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  #71  
Old 9th April 2017, 06:40 PM
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Architex_mA8tey Architex_mA8tey is offline
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Originally Posted by HPsauce View Post
A major decision is required re something non-OEM that I can't hide.
The IR receiver "magic eye" for the TV remote; it's a thumbnail-sized dark dome with a black cable, but where to put it?

I'm not bothered about using the remote from anywhere in the cabin, as long as the driver can use it (when parked, obviously ) and maybe the front seat passenger as well?

Two places appear practical:
1. The bottom left of the instrument cluster, just to the right of the clock buttons. The cable (recoloured if necessary) can run vertically down the join in the trim then behind the drivers knee panel. An easy/temporary initial fit.
2. Incorporated into the "video in motion" switch to the right of the steering column in place of the non-functioning LEDs. A bit of work, effectively invisible, but only useable by the driver.
I ran my magic eye under the rear carpets from the boot and into the space under the arm rests in between the front seats (along with the red yellow and white video input cables - in case I ever wanted to plug in an input device like a player or a video cam etc
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  #72  
Old 9th April 2017, 06:42 PM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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Originally Posted by HPsauce View Post
With the aerials tucked up just under the headlining (behind the top of the windscreen shadeband) reception is OK on my drive.
Just to explain that a bit more, there is a printed black border on the windscreen which at the top is overlapped significantly by the headlining on the inside with quite a space behind. The gap between the metal securing trim on the outside down the glass to the edge of the headlining on the inside is almost 40mm. Plenty of room to tuck a thin horizontal aerial in there, so that's what I've done, one each side.
The aerials installed there are totally invisible from inside or outside the car, no matter how closely you look.

With that setup DVB-T reception in a difficult area (my driveway in a valley) is excellent on radio and "mixed" on TV. I'm getting BBC1 and BBC2 and a few other TV channels clearly from Crystal Palace which is about 30 miles away over the Chiltern hills.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Architex_mA8tey View Post
I ran my magic eye under the rear carpets from the boot and into the space under the arm rests in between the front seats (along with the red yellow and white video input cables - in case I ever wanted to plug in an input device like a player or a video cam etc.
Thanks Neil, I've also wondered about that space above the front ashtray, though I'm not sure how to get into it from behind or the side.
My tuner box will almost certainly be at the front, somewhere behind the drivers knee panel. The video converter and reversing camera radio receiver are already in that area.
I don't have an existing TV tuner to tap into so nothing is pulling me to the boot. Even aerials at the rear wouldn't as a pair of aerial leads are easier to hide than a set of A/V cables.
__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!

Last edited by HPsauce; 9th April 2017 at 08:29 PM.
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  #73  
Old 10th April 2017, 05:57 PM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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Originally Posted by HPsauce View Post
DVB-T reception in a difficult area (my driveway in a valley) is excellent on radio and "mixed" on TV.
And it's much better today; the dry clear conditions such as we had yesterday always mess up our TV reception, that's why we are mostly on FreeSat satellite not Freeview terrestrial.
__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!
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  #74  
Old 13th April 2017, 11:51 PM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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Originally Posted by HPsauce View Post
Just ordered another one from a different seller (lower price )
Supposedly coming from HK but tracking shows it starting in Mingle (Shenzen) just over in mainland China.
Nonetheless it's now in the UK so I should get it this week (or not, forgot Easter holidays!)! Not bad for ordering on Saturday!
Edit: Sitting at my local delivery office ready for delivery, which means Tuesday at best.
__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!

Last edited by HPsauce; 15th April 2017 at 09:58 AM.
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  #75  
Old 15th April 2017, 11:14 AM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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Originally Posted by HPsauce View Post
Sitting at my local delivery office ready for delivery, which means Tuesday at best.
No, it arrived!

Same as the previous unit except there's an extra wire in the power connector.
Reading the "Chinglish" manual (both are the same) again this appears to be something to do with automatically switching the picture to an A/V input from a reversing camera.

I might have a play with that and see if it provides a simpler solution than my current one which uses a separate relay.
__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!
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  #76  
Old 17th April 2017, 11:48 AM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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The new unit works fine and has much better reception than the old one, so whatever fault that has appears to have wider consequences than just losing video sync.

