- #384 of 397
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dvd won't play
by nesa
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Mar 21, 2009 (6:39 am)
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I have just purchased a 2005 grand caravan with an overhead dvd player. When I load a disk in the player it spins inside the player, signals that the dvd player is loading , then opens and spits out the disk. What is happening?
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- #385 of 397
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Re: dvd won't play [nesa]
by dtownfb
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Mar 25, 2009 (5:21 pm)
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Replying to: nesa (Mar 21, 2009 6:39 am)
Get a good DVD cleaning disc to clean the lens in the player. follow the instructions. Also get a cleaner to clean off the actual DVD disc.
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- #386 of 397
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Re: DVD for 2008 Honda Accord sedan?? [larryallen707]
by autodvdgps
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Jun 22, 2009 (6:51 pm)
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Replying to: larryallen707 (Jun 25, 2008 11:12 am)
You can visit www.autodvdgps.com to buy the DVD player for your 08 Accord.
AutoDVDGPS.com is the biggest oneline shop selling car DVD players in China.
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- #387 of 397
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What's a Good DVD Player for a Minivan w/ 3 kids
by versican09
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Jul 08, 2009 (11:24 am)
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I'm looking for advice from folks who've dealt with this before. I've got 3 kids (6,5,3) and some long trips coming up in our minivan. We've gotten to the point that the whining and fighting makes us dread trips over an hour long...so to sedate them and make our trip less stressful, we will get a dvd player. There seems to be 3 options: portable dvd player, overhead dvd player, and headrest dvd players.
We're considering getting a portable dvd player, but want one with 3 headphone jacks. Ideally, wireless headphones. This seems to be a problem -- most have 2. Perhaps we can get an adapter for headphones with wires, plus one wireless headphone. We don't want a junky brand (Insignia). We would like 10" screen or bigger so the back seat kid can see well. If we can't get 3 kids listening to one player, we'd probably get 2 portable players.
Overhead players seem too pricey, but if there's a really good one out there I'd like to know. I had heard Jensen made good ones, but I can't find any! Best Buy had Alpine and Insignia. I heard Insignia would be a poor choice, not sure about Alpine ($700). Neither were on sale.
Headrest dvd players are another option. We don't want to replace our actual headrests, maybe just get those flat screens that strap over them. But, I can't find many reviews. This is my personal favorite option, but I don't know anyone who has a headrest dvd player and don't know anything about the different brands. If we go this route, we'd probably get the two-screen player (one is a dummy screen and plays the same thing as the screen with the actual player).
Any help is appreciated! To those of you with 3 kids (or more) -- do they fight over what movies to play or how to tilt screens or sound levels? Do headphones have individual sound control? I'm curious about things like that too.
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- #388 of 397
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Re: What's a Good DVD Player for a Minivan w/ 3 kids [versican09]
by dtownfb
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Jul 09, 2009 (9:13 am)
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Replying to: versican09 (Jul 08, 2009 11:24 am)
I would go with the overhead unit for a minivan (yes I have 3 kids). You only need one screen and you can get the wireless head phones or play over the radio. It can be viewed from any seat in the 2 back rows. We did this when we bought our 2004 Nissan Quest. We added it after the purchase. Very clean installation. No problem with monitor or DVD unit. i wouldn't get hung up on the manufacturer unless it has to do with the ease of operation. DVD players have been around for quite a while now and there isn't much difference from brand to brand. Also try a local audio/visual shop, they may be able to beat Best Buy. here's a llink to best Buy website: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=abcat0303002&type=category. these prices look better than what you had in your post.
The headrests, IMHO, are a last resort and best used in cars because you don't have any other option. also I don't like the monitors that close to the kid's face and the viewing angle.
Yes the overhead unit is a bit more expensive but I think you will be much happier. If money is truly a factor, just get the portable unit with two screens. This will be your cheapest option.
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- #389 of 397
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Re: What's a Good DVD Player for a Minivan w/ 3 kids [versican09]
by ateixeira
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Jul 29, 2009 (8:01 am)
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Replying to: versican09 (Jul 08, 2009 11:24 am)
I got a 12" screen ceiling mounted for $900 installed from Circuit City. It came with only 2 wireless headsets but there is a headphone jack so there's your 3rd right there, built-in.
Go for it. Try Best Buy or a competitor since CC is out of business.
