TV / Aux input on the go.....
 

Hi guys, I'm very new here, but have been looking at this site for info for the last 2 months.

Now I have a question and would like to see if anyone can help.

What I want to do....

My wife has a 2001 3.0d Sport with Nav and TV. We have a baby arriving soon and I want to add an internal camera facing the 'rear facing baby seat' situated in the back seat and watch the image of our new-born baby on the TV's AV channel. (Obvously can't put the seat in the front as you can't disable the passengers airbag?!?)

I have spoken to a BMW dealer who has advised that the reason you can't watch any TV channel whilst driving is because the TV reciever is connected to the ABS sensors which block the pictures signal when the wheels are in motion, but that's as far as they are willing to advise for obvious reasons.

My guess (and it is a guess as I'm not that technically minded!) is that there must be a wire that goes from the TV amp to thes ABS system that can simply be disconected to allow the picture to be shown which will NOT disable the ABS system in any way?

Any thoughts or advice on this would be gratefully recieved.

Thanks for your time and look forward to your replies.

Best regards,

Paul.

Hi Paul, :welcome: to X5world

The way this actually works is via a message that is streamed on the i-bus that tells the electronics in the vehicle when you are exceeding 5 MPH. At this speed the TV signal to the vehicle is disabled and all you are left with is the audio.

What you need is something like the TVonNav bypass module. The module goes in-line with the cable that goes to the video module. The other thing this will allow you to do is continue to listen to another audio source (such as the radio, CD changer, etc.) rather then the AV source (which in your case will be nothing since you will have a camera as the source).

The TVonNav module can be ordered here - http://tvonnav.com/bmwmodule.html

You may also want to consider buying the AV Connection Cable that is also available on that site, since this will give you the connection point into the video module for the camera.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff..........
 

Many thanks for your reply Jeff, I have looked at the link with interest.

I don't need to be able to get sound from the system for radio/cd when viewing the AV channel as I am having a custom stereo instsalled that completely bypasses the nav unit which is only going to be used for the sat/nav visuals & instructions and TV sound comming from a new single speaker install.

As I am doing this and most of my budget has been spent on the stereo upgrade is there a cheaper / simpler way as suggested in my original post?

If not and I have to go down the route you suggested, would there be any compatability issues as I aquiring a TV signal in the UK and not USA?

Regards,

Paul.

Paul,

The only real way is to have a module that intercepts the i-bus signal. Here's an outfit in Europe that has these for 99 Euro, but if you do any research you will find that the vast majority of people that buy from them regret it because of lengthy delays in shippping and sometimes even no product being delivered at all - http://www.tvfree-modules.com/

As for compatibility issues, no there shouldn't be any issue with that at all.

Jeff,

Again - Thank you very much for your input. I think that I will probably go for the TVonNav option due to the reliability issue that you mentioned with regard to the European vendor.

I will let you know how it all goes if your interested?

Best regards,

Paul.

Definately interested in seeing how it all works out. Let us know and :goodluck:

Right this is simple to do if you want to use the Aux input then yes you need to waste money on the TVonNav gadget, but there is another way. and all you need is a camera and a switch.

The TV/Module has a reversing camera input on pins 13 (input) and 14 ground of the white plug all you need to do is connect a the camera (NSTC) to them and switch that grounds pin 17 of the blue plug and bingo whatever camera you have connected will display on the screen, I use this to get my laptop video feed to the screen :thumbup: