good on ya! that's quite a bit of work.

i'm curious to see where/how you mounted those tweeters. i'm not happy with the stock locations, and your solution seems like a good one for my tastes.

One suggestion however, run the RCAs on the drivers side. you will hear the difference.

don't know much about XM, does the signal actually strengthen?

 

mild concern here.... keep your ears open for a nice hum that's in sync w/ the RPM of the car.

otherwise -- sounds like you both had a good time and had a decent install experience.


i'm not too sure about that crossover location -- is it inside the plastic liner? if so, you're more exposed to wet there than on the door side of that liner... just something to think about.

 

Ditto I would be really surprised if you don't have some nice noise once you hook up that amp from running those together... I would seperate thase before you finish... do it now do it later but you'll end up having to seperate them sooner or later

 

Thanks guys. I will run them later....my hands are all bloody from running the stupid wires through the doors....the window tracks are SHARP! The box is due in on the 14th, so I will most likely move the RCA's then to the center console. It will not be that hard, seeing as we crossed the firewall just behind the battery. All I would have to do is run it over the stuff under the dash and then behind the trim panels and carpeting. Just too tired of running wires at this point. I am going to enjoy the new HU and speakers for the next week before I tear it all out again.

The x-overs are on the inside of the plastic, but they are elevated off the bottom and away from the side walls, so water might not be an issue I will open them up when I re-run the RCA's to check for rust (Hurricane due to hit us on monday / tuesday....so there will be plenty of rain).

Thanks

John

ps-how do I upload pics?

 

Willie-

I will post pics of the install, including the tweeters, when I learn how to upload pics. I did not really "mount" them anywhere. I screwed them into their flush-mount housings and wedged the in there. You could use a piece of 90 degree aluminum and just tack it to the A-pillar. That is what I was going to do, but my tweeters are 1'" instead of the normal 1/2", so they wedged in there pretty good. I dont think they are going anywhere (I tugged on them pretty good once set, and no movement), if they do, I will just tank them to the A-pillar. I got this idea from another member on here....I will try to look for the link. Completely stealth. You wound not know they were there unless you were looking for them!

I dont know about that either....I would assume the signal would focus in more over time, because they asked me if I would be using it in and around my local zip code. That is what happened with my Direct TV, it was kinda fuzzy in the beginning, then cleared up great!

John

ps-the tweeters are rated at 100WRMS and the drivers at 80WRMS. Is it going to hurt the speakers to only be running them off the Alpine HU? The sound GREAT! And for only $40....what a STEAL!

 

ahh... then that would explain why your system sounds good. you've made the appropriate blood sacrifices to the gods of car stereo. i find that unless a blood sacrifice is made at some point in the install, things just don't sound right. so, i always make sure that somehow, i cut a hand or something in the process.
for the wife's Ody, i almost managed to cut off a finger before the gods were appeased... thankfully, it healed up just fine.

sounds good for location, but i'm still not quite sure where you're talking about. either or, if you're on the inside of the plastic (ie on the interior of the car side of the plastic), you should be ok.
ahh... where are you located? you must not be too far from me then... we're starting to buckle down here at work and i'm going to be keeping an eye on the storm this weekend...

that should not be a problem. keep the Alpine head under about 25 on the dial, and that should keep your inboard amp out of clipping distortion.



regarding uploading pics -- you can't unless you are a paying member. if you have external hosting, you can use the image tags to access your external host.
[img ]http://mypics.wherever.com/picname.jpg[/img ]
(removing the spaces AFTER img but before the ] )

 

Phil-

Are you guys evacuating? I know Governor Jeb Bush has issued a "State of Emergeny" here in FL and Pensacola is now being evacuated. We are at the eastern edge of the projected Tropical Storm force winds....the "Big Bend" of FL. They are now saying that something has developed over LA and might push it east.....I am not opposed to that, seeing as my house already needs a new roof, if the hurricane will spare me the agony of stripping off all the shingles and letting the insurance pay for it, I say BRING IT ON! We have been hit by 6 hurricanes in the past 3 years....nothing too impressive, just a LOT of rain and some gusty conditions (not really sustained at ground level due to massive pine and oak trees). I live at the top of a hill, so flooding is not an issue. I think I will leave my car over at my parent's place in their garage....I just cleaned it today (filled with saw dust).

I keep getting a little static sounding noise from the driver's side. Not sure if its the tweeter or the driver. It only happens at high volume 20+. I think it may just be distortion of the internal amp of the HU at that level. Crystal clear down low. I might be looking for an amp for the cabins eventually. Thinking something along the line of 40-50WRMS...nothing too extreme.

If you remove your door speakers and look into the door itself through the speaker hole, you will see the window tracks. Just behind those is a structural member of the door. Tubular steel. I zip tied to these. This way they are elevated and away from the side walls. You have any photos of where you were thinking about? This was the only place I could find.

