UHF Radios and TV Tuners?

[rrussh]

Hi,

Im seriously considering installing a UHF radio and digital TV tuner in my GEN5.

UHF Radio
WHY: Useful tool to have, especially when hitting the highways. Good for traffic updates and speed traps, speed traps, speed traps & cruises.
So i was thinking of one of those super small ones you can mount under the seat with a low gain glass antenna.
Again no experience with UHF radio\antenna combos in a sedan. Would like to hear peoples opinions on this.


TV Tuner
WHY: so i can watch and mostly listen in on TV while in stuck in Sydney traffic, mainly for Home and Away, Neighbours and Antiques Roadshow... ok im kidding about that but for News, etc,
My mates 335i has it and i thought it was cool. It would be a nice touch for a Liberty.
I have RCA inputs in the centre console, so wiring up the A/V from the Tuner will be easy, but the dual Antenna's are the issue.
As you know, the new car tuners can maintain a signal at up to 120Km an hour, they have the dual tuner circuitry needed for decent mobile reception.
Therefore you need x 2 antennas with a minimum seperation of 60cm (i think)

So who here has one of these puppies installed? what antenna's have you got and where are they installed? (in the rear bumper, roof or rear windows)???
Issues with the rear demisters, etc, etc any info on this would be appreciated.

[swingn]

CB Style radios are fairly common for those who hit the country roads on a regular basis... That being said, I can't recall anyone who has done an install in a Liberty. Generally speaking, we all use hand held units... If you can get a good quality one with a mic extention, I cannot see any real advantage to having a permanently installed one for the sort of use you are wanting it for.

Do BMW's have digital TV tuners now? I thought they were still running anologue ones? - Seriously... Unsure if anyone has does a TV tuner install into a Liberty (DVD screens are fairly common), but if there is a small DTV turner available that can be powered via 12v, I'll be interested to see how well it works... DTV in the EVO would go down most good

[smythie]

Even in the shittiest traffic I have seen in Sydney (slower on average than walking pace) you are never stopped long enough to be watching anything. Trying to watch something like TV or a DVD while idling along might is easy enough to do until some knob cuts you off and your 10m safety margin to the car ahead has turned into 50cm.

[rrussh]

Do BMW's have digital TV tuners now? I thought they were still running anologue ones? - Seriously... Unsure if anyone has does a TV tuner install into a Liberty (DVD screens are fairly common), but if there is a small DTV turner available that can be powered via 12v, I'll be interested to see how well it works... DTV in the EVO would go down most good

Hey Swingn, I know the 2008 335i coupe has a digital tuner, not sure about the others.....
you will also be interested in this little Car TV Tuner,
The High TV Pure III
http://www.hitv.com.au/products/view.jsp?id=50&category=1
This one can keep a signal at up to 130Km\h. Its not a standard tuner like the $50 USB jobs for laptops, those ones wont work properly in a car unless your stationary.
Also has multi RCA inputs and outputs. This might sound over the top, but you could set up a split system, with rear screens and headphones. And an ipod to RCA cable, etc for additional inputs.

SCENARIO 1
Front screen and rear screens all on the same input for D-TV, or any AUX input connected into the TV-Tuner.
[Front screen will be blank when moving]

SCENARIO 2
Front screen is on CD, ipod, or DVD & Audio through car speaker system (using factory set up)
Rear screens are watching TV [with headphones] or any AUX input from the TV-Tuner.

Even in the shittiest traffic I have seen in Sydney (slower on average than walking pace) you are never stopped long enough to be watching anything. Trying to watch something like TV or a DVD while idling along might is easy enough to do until some knob cuts you off and your 10m safety margin to the car ahead has turned into 50cm.

I agree a lot of the time you are crawling along, and the screen switches on and off. But you can still hear audio and get video when stopped or at lights.
There have been many times where I have watched video podcasts and DVD video while in traffic.
Its not uncommon to be sitting at the Fish Markets for 40 minutes in line to get on Anzac Bridge (plenty of time to watch video and feel more comfortable while stuck in your car).
I realise its hard to justify TV just for the driver, but in certain circumstances it isnt a bad idea is it?

[Shiv]

Plenty of use for a TV tuner in the car, whether it be for the driver sitting in traffic or the passengers on the go.

I'm having one installed in my car in the next 4-weeks. Just getting all the parts together (7" touchscreen, reverse cameras etc). In answer to your queries about the aerials and reception - there are several types of aerials for aftermarket TV tuners. If you get the better ones, they just paste onto the inside of the window. (if you have window tint, you only need make a little slit to accommodate them).

There are some really expensive aerial housings which make your car more attractive. For example, "shark fin" style housings which also boost reception without uglyfying your car.

Analogue TV tuners are almost a thing of the past. You can still buy them, but don't bother as they can get quite poor reception in built up areas like the city and out of town. The digital boxes are getting smaller and smaller. Fit underneath the seat quite comfortably. I'm not sure how it'll integrate with your Gen5 head unit but presumably it has enough video out ports to accommodate a TV-T.

