2011 Audio changeout
- Thread starter axxman
- Start date
JamesWhite
New member
Are you gonna have a camera in front?
BrianSD_42
New member
I meant did you install a new high def Alpine camera. ... I didn't realize you already had a camera.
axxman
Member
Yes, i am looking at several dashcams to mount behind the rearview mirror
Nomad33fw
New member
M
Is there any side lip on these against the truck? I am looking for something similar to the Mercedes 450GL look with the LEDs that light up.
this is kind of becoming my build thread so i a am going to put photos of my latest additions here:
I really wanted the NFAB steps but they are only available for the trail edition, these were the closest to the canadian running board look, should make it easier to wash the roof and put my bike up there. took about 30 minutes to install, I saw a thread stating that these do not fit with the factory mud guards, that is not the case, you can slide them forward and backward to fit.
Is there any side lip on these against the truck? I am looking for something similar to the Mercedes 450GL look with the LEDs that light up.
axxman
Member
Broke down a few weeks back and decided to get a new HU, I missed having CD and NAV available. I went with an Alpine INE-W940, it was 99% the same as the ICS-X7HD so the wiring was mostly plug and play. Nothing wrong with the old HU, I wrather enjoyed it but I still like to play some CDs and having the nav built in keeps the dash clear of portable GPS and associated cable.
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axxman
Member
planning on getting these installed in the near future:
***Update*** 11-25-14 Had a local shop install these today, I am so relieved, they had exactly the effect I wanted, I set them at .85 and the truck now rides level and feels much more stable. I could not be happier. It should come from the factory this way. I would post photos however there is not much to take photos of.
***Update*** 11-25-14 Had a local shop install these today, I am so relieved, they had exactly the effect I wanted, I set them at .85 and the truck now rides level and feels much more stable. I could not be happier. It should come from the factory this way. I would post photos however there is not much to take photos of.
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axxman
Member
Just added the idatalink Maestro SW steering wheel control interface. this will replace my Axxess SW-1 which worked but the iDatalink is much easier to program and has a little more capabilities allowing 2 functions per button. first, it was an absolute PIA to install, if I had had this thing 3 years ago it would have been much easier but since my system was already in the car, it was a pain. but I managed to get everthing hooked up and it worked the first time. Some people have trouble programming it but I found the web interface to be a joy to use. now all the buttons on my steering wheel have a function. I actually have a few left over but every possible command is already covered. I have the voice button programmed for mute and power off, ideally, they would have made this one activate siri but couldn't figure out how, maybe holding down the off hook buttion will work.
no photos of the install, it was pretty strait forward, I would recommend the idatalink to anyone installing an aftermarket stereo, it is a bit more expensive than the others but it allows more function and I think it is worth it.
cheers.
no photos of the install, it was pretty strait forward, I would recommend the idatalink to anyone installing an aftermarket stereo, it is a bit more expensive than the others but it allows more function and I think it is worth it.
cheers.
riceandpho
Elite Member
so how much did you pay for the idatalink maestro sw? i got it off ebay for under 50, so far is better than the metra aswc. easy to program and hook up, i think that harness for plug and play on the metra wasnt that good, compared to using t taps on the wires directly.
axxman
Member
OK TIME FOR A DASHCAM INSTALL
this was so easy I didn't really take many photos as I installed, too hot and too easy. if anyone ever needs help post here or PM me and I can walk you through it. The biggest key for me was finding the right camera.
Here is an outside far away view, not really noticeable, I realize that will change with different light but I am pleased.
A couple tips in cam selection, I have been watching Techmoan for 2-3 years. 2 years ago, I thought I wanted a dashcam, but really for the money, I could not find anything that I felt comfortable spending 2-3 hundred bucks on, Techmoan - Techmoan is a website where this guy does really good reviews, just reviews, not recommendations, although you can tell when he doesn't like something. This cam is in his car, I cannot ask for a higher recommendation than that. He pretty much stick to reviews of cheap knockoff cams, but he looks at more expensive items now and then.
This cam is a 80 dollar knockoff of a 229 dollar cam
with more expensive components.I figure for 80 bucks I will give it a try.
the camera is called A118C Dash camera, I bought on amazon, but I am sure you can find elsewhere. you have to provide your own class 10 micro SD card. I paid about 80 for the cam 5 bucks for a 10ft usb and 13 for a 32gb card.
Well I got most of what I want here, except this thing does have a screen and no wifi.
The unit also has GPS, which I am not interested in at this time so I left that antenna in the box.
I know it is nice to have a screen to aim the camera, but I would have traded off that for some space, I had a different plan. fortunately this model
disconnects the screen when you connect an av out cable to it.
View from outside:
View from drivers seat:
View from directly behind the mirror:
Passenger side view:
Closeup from outside:
Closeup inside:
And finally the test of the AV out.
