Factory Touch Screen Navigation w/ Rear Entertianmen - finally modified.

[Jesse]

Thanks to all the users here in the forums and Jason at JPCustoms (a huge help). I have finally made all my modifications to my factory touch screen navigation with factory rear seat entertainment.

I am sure there are many other users that will be interested in what I did and how I did it.

Here is what I started with.
Factory Navigation with touch screen.
Factory Rear Seat entertainment that used FM modulation to get the audio to the main system.

Here is what I added and how it works.
1. Backup camera – automatically comes on the screen when the car is in reverse.
2. Two video inputs to the front screen – one is for rear camera the other is from either the dvd or the aux3 input on the rear entertainment system
3. Added audio input that says “RSE” (rear seat entertainment) on the factory navigation screen. The touch screen has the option to mute the front or the rear speakers.
4. Added a switch that can switch from the factory screens to the rear camera or rear video at any time.
5. Added Ipod control that displays song title and artist information on the touch screen. The steering wheel controls work and each of the presets on the factory touch screen represent each playlist on the Ipod. Audio is hard wired into the factory system. (I finally decided this was a much better option then adding a 6 disc cd changer)
6. Added bluetooth hands free system. The system auto-mutes for incoming calls and plays the phone call over the factory system – just like On-star would.

I did all this while maintaining all of my factory looks and functions!

List of parts….
http://www.hitchcam.com/hitchcam.htm - I bought just the hitch camera without the screens. The picture is awesome – it is automatically reversed on the screen. There is a quick disconnect incase you need to tow something. Includes a lock so it can’t be stolen. It was the best solution for me because my spare tire is installed on the outside. Bought this from JP Customs.

Pac-Audio VCI-GM2 - http://www.jpcustoms.com/store/customer/product.php?pro...16688&cat=771&page=1 – Bought this from JP Customs. This added two video inputs to the factory navigation screen and auto switches to the rear camera any time the truck is in reverse.

USA-Spec Aux Interface – this added one audio input (when I hit the CD button on my head unit) – the screen shows “RSE” http://www.usaspec.com/smart.htm

Metro Axxess Ipod Interface – GMIP-01. Added Ipod control and hookup to the system. Steering wheel controls work and screen displays song title and artist information. http://www.jpcustoms.com/store/customer/product.php?pro...16985&cat=733&page=1 . There are other units on the market but this was the only one I found that could display the song and artist information. Allows for 199 songs in each play list (others only allow 99).

Soundgate GMCELL – hands free adapter – harness for adding hands free phone system. http://www.soundgate.com/index.php?request=product.deta...yid=24&productid= 362

Soundgate GMACC – RAP ignition provider. This allows for my hands free device to keep getting power so long as the main system keeps getting power. (for when you turn off the car but the radio stays on).

Parrot Bluetooth hands free system - http://www.parrot.biz/products/index.php?id=ck3100. This is the only added on product that you can see (besides the camera). Basically allows me to make hands free phone calls so long as my cell phone is anywhere in the truck. Conversation is played over the sound system. Sound is automatically muted whenever the phone is in use.

I did most of the installation myself and had a local tech at an Al and Ed’s Autosound help me with some of the installation with the switches for the video and sound.

I will post some pictures of the hitchcam, the new screens on the nav, and other assorted stuff in the next few days.