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ADC Mobile's OGM-1 install - Round One: WDTV Live/New USB/Streamin

wottenad

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wottenad Enthusiast

wottenad

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OK, here's round one. I'm including only photos right now, but video will follow very shortly...

 

Don't know how many of you guys know about WDTV, but I've had one for a couple years, and just picked up a refurbed unit for the Tahoe on Amazon for right around $50. The nice thing about the WDTV (and almost all the other units like Boxee, Roku, Cirago, etc.) is that they let you do video and music storage and playback from hard drives or USB sticks, and they play almost all versions of video, music and photo files instead of the NONE that the Advent is capable of. The benefit of the WDTV bx is that it runs on 12v DC, so it's a slam dunk to be used in the car...

 

"But there's no A/V input to the OGM-1 except the MediaLink pod" you say. Correct you are. That's why I built a custom set of relays to take over the A/V input from the MediaLink pod (more about that later) which allows me to switch just about any source I want to into the A/V input, including rear camera while I'm driving:

 

Advent_navi_WDTV_schematic3.JPG

 

I sourced some pretty cool relays from Vetco Electronics in Bellevue, WA that had three separate SPDT sets of contacts in each one, so each one could work as a self-contained A/V switcher - using two of them, they do complete audio and video switching for both the WDTV and iPhone streaming inputs. I used a standard SPDT relay to to the camera input.

 

This arrangement allows you to use the iPod/iPhone as you always have, but it allows you to take over the A/V input for the other sources. What you CANNOT do is to be listening to the iPod and switch over to any other source in this chain, including the camera - the deck gets REALLY pissed off when you do that and slows WAY down, to the point you need to reboot before using it again. You need to be listening to AM/FM/XM or disc (NOT iPod), switch to the WDTV box, let it boot up for 30-40 seconds, THEN switch to the A/V source. If you do it too soon, the A/V source will give you the "No Video Detected" screen if the boot process is not all the way done, or if for any other reason there's no video there when it switches in. It WILL NOT report when video comes on - you have to back out to AM/FM/XM or disc, then back into A/V to pick up video. Once there, though, it's a whole new world...

 

To install the WDTV box, I first hacked the box to remote mount the IR "eye" in the gap at the forward edge of the center console, then got output to the switcher via the supplied composite A/V output from the WDTV box. I cut off the "wall wart" power supply that came with the WDTV and determined polarity (it outputs 12v 1.5A, so we're good in the car) and wired power from the switch that controls the relay, so the WDTV is not powered on all the time. I mounted the box mounted under the center console tray and it is completely invisible. Two USB male-female extensions go into the center glovebox to allow USB sticks or hard drives to be plugged in. Control is via remote and can be done from just about anywhere in the vehicle.

 

IMAG1121.JPG

 

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IMAG1116.JPG

 

IMAG1115.JPG

 

I added an additional iPod cable for front or rear passenger use that can also be switched in, and this cable allows the use of streaming content (Netflix, YouTube, etc).

 

IMAG1123.JPG

 

I "stole" the MediaLink cable from the new Advent navi for the 2012 Camry and modified it slightly for use in the Tahoe - it looks far more factory than the factory one does!:

 

IMAG1119.JPG

 

This cable will soon be available for purchase separately, so if you're bummed about the current MediaLink pod, this might be an option for you - I heard it will be about $50...

 

This is only round one - headrest DVD's should be here any day, and then we'll do switching for outputs as well.

 

More to come...

ToeJamm Enthusiast

ToeJamm

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I like this idea of yours! :) Can't wait for more info on this.

 

Also as a side question.. do you have XM ? If so do you have the low volume issue when listening to XM?

wottenad Enthusiast

wottenad

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Here's a short video showing the operation of the various tweaks - WDTV Live, the streaming iPod/iPhone cable and the camera input:

 

http://vimeo.com/39248530

 

Here's the schematic for round two - when the headrests get here:

 

Advent_navi_WDTV_Rear_DVD_schematic.JPG

wottenad Enthusiast

wottenad

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I like this idea of yours! :) Can't wait for more info on this. Also as a side question.. do you have XM ? If so do you have the low volume issue when listening to XM?

