Friday, March 31, 2006 - 06:10 pm, by: Will Adams(Draco)
I was thinking along the lines of a baby turbo timer to fit the gap, but I may as well get that as part of my alarm upgrade and if small enough fit in there.
What sort of material did you use Daniel? Looks quite good actually.
Kip if you can find a 0.5 DIN holder of some sort that would be awesome.
I'll have to get another piece of wood anyway to fill in the gap between the top of the headunit and the A/C controls. All this and it will be off again in a couple of weeks when I get the blue dash conversion and A/C unit done.
Friday, March 31, 2006 - 06:24 pm, by: Will Adams(Draco)
I checked the wires for a dimmer switch and found that there isn't actually one on the unit. I did however find the Brightness controls eventually, and this can be turned down a bit (plus you can tone down the colour, apply a tint and change the contrast).
The stereo was so bright this morning, so will test it again when it is darker to see how much of an effect this has had on the brightness.
Well I didn't make it personally, I bought it like that. I was curious what it was so I took it out and underneath it looks really 'home-made', but outside looks professional. I think the previous owner asked the people at the stereo shop to make it for him (they must have not known about the 1.5DIN mazda pocket). It looks like a sicker material, with textured outer surface so it closely resembles the dash, has been stuck all around the wood even on the back so won't peel. I reckon if you ask at any stereo shop they will have that sort of stuff handy, just gotta match the colour and texture or whatnot. It looks like it's very easy to make hey. Just gotta shape the wood properly, find the right sticker, and attach some brackets on it...
EDIT: You can probably make a similar thing for the top gap also...
Monday, April 03, 2006 - 01:07 pm, by: Will Adams(Draco)
Tried some of the stereo shops to see what I could find for a 0.5 DIN gap filler. So far no luck, so it looks like I will have to make something to suit.
Regarding my impressions of this unit after having run it for a few days now, and allowing me to play with the options:
* I haven't had a chance to test the reverse camera, because I don't have one as yet.
* TV reception depending on the area is really quite good and while the car is moving (my girlfriend was watching it not me), the actual diversity antennae did a decent job at keeping the signal as strong as it could.
* Screen clarity (for DVD, TV - when reception is good) is really clear and precise. Although it is fairly bright at night. Have to make some adjustments to dull it out a bit, but it's still okay once dimmed at night. Mind you, the TFT screen can be turned off (while the unit still plays) if it bothers you to much.
* The DVD player is probably my biggest gripe. When the unit has been turned off (or the mode has been changed to other functions - not including reverse camera), when the unit has been switched back to DVD player, the whole disc has to load again. (i) the good thing is that it remembers which track you were at last time; (ii) the bad thing is, it doesn't remember where on that track you were. So listening to extended mixes of a song is not really feasible as it always restarts when the unit has been turned off.
* Still have yet to find something that I can plug into the GPS system to allow for Aussie roads and stuff. From what I have heard, these units will not allow this. However I am trying to find an option to have a stand-alone unit (like a PC) with GPS software and hook this up through the AUX input instead (would this work?).
For the money I paid for it, it is actually a really good unit with a lot of functionality for what I need.
On the bonus side, my friend let me take a Singer 1200W amplifier off his hands for $20. He has asked me to test it first, to make sure it powers up and then I'll pay him for it.
Any idea how to get this thing powered up, without having to go through the whole drama of installing it with 8-gage wire etc. etc.?
Also the instruction manual advises that the power antenna wire can be used as the "remote on" switch for the unit? Is this okay to use?
Don Bagnall Moderator New Zealand I have LESS Soarers than Hayden :-(
Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 11:50 am, by: Will Adams(Draco)
Thanks Callum. If you look at the first post on this thread (i.e. http://soarercentral.com/sc-forum/messages/13208/55646.html?1143705290) you will see that the unit has a plastic surround. I had to remove this as it doesn't fit the gap that is left. You can try and fit it, but due to the console actually tappering in towards to the bottom, you would need to modify the plastic surround severely to get it in there. I removed it and it looks fine.
When installing just make sure the wires are pushed down at the back. The unit will fit in snuggly and flush with the console with some moving of the wires. I had to make my own braces for the unit to fit onto the cage as the holes do not line up with the original cage. The braces were formed from the bendy metal supplied with the unit. Really easy to do.
With the wiring make sure you get a harness as it makes it so much easier and saves time rather than having to fiddle with wires in the car. Plug and play
Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 09:45 pm, by: Callum Finch(Sigeneat)
Cheers.
I am looking at a 7" LCD touch screen only (no DVD playback or the junk) with a VGA input, to connect to a PC (Eventually!!). From the specifications i saw of the unit im looking at i too will prolly need to pull off the sides etc to make it fit.
I was just interested to see if you had success in doing so, and all sounds swell from what i can read! =P
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