06 Civic Build - New Build List on page 60

[scooter99]

There is no setting for the display or tv out. It's automatic as far as I could tell. I looked for it when I got home, then said to hell with it, plugged it into the wall, plugged it into the tv via the HDMI and then it worked like it was supposed to. I got all giddy inside but held off the back flips till it worked on the bench. So I took it out there and it didn't work.

I've been, as I think I've said, keeping a thread on MP3car.com and I'm getting a lot of great help and suggestions over there. The next step is this.

I'm going to take a computer monitor home with me from work today. Why do you ask? Well the suggestion was that the VGA to composite adapter that's coming out of the converter is stopping the signal.

Let me back up. Here's what I found last night and posted up over there. This will help it all make a little bit more sense.

"Ok guys I have something I just discovered which leads me to a theory. Now try and follow me here!

I plugged the dock into the wall charger.

Plugged in the HDMI cable.

Plugged the HDMI cable into the converter.

Need help and info from you guys, please read:

Took the converter off the DC-DC and wired the wall charger back on. Then plugged that in and got the Red led signaling that the converter is on.

I then checked the Optical output by opening the door, and I have no light which means no signal. I've even plugged the cable in and same thing, no signal.

So I unplugged the converter from the wall, then just cause, I looked at the LED and it was dimly lit. First I thought it was the sun, then I unplugged the HDMI cable and it went out.

So not really understanding what I just did, or what happened I did it again. I looked at the LED this time when I plugged in the HDMI cable and got nothing. The LED was out, not dimly lit, nothing.

Plugged the converter back in, LED lit up, and then unplugged it again. Same thing, the LED was lit dimly and when I unplugged the HDMI cable, it went out.

This leads me to a theory that I'd like to share and explore with you guys. My theory is this. The HDMI cable needs a power source to make the High Def signal. When the HDMI cable is plugged in, it doesn't have enough power to turn on the converter. But when the converter is powered on, and then subsequently unplugged, there's power in there left over, allowing the power from the HDMI cable to continue powering it minimally. I mean look it ain't much, but it is power. Bottom line is, what this tells me is that there is a signal being sent from the dock itself.

I think I have a bad converter. I think there's something wrong between the input of the HDMI cable into the converter, and the components that break down the signal and send them to the outputs.

What do you all think? Again, this dock and cable work on a regular tv with HDMI."

So after that someone said the thing about the adapter stopping the signal. So we're going to test the theory tonight by using a spare monitor that I have here at work. If that in fact works, and the way it will go is to not use the vga adapter and just plug the monitor into the vga port, then I need to switch up monitors for the headrests to monitors to accept a vga input. To use two monitors to that accept the vga input, I'll need a vga splitter to split the signal to two places.

Now the other option is this. Get monitors that will accept an HDMI input, carputer monitors is what I'm finding, and use the 3.5mm jack out of the back of the dock for the audio portion of the system.

This is where I need some advise: The 3.5mm jack audio out is not the greatest of quality. I've seen numerous posts about this fact alone. I've not seen many posts about the bit one and if it cleans up that sound or not. Obviously I could test the signal for clipping and note that spot as far as where the volume needs to be on the tablet when it's in the car. However, my feeling is that this level is going to be pretty low. That leads me to questions.

1) Would I need to boost the signal to the bit one or would the bit one take care of the boost before the amps?

2) If I need to boost the signal, what are my options as far as boosters or in line drivers?

3) What should I do about an optical input? They make a converter that takes an analog signal (RCA's) and converts it into a coax digital or optical signal. If I'm to do this, I'll need to split the RCA's cause I need one for the set up, and then I need one set for the optical converter box I just mentioned. Should I split before the boost, or should I split after the boost?

4) Actually at the moment I think that's it.

What we're doing here is trying to avoid a converter box for the HDMI signal. If I can do that then I'll save myself a lot of heartache. However, I'll know after tonight what I can and cannot do as far as sound with the monitor off and if it will even work.

I appreciate any help you all can give me on these questions. Thanks!

[Parentnoia]

Just my $0.02 but have you thought of an actual mini-HDMI to HDMI cable rather than the adapter piece? Also, have you thought of foregoing the HDMI and just using an RCA connection? They sell the 30-pin to RCA cables. Hope I'm of some help.

