Pajero Gt

[rizla]

As the title suggests, what way can i connect a portable mp3/hard drive to the head unit on the pajero, what inputs are available, i read the manual and it appears optional leads are req`d, i haven`t pull out the head unit to see, yet. Please note i have an iriver player and not an ipod (thank god)......options please, or what have you done?.......thanks in advance

[MoonRiverOasis]

The Alpine unit in the PJS GT can support an analogue AUX input, so no problems adding the player of your choice.

If you're not going to install a CD or DVD Changer, use the KCA-121B (about 800 Baht at any Alpine dealer) - if you want to install a CD/DVD changer plus have an AUX input you'll need one of the more expensive Alpine adaptors - I don't have pricing on these however.

KCA-121B

[rizla]

The Alpine unit in the PJS GT can support an analogue AUX input, so no problems adding the player of your choice.

If you're not going to install a CD or DVD Changer, use the KCA-121B (about 800 Baht at any Alpine dealer) - if you want to install a CD/DVD changer plus have an AUX input you'll need one of the more expensive Alpine adaptors - I don't have pricing on these however.

KCA-121B

Thanks for the reply MRO, i was thinking more along the lines of USB, so i can list and select songs on the touch screen, is that possible with the installed head unit ?

[MoonRiverOasis]

The Alpine unit in the PJS GT can support an analogue AUX input, so no problems adding the player of your choice.

If you're not going to install a CD or DVD Changer, use the KCA-121B (about 800 Baht at any Alpine dealer) - if you want to install a CD/DVD changer plus have an AUX input you'll need one of the more expensive Alpine adaptors - I don't have pricing on these however.

KCA-121B

Thanks for the reply MRO, i was thinking more along the lines of USB, so i can list and select songs on the touch screen, is that possible with the installed head unit ?

For USB you have two options:

1) The Alpine way - the KCA-620M connects to the Ai-Net bus (same connector as the AUX adaptor above) and will play back MP3's with full integration with the DVD player and screen. No support for video formats though, and it can't do lossless audio.

Alpine KCA-620M

2) The custom way - using an external USB media player like iPod. I have integrated a WDTV into mine - this supports playing back all audio and video - including MP3, lossless audio, AVI, MPEG, and MKV video up to 1080P HD. No touch screen controls however, but the combination of remote and on-screen menus works for me. You'll need the AUX in adaptor for this though.

Western Digital WDTV

Both options are about the same price (5K Baht), but you'll have to hunt around to find a KCA-620M for sale.

[rizla]

The Alpine unit in the PJS GT can support an analogue AUX input, so no problems adding the player of your choice.

If you're not going to install a CD or DVD Changer, use the KCA-121B (about 800 Baht at any Alpine dealer) - if you want to install a CD/DVD changer plus have an AUX input you'll need one of the more expensive Alpine adaptors - I don't have pricing on these however.

KCA-121B

Thanks for the reply MRO, i was thinking more along the lines of USB, so i can list and select songs on the touch screen, is that possible with the installed head unit ?

For USB you have two options:

1) The Alpine way - the KCA-620M connects to the Ai-Net bus (same connector as the AUX adaptor above) and will play back MP3's with full integration with the DVD player and screen. No support for video formats though, and it can't do lossless audio.

Alpine KCA-620M

2) The custom way - using an external USB media player like iPod. I have integrated a WDTV into mine - this supports playing back all audio and video - including MP3, lossless audio, AVI, MPEG, and MKV video up to 1080P HD. No touch screen controls however, but the combination of remote and on-screen menus works for me. You'll need the AUX in adaptor for this though.

Western Digital WDTV

Both options are about the same price (5K Baht), but you'll have to hunt around to find a KCA-620M for sale.

Done a bit of reading on the KCA-620M, it seems to have issues with ipods let alone my iriver (so that option is out).... I have a spare WDTV and Passport drive sitting doing nothing at the moment as i watch most of my stuff thru vlc with an HDMI connection to my LCD now anyway...might give that a try if i can botch up an in car power cable for it...but to be honest i dont really like the idea of using a remote on the go, and unless some good firmware upgrades have appeared, the menu system on the WDTV sucks, (i used to run a rapsody portable media player before, that was a classy menue)...

The KCA-121B ( a lot cheaper on fleabay) seems to be just for L/R audio, is there a video in plug in the back of the alpine ~(yellow},is that what you use to feed in your WDTV? also bearing in mind i want to retro fit a reversing camera(will it work in tandem, or does it have it`s own connection, oh, and does the reverse camera switch on the display automaticaly, if it`s off when you select reverse?) never had a camera before....sorry for the rambling.

On a different note i may just stick a sh1t load of mp3`s or wma`s on an audio dvd and not worry about the mp3 player, but i would like a media player option as dvd`s (concerts etc are a pain to carry arround though)...

