Anyone with some good hands-on mobile video install experience... Care to share some wisdom? Take it easy on me - I'm fairly new to the mobile video arena...

I'm working on planning an upgrade in my Excursion. I'm not sure what the best way to wire everything up will be, though.

Here's what I've got in the truck at the moment:

- In dash DVD/7" monitor head unit
- (2) 7" monitors mounted in the headliner, one for each rear bench, wireless headphones for each monitor
- DVD player under the middle bench seat
- Rear view camera

This setup lets me watch the in-dash DVD signal on all three monitors or a separate signal on the rear monitors.

What I'd like to add:

- 1 monitor for each sunvisor (2 total)
- 1 monitor for each front seat headrest (2 total)

The third bench doesn't need any more video - it's rarely used. This would put me at a total of 7 monitors and 2 DVD players.

This seems to be the most logical configuration of the new system (want to be able to choose on the fly):

-Under-seat DVD sends signal to all 7 monitors (will need one splitter)
-Head unit DVD sends signal to front 3 monitors (in dash and sunvisors), and under-seat DVD sends signal to rear 4 monitors (headliners and headrests)

Here's my graphical depiction of the wiring, based on the specs of each monitor (obviously, the number of inputs and outputs on each DVD player and monitor is controlling my initial wag at wiring):



And for my questions...

1. Will the video signal from the under-seat DVD player be strong enough for 7 monitors? The output signal on the monitors... Is it amplified?

2. Would a signal splitter be better than using the video-out signal on each monitor? The cost of a splitter is not an issue at all, and I have a source for a 7 channel splitter.

3. Is there a better way to wire the entire system?

Obviously, my biggest concern is getting enough power to the monitors to maintain a quality picture signal.

Sorry for the wordy and confusing post... Just trying to get this figured out before I dig in!! I don't want to tear the inside of the truck apart more than once!! Way too big of a truck to take apart...

 

i used a spliter/signal booster for all mine never tryed it without it, so not sure what it would look like without it. but it was only $75 so well worth it. i have 5 tv's in mine now i was going to install these but decided 5 was enough, i had another guy on here ask to buy these but he has never returned my emails so they are back up for grabs

 

Ahhh.. My filter @ work blocks webshots, photobucket, etc. Can you upload the photo to your gallery?

My in-dash dvd player has dual zone controls... So I could use that as the central control for the entire system. It would be nice to have have everything tied into the head unit. Probably makes more sense, too!

I've found a 7 way amplified/splitter that would definitely work good for sending the signal out of my head unit... I might just go that route. It would involve a bit more wiring, but nothing I can't handle.

And for my final task... I'm trying to figure in the addition of a PS2. I'd want rear passengers to have the option of PS2 or movie. That kind of rules out using the 3rd input on the head unit. I guess utilizing the 2nd input on each rear monitor would be the most feasible.

 

i uploaded it here is a link to it also http://community.webshots.com/myphot...ecurity=YMiFrQ

 

Hey your video expert is here I would offer you some great products but don't feel like getting banned from the forums. So I'll just point you into the right direction. I would strongly suggest getting a video signal amplifier. I use one from Nesa Vision for my customers that is a 1 in and 5 out. There are quite a few out there. They all get the same job done.


As for your being able to play different sources I would suggest a video switcher. I often use a switcher by the same company. The AVS-46 has 6 outputs that can choose up to 4 video sources. Great for DVD,TV,PS2 and even your rear camera. With this switcher you don't even need the video amplifier.


As for your visor monitors I typically use a unit such as the Nesa Vision NSV-5813. It is a 5.8" monitor that also gives you the vanity mirror and a light. My wife was pissed when I ripped her mirror out and just put a monitor in there. Well now you can get best of both worlds. There are larger ones out there with 7" wide screens but the 5.8" works great.