For themost accurate storm info go to : www.nhc.noaa.gov. Its the National Hurrican Center website. All the latest maps, statistics, and forcasts. Very handy.

How much is it to be a"paying member" and where do I sign up? I was never given that option. I was just automatically assigned as a "guest."

Stay Safe.

John

 

are you guys leaving?

i've ridden three of these suckers out at home on the beach, a block from the ocean, and i don't think this Dennis is going to be that bad, here. Of course my house built like a concrete bunker, and i'm an adrenaline junkie. Plus if anything were to happen to my house, like blown out windows or other similiar damage, i'd want to be at home to fix it fast.

plus i'm a surfer, and when the waves clean up i want to be on it.

However, Dennis is headed right for ya! Keep your eyes on it guys, and if you live in a house of straw, by all means RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!! Tropical storm force winds are nothing. If it's a CAT 3 and it hits you, those oaks and pine trees are not going to do you any favors. Sustained winds of 130MPH will break the old ones and smash whatever will break thier fall. i.e. your house. Orlando, and Deland were ravaged during Charley not because of the water, but because of all thier old trees. look around your house and if you see any old trees or branches waiting to go, chances are they will. if you can safely trim now i would.

check the wind swath image on the link i posted, it will tell you where the worst damage will be. and stay posted, hurricanes are pretty unpredictable. but as of now that thing is heading for your house.

if you stay, some preparations: have plenty of water, candles, and food. basically prepare like you would if you were camping, because that's what you will be doing when the power goes out. have some books handy, make new friends, and be patient. Soon after the storm hits, don't go for a walk because the downed power lines are hard to see and many of teh puddles are electrified. Many deaths occur because of curiosity.

We didn't have power for well over a week last year. i met all my nieghbors. they are nice, but can't play parcheesi worth a damn.

here's my favorite hurricane link it's ugly, but it's loaded with info. keep scrolling and you will see all the maps you need, and a few you don't.

Good luck!

 

We are not leaving... I think this will be like all the other hurricanes, all huff and no puff. We have not had a serious hit since Kate in 83. The general topography of Tallahassee makes it very difficult to sustain a direct hit. We are 60 miles inland from the coast, so no surge problems. Like I said above....we got HUGE trees...you know, trees that have obviously survived past hurricanes for hundreds of years. If we do take a direct hit, I will be at my parent's place, so there is not a 6' diameter oak hanging over the house (like at mine). I am also a surfer....St. George is going NUTS now....swells are up to around 5-6' now. All the junkies are down there, but I gots to work .

I was kinda concerned about Phil, because I have been to Baton Rouge and it is pretty much at or below sea level, and there are a bunch of THIN trees (especially around LSU and their soccer complex) that can snap and turn into projectiles.

Gotta go and round up any loose lumber and such in our back yard, so the wind will not toss it.

Stay Safe

John

 

us evacuate?
umm... no.
it's actually sunny w/ no clouds today. i might do some top down driving later this afternoon...
we're pretty far from where Dennis is going to land, and way outside of the western outer fringes (weak side of storm). we're also a couple hundred miles inland from the coast... honestly? even big storms that come our way have usually lost a good bit of 'oomph' by the time they get to us. most of my family evacs to me to sit out storms. that being said? i wouldn't want to be where you're at right now (eastern side of storm on the pan handle).

either or, i've lived in this area most of my life (New Orleans/Baton Rouge area), and can't even remember how many major hurricanes i've ridden out. i can even recall going outside during the main strike of Andrew back in the early 90's (whenever he hit... like 92 or 93) and jumping up into the wind to let it carry me along for 20-30 feet before i'd land.... pretty funny... pretty crazy...

the good news about many of those smaller trees? they bend and flex with the wind quite capably. last i saw a big hurricane hit, we lost big oaks, but very few small trees. and while much of the area around here is under sea level, i'm pretty high. we bought well outside of the 100 yr flood plain. i'm not sure, how much above sea level i am, but iirc, i'm around 15 feet above or more.

as far as hurricane info? noaa is the only source i trust.

regardless, John and Bill, i appreciate your concern. but honestly? we're doing fine this time.

i'd agree with Willie tho... a Cat 3-4 is nothing to laugh at. if your home isn't storm proven, run.



regarding where you put the crossovers? i'd move them. you're definitely on the outside (weather side) of the plastic liner. if you pull off your door panel, look towards the rear bottom of the panel. there's a small black 'compartment'. that's where mine reside. let me see if i can find a pic.

the best picture i can find is this, and it isn't even all that great.
see the white pocket located at the back of the door? on the door panel side of that pocket is a black compartment that's bolted to the door panel. i put my crossovers inside that pocket. they are on the 'interior' of the car and are pretty well shielded from any water exposure.


$20 a year for membership. here's a link: https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?act=m...tion&CODE=index
i have chosen not to be a member due to some of my person feelings regarding how this site is managed and what my needs are, but they offer quite a few nice things if you need them.