What to do with the Small Factory TV/VCR

HIFI

HIFI

Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 5, 2006
555
Rio Grande, TX
Boat Info
1998 400EC
Engines
Merc 454 Horizon
I Decided To Upgrade The Exsisting Audio/Video System And Wanted A BIG TV. I Removed The Original 13 Inch TV/VCR And Filled The Hole With A Wine Rack. Larger TV mounted Elswhere.

winerack2.jpg
 
Would it be possible to retain the small factory installed TV, purchase a wide flat screen monitor only, mount this in another location and run the feed for the TV and DVD from the existing TV? (Don't know if this has "line out" jack) I have a 300 DA and am considering this type of install if possible.
 
jrirvine,
what kind of tv/dvd do you have? I don't know of any monitor that has a video output. It's usually the end of the line for video. If you have a separate dvd player, it may have more than one output, and you could do that. Are you thinking about a remote monitor in the cockpit?
 
370Dancer said:
jrirvine,
Are you thinking about a remote monitor in the cockpit?
Click to expand...

Yes, a remote much larger wide screen format monitor located below and adjacent to the stairs - approx. 30" diag. The DVD is a KEC and has S-video and video line out, which could be disconnected from the existing 15" monitor and run to the larger monitor. The unknown at this time is, can the TV, which is an LG, LCD 15" monitor and tuner have the capability of line out to another remote monitor? The idea is to essentually abandon the 15" monitor and use the existing DVD and TV tuner to feed the large remote monitor. All equipment would stay as installed with only the addition of the 2nd monitor to deal with.

Sounds straight forward and simple, but like most things, (expecially on boats) is probably somewhat problematic.
To further complicate things, it would be nice to run the sound through the existing Clarion stero system or through some Bose speakers integral with the new monitor.
 
I'd say, not practically. First, if you are going to display something on a 30" LCD monitor, you're going to want to use the highest resolution possible. Composite video is not a good choice. Only the DVD player will have a video out in your current system. The LG monitor doesn't I'd bet. Sounds like you're trying to keep the LG in the mix so you have a TV tuner. There's some better options these days. The first is to take advantage of falling prices, and just get a 30" tv that has a built in ATSC tuner. That's HDTV, using your antenna that's already installed. You'll need to be near a metro area for good reception, but the picture will be STELLAR. Some monitors also have NTSC tuners (good old 1943 analog TV). If you have a particular monitor in mind, then I would opt for a HDTV set top box for your tuner. The LG could also be fed by that tuner just as it is from the DVD player.

Look in the modifications section of this board, and you'll see a couple of installations I've been doing. I am getting ready to replace the laptop/USB tuner with a Samsung SIR-t351 ATSC tuner, and a small form factor PC. They will both feed into a 19 or 20" Wide Screen LCD display. This will all mount in the 13" tv/vcr cabinet.

At any rate, good luck. I'd be interested in how you are going to mount a 30" monitor so that it can be viewed inside, and in the companionway. I struggled with that for a while before deciding to break the system up into multiple monitors.
 
jrirvine said:
Would it be possible to retain the small factory installed TV, purchase a wide flat screen monitor only, mount this in another location and run the feed for the TV and DVD from the existing TV? (Don't know if this has "line out" jack) I have a 300 DA and am considering this type of install if possible.
Click to expand...

If you purchase a Monitor with built in Tuner this will be an easy upgrade for you and offer more flexibility. You will simply run the conections to the new Monitor with built in Tuner. Use existing Audio Out jacks for new Monitor.

If you want both the large Monitor and the factory TV hooked up use a signal splitter for the antenna, use a video splitter for the Video In on both sets, and share the Audio Input on you Clarion radio from Both Video systems.

Forget about you "feed" idea. Virtually no TV's have a Video out and few Monitors have Video out. Plus you would be depndent to have one on to view the other.

Here's my thoughts but I am an Audio/Video NUT:
If you are going to install an audio system like BOSE or whatever you will want a subwoofer. Forget about the factory stuff and tying into any of it. The antenna is the only thing I use for my Salon System.

HOME THEATRE IN THE BOAT IS STINKIN LUXURY!
 
Hifi, I cant' remember if we ever saw pics of your entertainment system. Got any?
 
370Dancer said:
Hifi, I cant' remember if we ever saw pics of your entertainment system. Got any?
Click to expand...

I have one blurry shot of the TV mounted on the wall. The ballance of the system is out of site with the exception of the small cube speakers mounted around the cabin. The mounting location allows viewing from the Galley Bar, the Guest State Room, and the Salon. The original location, at the bar, had restrictions for viewing as well as SIZE.

tvmounted-1.jpg
 
370Dancer said:
At any rate, good luck. I'd be interested in how you are going to mount a 30" monitor so that it can be viewed inside, and in the companionway. I struggled with that for a while before deciding to break the system up into multiple monitors.
Click to expand...

The goal is to have the finished install look something like this. Thanks for the tips regarding the monitor with built in tuner. This looks like the best way to go, I was just trying to avoid a redundancy.
 

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The goal is to have the finished install look something like this. Thanks for the tips regarding the monitor with built in tuner. This looks like the best way to go, I was just trying to avoid a redundancy.[/quote]

Hey JRIRVINE,

from what type off SR is that photo?

Peter
 
The layout of the 320 looks a lot like my 360.

I am planning a LCD there also.

You got tips?

Peter.
 
tv

Does anyone know what model the flat screen is that fits inside the tv/vcr cabinet on the newer models such as the 340DA? I think it's a LG 15"?
 
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