Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 05:13 am, by: Todd Triebler
I can't stand it anymore - a radio that sounds like crap and goes in and out of tune with expanders, a CD player that skips tracks on burnt cd's, a TV tuner that doesn't work....arrghhh!!
Mark I was thinking perhaps you could offer a package deal to forum members who need the lot done - particularly as there are also newbies purchasing soarers and joining this forum regularly.
How about : Vlad radio conversion Vlad TV conversion and any error/cap fixes Pal/NTSC converter CD player alignment/fix Handbrake modification for TV all packaged up for a bulk price.
You could put together a set of photos highlighting which bits to take out of the car to send to you.
Direct deposit details and customers can pre-pay for the package so there's no payment issues.
Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 10:34 am, by: Jason Parsloe
hey sounds like heaven Todd, need the whole shabang with my audiovisuals too. Would go for a package deal as I am a newbie and had no mods yet. Maybe throw in a blinky dash fix with colour change too??
Daniel, can you also play .wav files on that dvd player? If so, which brand. You can E-mail me if you like. I want to burn wav dvd's to allow really good quality. Sorry 'bout the hijack.
Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 05:23 pm, by: Mark Paddick
Most CD players will play .WAV files as long as you stick to normal CD bit rate and name the files according to CD convention. i.e. no more than 8 letters/digits followed by .cda
Friday, August 12, 2005 - 11:55 am, by: Todd Triebler
And now that I've seen you can move the tape player down lower (as it's not full depth and stick a DVD player or Satnav unit in the existing tape player spot (anyone know if a DVD player/Satnav combo unit exists?) then I can get the full whammy going.
That is not the full deck installed where the ashtray used to be. It is only the front face. The rest of the deck is elsewhere and ribbon wire was used to extend the face to where it currently is.
Friday, August 12, 2005 - 07:52 pm, by: Mark Paddick
Both the Radio and TV can be converted in cars prior to 8/’96 manufacture date. The radio conversion gets rid of the expanders giving much better reception and the correct frequencies are displayed on the EMV as well as station names. Most of the audio screens are displayed in English. Unfortunately the trip meter and other associated screens are not (Vlad is working a on another conversion for them). The tone controls are also made to work on the TV input (they normally don’t) so if the TV is converted or you connect an external input you will have tone controls for it (The TV input is the only place you can connect an external source) The radio conversion is $500 fitted to your radio including the repair of any faults in the radio (common) and postage back to you. I can do an exchange radio unit for ’91 to ’94 models but I don’t have a spare for the ’94 to 8/’96 models so have to modify your radio if it’s one of those. An extra deposit of $150 will be charged on exchange tuners which will be refunded upon the return of the unmodified radio.
The TV conversion has been around for a while. It converts the Soarer TV to Australian standards. A PAL to NTSC converter is then required between the TV and EMV screen. The TV conversion is available in two versions. One has two extra A/V inputs which are controlled by the EMV (channels 19 and 20 of the TV) and the other does not. The full version is $200 and the other is $140. The PAL to NTSC converter retails for $295 but I get them for $225 (There is NO other alternative converter that will work…so don’t bother asking!!! I have tried them all and this is the only one that is any good and less than $800). Most TV tuners also have the Error 12 fault. I can fix this for an extra $20 while converting them. So TV conversion is $365 or $425 with the external inputs and usually $30 extra for error 12 repair. (It is probably best to do the error 12 repair even if it hasn’t failed yet because they all do eventually…I’ve only ever seen 3 tuners that haven’t) I find the TV reception not too bad around Canberra but other people have reported that some places in Melbourne and Sydney are not so good. It is always a bit hit-and-miss while the car is moving. There is a further modification necessary to get the EMV screen to work on TV while the car is moving; http://members.westnet.com.au/web/rbaird/dvdinstall.htm The section from number 12 on is what needs doing. It involves the EMV wiring loom. Three wires are cut, one is taken to 12v, one to earth, and one left disconnected. If necessary, I can supply an exchange modified loom.
Another benefit of the TV conversion is that you can add a reversing camera if you don’t have the factory one. Because the TV has a PAL to NTSC converter you can use a cheaper (eg Jaycar Retail $150 but I can get for ~$100) PAL camera which can be wired to use the factory reversing screen on the EMV. Most of the aftermarket cameras are CMOS types and so don’t work in the dark very well unless you add some extra rear lighting but they are otherwise very good. (a camera with reversed image such as the Jaycar one is best for use as a reversing camera).
A DVD/MP3 etc player can be connected in place of the TV if you don’t want the TV converted. The only provisos are that the player must have NTSC output or you will require a PAL to NTSC converter (TV mod already has one, no need for another if you have it) and there will be no tone controls unless you have the radio mod done.
Friday, August 12, 2005 - 08:13 pm, by: Jason Parsloe
bloody marvellous! thanx for that most informative & in-depth insight Mark..,now what to spend my doe on those V8 headers or the A/V conversions. Best I get some work in so I can get mine off to you to do your electronic wizardry AND the headers for full dolby surround
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Maybe throw in a blinky dash fix with colour change too??
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