rshan

Hey, I was looking around the Mazda3 and Rx8 option sites in Mazda Japan (http://www.rx-8.mazda.co.jp/option/), and they have an accessory for both cars (in the pull down menu, 6th from the bottom). It's called the "The external input terminal" with this description (translated from babel fish) -

"The external input terminal (image ･ sound) XXYEN 12,600 (price including tax) image equipment and connection such as stock video camera are produced, can enjoy image with the load monitor. * For manufacturer option DVD navigation attaching car. * While travelling image is not indicated. * As for installation position inside console box."

Anyone know anything about it ? Like the Part Number ? Or how someone in the US could get it ? It looks reasonablly priced - about $115. Of course with shipping, it'll be expensive, but still cheaper and easier to install than any other option right now.

Kel Rx8

errr
im having a headache cause i cant understand it
can some of our far east brother's help us out ?

devoid

From what I can gather, it looks like it is supposed to give you video and L/R audio into the nav system. As they suggest this would be used for an accessory input into the nav. It would appear that it is only an option when the car is not moving, however (makes sense for DVD in vehicle laws). Other than that...I'm hard pressed to venture much else.

truemagellen

'rshan' you may have come across a goldmine for Rx-8 Navi owners (Maz 3 owners too)!

This may be the ultimate access point for allowing high fidelity audio into the system (not including steering wheel controls though)

And possibly solving the video-in to the navi screen...this is critical since the cheapest option right now is around $200 (and is a mess to install...pioneer) and the best albeit most expensive option, the over $500 av electronics box.

If this will not function while the car is moving I'm sure there will be an easy way to hack that...

Plus this option could elliminate...complicated wiring installation, including wiring into the fuse box...and no worry of grounding as this is a factory option.

and all for $116 plus shipping (could be much less if we could find a company in North America, like trussville, canzoomer...whoever to bulk ship it here. Don't forget...$116 is the RETAIL price...maybe we can find a street price for this thing!

I may seem to optimistic but I might as well be since I was already going to lay down for the AV electronics box and saving $400 could go to my sub box install fund ; )

I'll do more research and post my findings...including, looking in the car for an installation point in the console, as the website says.

flyboyindy

I wonder if it plugs into that pin port on the back of the radio... Come on JDM bruthas....help us out on this one!

truemagellen

Well after scouring my car for answers to where this thing goes...my best guess is that it fits inside one of the front cup holders...this is definitly a guess but possible based on the pic of the unit.

Also to answer flyboyindy...I'm pretty sure that this unit uses the extra plug on the back of the navigation unit...but I could be way off...and if it does connect using the radio it probably does the same way the Alpine PIE adaptor does...the same one that causes the those with the navigation unit problems in the form of a 'tv in/aux in' and a blue navi screen.

If the connection is through the radio's plug I'm thinking the cables then run down the center console and through that hole in the front cup holder console (the same spot where many have sent their tape aux-in hack wire through to their mp3 players...

engineers...help on this one!

(every time I get excited about something in this car it costs me LOTS of money, this may save me money!)

truemagellen

found more stuff!

after translation...I've found:

Back monitor system
YEN 81,375
(Control unit back monitor camera (substance) camera cover)

In other words...a rear view camera that hoooks into the navigation system...nice thing about this is...it is a mazda part.

Wholly crap...converted the yen and it is around $750...so much for that idea...
someone should order this thing...take it apart and write up the schematics...and put it together and return it...

here is an image for y'all

flyboyindy

truemagellen do u have AIM/AOL or yahoo?

Kel Rx8

hell yeah chat room on this
im kelrx8 on aim.

Thommino

Isn't there an English site (With this video-in optional?)?

rshan

For those of you that can't read Japanese (myself included) try this - babelfish translator. http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr. You can plug in a bunch of text or a website, and it will translate it for you. It's not perfect, but it gets most of the job done.

rshan

duh - it occured to me the part number may be there after all - in the photo name. GK3AV6590.jpg. Can anyone look up GK3AV6590 ? Maybe it's not.

truemagellen

We should redo this thread so that non-nav owners can get in on the discussion...the reason...this may tap into the audio system and could provide a factory Aux In for Audio...Not just video!

Help!

offdaheeze

This is huge for us with navi, lets keep this on the front page. I basically gave up on my carpc project because of the costs associated, but this could be exactly what I need. Does anyone have any friends in Japan.

CUE2's RX-8

Yes, I have friends in Japan, and I have a business trip scheduled for Tokyo for August. However, I'm confused about the questions in this thread, so what exactly do you want me to ask my Japanese friends?

Along the same lines, I was in Japan last month, and they said ALL of their cars have NAV systems; it's an option they all need with the crowded streets of Tokyo. In addition, when they put the cars into reverse, the rear camera view illuminates on the NAV screen and overlays graphical boxes of possible backing locations. It's like guidance for backing into tight parking spots . . . COOL! I'll bet Mazda included some "plug" to include this camera.

rshan

I've been talking with a guy in Japan that imports parts. He can get one pretty easily. He charges $25 flat rate, plus shipping (in addition to part cost). But, he wasn't sure if it will work, and wasn't sure why anyone would pay so much for something that looked so simple.

truemagellen

hey 'CUE2'd RX-8' you can order that backing system from the same website (different pages) as the device we are discussing! Look around the site using babelfish from altavista.com to translate...if you need help just ask me or one of the other posters...this website is a goldmine of cool mazda parts!

-they have the backing system with overlay (expensive but awesome)
-they have just an independent rear view camera for reverse
-A/V inputs into the nav system...and much much more!

Here is the translation website:

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr

Enter the Japanese Website:

http://www.rx-8.mazda.co.jp/option/

Now you can wonder around the site wtih half assed translated English
(when you want to click on the picture to enlarge it...java popups wont work with the translater...so open the http://www.rx-8.mazda.co.jp/option/ website in a different window, in japanese, and click it to view enlarged image

Mazda3ndp

holy SHHHH******TTT this may be it! my pioneer solution if 240 bucks but for a mazda plug and play for the nav!!! this is better than a wet dream!! well maybe not but still!!

Squidward

RSHAN, find out from the guy you're talking to in Japan if he's interested in a group buy, cuz there will be LOTS of interested in this thing..

Squidward

BTW, what the hell is this???
quote from site:

"オートライトシステム ￥18,585 (税込価格)
(オートライト本体・オートライト取付キット)
周囲の明るさを感知し、ヘッドライトとスモールライトの点灯・消灯を自動的に切り替えます。※装着の際には 、「本体＋取付キット」が必要です。※メダルコードは「本体＋取付キット」です。"

offdaheeze

We need to find a way to split the costs on one of them and test it. If it does not work it would be a good test bed for a hack of some sort. And if it does work, well were in luck.

truemagellen

I'm in for spliting up the cost for a test... Navi owners...UNITE! (been watching X-men 2 too much lately after getting my car)

Japan8

No... a nav system isn't needed because the streets are crowded. That is entirely incorrect. They are needed because the roads are so screwy that navigating Japan, especially Tokyo, is a serious PIA. I've got enough kilos by both car and motorcycle (which means no nav... and I don't have one in my car) to back this up.

Japan8

Auto light system ￥18,585
(auto light base + auto light install kit)


Basically this system detects it's environment and turns the headlights and parking lights on and off.

thew

humm sounds cool...