Doing research on Audio/Video system for 98 Q45

[CiscoKid]

Guys,I'm looking for a system setup, that could give me / be the following:

* MP3 player* DVD/CD player* Internet* Phone system

Any ideas?

thanks in advance...

[PoorManQ45]

The internet option is going to be a problem unless you're willing to pay $$$$ and get the portable satellite service which will also give you satellite TV.

The phone option is phesable. I assume you're talking about one that will integrate with your existing cell phone, correct?

The other two options are easily accessable.

Do you want all of those features to be in the HU? Or would you like to only have monitors in the back? Or both?

Would you mind having a HU AND a DVD player? This option will probably save you a little money, but it will take up the whole Double DIN. Depending on how you look at it, that could be a good or a bad thing.

Are you going to be upgrading the speakers and possibly adding a subwoofer + amp?

What is your desired spending limit?

[PoorManQ45]

Here's a good starting point. The HU has built MP3/WMA support, Satellite radio control, and it has 6-channel digital time correction control.

The 6-channel time control allows you to adjust for the different distances from each speaker to the listening postion. Essentially it allows for you to create a "perfect sweat spot" where all the sound will/can reach a certain point at the same time. This will usually make your system both louder(due to the perfect phase of the waves), and sound better.

I like the built in satellite radio control because it doesn't require you to have the tuner in site, which you normally do. It allows you to change the station directly through the HU.

Here's a Pioneer HU with built in DVD support, but it doens't have as many features:http://www.cbrstereo.com/index...D=577

It does have duel video outputs for multiple monitors though. WHich is nice. And it has the option of Dual Zone. WHich means you can play two seperate sources at the same time, one in front, one in back.

What else do you need? Speakers? AMp(s)? What is your goal?

[hannibal]

I encourage you to explore the world of in-car computing. Much cheaper than the Alpine, Pioneer, or Clarion solutions.And internet access would be a breeze...

[PoorManQ45]

And internet access would be a breeze...

That only applies if you're in a city/location that has a WAN set up and you've subscribed to it.

The solution I suggested, satellite, would work anywhere.

I encourage you to explore the world of in-car computing. Much cheaper than the Alpine, Pioneer, or Clarion solutions.

Hmm, how so? The alpine HU I linked to is ~$300, add a DVD player for ~$100, then add a monitor or two, ~$300(x).

Ah, you're right, but that'd only cover the hardware cost for the carputer. You still would need an operating system that allowed for an indash touch screen.

So I say stick with the seperate components

[hannibal]

To each's own...A WiFi card would allow you to park outside the local Starbucks or library (anywhere with a WAN) and access the internet. Ive never heard of a HU with internet access.No doubt satellite has more coverage, but its also quite expensive. It could still work with the computer.

Alpine HU + DVD player = no room for a monitor. Compared to the all-in-one solutions, a PC is cheaper. Everyone has Windows so that covers the OS. You can use Linux if thats your thing. Honestly, the costs are very similar. But you can choose your components every step of the way (kinda like building a home PC vs buying a Dell).

He didnt mention it, but I'm sure he'd want navigation (did the 98 Q have this standard??). I'm really curious about his guidelines for this system...

[Jesda]

Plugging your cell phone into the carputer would be the cheapest mobile Internet solution. Some wireless providers offer separate data services, otherwise using an adapter the phone would simply dial a standard PPP-login dialup ISP. You could configure it to dial out at a certain interval, retrieve news/finance/traffic/weather info, and disconnect.

Years ago, I used CDPD wireless in my Ford Explorer, which was quite awesome. $60/mo for unlimited transfers at about 9600-19.2kbps. Equipment was $300. No, it wasnt good for much beyond messaging, traffic info, news, weather, and other web stuff, but it worked effectively. It was nice at airports too, back in the days (2000, 2001) before wifi was a big deal. In the car, it wasnt good for much. Sometimes I'd IM my friends if I was stuck in traffic or look up competitor's prices up online while I was shopping at a store (sales people hated that).

Now AT&T wireless is shutting down its CDPD network.

[Jesda]

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