Custom Street Pilot Pictures
11-14-2002, 03:01 PM
#13
Former Sponsor
Originally posted by Muz
That is a truly awesome install.
Do you worry about the security of the devices or do you put your roof up when leaving the car? Can you still remove the devices for use in multiple cars?
That is a truly awesome install.
Do you worry about the security of the devices or do you put your roof up when leaving the car? Can you still remove the devices for use in multiple cars?
The cupholder is pretty much out of commission. But I think the controls are better placed next to the LCD screen anyway, since you have to take your eye way off the road to operate them from the cupholder.
11-20-2002, 07:46 PM
#15
Former Sponsor
The custom windshield roof rail with the SPIII LCD and V1 installed will arrive on Friday or Monday, so installation will begin before Thanksgiving and there will be many photos.
The special FFC cable has not yet arrived
The special FFC cable has not yet arrived
11-20-2002, 08:43 PM
#16
Phenomenal work!!! I love fiberglass projects! Very commendable work.
I saw this at Fall colors in person and was very impressed!
One question, do the buttons in the SP still light up?
I saw this at Fall colors in person and was very impressed!
One question, do the buttons in the SP still light up?
11-22-2002, 03:54 AM
#19
Former Sponsor
We don't have a final costs yet and won't until I complete the install in my car.
Excluding the cost of the StreetPilot III, which now can be obtained for a street price of just over $700, I would estimate that the kit will cost about $500-$600, perhaps less. One of the big variables is the 10 foot flat flexible cable (FFC) connecting the motherboard to the screen (no this is not standard ribbon cable). This stuff is normally made in 3" to 6" lengths, and 10 foot lengths have to custom made by the manufacturer. I've been dickering with them for 6 weeks over this and it looks like that cable alone will be $50 - $100, which sounds expensive, but is actually a bargain compared to what the labor would cost to have the 3" FFC cable in the Garmin cut, then hand soldered with stock ribbon cable connections to make up the 10 foot length (S2K_LA's installer spent an entire week doing this step alone!). I know this sounds ridciulous, but if you saw the FFC and worked with it, you'd know what I mean. It's a bitch because it is so small -- everything has to be done under a magnifying glass to even see the leads.
BTW, we're only going to do ten of these kits, because the manufacturer of the FFC will make up only 10 prototype cables -- after that they're insisting on a minimum order of 100 cables for $5,000), which is far beyond what I think the demand would ever be for this kit.
Excluding the cost of the StreetPilot III, which now can be obtained for a street price of just over $700, I would estimate that the kit will cost about $500-$600, perhaps less. One of the big variables is the 10 foot flat flexible cable (FFC) connecting the motherboard to the screen (no this is not standard ribbon cable). This stuff is normally made in 3" to 6" lengths, and 10 foot lengths have to custom made by the manufacturer. I've been dickering with them for 6 weeks over this and it looks like that cable alone will be $50 - $100, which sounds expensive, but is actually a bargain compared to what the labor would cost to have the 3" FFC cable in the Garmin cut, then hand soldered with stock ribbon cable connections to make up the 10 foot length (S2K_LA's installer spent an entire week doing this step alone!). I know this sounds ridciulous, but if you saw the FFC and worked with it, you'd know what I mean. It's a bitch because it is so small -- everything has to be done under a magnifying glass to even see the leads.
BTW, we're only going to do ten of these kits, because the manufacturer of the FFC will make up only 10 prototype cables -- after that they're insisting on a minimum order of 100 cables for $5,000), which is far beyond what I think the demand would ever be for this kit.