Have you looked at newer replacement HU`s that would mate to the screen, are there any reasonable options? as one thing that bugs me about the installed alpine is the bloody bright blue colour, i would prefer a dimmed down red facia, oh, and looking into the SWRC option too, i see this seems to be a good option, even if you change HU`s http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_22808_Axxess+ASWC.html or http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_17946_PAC+SWI-JACKv1+-New+Version+of+SWI-JACK-.html

A lot of questions i know ...but thanks for your thoughts..oh, and i`ve just ordered a race pro for it, and thinking about the exhaust mod, used to run a turbo before with a dump vavle and cold air intake system and the woosh suck was loud (petrol), what kind of noise does this give you....very kind ragards

[MoonRiverOasis]

Done a bit of reading on the KCA-620M, it seems to have issues with ipods let alone my iriver (so that option is out)....

It appears there may be some confusion - the KCA-620M plays MP3's direct from USB flash drives, and offers a secondary vanilla analogue AUX-in. It doesn't have any type of control connections for portable media players.

unless some good firmware upgrades have appeared, the menu system on the WDTV sucks

Sounds like you've got the 1st gen unit - they were horriffic to use and awfully slow. The V2 and the Live variants are much, much better.

The KCA-121B ( a lot cheaper on fleabay) seems to be just for L/R audio, is there a video in plug in the back of the alpine ~(yellow},is that what you use to feed in your WDTV?

Connect the WDTV's composite video out to the TV-in at the back of the LCD screen, and the audio to the DVD using the AUX-in adaptor. Alternatively you can add the PXA-H701 processor and go Toslink from the WDTV to it, and have it decode 5.1 DTS/DD.

also bearing in mind i want to retro fit a reversing camera(will it work in tandem, or does it have it`s own connection, oh, and does the reverse camera switch on the display automaticaly, if it`s off when you select reverse?

Yes, there's a separate input for the reversing camera, and the display will automatically switch on with it.

[MoonRiverOasis]

On a different note i may just stick a sh1t load of mp3`s or wma`s on an audio dvd and not worry about the mp3 player, but i would like a media player option as dvd`s (concerts etc are a pain to carry arround though)...

Yes, while the DVD player has a search feature, it's impossible to use while driving!

Have you looked at newer replacement HU`s that would mate to the screen, are there any reasonable options?

Plenty of options, but they all mean installing a double-DIN unit where ths screen is now, and that means a new dash fascia - this is available OEM but it looks awful IMHO.

oh, and looking into the SWRC option too, i see this seems to be a good option, even if you change HU`s http://www.sonicelec...xxess+ASWC.html or http://www.sonicelec...+SWI-JACK-.html

Have already done SWRC mod, using the locally made Skott audio interface: http://www.skott-audio.com

[rizla]

Have you read this thread, http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/car-audio/70924-alpine-kca-620m-usb-interface-ai-net.html ?

I was looking at just using my iriver as a usb storage and not like a player, but this kca620m even struggles to play normal usb sticks...fat /fat 32 / read issues

What i meant about the HU was any newer better ones that interface with the touch screen (single din), as you know ours is an old model by todays standards....

Can you change the HU display colour, nothing in the manual and i would prefer red to match the car display..

What did you do with the power supply for the WDTV, just find a socket power plug that suited? Where have you mounted your WDTV (bearing in mind remote control operation) ande also wher did you mount your usb drive for ease of access....thanks

[MoonRiverOasis]

Have you read this thread, http://www.mp3car.co...ace-ai-net.html ?

I was looking at just using my iriver as a usb storage and not like a player, but this kca620m even struggles to play normal usb sticks...fat /fat 32 / read issues

No I haven't - I found the KCS-620M when originally researching options, but fairly quickly dismissed it as costing too much for too little..

What i meant about the HU was any newer better ones that interface with the touch screen (single din), as you know ours is an old model by todays standards....

Correct - it's 2006 model that was discontinued in most markets by 2008 - it's still current in TH however.. I've searched high and low for alternate signle-DIN head units that'll connect to it, but never did find anything with the additional features I want (bluetooth and USB). Most of the newer Alpine units with USB, bluetooth etc are double-DIN now and/or don't have a DVD player so aren't touch-screen compatible.

If you do manage to find one, please do tell

Can you change the HU display colour, nothing in the manual and i would prefer red to match the car display..

Apparently you can change the LCD color - I found a Thai language forum with instructions for changing the wallpaper a few months ago, but wasn't that interested at the time so didn't bookmark it I'll let you know if I come across it again. It doesn't appear you can change the DVD players illumination color though.