 

No problems at all on XM - I have not seen the issue that others have reported, but trust me, I will be on the lookout for it on my own rig...

evance74 Enthusiast

evance74

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WOW, Walt. These options just add to the OGM1's capabilities. Where did you mount the A/V source select switches? I also like the new media link cable, it's much cleaner than the existing one. I am counting down the hours until my OGM1 arrives. I am actually leaving work early, tomorrow, for an "appointment" with the UPS delivery truck, hopefully I can get a jump on the install, and not have to wait until Friday.

Klyde32 Enthusiast

Klyde32

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Walt, this is awesome. I have been trying to get my WDTV to work with the A/V out on the OGM-1 in my truck. That was a big reason for buying the unit so that I could play movies because I have my entire DVD library converted to MP4 and this way I do not have to decide what to take on road trips... I can take them all! I have been using a cable that came with my digital camcorder to plug into the single A/V output on the medialink. I have gotten it to work but get a high pitched sound when the audio is connected. It also follows the rev of the engine so i am guessing it has something to do with my connection to the OGM-1 in the back.

wottenad Enthusiast

wottenad

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WOW, Walt. These options just add to the OGM1's capabilities. Where did you mount the A/V source select switches? I also like the new media link cable, it's much cleaner than the existing one. I am counting down the hours until my OGM1 arrives. I am actually leaving work early, tomorrow, for an "appointment" with the UPS delivery truck, hopefully I can get a jump on the install, and not have to wait until Friday.

 

 

I added the On-Off-On toggle on the top of the small cover at the leading edge of the console on the driver side so it's invisible unless you knew it was there, and the single toggle for the camera is under the dash above the driver's right shin. The toggle for the rear seat monitor source function will be mounted on the top horizontal surface of the cup holder opening on the back of the center console.The main goal here is to make these mods as completely invisible as possible, yet provide way more possibilities than you would ever imagine.

 

To be honest, the WDTV exceeded all of my expectations, it works great, and it is by far the cheapest and easiest media center I've ever done in the car. For a little over $50 for a refurbed WDTV Live and a little time to do the mod, this thing rocks! I'll be writing up a story on the install and posting it with photos on www.adcmobile.com

wottenad Enthusiast

wottenad

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Walt, this is awesome. I have been trying to get my WDTV to work with the A/V out on the OGM-1 in my truck. That was a big reason for buying the unit so that I could play movies because I have my entire DVD library converted to MP4 and this way I do not have to decide what to take on road trips... I can take them all! I have been using a cable that came with my digital camcorder to plug into the single A/V output on the medialink. I have gotten it to work but get a high pitched sound when the audio is connected. It also follows the rev of the engine so i am guessing it has something to do with my connection to the OGM-1 in the back.

 

 

It may have something to do with the plug on the deck, but you may also want to check the cable itself - you might want to try another one if you have one available.

Klyde32 Enthusiast

Klyde32

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Walt, any chance of getting a few pictures of your switch locations? Would like to see where you put everything and what switches you used. Been looking at some of the rocker switches online at Vetco and would like to know which ones you ended up using.

wottenad Enthusiast

wottenad

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Walt, any chance of getting a few pictures of your switch locations? Would like to see where you put everything and what switches you used. Been looking at some of the rocker switches online at Vetco and would like to know which ones you ended up using.

 

 

I used a standard 3/4" OD on-off-on switch (from AAMP, I believe - just one we had around the shop), and I mounted it on the removable panel at the front of the console on the driver's side - it's almost invisible:

 

IMAG1164.JPG

 

IMAG1165.JPG

wottenad Enthusiast

wottenad

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Walt, I'm trying to find those relays you used. Can you give me any more info on them?

 

I didn't get the model on them, but I'm going to get more this Friday. They are a 3PDT 12v relay that makes it really easy to switch audio and video off of one relay instead of using three standard SPDT relays to accomplish the switching. Of course, you could use any number of manual switches to accomplish the same thing, but it's not quite as cool or stealthy... :)

 

Although it's not necessarily what you wanted to see, here's what the entire modded cabling system looks like before adding in the relays:

 

IMAG1102.JPG

parshal Enthusiast

parshal

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This cable will soon be available for purchase separately, so if you're bummed about the current MediaLink pod, this might be an option for you - I heard it will be about $50...

 

 

Any idea when this cable will be available? What does it actually look like? Is it the aux/usb in your pic?

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