[Blackedout]

Good luck man. I Hope it works.... So I can steal your ideas lol

[zx10intn]

read over on an android forum that for some reason, the dock out only functions correctly on the tab if you hook it to power first, then hook the cable up afterwards. try that and see if you get a different result

[scooter99]

Just my $0.02 but have you thought of an actual mini-HDMI to HDMI cable rather than the adapter piece? Also, have you thought of foregoing the HDMI and just using an RCA connection? They sell the 30-pin to RCA cables. Hope I'm of some help.

I have the mini-HDMI to HDMI on the dock now. I looked at that RCA adapter and as far as I know, based on what people have said on XDA and The Galaxy Tab Forum, those do not work with the 10.1. The other thing to that as well is that would not allow the tablet to charge while it's in. That would create another problem.

[scooter99]

Sorry guys, I don't know why but I can't multi quote on here. I'll just go one by one.

At least on Apple products, they have good internal DACs and the 3.5mm audio outputs are nothing to worry about (although ground loop and voltage issues make it better to have a direct digital connection if you can swing it, of course). Do you know for sure this is different on the Galaxy?

I'm not sure on the internal DAC of the 10.1. I know that I have a set of Beats By Dre headphones, which are pretty good ones, and when I was watching movies a couple weeks ago in washington, I had to turn it up to about 90% of max to get decent sound out of it. I used my phone (Crapberry Bold) with pandora and it was much louder at a lower volume. I would say the internal is not very good.

I'd love a digital connection if I can swing it and that's what I'm hoping to do, or at least trying to do.

[scooter99]

read over on an android forum that for some reason, the dock out only functions correctly on the tab if you hook it to power first, then hook the cable up afterwards. try that and see if you get a different result

I did it both ways on the tv and the converter, cause I read that same thing. It works either way on the tv but not on the converter.

[scooter99]

Good luck man. I Hope it works.... So I can steal your ideas lol

Hey man, steal away! That's what it's here for. There's no patents on this work! You have questions hit me up and I'll tell you what i know or experienced! Good luck to you!

[Parentnoia]

Just my $0.02 but have you thought of an actual mini-HDMI to HDMI cable rather than the adapter piece? Also, have you thought of foregoing the HDMI and just using an RCA connection? They sell the 30-pin to RCA cables. Hope I'm of some help.

I have the mini-HDMI to HDMI on the dock now. I looked at that RCA adapter and as far as I know, based on what people have said on XDA and The Galaxy Tab Forum, those do not work with the 10.1. The other thing to that as well is that would not allow the tablet to charge while it's in. That would create another problem.

I was talking about a cable like this.

And for the RCA, I was going off the idea of finding a way to utilize both spots for the 30-pin (or you could DIY and spliter os some sort0. From the looks of it, the Tab has two. Granted, if you were to use both, it would require a bit of a rethink of how the Tab go into the dash, but you'd possibly solve the problem of not getting signal. From my point of view, it seems like the signal is losing strength through all the adapters and converters.

[scooter99]

Just my $0.02 but have you thought of an actual mini-HDMI to HDMI cable rather than the adapter piece? Also, have you thought of foregoing the HDMI and just using an RCA connection? They sell the 30-pin to RCA cables. Hope I'm of some help.

I have the mini-HDMI to HDMI on the dock now. I looked at that RCA adapter and as far as I know, based on what people have said on XDA and The Galaxy Tab Forum, those do not work with the 10.1. The other thing to that as well is that would not allow the tablet to charge while it's in. That would create another problem.

I was talking about a cable like this.

And for the RCA, I was going off the idea of finding a way to utilize both spots for the 30-pin (or you could DIY and spliter os some sort0. From the looks of it, the Tab has two. Granted, if you were to use both, it would require a bit of a rethink of how the Tab go into the dash, but you'd possibly solve the problem of not getting signal. From my point of view, it seems like the signal is losing strength through all the adapters and converters.

Oh I see what you're saying. I don't think that's the problem. I had the mini to standard HDMI adapter on the dock when I had it on my tv in my bedroom and it worked find.

We're really really close to a solution. I'll just say this one way or another I'll be selling the Pioneer screens, and I'll be getting new ones. I'm looking at some Samsung screens right now (they're raw lcd screens) that accept an HDMI input. If the VGA to the monitor works tonight, then I'll be keeping the converter to be able to have the audio all right there. If not I'll be going to the HDMI in on the screens and then nixing the converter and going to the 3.5mm out for audio. Stay tuned, I'll have results for sure tonight!