Though the now revealed/understood reversing camera input will not be used, as noted in the relevant thread, as it loses the TV/Radio sound unlike my relay solution.

To do the initial tuner setup I ran an aerial cable out to the car from the house distribution amplifier, makes sure it's got a comprehensive list of channels.
__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!

Last edited by HPsauce; 17th April 2017 at 10:05 PM.
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  #77  
Old 19th April 2017, 10:56 AM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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Originally Posted by HPsauce View Post
Just ordered another one from a different seller (lower price ) and will get a refund on this one!
The plot thickens on eBay, though I won't expose too much detail here.

Lets just say there seems to be a very close link (via a UK address used for returns) between apparently independent eBay sellers and some questionable practices in the way returns are handled.
I have seen evidence that some people (not me) have returned faulty goods (following instructions from the seller but NOT totally using eBay processes) but were not refunded and also paid the return postage when they shouldn't have.
Furthermore those faulty items may be being sent out again if they appear cosmetically OK; I think that's how I got my first (faulty) one so quickly, it apparently came from the (shared?) returns warehouse not China! There are comments in the listing about the goods being in China but using alternative warehouses "for fast delivery".

I'm following eBay's processes carefully to protect myself, based on my own previous "learning experiences" and will certainly not be out of pocket at the end. The doubtful sellers on the other hand...

All now resolved satisfactorily. Lessons learned.
__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!

Last edited by HPsauce; 5th May 2017 at 08:47 AM.
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  #78  
Old 19th April 2017, 05:13 PM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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Originally Posted by IT View Post
Presumably ....... your rear screen is twin pane like the rest, which will hamper signals somewhat.
Somewhat? Almost totally. Not a viable location according to my testing today. Though I suspect the embedded wiring in the glass is an extra factor.

On the other hand the rear quarter lights, upper/rear edge (which is nearly horizontal) gets excellent reception, much better than the top of the windscreen. I wonder if they are not actually twin-pane glass, or maybe the external chrome trim enhances the aerial somehow?

It's a pretty good location with the aerials barely visible to front or rear seat occupants (or from outside) as they are against the black glass surround.
If anyone outside does peer closely and spot them they may think it's part of a security system.
__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!

Last edited by HPsauce; 19th April 2017 at 10:28 PM.
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  #79  
Old 1st May 2017, 06:49 PM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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Originally Posted by HPsauce View Post
a pretty good location with the aerials barely visible to front or rear seat occupants (or from outside) as they are against the black glass surround.
I've found another factor that seems to influence reception quite a lot; the way the aerial lead joins the aerial.

It seems necessary to route the lead directly away from the aerial (it emerges from the centre of a "T") for a few cm and keep it away.
So placing the aerial at the edge of a window (including the windscreen) then running the cable beside it towards the tuner doesn't work well.
(I guess the earthed outer shield interferes with signal reception if it's very close to one branch of the aerial)

My interior trim is light and the cables are black so there will be some visibility until I can figure out how to disguise or hide them.
A photo of the initial/test placement is attached .... (this is the nearside, not tidied up, offside is a mirror of this). Taking the lead inboard then under the edge of that trim works fine.

What really upsets me is not the short length of cable on show but the irreparable damage to the alcantara headlining done by an aggressive valet before I got the car :
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__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!

Last edited by HPsauce; 1st May 2017 at 09:44 PM.
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  #80  
Old 2nd May 2017, 06:46 PM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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One step forwards and two back as ever.......
I intended to fit everything properly today but only managed the aerials.

The RNS-D wouldn't quite go all the way back so I need to rejig some wiring behind it, and one aerial lead doesn't quite reach where I needed it to.

This prompted a rethink of what goes where; there are quite a few separate components to secure and connect. But it's sort of grown organically as I've experimented.
So, it's back to square one and a redesign resulting in a more logical and tidier layout. Hopefully I can start fitting it this week, it's only a few minor wiring changes and placing some units in slightly different locations. All are around/behind the drivers knee panel area.

As it stands this evening the only working parts (over OEM) are the reversing camera, video interface and video-in-motion switch.
The XcarLink and DVB-T have been temporarily removed, as has the knee panel.
__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!

Last edited by HPsauce; 2nd May 2017 at 06:48 PM.
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