Thread: 2006 Mazda 3 Worklog

Originally Posted by sporty_drew

looks good, where'd you get your vfd?

I got the vfd a while ago from Matrix Orbital, its about 5 years or so old, and I've used it pretty much every day since in my home computer and the screen still looks brand new, maybe its not as bright... but not a big enough differnece that I would be able to tell, its deffinatly built to last.

Small update:

Okay, long story short, I now have a 7" lilliput 619 monitor non-touch as well as my 7" lilliput touchscreen. So I'm going to have to put it somewhere. I was thinking about putting somewhere for my rear seat passengers, but that would kill the entire "stock" look I'm trying to accomplish. So now I'm thinking that I'm going to put it in the trunk just for the hell of it.

I figured attached to my amp rack right in front of the computer/underneath the amplifier to the right. What you guys think?

Originally Posted by Dennis5587

Small update:

Okay, long story short, I now have a 7" lilliput 619 monitor non-touch as well as my 7" lilliput touchscreen. So I'm going to have to put it somewhere. I was thinking about putting somewhere for my rear seat passengers, but that would kill the entire "stock" look I'm trying to accomplish. So now I'm thinking that I'm going to put it in the trunk just for the hell of it.

I figured attached to my amp rack right in front of the computer/underneath the amplifier to the right. What you guys think?

sounds like a plan i had the same idea (with my extra ts) so then when i had to trouble shoot the computer from the trunk i wasn't squinting at the dash monitor.

oh man, thats a great idea! I guess thats one good thing about the screen in the trunk

Originally Posted by Dennis5587

oh man, thats a great idea! I guess thats one good thing about the screen in the trunk

you mean other than the "cool" factor lol

don't mean to jack but i was hopping you could help me with a small problem..
I've been looking on the Matrix Orbital site for a nice little VFD to put in my rear view mirror, but i really don't have a clue what i'm looking for or what controller i'd need. i want a little 4 line display or two 2 lines side by side. Any ideas?

[OT]
for in your rear view mirror? Thats crazy, but yeah I'm not sure how big your rear view is but if its the size of the ones I'm used to, such as my '95 monte carlo (which shouldn't be too far off of your's then I wouldn't go any more then a 2 line. Something like this http://www.matrixorbital.com/product...character-vfds should do it, but check the thickness to see if its okay.

If you want to/have to go with usb then I'd go with this one http://www.matrixorbital.com/product...character-vfds its just a little bit bigger. What are you going to be displaying in it? And are you sure that you are comfortable with the software available for it, different screens use different software it seems. I'm really not sure how good the other screens or software is becasue I've always been ultra happy with my matrix orbital and lcdc solution
[/OT]

I was just thinking, and I could even put this screen as a flip up screen on the dashboard and use it for gps only... my god talking about my vfd I could even prob. make something up so that it would flip up only when I had my gps software running or at the very least have it go up via the computer.

Originally Posted by Dennis5587

[OT]
for in your rear view mirror? Thats crazy, but yeah I'm not sure how big your rear view is but if its the size of the ones I'm used to, such as my '95 monte carlo (which shouldn't be too far off of your's then I wouldn't go any more then a 2 line. Something like this http://www.matrixorbital.com/product...character-vfds should do it, but check the thickness to see if its okay.

If you want to/have to go with usb then I'd go with this one http://www.matrixorbital.com/product...character-vfds its just a little bit bigger. What are you going to be displaying in it? And are you sure that you are comfortable with the software available for it, different screens use different software it seems. I'm really not sure how good the other screens or software is becasue I've always been ultra happy with my matrix orbital and lcdc solution
[/OT]

I was just thinking, and I could even put this screen as a flip up screen on the dashboard and use it for gps only... my god talking about my vfd I could even prob. make something up so that it would flip up only when I had my gps software running or at the very least have it go up via the computer.

It's not crazy just factory
actually it's the exact same mirror as the monte's i'm using the one out of my 97 monte (RIP)
Does this one come with the cable to hook it up?
I'm also looking at this one since it seems to be less but have everything, right?

I've been messing with the software that you're using and i really like it.



I thought about the flip up idea for GPS but it would need a hood otherwise you will get a really bad glare, right?

hmmmm, thats true, we'll see....

And that second screen would be too big and too much for a rear view mirror in my opinion. Not to mention that they are new so I'm not sure how much software support there is yet... Honestly I have no experience with those at all.

And the first one I'm not 100% about the cable but i'd say so, if not they're cheap, just a usb connection