Weird 04' Acura TL Alpine OEM Nav video feed?

EggrollXpress61 · 07-17-2004, 03:33 AM

Hey guys I took apart my 04 acura TL this week. apparently my nav computer is in my trunk and it actually sends the video feed to the 8" monitor in the front! Now my question for yall is any idea on how to tap into that video feed?I know Alpine makes the nav unit for acura so theres got to be a way. I have access to wholesale Audio/Video supplies so any cables/wires are all accessible. I also have selected a Boss A/V switcher which i want to integrate into the car for my PC and XBOX. I hope no custom soldering will have to be done though it might. I know AVelectronics.com makes a plug and play unit for the TL Im just trying to avoid shelling out $525 for something that cost them $20. How does their plug and play system work? is it possible to get the boss system to work w. it w/o any too extreme work?There has to be some way to do this. Someone please give me some ideas. Also I am haacking up a shuttle PC to fit my own part from my old desktop dell. I want to put the 2.4ghz 512DDR and my Geforce 5 series in. Will my Geforce fit? or do I need a smaller version made specially for small PCs? Please reply w/ some wisdomous answers. Thanks!

hd54321 · 07-17-2004, 03:47 AM

I think AVElectronics uses one of those $100 tv tuners you see on eBay. They all have about the same features: 4-channel diversity antenna, aux. video inputs, reverse camera input, IR remote, etc., etc.

You will just need to find the video input cable that they use and also rig a switch like they provide to activate the TV tuner when you need it. I think the video input cable is more like a 3-way harness. That goes in between your NAV video output and your monitor.

Check on the TSX forums (I know you have a TL but, the electronics of both cars are very similar) for detailed install photos to get an idea of what the connector looks like. I think they have pin outs as well.

Another good source would be some of the auxiliary input manufacturers (aka Logjam electronics). I think AVElectronics uses a Logjam aux input for sound and they have a 3-way harness for video.

Just remember that as far as I know, you will not be able to utilize the touch-screen on your NAV for the computer - it is proprietary. Other than that, good luck and check out acuraworld.com & clubtsx.com for more information.

-HD

EggrollXpress61 · 07-17-2004, 03:54 AM

thanks yea I know. I bought a gyration mouse and keyboard off ebay. That will be my main input device. Hopefully I can have this up within weeks. Im a fast and hard worker =). Anyways the boss switcher is exactly one of those $100 switchers youwere talking about. I got it for $40 through the wholesale store.
http://www.bossaudio.com/products/images/BVVSRF.jpg
or
http://www.bossaudio.com/products/images/tv_BVTS.jpg
that one, the BV-TS. Come w/ TV tuner. I have access to both. The 1st one looks more like AVelectronics. Is that all I need? Whats the diffrence between that one and the one at AVelectronics? I just dont get how Av electronics makes theirs plug and play? whats the diff. Please help all you AV moguls. Thanks!

EggrollXpress61 · 07-17-2004, 03:57 AM

or

I can get either

EggrollXpress61 · 07-17-2004, 04:02 AM

whats the diffrence??

hd54321 · 07-17-2004, 04:06 AM

You NEED to do your research on the 2 boards I provided above. I know for a fact that there is a very detailed writeup on installing an AVElectronics kit in a TSX (clubtsx.com). Also, do a search on acuraworld.com and see if you could find a writeup for the TL install.

Many people have done it so there has to be some info. out there for you. The real key here is to get a hold of the pin outs from the plug in the back of your monitor or to get one of those plug and play harnesses. Audio is a different story and you need an AUX adapter for that to go into your radio.

I am rambling on here but, if you spenD 1 hour researching those boards, you should find all your answers. Sorry, I don't have a TL, I originally wanted a TSX and did A LOT of research but, decided to get a used Lexus.

The info is out there, you just have to find it.

EggrollXpress61 · 07-17-2004, 05:26 AM

ok I understand I need one of these NTSC to RGB convertors:

Also is splicing hard? Im gonna read up on all this stuff before i attempt any of it of course. Thanks.

hd54321 · 07-17-2004, 05:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by EggrollXpress61

ok I understand I need one of these NTSC to RGB convertors:

Also is splicing hard? Im gonna read up on all this stuff before i attempt any of it of course. Thanks.

Not quite sure...but here is a good rule of thumb. Read first, ask questions later. I have a very good feeling that all of your questions will be answered once you have put 1-2 hours between the 2 sites I provided in one of my replies above.

Not that I don't want to help but, since I looked into this same exact topic more than 4 months ago, I can tell you that it is well documented elsewhere. Feel free to keep asking questions but, the resources I provided should be comprehensive. There may be topics related to a carputer not spoken of in the Acura forums, so please don't hesitate asking here.

-HD

frodobaggins · 07-17-2004, 08:22 AM

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25782

acura cl · 07-17-2004, 09:04 AM

acura-tl.com and acura-cl.com are both awesome forums for our cars.

congrats on such a nice car!

ITL · 09-14-2004, 08:45 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by hd54321

I think they have pin outs as well.

Here, eggroll, this might help you:

sdnelson11 · 01-27-2007, 08:11 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by EggrollXpress61

Hey guys I took apart my 04 acura TL this week. apparently my nav computer is in my trunk and it actually sends the video feed to the 8" monitor in the front! Now my question for yall is any idea on how to tap into that video feed? ...

If you figure this out, PLEASE post a solution. It's a digital TFT-specific LCD display, I believe made by Panasonic. The signals are R, G, B and Sync. But it is a specific digital protocol. I made an adapter board to convert the digital RGB to VGA, however, I failed. There used to be something out on the market -- keep searching. And I will post here, also, if I find one.

If you do find clean, non-self-hack solution, it's a golden bullet, because it's the same interface basically used on all recent Honda/Acura products.

If there are any hardware whizes on here, if you pull out the screen (fairly easy) you can find the part and model no. It's a pretty oddball part, rarely available on the open market. But the datasheet and the protocol are out there. So if you can manage to convert that and make a switcher, you've got a solution for a huge slice of the market. I'd be willing to pay you $500 - $700 just for the first one.