I read the install done by internetabyss but was wondering if anyone else has done this conversion. He used Nav-TV for the RGB converter but their website doesn't give any info. about a system for our cars. From what I could gather, the cost of this converter was about $1000. Once you add DVD player, FM modulator, and installation the price is over $1500 which seems steep to me. I can buy an indash DVD player/screen for that price.

Is there a more economical way to do this that I am missing?

Thanks.
Victor

 

Yes, there is another way...and it should be cheaper.

I am working with a company out in Colorado, who is developing an nav interface for the 350Z (http://www.video-nav.com). This interface will give you the abilty of interfacing to the stock nav system, giving you capability of playing 2 seperate video sources of your choice, and a tv input (antenna required), over your stock nav system. This upgrade will be much less than $1500, probably closer to $800 if you install it yourself, and a little more if a professional does it for you.

We are in the final testing phase right now, and once that is complete, the guys in Colorado will be deciding if they are going to do any special offering to the people in this forum. I will psot pictures and results once the work is finished, and I ma hoping to wrap everything up this week.

My A/V/nav system is basically comprised these parts:
1. Factory navigation system

2. Black box interface (called the PBA-N1). This performs the RGB insterface to the nav screen, and controls synchronization of signals.

3. Pioneer GEX-P7000 tv tuner. This device allows you to transmit 2 different A/V signals through the black box device listed above. It also gives you an option of adding tv to your nav system using a special antenna that can be wired inside the car and is not visible at all. This device also uses an FM modulator to transfer audio to your factory head unit, or aftermarket head unit. If you use a Pioneer head unit with IPbas, it interfaces directly.

4. Backup camera. When my reverse gear is engaged, a view from the rear bumper can be seen. When the car is taken out of reverse gear, the factory nav screen pops back on. Adding this camera did take the second video input on the Pioneer tuner, but I thinks its a supercool upgrade.

5. Playstation2--my DVD player, and game source. I may opt for a standalone mobile DVD player, but at this point my DVD source will remain my PS2.

The install is not anymore difficult than adding a new head unit or amplifier. The instructions I received from the engineers in Colorado were superb, and the connections were simple. I do own the factory service manual, so I was easily able to locate the wires that needed to be spliced into. I would estimate 2-4 hours total to complete the installation, and I decided to mount the tv tuner under the passengers seat. The black box interface is small and there is plenty of room for it in the center console and under the head unit.

The company and engineers working on this project are very thorough, and they want to make sure everything is working perfectly in my Z before they start making non-prototype modules. I will post a new thread once this work is complete and testing is finished--hopefully this weekend. Once the testing is done, they will decide how to market it, and if any discounts will be available to you guys here, I am hoping so.

 

How does it look with the stock screen? Is the resolution and color any good?

 

i paid like $600 bucks for the converter and single-din dvd player. search on my posts for info.

 

I want to add the DVD so bad but the inly one I found was the TV-Nav site and they didn't want to sell me the converter. They said they would only sell it to a shop and the shop would sell it to me. If this Colorado shop does a good job, I am down for a kit.

 

I know it could be done, but I wonder if anyone will take the time to hack/defeat the inability to put in destinations in the stock NAV while driving? This is this way on the 350z nav, right? My friends G35 four door won't let you touch any destination stuff while the car is moving (it is an auto, could it just be unless the car is in neutral or park?) This is silly because of a little thing called the passenger!

 

Here's a do it yourself!

http://www.geocities.com/wonderer369/G35Nav.html