rangerovers.pub
The only place for a coil spring is up Zebedee's arse
Member
Joined:
Posts: 100

Both my H&H and Vogue 50 have their factory TV systems but both are still analogue. Does anyone know how I can convert them to digital whilst still retaining the 'factory look' and VHS players.

Member
avatar
Joined:
Posts: 8106

I'm sure I've seen converter boxes for just this purpose but they weren't cheap and probably aren't available now. The easiest solution would be to do exactly what we all did when digital TV first started and add a decoder box. Plug the existing aerial feed into that and then use the analogue modulated signal to feed the existing analogue receiver.

You'd need something that uses an external power supply rather than mains power and you'd need to mount it somewhere that the IR receiver for the remote was still visible (or remove the IR receiver sensor from the case and mount it somewhere else) . Something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Top-TV-Box-Digital-Receiver-HD-1080P-DVB-T2-3D-Set-Freeview-Recorder-USB-HDMI-UK/372959794946 looks like it should do the job. It 5V to power it so you'd need a DC-DC converter to drop the 12V from the car down to 5V and although it has an RF out connection what it doesn't say is if that is simply a loop through or if it incorporates a modulator to give a modulated analogue signal that you simply tune the existing TV to. It seems that most of the currently available boxes don't have a built in modulator as they use HDMI and Composite video and audio that can be put into a SCART socket. But nothing insurmountable using an external modulator like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HDMI-to-Coax-RF-Converter-Analog-Signal-Transmitter-Modulator-for-TV-AC1994/153866624029 which would allow you to use the HDMI output and convert it into something the existing system will display.

I've just had a look as I've got a few bits and pieces here and while I've got two DVB-T receiver boxes (neither will do HD though) here, both need mains power. Sounds like a nice little project though.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 804

Jeez, someone just raised the stakes. Let me know how it goes HnH, I don't have the vhs, but all the rear seat wiring/ decoders seem to be there, buried behind the HEVAC

Member
avatar
Joined:
Posts: 8106

For £15 I may as well get one of the decoders and DC-DC converter (it says it needs 5V at 2A which is a bit much to rely on a 7805) and have a play with it. Only problem would be that I would need a P38 with the TV system to try it with which might be the hardest part at the moment. However, a pic of what you have lurking behind the dash of your car would help.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 804

Thanks Richard, I'm not sure I'd ever crack it by myself. Embarassingly I've never entirely worked out what does what - partly because the TV has never worked, and partly because various bits are buried in different random places and it's only by elimination that I work out that they must be something to do with the RSE. I will photograph what I have - it'll be a bit like Krypton factor to assemble... congrats on your retirement btw

Member
avatar
Joined:
Posts: 8106

I've ordered a digital decoder and DC-DC converter which should be here by the middle of next week so I can have a play with it. It turns out that H&H is only 15 miles from me and has a near complete spare system so we can test it on the bench. Any idea where the TV aerial is located on the car?

Member
Joined:
Posts: 804

Tnx Richard, I have two on the roof, so I guess one was TV, and the other probably after mkt radio. HNH has one tho, as per his YouTube vid

Member
avatar
Joined:
Posts: 8106

That would make sense, a TV aerial etched into the rear window like the radio aerials would be ridiculously directional so you'd only get a picture when driving in the right direction. I suspect it is going to be amplified too so that will need power but we'll cross that bridge when the time comes (whenever that is....).

Member
Joined:
Posts: 804

I need to pull my hevac off, but I've got two small metal boxes there, maybe 3x5x10 cm, coax going in one side and audio jacks out the other: video and l/r which heads to the dvd player. They seem to be interconnected too.
I also need to check which cables are going up to the head rests

Member
avatar
Joined:
Posts: 8106

That makes sense. A box with coax going in will be the receiver and the 3 phono jacks will be the video and L/R audio. Not sure what the second one will be though, something to deal with switching the sources maybe? If this is how it is arranged, then putting a digital decoder in place of the analogue tuner should work. Do the screens work from the current DVD player?

Member
Joined:
Posts: 804

First off - there is a Sony remote. This still works - and will change the inputs through video 1/2/ Navi (blank) and TV (fuzz). Presumably fires the sensor connected in the face of the wooden console to do this
enter image description here

Member
Joined:
Posts: 804

This was the old look of the centre console - you can see 3 switches - headphones, remote sensor (presumably for Sony RC above) and power on/ off
enter image description here

Member
Joined:
Posts: 804

Here's the wiring for the RSE - the blue audio cabling is coming from two magic silver boxes (see next)

enter image description here

Member
Joined:
Posts: 804

This is a "dash off view". These two boxes are buried behind the HEVAC. The two inline fuses in the foreground are on the YW and UW wires that you see going into the top box.. Unfortunately I didn't take a photo of the other end, but black coax (you can see it coiled and joined in the lower foreground) seems to go in that end (presumably from the aerial, on the roof. I need to track the cabling that goes up to the seatrests, but IIRC that is the same blue cabling

enter image description here

Member
avatar
Joined:
Posts: 8106

Blimey, that's well crammed in. Had an email saying the Digital decoder will be here on Saturday (so I suspect although the eBay listing said it was in London it's probably actually coming from China) and had a call from H&H so as soon as I've got it we can see if we can get it to work with his spare system on the bench.