Member Since: 20 Sep 2008
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1416
Spencer wrote:
Can you kindly outline the pro's and con's of each.
Hi Spencer and Happy New Year!
(the site didn't notify me for some reason of your post so apologies for the delay)
Basically, the GVIF is a little more "automated" in that it toggles between OEM SatNav and AV1-AV3 at the push of a button (instead of having to go through the hidden menu). Another plus is there's no icons on the screen - just your chosen input. And finally, the fact you can also hook up a reversing camera which will come on automatically when you select reverse... The downside is the cost, which at 250 or more is a bit steep for what the box actually does.
The SMB solution is cheaper but fiddlier to get to, which if driving could distract you enough to be dangerous. Other than that, I have not noticed any difference in the picture quality (if anything, it's a little grainy with the GVIF but I'm being fussy saying that). The other negative is that if you use one of the inputs of the rear of the screen for the reversing camera, you would still need to get to it through the hidden menu as one of the video feeds (no automatic switching).
TBH, ever since I installed the GVIF I really haven't used the SMBs at all as for now my AV needs are covered with the 3+1 inputs of the GVIF. I do have a little project in mind though wich may resurrect those inputs to use
Member Since: 20 Sep 2008
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1416
Re: a v mods
rnlisg wrote:
i have just got a pioneer avic f55bt system to put in mine!and i am a bit nervous about fitting that
Hi Sandy,
glad you find it useful
Re the Pioneer, it's all in the mind, take your time to understand the wiring of the unit, the wiring in the car, drawing your cable laying will almost certainly help as well. Don't rush to take things off and snip wires before you are happy with how things will go... and of course, when in doubt ask the forum!
Member Since: 30 Aug 2010
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1051
Biz... or anyone else for that matter....
Bought the SMB > RCA cable via the site shop and tried getting it all set up today but couldnt get any image on the satnav screen.
Think I connected everything correctly :
SMB into green socket on back of satnav screen.
RCA end into the video out of my genuine Apple composite lead.
Went through the secret setup screen on satnav using the 753 code etc etc.
I switched through the input source being PAL/NTSC / Normal/wide etc. I also changed the settings on the iPod but still no joy.
I aslo tried it with my IPhone 3 but nothing at all on the screen. I had a film running on the iPod / iPhone the whole time.
The only thing not connected was the 2 audio RCA leads on the composite lead as I am yet to decide where to put my audio leads as I want them well hidden.
Does anyone have any idea why I'm not getting a video image showing on screen?
Cheers
RaddersMY15 D4 SDV6 HSE Corris Grey - Gone
MY05 D3 TDV6 SE Zambezi silver Auto Alpaca leather - Gone
MY02' Seat Leon 1.6s Metallic Black cloth trim with a hint of mould
Club Sandwich
Women... Can't live with em, can't kill em...
15th Jan 2011 6:54 pm
discoBizz
Member Since: 20 Sep 2008
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1416
Did you actually select the input to which you connected the SMB (TV/DVD, Companion Cam, Rear View Cam)? You need to press the icon to bring it up in full screen at this stage:
Also, most importantly, did you try with another source other than the iPhone? Some phones (with earlier firmware I believe) would not output their video through the official cable for some reason. Another way you could test this is to try plugging the iPhone with its cabale into a conventional TV with composite AV inputs to verify it is working.==> Guide - Inexpensive AV Modification
==> Guide - Extend the multimedia of your Discovery III (September 2011, v1.2 uploaded)
15th Jan 2011 10:42 pm
radders89
Member Since: 30 Aug 2010
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1051
Biz,
Yeah I forgot to mention that I got the DVD screen up full screen and as that didn't work I tried the other 2 screens also with no joy.
I initially tried my 4yr old iPod but after that didn't work I tried my iPhone 3 - still nothing.
I shall try on a tv in the house and see how it goes. Thanks for your comments. MY15 D4 SDV6 HSE Corris Grey - Gone
MY05 D3 TDV6 SE Zambezi silver Auto Alpaca leather - Gone
MY02' Seat Leon 1.6s Metallic Black cloth trim with a hint of mould
Club Sandwich
Women... Can't live with em, can't kill em...
16th Jan 2011 12:37 am
radders89
Member Since: 30 Aug 2010
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1051
Tried the iPod & composite leads on the tv indoors and they worked fine, however I was getting error type messages on the iPhone 3 when I ran the video through that so its pretty clear that the composite cable doesn't work on my model iPhone!!
Re-tried the iPod through the car satnav and it now works fine....must have done something wrong yesterday.
Thanks Biz for you advice. MY15 D4 SDV6 HSE Corris Grey - Gone
MY05 D3 TDV6 SE Zambezi silver Auto Alpaca leather - Gone
MY02' Seat Leon 1.6s Metallic Black cloth trim with a hint of mould
Club Sandwich
Women... Can't live with em, can't kill em...
16th Jan 2011 8:58 pm
discoBizz
Member Since: 20 Sep 2008
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1416
Member Since: 30 Aug 2010
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1051
Biz cheers for your help via pm.
Just sorting out connecting my audio into the aux connector in the front passenger kick panel but I'm struggling to disconnect the connector. Can't really see where I should be squeezing / pulling etc.
Anyone got any ideas?MY15 D4 SDV6 HSE Corris Grey - Gone
MY05 D3 TDV6 SE Zambezi silver Auto Alpaca leather - Gone
MY02' Seat Leon 1.6s Metallic Black cloth trim with a hint of mould
Club Sandwich
Women... Can't live with em, can't kill em...
1st May 2011 1:44 pm
discoBizz
Member Since: 20 Sep 2008
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1416
Hi Mike,
glad it helped
From memory, you need to press the tongue at the lower end of the connector (quite stiff) circled below:
Member Since: 29 May 2011
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7
DISCO3 retail cables
To help people like me that have been looking at all the different blogs on the AV input, SMB connectors. Trying to decide which web site to by from, thinking i hope that is tje right one. Well the cables can be bought from this site.
Member Since: 23 Jun 2013
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 706
At the risk of talking to myself...
Went Maplin this morning and got the miniature spades, good job I did...
I didn't have much chance of tucking the new connectors in with the existing ones, so I've (temporarily ) left it unplugged and plugged the lead into the rear of the plug...
I say temporarily, cos I'm assuming that the remaining wires on that plug are going to be something super critical like the brakelights or airbags knowing LR!!! Hoping it's just the middle row aux power socket and associated illumination though.
Member Since: 07 Jan 2009
Location: Arnhem
Posts: 1967
Not talking to yourself, well at least not without someone listening.
I read somewhere that to have aux enabled you need to put something in the aux-in at thte back of the centre cubby. I'm asking because I just got a BT receiver and am thinking about this mod. Going to try out tomorrow with the thingie plugged in where it is obvious but want it out of sight and out of reach of childrens extremities in not too long.
WiljoD3 V8 HSE Auto in Zermatt silver - driveway version gone but not forgotten, only the living room cupboard version remains
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) left it unplugged and plugged the lead into the rear of the plug...