Here is where I got the power from:
Some tips,
I ordered a think 10ft USB cable on amazon which had about 1ft of slack, I ran it down into the glovebox where I used one of those duel usb cigarette adaptors, one port 1amp 1 port 2.1amp, I used the 1amp because that is what the cam needs. I can use the other one for charging other devices. this is a switch plug so only on when the car is on. perfect for this application.
I recommend a dashcam with a capacitor, not a rechargable battery, heat will quickly destroy any battery. capacitors last much longer.
if you really want a battery setup to for example keep an eye on your vehicle, you can get one of those portable batteries with a usb plug. put the battery in the glovebox, plug in the cam and have the charger for the battery plugged in to your cig adaptor to charge it back up. I may try this in the future.
The camera's mount is nothing more than a little piece of plastic with sticky tape on one side and a slot to slide the camera onto. no shake, it is as solid as the windshield. most of the cam is hidden by those black dots. While on the subject, another tip is to make sure the sticky tape is a dark color so it blends in.
I forgot to mention sound. I don't care about sound, I turned off the mic when I set the camera up.
The camera is called A118C dash camera. the C is for capacitor model, there is also a battery model without the C.
I bought mine on amazon for about 85 dollars. Plus I spent 5 buck on a 10ft USB cable and 13 dollars on a Sandisk 32gb microSD card. I already had the duel USB cigarette plug adaptor. I will work on fine tuning this weekend and saving some video while driving.
this was so easy I didn't really take many photos as I installed, too hot and too easy. if anyone ever needs help post here or PM me and I can walk you through it. The biggest key for me was finding the right camera.
Here is an outside far away view, not really noticeable, I realize that will change with different light but I am pleased.
A couple tips in cam selection, I have been watching Techmoan for 2-3 years. 2 years ago, I thought I wanted a dashcam, but really for the money, I could not find anything that I felt comfortable spending 2-3 hundred bucks on, Techmoan - Techmoan is a website where this guy does really good reviews, just reviews, not recommendations, although you can tell when he doesn't like something. This cam is in his car, I cannot ask for a higher recommendation than that. He pretty much stick to reviews of cheap knockoff cams, but he looks at more expensive items now and then.
This cam is a 80 dollar knockoff of a 229 dollar cam
with more expensive components.I figure for 80 bucks I will give it a try.
the camera is called A118C Dash camera, I bought on amazon, but I am sure you can find elsewhere. you have to provide your own class 10 micro SD card. I paid about 80 for the cam 5 bucks for a 10ft usb and 13 for a 32gb card.
- I wanted something stealth with video out that took good video and didn't make noise.
- Also I didn't want a suction cup mount or these cheezy looking cheap plastic stick on mounts that hang the dash cam down like a gps.
- I did not want a screen, I much prefer to have a smaller unit and set it up via wifi and an Iphone app.
- I wanted good night performance otherwise what is the point.
Well I got most of what I want here, except this thing does have a screen and no wifi.
The unit also has GPS, which I am not interested in at this time so I left that antenna in the box.
I know it is nice to have a screen to aim the camera, but I would have traded off that for some space, I had a different plan. fortunately this model
disconnects the screen when you connect an av out cable to it.
View from outside:
View from drivers seat:
View from directly behind the mirror:
Passenger side view:
Closeup from outside:
Closeup inside:
And finally the test of the AV out.
Here is where I got the power from:
Some tips,
I ordered a think 10ft USB cable on amazon which had about 1ft of slack, I ran it down into the glovebox where I used one of those duel usb cigarette adaptors, one port 1amp 1 port 2.1amp, I used the 1amp because that is what the cam needs. I can use the other one for charging other devices. this is a switch plug so only on when the car is on. perfect for this application.
I recommend a dashcam with a capacitor, not a rechargable battery, heat will quickly destroy any battery. capacitors last much longer.
if you really want a battery setup to for example keep an eye on your vehicle, you can get one of those portable batteries with a usb plug. put the battery in the glovebox, plug in the cam and have the charger for the battery plugged in to your cig adaptor to charge it back up. I may try this in the future.
The camera's mount is nothing more than a little piece of plastic with sticky tape on one side and a slot to slide the camera onto. no shake, it is as solid as the windshield. most of the cam is hidden by those black dots. While on the subject, another tip is to make sure the sticky tape is a dark color so it blends in.
I forgot to mention sound. I don't care about sound, I turned off the mic when I set the camera up.
The camera is called A118C dash camera. the C is for capacitor model, there is also a battery model without the C.
I bought mine on amazon for about 85 dollars. Plus I spent 5 buck on a 10ft USB cable and 13 dollars on a Sandisk 32gb microSD card. I already had the duel USB cigarette plug adaptor. I will work on fine tuning this weekend and saving some video while driving.
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Almost forgot, new shorty antenna to replace the stubby antenna, now I can get more than 2 stations in the DC area. :bravo:
link to the antenna? or is it a diy one?