What did you do with the power supply for the WDTV, just find a socket power plug that suited? Where have you mounted your WDTV (bearing in mind remote control operation) ande also wher did you mount your usb drive for ease of access....thanks

At first I just mounted the WDTV under the passenger side glovebox and powered it with a cigarette lighte adaptor (it runs on 12vdc) - which worked fine, but looked a bit too ghetto for me

I've now dissassembled the thing and integrated it into the car, along with a home-made time-delay power supply so it doesn't reset when starting the engine. The remote sensor is tucked into the far left windscreen-dash junction (practically invisible), and the USB ports are under the DVD player in the switch blanks beside the cigarette lighter (for easy access) - the rest of it stashed out of sight behind the LCD screen. I'll take some photos of it all next time I'm in the mood to pull the dash apart

[rizla]

Good work mate, i see you are like me you want it just right....kudos

Yep there is an alpine site for changing the wall papers, .apn files...but not for colour changing that bloody blue on th HU..

https://i-personaliz...mmon/ip_menu.pl

Where did you get the time delay power supply? or easy to put together (yep lucky it`s a 12v unit)..havn`t researched it yet,but i would like to leave the original psu for in home intacked...i see a bit of soldering coming up again...like the idea of the front mount 2 usb`s on the lower facia, oh, and is it easy to get to the screen rear connections?

[MoonRiverOasis]

Good work mate, i see you are like me you want it just right....kudos

Yep there is an alpine site for changing the wall papers, .apn files...but not for colour changing that bloody blue on th HU..

https://i-personaliz...mmon/ip_menu.pl

Where did you get the time delay power supply? or easy to put together (yep lucky it`s a 12v unit)..havn`t researched it yet,but i would like to leave the original psu for in home intacked...i see a bit of soldering coming up again...like the idea of the front mount 2 usb`s on the lower facia, oh, and is it easy to get to the screen rear connections?

Thanks for the link - looks like it may be a resource for looking up other comaptible head units for the LCD screen too..

I made the PSU from schematics I found on the internet - if you do a search you'll find plenty of them.. Purchased the raw components and veroboard from Amorn: http://www.amorngroup.com/en/home.php

It's dead easy to get to the LCD screen, let me try to explain w/out pics

Slide a credit card in between the dash panel and the bottom edge of the LCD screen, then use it to pull the dash panel directly backwards (the CC is so you don't mark the screen or plastics). Note you'll need to give it a bit of a tug to release the pressure-fit clips. Once the bottom clips are out, work the dash panel off it's upper clips - there's no screws holding it on at all. From there it's just 4 philips-head screws to take the screen out - mind the wriring harnesses as you do this though, as there's a few edges they can get caught up on.

There's a fair amount of room back there for things like WDTV's and custom PSU's as you'll see

[rizla]

Good work mate, i see you are like me you want it just right....kudos

Yep there is an alpine site for changing the wall papers, .apn files...but not for colour changing that bloody blue on th HU..

https://i-personaliz...mmon/ip_menu.pl

Where did you get the time delay power supply? or easy to put together (yep lucky it`s a 12v unit)..havn`t researched it yet,but i would like to leave the original psu for in home intacked...i see a bit of soldering coming up again...like the idea of the front mount 2 usb`s on the lower facia, oh, and is it easy to get to the screen rear connections?

Thanks for the link - looks like it may be a resource for looking up other comaptible head units for the LCD screen too..

I made the PSU from schematics I found on the internet - if you do a search you'll find plenty of them.. Purchased the raw components and veroboard from Amorn: http://www.amorngroup.com/en/home.php

It's dead easy to get to the LCD screen, let me try to explain w/out pics

Slide a credit card in between the dash panel and the bottom edge of the LCD screen, then use it to pull the dash panel directly backwards (the CC is so you don't mark the screen or plastics). Note you'll need to give it a bit of a tug to release the pressure-fit clips. Once the bottom clips are out, work the dash panel off it's upper clips - there's no screws holding it on at all. From there it's just 4 philips-head screws to take the screen out - mind the wriring harnesses as you do this though, as there's a few edges they can get caught up on.

There's a fair amount of room back there for things like WDTV's and custom PSU's as you'll see

Super, thanks i`ll have a go when i get the input leads...first i`ve got the chip to fit as it`s on its way now, But dreading the normal UPS sting from the land locked pirates at the so called customs department.....<deleted>.

Oh, have you looked into plugging into the computer on the pajero and what might be possible? I wonder if we can tweak the odd thing like, indicator flash 3 times on a soft touch etc..your thoughts, somethings must be possible as i spyed the connector under the dash...

[MoonRiverOasis]

Oh, have you looked into plugging into the computer on the pajero and what might be possible? I wonder if we can tweak the odd thing like, indicator flash 3 times on a soft touch etc..your thoughts, somethings must be possible as i spyed the connector under the dash...

Also done - the Mistsubishi engineer added "3 flashes on tap" and "auto door unlock on Park" when he re-programmed the ECU to solve a gear change issue I was experiencing. It's not a DIY though I'm afraid - a custom diagnostics tool hooks into the connector you're seeing (it's quite a substantial thing - about the size of a box of tissues), then it connects via USB to a PC with custom Mitsubishi software.

BTW, the only tax you should pay on your chip is 7% VAT on declared value - at least that was my experience.