convertible install. brightness questions

powerlord · 10-20-2005, 07:20 AM

I've trauled through the posts, and it doesn't look good.

I see a group are in talks with a chinese manufacturer about backlight upgrades. And I hear rumours that some transreflectives mights appear 'soon'.

But for now, all the screens seem to be around 300-400 brightness with people saying in bright sunlight (even in hardtop cars) the screen is difficult to read.

I want to install an in dash unit (motorized K301 or the non motorized one) in my M roadster.

If its dry and above freezing, the roof is down.

so... what do you reckon ? Am I wasting my time ? would a big 'shroud'/hood round it help ? anyone done something similar ?

Spent the last 3 weeks getting my laptop ready for carpc installation... now running roadrunner, map monkey with bt gps, webcam recording, usb radio, usb dvb-t digital tv...wifi and all working fine... THEN started to think... hold on... am I gonna be able to actually see the screen :-(

I'm surprised noone seems to have scavenged a 640x480 transreflective panel from one the the newish PDAs (dell axim 50 etc), as that would be idea I'd have thought...

Now beginning to think I'm wasting my time and have to just stick an mp3 headunit in and stick with my imate smartphone for gps....

stu

regal · 10-20-2005, 08:25 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by powerlord

I've trauled through the posts, and it doesn't look good.

I see a group are in talks with a chinese manufacturer about backlight upgrades. And I hear rumours that some transreflectives mights appear 'soon'.

But for now, all the screens seem to be around 300-400 brightness with people saying in bright sunlight (even in hardtop cars) the screen is difficult to read.

I want to install an in dash unit (motorized K301 or the non motorized one) in my M roadster.

If its dry and above freezing, the roof is down.

so... what do you reckon ? Am I wasting my time ? would a big 'shroud'/hood round it help ? anyone done something similar ?

Spent the last 3 weeks getting my laptop ready for carpc installation... now running roadrunner, map monkey with bt gps, webcam recording, usb radio, usb dvb-t digital tv...wifi and all working fine... THEN started to think... hold on... am I gonna be able to actually see the screen :-(

I'm surprised noone seems to have scavenged a 640x480 transreflective panel from one the the newish PDAs (dell axim 50 etc), as that would be idea I'd have thought...

Now beginning to think I'm wasting my time and have to just stick an mp3 headunit in and stick with my imate smartphone for gps....

stu

I don’t know how K301 compares with the Xenarc 700TS but I have fitted one of these in a Z3 and with the top down its useless, even with the top up in daylight its very hard to see, if you put sunglasses on it disappears.

powerlord · 10-20-2005, 10:15 AM

ah. thanks for that regal. not what I want to hear, but I'd rather hear it now than after I've spunked 300 quid and godknows how many manhours fitting the thing.

I take it you took it out and went for some other system in the end ? what if you don't mind me asking ?

I'm considering just sticking an mp3 head unit in if I could get a neat/decent solution for my mobile phone fitment (for tomtom).

And come back to carpc when the screens are sorted.

stu

Vinister · 10-20-2005, 01:30 PM

I had a 700tsv with brightness upgrade in a convertible and it was a pleasure to use.

Once you get a hang of where the buttons are, you're not staring at the screen anyways. dont know about you but I like to watch the road. Pick a song at a stoplight, then just use volume while driving.

After that I installed a much less bright 10" screen. This one you really cant see anything in direct sunlight, but still, it didn't bother me much. I'd say as long as you have 400 nits you'll be just fine. It mostly depends on how picky you are.

Cris · 10-20-2005, 03:42 PM

I think so too.
Usually they say the screen has 400nits, but with the TS it only as 250nits...wich basiclly means useless in direct sunlight. I don't have convertible, but even so, in direct sunlight, my screen is useless...

Vinister · 10-20-2005, 03:47 PM

I guess I dont mind so much because here in Vancouver its usually raining.

mushin · 10-20-2005, 04:02 PM

I've got a retrofitted transflective screen for my MR2 spyder. It's not the cheapest solution, but it's quite good as readibility in direct sunlight goes. There's a couple threads floating around that talks about it in more detail.

regal · 10-20-2005, 04:21 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by powerlord

ah. thanks for that regal. not what I want to hear, but I'd rather hear it now than after I've spunked 300 quid and godknows how many manhours fitting the thing.

I take it you took it out and went for some other system in the end ? what if you don't mind me asking ?

I'm considering just sticking an mp3 head unit in if I could get a neat/decent solution for my mobile phone fitment (for tomtom).

And come back to carpc when the screens are sorted.

stu

No, still struggling with the Xenarc, just received my third Lilliput in-dash replacement so I will let you know how it goes.

Regal or alias Fixer

powerlord · 10-20-2005, 05:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Vinister

I had a 700tsv with brightness upgrade in a convertible and it was a pleasure to use.

Once you get a hang of where the buttons are, you're not staring at the screen anyways. dont know about you but I like to watch the road. Pick a song at a stoplight, then just use volume while driving.

well, one of the main reasons I'm doing this is for satnav. so yeh, I need to see the screen when driving (use it for reading the road when I'm out on a blast round the back roads... currently run tomtom on my smartphone).

cheers.

stu

aoLhaTer · 10-20-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by mushin

I've got a retrofitted transflective screen for my MR2 spyder. It's not the cheapest solution, but it's quite good as readibility in direct sunlight goes. There's a couple threads floating around that talks about it in more detail.

Nore details on this transflective screen please!