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Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere, I couldn't find any specific answers so I thought I'd post a new thread.
My '07 CGT (UK) was not fitted with either the analog or digital TV Tuner. I'm thinking of fitting the digital tuner, primarily for DAB radio, but also for the AV Input it provides; although I'm aware that these inputs are also present on the analog tuner. I've dropped the parcel shelf module tray and verified that all the necessary wiring and plugs are there, cable-tied in a foam-wrapped bundle. So...
Do all vehicles come from the factory with the necessary Antenna Amplifiers fitted? From looking at IETIS, I know one is located at the top corner of the rear screen, and is the main unit which handles FM and TV signals, but it also shows a second unit on the opposite side, just for TV reception. Or would I have to source the correct modules and fit them?
I'm hoping to integrate a CarPlay system and have a choice of using the XCarLink unit which provides an RGB input by installing another board into the Nav screen which then feeds a module with an HDMI input, or I could use the AV Inputs on the TV Tuner which can only handle Composite Video. So how is the quality on these TV Tuner inputs? I'm worried Composite will be too blurry/saturated to allow a decent CarPlay experience.
Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere, I couldn't find any specific answers so I thought I'd post a new thread.
My '07 CGT (UK) was not fitted with either the analog or digital TV Tuner. I'm thinking of fitting the digital tuner, primarily for DAB radio, but also for the AV Input it provides; although I'm aware that these inputs are also present on the analog tuner. I've dropped the parcel shelf module tray and verified that all the necessary wiring and plugs are there, cable-tied in a foam-wrapped bundle. So...
Do all vehicles come from the factory with the necessary Antenna Amplifiers fitted? From looking at IETIS, I know one is located at the top corner of the rear screen, and is the main unit which handles FM and TV signals, but it also shows a second unit on the opposite side, just for TV reception. Or would I have to source the correct modules and fit them?
I'm hoping to integrate a CarPlay system and have a choice of using the XCarLink unit which provides an RGB input by installing another board into the Nav screen which then feeds a module with an HDMI input, or I could use the AV Inputs on the TV Tuner which can only handle Composite Video. So how is the quality on these TV Tuner inputs? I'm worried Composite will be too blurry/saturated to allow a decent CarPlay experience.
Your thoughts would be appreciated....
Hi there,
For CarPlay, I use a CarPlay box intercept the original signal for AV, bypass the AUX from original source, use a Bluetooth aux box replace the original CD, which now the Bluetooth input is the CD input. Overlay atouch screen firm front the CarPlay box to the original screen as the CarPlay input.
So yea basically its a OE looks touch screen CarPlay with all the functional still good.
I fitted the digital TV Tuner to the stock location in the boot under-shelf. I removed the plastic housings on the 2 double antenna connectors, and was able to securely connect them to the tuner. All wiring was present on my non-TV Tuner specified UK ‘07 car. However, I had to source the 2 TV compatible antenna amplifiers for the top of the rear windscreen, and then remove the headliner to fit them. Again, all necessary wiring was present, and the two units bolted straight in with no problems.
The functionality seemed to be there without any coding, but I did get a couple of fault codes relating to the 07-Control Head. I recoded this address to 0400315 which told the car it had a TV Tuner and no phone (my original rSAP phone module was replaced with the factory Bluetooth Handsfree module and because of this was generating Telephone Transceiver Not Found codes) and the codes have not reappeared.
With regards to the AV input, I found pre-made connections for about £35 on eBay; I thought that was a bit of a rip off. Instead, I bought a simple 3 way AV cable with RCA connections for a couple of quid, and a 54-pin connector with all necessary receptacles and housings for about £9. The pin outs are as follows:
47 - AV1, audio left +ve
48 - AV1, audio right +ve
49 - AV1, audio left & right -ve
52 - AV1, video +ve
53 - AV1, video -ve
It works fine, I used an old DVD player as a source:
I’m still on the fence about which way to go with the CarPlay kit. I bought the Taffio Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto system from Germany, it seems to work very well when hooked up via HDMI to my TV, so I think I’ll ditch the idea of using the composite AV connection and utilise the Xcarlink box which requires disassembly of the head unit. And therein lies the problem; the instructions are derisory, all the photos in the paper step by step instructions are blurry copies of copies, and don’t resemble the equipment I have!?! If anyone can point me in the direction of a decent pdf for this, I’d be grateful as Xcarlink’s customer service is woeful.
Well it took a while to get this far and there’s still a bit to go, but I finally have a fully functional touch-screen CarPlay solution in my ‘07 CGT:
I’ve used a Taffio universal wireless CarPlay kit which has both RCA video and audio outputs, as well as a ‘real’ HDMI output (this distinction will become important later on).
This is connected to a CD changer emulator which plugs into the back of the ZAB in place of the original CDC wiring and provides a USB and 3.5mm aux input, to handle the audio.
The video is a bit more complicated. I had to crack open the ZAB to install the daughterboard in between the LCD screen and ZAB motherboard. Whilst in there, I also installed a 4-wire touch screen panel in front of the LCD. The daughter board was then connected to a video interface, the supplier of which I shall not name because their customer service has been deplorable, but it’s manufactured by a Korean company called GUElec. This unit has 2 composite video RCA inputs and an HDMI input, which it turns out is NOT standard. When I connected an HDMI cable between this and the Taffio unit, I got a blank screen. The composite video RCA connections work fine, that’s what I’m using at the moment, but the resolution isn’t great and the image is slightly overscanned on the bottom and right edges, but it’ll do for now.
To house all of this, I bought a spares or repairs CD changer which I then gutted so that it was just an empty housing, and put most of the modules and wiring in there, and slotted back in the glovebox. I also utilised the original phone mic in the roof panel, rather than the generic one provided with the CarPlay kit.
Powering all this extra kit was an issue because I wasn’t sure how much current the ZAB could provide as a switched output, the standard for that ISO connection would be 300mA but I’m aware it is not wired to the ISO standard, so I played it safe and used a relay running off the permanent live to power the extra modules, triggered by the ZAB’s CD changer switched 12v output.
Further research shows this GUElec video interface should be used with their own NV17 wired CarPlay module, which connects via HDMI but only uses this port to transmit LVDS signals, not the standard HDMI protocol. I’ve sourced a converter module which I hope will address the image quality.
So long story short, I have the best of both worlds now; the original satnav/infotainment system with all its integrated controls still active, and i can switch between that and touch screen wireless CarPlay at the press of a button.
