Do you remember what the first car monitors were like? Remember? Cigarette lighter TVs. Black and white. Mounted on the torpedo "Moskvich" or "Zhiguli", and for their installation, from the side of the windshield it was necessary to lay a rubber or foam rubber gasket, so that the TV itself and the windshield of the car remained intact. The next stage is a radio tape recorder with a display. First, they are small, in the height of that very radio. Further - more, twice as high as the radio. And finally - retractable ...
Progress does not stand still. And now almost every modern car has a monitor, and premium cars are equipped with them by default.
Speaking about the functions that the monitor performs in the car, we can say with confidence that it has many faces. Information is displayed on the monitor from several sources at once. Let's highlight some possible types of such information:
- Video signal when watching programs and movies;
- GPS navigation;
- DVR data;
- Recording from front and rear view cameras;
- Data for an incoming or outgoing phone call;
- Watching video games;
- Vehicle on-board computer data.
The most common car monitors today are car monitors built into radio tape recorders. They can range from 3 "to 6-7". The smallest 3-inch monitors (8 cm diagonally) are not the best option, the image is poorly viewed, but the 7-inch monitors (18 cm diagonal) are good image and are perfectly viewed, at least by passengers sitting in the front seats ...
The size of the monitor of the DVR or GPS navigator also varies from 3x to 7 inches, the most common sizes are 4-5 inches. A monitor of this size is completely sufficient for viewing the route laid on the navigator, speed, distance and other indicators. The monitor for the DVR is not used constantly, but only from time to time. Viewing and editing information on such a monitor is quite convenient. Large screens are rarely found in cars. Monitors 12-15 inches are overhead monitors. Such monitors are equally well visible to all car passengers and are perfect for watching videos, playing games or displaying any other information on them. But it should be noted that such monitors are only suitable for vehicles with a high interior, such as SUVs, minivans and minibuses. In ordinary passenger cars, these monitors will interfere with both passengers and the driver.
The most common places for an appropriate and convenient mounting of monitors:
- Torpedo center
This is the most common place for mounting separate monitors and monitors built into a radio. It is this position of the monitor that provides free access and good viewing of the image, both for passengers and the driver. However, if the monitor is located too low on the torpedo, it can interfere with its free control, as well as, it can partially block access to the gear lever.
- On the windshield (using a suction cup or holder)
This arrangement is best suited for devices that are periodically removed from their seat. These can be GPS navigators, video recorders, communicators, etc. The screens of such monitors are small, so as not to interfere with the driver's view when the car is moving. Drivers usually remove such monitors from the holder to make changes to their work. And when parking a car, they are removed in order to avoid attracting car thieves.This monitor mounting system is inconvenient because of the large number of wires that connect the monitor to the cigarette lighter socket from which it is powered.
- In the rearview mirror, sun visor
Innovations in the arrangement of car monitors - a rear-view mirror. These monitors are built-in. The small size of such a monitor is made up for by the close distance to the eyes of the driver and passenger, and is convenient for viewing. Such monitors display information from navigators and rear-view cameras. It is also possible to mount monitors in the sun visors of the car.
- On the ceiling of the cabin
If the size of the car allows for such a mounting of the monitor, then, undoubtedly, it can be called one of the most convenient mounting options. An additional advantage of such a monitor installation is the ability to fold it "into the ceiling", invisibility and compactness. However, this is a rather expensive option for installing a monitor.
- Headrests
For even higher comfort for rear seat passengers, in premium cars, monitors are built into the head restraints of the seats. On such monitors, it is possible to broadcast one signal (viewing on all monitors one movie transmitted from the radio), and separate use of monitors.
- Other places
Technological progress allows the installation of monitors anywhere in the car - from the exhaust pipe to the bumper. In TV shows about fashionable auto tuning, they repeatedly showed the option of installing monitors in the trunk of a car (for use during entertainment events and picnics), in the doors of the car for advertising purposes, as well as the option of installing a monitor in the driver's seat. The only question arises as to the need and cost of such an installation.
We have reviewed some types of car monitors and several options for their installation. We can conclude: monitors are getting better and better in our cars. It is important to use them to increase traffic safety. Not surprisingly, more and more cars are being supplied by car manufacturers with built-in monitors.
Safe way for you!
