Mackhack

Guys,

I wanted to ask if someone is using a analog and/or digital TV tuner in his W211 and can tell me if he still receives TV channels since the US Government changed a bunch of frequency stuff around.

I'm looking for a used one in case it's still worth it, so you guys can PM me with offers

eddieo45

I assume you got answers you liked, since you list the mod in your sig now. What can you watch?

Mackhack

I didn't get answers, found out what I needed to know by learning and doing it myself over the last couple of years. A bunch of local stations as well as Mexican stations) are coming in perfectly clear.

eddieo45

that brings to mind my picture-in-picture display on my home TV. It's always seemed a useless feature to me, as you pretty much require a cable box to get any good stations, but I recently used a splitter to put both "raw" cable and cable box feeds to the TV, so now I can watch one channel and also keep an eye on another, with one being limited to broadcast-only. I never use it (other than by accident, when I curse the cable company till I figure out what I did, lol).

loudoun90

MackHack,

Can you tell me what you did to get tv working in your car? I have a 2003 E500 (W211) with the Harmon Kardon system in it. I haven't purchased any items yet. I'm curious to know the list of items I have to purchase and the cost associated. I'm trying to determine if it's worth it to me or not.
Any assistance would greatly be appreciated!

Mackhack

Sure,

2 new antenna amplifiers, 3 or 4 wiring harnesses, a ECE COMAND with green FAKRA connector (1800 Euros new), the tuner itself (new 4800 Dollars), a Star Diagnosis with Developer Access, soldering iron, and a Saturday afternoon to take half the car apart and back together.

I had the ECE COMAND already, had to go through my buddy who works for Harman/Becker to get a new board with FAKRA connector and replaced my COMAND's board with the new one, got the harnesses from a friend of mine in Germany who's a parts manager for 65% off, the tuner I can't even tell you where he got that one from (and he asked me not to ask him ) because I didn't pay a dime for it. It's the dual one for analog and digital reception.

All in all, if I wouldn't have all the connections to get the parts for super cheap (new) I wouldn't have done it because I'm not willing to spend like what 7k to 8k $ on new parts on this mod. But that's only me. So I got it all for about 300 Dollars total

Good luck!

loudoun90

Thanks for the response Mackhack! I do have a few more questions though. Given I have a Harmon Kardon system will I have to go down the path of purchasing NTG 1 or NTG 2.5? I'm not exactly sure what the difference. I was told if I used NTG 1 I wouldn't be able to use any of my speakers and I'd lose my rear fuse box. If it's recommended that I go down the path of NTG 2.5 do you know where I can locate the antenna's, amps, mounting brackets, wiring looms, etc?

Mackhack

If you want to retrofit a NTG2.5 I won't help you because it is not meant to be in a pre-facelift W211. You will lose functionality, you have to take the AGW out (AGW is built-in the NTG2.5 headunit), you have to rewire everything and if something doesn't work you have to work even more and you might mess up something on your beautiful car.

You also got a PM from me about your lil hobby!

loudoun90

I am able to purchase a used ntg 1 comand and tuner on the internet. Do you know if I can still continue to use my existing harmon kardon speakers? That's interesting about the cable box feed. I'd also be interesting in how you did that. Is there a phone number I can reach you at to discuss this more in detail?

Mackhack

Yes you can use your HK sound system. I have it too and it's fab. Check your PM.

loudoun90

Besides the euro comand and ntg 1 tv tuner, can you list all of the part names and numbers so I can research where to purchase them? I dont think the digital tuner would work here in the USA given the digital format. Since your using a digital set top box can you include the name and model/part number too please?

brianmullanl

I needed to know by learning and doing it myself over the last couple of years.

Mackhack

I could but now I'm enjoying my evening, more MB tomorrow... especially since you still haven't replied to my PM! I don't like wasting my free time!!!

loudoun90

My vin number is WDBUF70JX3A332753

loudoun90

My vin number is WDBUF70JX3A332753 my email address is loudoun90@yahoo.com