I began work on my in-vehicle entertainment system about a year ago. Originally it consisted of a modified x-box as a movie source, alng with an MP3 player and XM radio, feeding video to the nav screen and audio to the ML sound system.

The latest addiiton to the system is a dual-receiver KVH Tracvision model A5 in-motion satellite system. Here is a link to the KVH web site where the A5 is described in detail: KVH Tracvision A5

Obviously this isn't for everyone, as you have to be willing to live with 50 lbs of black satellite antenna taking up most of your roof space. But, if you're like me and just have to have the latest toys, it's worth it.

The main feature of the A5 system is that it is a very low-profile antenna. The antenna structure measures about 30" long, 30" wide, and about 5" high. It is designed to mount to a standard roof rack or flat to a vehicle roof. It is geared primarily for the SUV market, in fact the rep at KVH told me that he wasn't aware of one ever being installed on a sedan!

The only viable mounting option on an LS430 is a roof rack. Although no one manufactures a rack specifically for the LS (perhaps because no one has been crazy enough to want one so far!), I was able to install a SporTrek roof rack manufactured by Perrycraftt with excellent results. SporTrek Roof Rack

This is a low-profile rack with side rails that mount flush to the roof. I sized my rack so that the side rails mount just inside of the two trim strips that cover the roof weld seams. Attachment requires drilling 1/8" holes through the roof, 7 for each side rail. The rails attach with self-sealing sheet metal screws, so no under-roof access is required to mount the rails. In this location there is no interference with the sun roof mechanism.

The antenna clamps directly to the crossbars of the roof rack. The only cabling to the antenna is a single coax that I have run through the original Lexus Link antenna base.

The antenna can be removed from the vehicle by removing the two roof rack crossbars leaving just the two flush-mounted side rails on the vehicle.

This is a picture of the car with the roof rack and antenna mounted, it's not the best image but gives a general idea. Side Viev

Here are some closer views of the antenna installation. There is some fine-tuning still needed on the mount to finish levelling the antenna and trim the mounting bolts.
Ant Mount 1
Ant Mount 2
Ant Mount 3

I have two receivers on the system so that it's possible to watch two different satellite channels on two separate screens. The equipment installation in the trunk isn't final yet, but here is a view of the 2 sat receivers and the x-box in the left side of the trunk:
Rcvrs and X-Box

This shows the wiring in the back of the satellite receivers. The harness includes cabling for the x-box and a car pc: receiver wiring

All video sources feed a 4x4 audio/video switcher. The ourputs of the switcher feed the 3 screens (nav screen and 2 rear-seat headrest mount screens),. Audio feeds to headphone jacks at each screen location and to the ML audio system.

Video to the Nav screen is run through a composite to RGB converter manufactured by converters.tv. A relay mounted by the nav unit switches between nav video and sat/xbox video. A similar relay switches the ML audio input to the entertainment system. These relays are controlled by toggle switches mounted in the console.

The entertainment system is powered by it's own 18 amp-hour battery that is concealed in the left-hand side of the trunk below the receivers and x-box. A battery combiner charges this battery whenever the engine is running. The separate battery, in addition to preventing depletion of the starting battery, allows the engine to be stopped and started without interfering with the operation of the sat receivers or x-box.

Reception is excellent except in areas like tree-lined residential streets or areas with multi-story buildings near the road.. It takes 30-60 seconds after startup for the system to lock on and began tracking the satellite.

Here are some pictures of the nav screen displaying satellite video:

CNBC
CNN
Setup Menu
Signal Strength Display

-jim-

 

Wow very impressive. I have only sold 2 of these antennas as they are not cheap, one to a limosine company and one to a guy with a escalade. They are real nice, not as big as you would think although on the LS it prolly takes up most of the roof. Either way you are prolly only 1 of very few to have this antenna on their sedan man, good work.

 

Jim,

That is an amazing job . I think we're going to have to call your car the "Wild Weasel" LS430 with all those electronics.

 

The prices have come down a bit and I found a pretty good deal on Ebay. I paid just under $2,000 for the antenna and both receivers.

-jim-

 

My brother-in-law suggested "AWACS" for a vanity plate, I think I like the idea.

-jim-

 

awesome install... you'll give jet blue a run for its money!

as a side note, have you considered painting any of those parts to match your car? I'm sure not all the surfaces are paintable, but you may be able to stealth your install a bit


...but wait, AWACs don't worry about stealth, do they!

 

The antenna can be painted, but normally if the antenna fails they do an exchange, and they won't do an exchange if your antenna is painted.