Nav screen useless by itself?

[peoe2]

I'm thinking about buying just the NAV screen and hook it up to some sort of video feed (camera, DVD....). Can the NAV screen be used like a monitor or does it absolutely need the NAV computer (or some sort of video module) to display anything on the screen?

[LeMansX5]

You need the video module.

[peoe2]

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

You need the video module.

What do you think about this

Originally Posted by davipt

TV and NAV can be together or either one alone. Both are capable of displaying the menus into the LCD (e.g. with NAV and TV, the tv displays the menus instead of nav).

Thanks, I was wondering about this exact thing. Now I know NAV screen + TV module should work. Next step is to find a used Nav screen, can't seem to find one on eBay and dealer wants more than $1200 for it.

[Brian-bmw]

Originally Posted by peoe2

What do you think about this

That is an interesting idea. It would probably work for backup camera, but I am not sure if it would work as a video source. The reason is that this is designed to work in conjunction with a navigation module. It probably emulates a TV module to the nav computer, and then nav computer puts the "Television" option on the main menu that activates it. So, without the nav, there might not be a way to tell it to turn itself on.

[davipt]

Originally Posted by Brian-bmw

That is an interesting idea. It would probably work for backup camera, but I am not sure if it would work as a video source. The reason is that this is designed to work in conjunction with a navigation module. It probably emulates a TV module to the nav computer, and then nav computer puts the "Television" option on the main menu that activates it. So, without the nav, there might not be a way to tell it to turn itself on.

Where have you seen that this requires the navigation module?

Please note that both the navi and the tv module are able to generate the menus on the screen, but when both modules exist, the tv overrides the navi:
- with navi: navi R+G+B connect to screen R+G+B
- with TV: tv R+G+B (same pins) connect to screen
- with navi and tv: navi R+G+B aren't used, and an alternative set of pins, plus another pin called "navi sync" connect to the TV's second connector.

Thus the TV generates the menu structure, and whenever the navi has a map to show, it sends a "please let my screen signal pass through" to the tv.

Back to the ebay module, it looks like a simple composite tv (RCA, whatever) to screen resolution adaptor. It would pass the input video signal into the screen, but won't provide any menu like the original.

[Brian-bmw]

Originally Posted by davipt

Where have you seen that this requires the navigation module?

I have not seen this requirement anywhere, but it is somewhat implied by the way the BMW systems work. This is specifically advertised for someone who has a navigation system without a TV module. It would not really be designed for a car that had a screen and neither nav nor TV, and someone who already had a TV module would not buy it.

Yes, it does have the composite to BMW conversion, and I suspect that it emulates a TV module to the nav computer. However, when the TV module and nav computer are connected in tandem, the TV acts as a slave and expects the nav to tell it when to turn on. Therefore, if you have no nave as the primary, I suspect that this video module does nothing, since it probably always assumes that it is the slave.

This is all conjecture, since I have not seen one first hand. But it would be consistent with what I know of the nav and TV module behaviours.

[Brian-bmw]

Originally Posted by davipt

when both modules exist, the tv overrides the navi

This statement is actually opposite. The TV and nav modules are in a master/slave configuration. However, when both are present, it is the navigation that overrides TV. I have both, and I have tried it. The nav runs the screen whenever it is connected. The TV only runs the screen when it is the sole component connected.

Now, the video signals pass through the TV module when both are connected, but it is just a pass through. The actual signals come from the nav computer. And, the TV module just stays idle until told by the nav computer to turn on and steal the signal path.

[Guilden_NL]

Originally Posted by peoe2

Next step is to find a used Nav screen, can't seem to find one on eBay and dealer wants more than $1200 for it.

http://stores.ebay.com/NAVI-AND-BMW-...Q3amesstQQtZkm


The guy that sells BMW Navi parts is in Vilnius, Lithuania (I've been there, people are very nice!) and has great feedback on other BMW boards. I bought a 16:9 monitor from him for $712 and it is just like new - I can't tell that it's ever been used.

Put him on eBay watch, he sends out emails with new goodies. That's how I nailed mine! Saskya is a good guy.

[peoe2]

Wow I haven't been here for a few days, lots of great info was posted!
So it looks like Screen + TV module sould work. The thing is my dealer can't find the TV module even with the part #. I think it's because it's a EURO add-on. So I guess he can't order it in the US. eBay seems the way to go for that too.

Thanks Guilden_NL , I'll keep an eye on the Navi screen.

[davipt]

In theory, you can directly push video into it if you have a pc capable of some strange frequencies - think Linux, XFree special config files, and probably some specific graphics card.

Getting the TV module means that you get simpler TV inputs through it and then it's easier to connect PC, DVD players, cameras, etc into the TV module.

TV and NAV can be together or either one alone. Both are capable of displaying the menus into the LCD (e.g. with NAV and TV, the tv displays the menus instead of nav).

Then there is an additional issue with the screen, which is how to open it up. I'm hunting down the I-BUS to see it the screen opens up via I-bus, via K-BUS, or via power. Check this thread.