Now for your audio. All those monitors but how to hear the audio? You can get yourself some basic ones that require a remote eye in the roof but you run into the real problem with the visor monitors. I usually choose to use either the Nesa Vision NHP-22. They are 900mhz headphones that work anywhere in the vehicle. You can buy them in singles so that you can get a full set. These are dual source headphones.

If your are choosing to use more than two sources such as DVD, PS2, and TV tuner. You might consider the triple source headphones from Unwired. They now even offer a four source headphone and also some new fold-flat ones as well.

 

KCAutosound - Thank you for the reply! Excellent info. I'll look a little more into that switcher. Sounds like an excellent unit, and may take care of everything I need.

I'm really looking forward to completing this install. I'm hooked on the mobile video thing (if you can't tell). It's just too awesome to every go without again!

My two headliner monitors each have a wireless headphone... So my original plan was to use those for all the headphone needs... They work well, and it would cut back on other expenses. The only time headphones are ever used anyway, is when I have multiple rear passengers. As my son gets older, though, we'll be using the headphones more and more to prevent us from having to listen to veggietales for hours on end!

Thanks again - I really appreciate it!

 

PRETTY MUCH THE SAME SIGNAL AMPLIFIER I HAVE BUT MINE IS AN 8 WAY AND HAS 2 SETS OF VIDEO IN. did you get the pics of the visors? the nice thing about them is you get an 8" screen but they will fit where your smaller visors are in the excursion and the larger ones with the mirror stay and also hides the other one underneath! that is why i bought them for my excursion so i could hide them and still have the bigger visors for hideing ,mirrors and blocking the sun

 

Yep - took a look at teh sunvisor monitors... Definitely not digging the plastic look of the visor. I just don't think I could put those on my truck!

I'm going to continue looking for something that will use my factory sunvisors. Lots to pick from.

Thanks for posting the pics - I appreciate it!

 

there are some nice clip on monitors as well if you're not into cutting your visor up.

 

I'm definitely leaning towards a more permanent installed monitor for the visors... Clip-ons scream STEAL ME! The the work I'm putting into the rest of the system, I'm also pretty sure I'd get some crap for using clip-ons, as well ;-).

 

I have for my 2001 Excursion some Myron & Davis headrests for the rear seats. They are direct replacement's for the factory ones. You might consider them. They also have thier monitors without the actual headrest for you own custom install. They actually tilt out of thier shrouds for easier viewing if the seat is tilted back. So many posibilities these days...lol

 

they do make overhead drop down screens (up to 11" wide, maybe more) with builtin DVD player and wireless headphone transmitter.
They also have input jacks for video games, xbox's etc.
Extremely installer friendly and only requires 12volts constant, 12volts ignition and ground.

 

(I really want to get this thread to another page, so we don't have to scroll right and left, due to the hideously large picture...)
Here's what my ideas have evolved to...

Head unit: in-dash DVD w/7" monitor
- Rear view camera connected to monitor input, activated when reverse gear selected

Feed the following into NESA Vision AVS-46 (4 video in, 6 video out, individually selectable via remote):
-In-dash DVD w/7" monitor (rear view camera direct connected)
-Under seat (rear) DVD player
-Playstation 2 (need to find a good power inverter)
-TV Tuner (forgot I even had this thing!)

This will allow me to individually select the input for each monitor... But I'm still at the last problem - The switcher has 6 outputs, and I would like to be able to choose any of the sources for the in-dash screen as well. I'm thinking I can run a Y adapter off one of the inputs to the visor monitors, and just share that signal for the driver's visor and in-dash monitor.

I already have two sets of wireless headphones for the headliner monitors, I'll add two more sets of wireless headphones to be used with the headrest monitors. Just means I'll have to make sure they're on a different frequency.

I've already tested the wireless controllers on the PS2, they'll work anywhere in the truck :-). That's cool - I can play games from any seating location. And of course, the PS2 also doubles as a THIRD DVD source. Can't beat that.

It looks like this (placement of monitors and input devices not visualized, but refer to the previous diagrams).