screen would matter. I wouldn't use a screen that was touchscreen, thats a definite. I am going back to the units a year or two ago. The screen just displays what is being controlled by the buttons. The same way that the auxillary output shows the same thing. Thats why I figure I can use those outputs and plug them right back into the inputs. I could still possibly, from the size of some of the units, specifically Pioneer, get the screen in there. Some are real small.

I personally think its possible, and I know removing the screen doesn't remove the functionality of it, that is if you get the right ones that doent depend on the screen. There are buttons on the top that are used and those wires have to remain, and would run my wires where those wires run. Its a simple fold out process on some.
If I can find one, and I find a couple hundred dollars somewhere tomorrow, Im going to give it a try. I like the ability to have my radio, and still have it on the screen although its not touchscreen. They didn't go touchscreen until the last few years, I think there was only one that was doing it for the past couple of years.

clean customs · 03-14-2005, 12:57 AM

This is one I am looking at
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=5758812322

clean customs · 03-14-2005, 01:01 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by 0l33l

Bad idea... the radio is controlled by the screen. So if you remove the screen, then the radio is also gone. Then you're just left with a pretty housing.

What makes you think it will look pretty when I finish hacking it apart. lol If it turns back on I would be pretty excited.

clean customs · 03-14-2005, 01:03 AM

If I really wanted to take an easy way, I could just put the touchscreen layover on the screen itself and leave the original one in, and hook the computer to an aux input. Now that would be a quick and easy way that would definitely work. And you wouldn't even need to buy a freakin screen!!! Damn, remember I thought of it first, just registered patent. Will sell now for unknown amount. I assume those 7" screens are the same resolution, but I havent' looked, but I wouldn't see why not.

When I get my computer sold, Im going to try it out.

0l33l · 03-14-2005, 01:05 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by clean customs

This is one I am looking at
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=5758812322

The funny thing is, if you remove the screen on that one, you won't know what radio station you're listening to. Kindo defeats the purpose, does it not?

Quote: Originally Posted by clean customs

What makes you think it will look pretty when I finish hacking it apart. lol If it turns back on I would be pretty excited.

clean customs · 03-14-2005, 01:11 AM

Although you would remove that screen, you would use the video out on the headunit, and plug it into the video in on the head unit or the screen itself so you can switch to that screen and see what you are doing, and then switch back to the computer. The units all have video outs for other monitors, and they all have multiple video ins. And the screen itself has a few video ins so you can see all that stuff. So you have two different screens, one for the computer, one for the head unit, and you can use a few ways to switch between the two. Plus if you use the aux button to switch over, it will kill anything listening to on either of them. Because they are video and audio inputs, and there are two aux video and audio inputs. One for the computer, and one for the unit.

There are buttons for dimming and little things like that for the screen, so removing might not work some. And Im not willing to break one to try it. That is of course that extra is found is tomorrow.

0l33l · 03-14-2005, 01:12 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by clean customs

Although you would remove that screen, you would use the video out on the headunit, and plug it into the video in on the head unit or the screen itself so you can switch to that screen and see what you are doing, and then switch back to the computer. The units all have video outs for other monitors, and they all have multiple video ins. And the screen itself has a few video ins so you can see all that stuff. So you have two different screens, one for the computer, one for the head unit, and you can use a few ways to switch between the two. Plus if you use the aux button to switch over, it will kill anything listening to on either of them. Because they are video and audio inputs, and there are two aux video and audio inputs. One for the computer, and one for the unit.

There are buttons for dimming and little things like that for the screen, so removing might not work some. And Im not willing to break one to try it. That is of course that extra is found is tomorrow.

I guess....

Try finding one with a scratched/cracked/frizzled/popped screen

dave2 · 03-14-2005, 01:35 AM

Umm, everything will still WORK, it just won't show the controls. The radio isn't controlled by the screen, it's controlled by the buttons. If you are really clever, you can still use everything that came with it.
It's a good idea, and I hope you try it and succeed.

Bugbyte · 03-14-2005, 01:40 AM

Just remember that if you put a touchscreen over the existing screen, that screen is VIDEO, not VGA. Not saying it couldn't work because it could. You'll just be sacrificing some clarity. Probably have to go with some kind of custom skin.

Since the head unit will do 90% of what you want, it seems a long way around to add just a little bit of functionality to the head unit.

clean customs · 03-14-2005, 02:19 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Bugbyte

Just remember that if you put a touchscreen over the existing screen, that screen is VIDEO, not VGA. Not saying it couldn't work because it could. You'll just be sacrificing some clarity. Probably have to go with some kind of custom skin.

Since the head unit will do 90% of what you want, it seems a long way around to add just a little bit of functionality to the head unit.

I know I will loose some resolution, Im going to test a VGA to RCA converter and see what it looks like.

I think its the other way around. The head unit will only do 10% of what I want, which is play the radio and have an amplified signal, and cd player accessible, oh yea, and have an equalizer that is easy to use and available. I can subtract the price of amp then and control the sound output, the treble and bass better, with accessible volume control which is a problem people have and have spent $50 on the knob or other options. The only thing it gives me is radio, which is never that good or as good as a head unit, and an up front CD player. Other then that, I get nothing out of it. It will come out to the same price as a real nice new Xenarc plus an amp. At least head unit I am looking at buying which is $450. I would love to add DVD to that list, but those units are too expensive to do this, and I dont' switch DVD's, or even play DVD's. I don't play CDs anymore either since there all loaded.

If I just put an overlay over it, I can just use the audio and video inputs on the brain unit, and won't loose any functionality on anything, even the contrast and other options for the screen.

Edit: The Pioneer AVX-P7300DVD has a resistive touchscreen, and if someone wants to buy it for me, Id love to hack it apart. If I could hack that, then I could do it all. There is a broken unit on ebay right now that I might pick up so I will have some info on this in a week or so.

dave2 · 03-14-2005, 03:46 AM

He meant that the screen in the head unit, if you don't replace it, will be on NTSC signal. We have been suffering this for years, which is why nobody just added a touchscreen to one before. It's very hard to read text on a 7" NTSC screen. Hell, it's hard to read text on a 12" NTSC screen. The converter (vga/composite) will just make things worse. I have one here in fact, the Cheese box.. which is a piece of cheese like the name, and didn't work well at all.
Stick to a VGA screen.

clean customs · 03-14-2005, 03:39 PM

Thanks for the info, then I think Im going for full replacement. I dont' want to do anything that looses that much quality, its not worth the time and money if I can't read anything.