[smythie]

I realise its hard to justify TV just for the driver, but in certain circumstances it isnt a bad idea is it?

I agree but only in certain circumstances (such as the example you provided).

Plenty of use for a TV tuner in the car, whether it be for the driver sitting in traffic or the passengers on the go.

My concern is the distraction that a running tv show or DVD can be for the driver even if they are not looking at it. There will be times when the passenger goes "look at this" or times when the audio is too much to resist the temptation to see what's going on on the screen. Even at snail's pace in gridlocked traffic that sort of distraction is too much IMO.

Yes, you will also have situations in normal driving conditions where the driver is distracted from the road and at times that can be worse than a TV or DVD show going on in the car. It is something that short of extreme measures we cannot control. Video-caused distractions inside the car is a hazard we can eliminate however by choosing not to introduce them.

It is down to you as the driver however to make that call IMO. I've gone on about this for too long already and don't want to weigh this thread down any more on this topic.

Shiv, thanks for the information on the in-car tuners. It is interesting even to me with my concerns. I hope it is of some use to the OP

[Shiv]

I realise its hard to justify TV just for the driver, but in certain circumstances it isnt a bad idea is it?

I agree but only in certain circumstances (such as the example you provided).

Plenty of use for a TV tuner in the car, whether it be for the driver sitting in traffic or the passengers on the go.

My concern is the distraction that a running tv show or DVD can be for the driver even if they are not looking at it. There will be times when the passenger goes "look at this" or times when the audio is too much to resist the temptation to see what's going on on the screen. Even at snail's pace in gridlocked traffic that sort of distraction is too much IMO.

Yes, you will also have situations in normal driving conditions where the driver is distracted from the road and at times that can be worse than a TV or DVD show going on in the car. It is something that short of extreme measures we cannot control. Video-caused distractions inside the car is a hazard we can eliminate however by choosing not to introduce them.

It is down to you as the driver however to make that call IMO. I've gone on about this for too long already and don't want to weigh this thread down any more on this topic.

Shiv, thanks for the information on the in-car tuners. It is interesting even to me with my concerns. I hope it is of some use to the OP

Yup, all valid points and as you mentioned - it comes down to the driver and how he/she decide to use it. All these TV-T's come with a "handbrake wire" so your only technically suppose to watch it whilst stationary, as per regulations.

Just on a lighter note - I'm not particularly good whilst driving past nice car dealership *cranes neck* Thats more distracting than anything else in-cabin, haha...

[rrussh]

Just on a lighter note - I'm not particularly good whilst driving past nice car dealership *cranes neck* Thats more distracting than anything else in-cabin, haha...

What about girls with short skirts and generously proportioned racks ? now thats a distraction
BTW: my setup will always switch the screen off when moving, I dont agree with people who disconnect the handbrake connection\motion sensor thingy.
....then again each to their own, we are all adults.

Hey Shiv can you let me know what the reception is like once installed please?
PM me if you prefer.

Ill definately get this tuner installed in my Lib when I save up the cashola. PhatGT has already emptied my wallet, so it will be a couple of months until the TV tuner install.
If anyone is interested in purchasing one (see my previous post) as well PM me and ill try and get a good price from the retailer.

Cheers...

[Shiv]

Yeh sure mate, I might even put up a thread for those that are interested.

Short skirts too are a distraction. My uni come Summer time.........

[LOWLIB]

its an awesome idea but i know in QLD its a massive no no.. if caught driving with movie/tv/dvd ipod movie whatever on any screen in the drivers line of view it is a pretty big fine and loss of points im pretty sure thats why most car audio installers wont install anything that can be viewed while driving they can also get in a fair bit of strife if your in an accident and it can be traced back to them that they installed it this way. it is all grounded to the handbrake so unless your handbrake is on the video function wont work.

I think it could be pretty dangerous trying to watch the news while driving in traffic especially the way that some people in the world drive and are great at cutting others off because according to them your safety gap was really you letting them merge.

just my 2 cents and a bit of safety info.

[swingn]

^^^ That's pretty much the same for all of Australia.

Do it at your own risk basically... But I still think it would be awesome The way Mitsubishi wire up their screens, it actually doesn't earth of the hand brake (Like it does generally) it actually has speed sensors in the hubs which means I'm screwed

[luke09]

i had a tv installed in a previous car and had a small switch installed down beside the handbrake so that when i did get pulled over i could flick it and show the police that the screen wouldnt work with the handbrake off, just my 2c

[Shiv]

Matt you could probably hack that function if Mitsubishi does it the same way other car manufactures do it. I've done it before on another car....

[jdm rsk]

I watch DVDs in my car and don't find it a distration at all. I found after having it installed for a while you get used to not glancing at it when moving.


Hey Tony I guess you have not had a blow job at 110kph because I find that a big distraction.

[rrussh]

Hey Tony I guess you have not had a blow job at 110kph because I find that a big distraction.