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- #390 of 397
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Re: What's a Good DVD Player for a Minivan w/ 3 kids [versican09]
by masterpaul1
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Aug 06, 2009 (7:18 pm)
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Replying to: versican09 (Jul 08, 2009 11:24 am)
We had this same problem. When we purchased our 01 DGC EX, I wanted the entertainment package. But it was well over $1000.00 from the dealer. A few years went by, and I thought to re-visit this problem. I looked into the over head unit, but wasn't impressed with them and didn't like the fact that they had to cut into the ceiling. Not to mention, that we have triple zone air/heat and the rear controls are where the DVD player would have to go and we would lose our rear overhead light. (If the unit didn't have one.) Plus they were just under a thousand or so. So, I thought to do some research about a portable DVD player. So what we did was buy a: 1) Sony "9" wide screen high resolution PDVD player from Best Buy for about $189. 2) Universal Car Mount PDVD player that mounts in between the front two seats without any tools for $29 at Best Buy. 3) We bought 4 sets of IR wireless head phones for all four of our kids. (They have volume control.) It comes with one transmitter and you can add up to as many head phones as you like. We paid a total of $90 and it came with a car 12V adaptor and other attachments so you can use it pretty much anywhere. We attached the transmitter to the plastic part of the rear air controls on the ceiling, using the velcro tape supplied. It only cost use around $309 for our complete entertainment package. Also, Everything stays in our van locked up and out of site, except the PDVD. We bought back seat organizers for the second and third row that keeps the head phones stored along with other personal items for our kids. (I think we paid around $15 for each. I hope this helps. I've included the links below. It's worked out beautifully.
1) http://www.compuplus.com/i-Bebe-Sounds-TV-777-TV-Listener-With-Two-Headsets-1056- 226~.html?sid=0cn28deccswq3ao
2) http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7439275&type=product&id=1124431815- 079
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- #391 of 397
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Re: What's a Good DVD Player for a Minivan w/ 3 kids [versican09]
by masterpaul1
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Aug 06, 2009 (9:49 pm)
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Replying to: versican09 (Jul 08, 2009 11:24 am)
Also, you asked if kids fight over what to watch. Ours doesn't. (Even though their ages are 6, 11, 13 and 15) We have a big DVD collection at home, thanks to DVDR's. So the kids pick the movies that are appropriate, with our approval of course, and they can chose to watch and listen if they like. Using a 140-Watt DC 12V inverter to plug our video game in, we can hook it up to the PDVD. (This keeps the kids really entertained.) Since we have two vechicles, having the ability to transport the equipment from one vechicle to the other is a big plus. You can see the screen very well in both the second and third row. Make sure to by a PDVD that comes with the car accessories and a remote control. If you burn your own DVD's, make sure the PDVD player plays them. (Not all PDVD players play all formats). One last thing, you can play the movies through the car stereo by using a two ended male audio cord. (The cord used with ipod and MP3 players.) or if you have a tape deck like us, they have the thing you insert into the tap deck. (Not sure of the name.)
1) http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9223011&type=product&id=1218062116- - 598
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- #392 of 397
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Re: What's a Good DVD Player for a Minivan w/ 3 kids [masterpaul1]
by ateixeira
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Aug 07, 2009 (6:49 am)
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Replying to: masterpaul1 (Aug 06, 2009 7:18 pm)
Neat solution, and very inexpensive for good quality stuff.
The only catch is it blocks the pass-through to the rear seats. That probably doesn't matter once the kids are past toddler age, though.
Is that mount easy to remove?
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- #393 of 397
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Re: What's a Good DVD Player for a Minivan w/ 3 kids [ateixeira]
by masterpaul1
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Aug 07, 2009 (4:16 pm)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Aug 07, 2009 6:49 am)
Yes, it does block the pass through. We have a center console that blocks the pass through as well. (We just move it when we have to go to the back.) So even if we did have the overhead DVD player, we would still have to move the center console. The mount is secure and is easy to mount and remove. only takes a few second and there are no parts to keep up with. Ours mount is stored under the drivers seat out of view when not in use. The only draw back with our set up is that it takes a few more minutes longer to take the mount, PDVD player, and wireless transmitter for the head phones down to store it. (Compared to just flipping the screen up, on the over head DVD player, and turning off the ignition switch.)
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