[Jerry O1]

a back-up alert system called Sondar? I noticed an ad for it in Car and Driver and e-mailed the guy, C.K.Yun,for information. It is a Korean company, with U.S. headquarters in North Carolina. He says they will sell direct to people in areas where they do not have distributors, California, for one. The prices run from $59.00 to $189.00 (cars to heavy trucks), which seems very reasonable, if the product is any good. You can check it out at: www.e-iscentral.com.......

Jerry O.

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2001 Odyssey GG LX

 

[Maugham]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Jerry O:
...You can check it out at: www.e-iscentral.com.......

Jerry O.

</font>

If you remove the periods after the .com, the link works, i.e., www.e-iscentral.com.

[This message has been edited by Maugham (edited 01-06-2002).]

 

[Jerry O1]

Those periods were not presented as a part of the address. They were just idle thoughts, Hee! Hee! Besides, when your a illiterate as I, you might try anything.......There I go again.......My mind is in the "fuzzy logic" mode and I just can't quit.........I love that little .> key.........Somebody, please pull the plug........I'm trapped like "Charlie on the MTA"........

Jerry O.

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2001 Odyssey GG LX

 

[stevenj]

Jerry O: Your post intrigued me and got me to doing a little research. I would feel more comfortable knowing how far the rear of my '98 Ody is from objects behind it. I e-mailed C.K. Yun and he gave a very thorough reply (sorry, I don't have it handy as I contacted him through my office e-mail system). For my 1st generation Ody, he suggested a model 1 step above the cheapest one, which has the sonar eyes, the alien-looking controller thing, and a black box that goes somewhere in the back perhaps near where I have my jack and tools. He would retail it to me (I live in Calif.) for $89 plus. I have a small budget and decided that since I always twist my body half way around to look out the back when I back up (I guess I never trust that I am seeing everything in the mirrors) the Sondar's visual read-out won't be helpful. It will compete for my visual attention. Plus the controller might look like an ugly add-on in my beautiful Ody's interior. Conclusion: I will purchase a similar but simpler product from jcwhitney.com, Autopark 2000, that mounts to your licence plate, contains two little sensors that scan an area of 120 degrees. The information is conveyed through sound from a single, unobtrusive speaker that you can place anywhere (I'll put mine down below the dashboard somewhere). When you switch the Ody into reverse, two little beeps announce that it is operational, then there is silence as long as you are within the first of three pre-set distances. When the infrared sensors detect any objects behind you within the second or third distance ranges, you'll hear an audible warning. Constant beeping means caution, you're getting close. Rapid beeping means stop. You can set your own distances for both caution and stop zones. Installation takes 15-20 minutes for non-professionals they say (which means it will take me 1 hour!). The SKU number at JCwhitney.com for the autopark 2000 devices is 81ZX708B, $59.95. If you're curious, I will let you know how I like it once it's installed. Steve



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stevenj
'98 Odyssey LX-7

 

[Maugham]

Member ckonarske mentioned that he returned the one he ordered because he thought the angle of the license plate might reduce the effectiveness of the unit (see http://www.odyclub.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000196.html , 5th message down.)

The ad at http://www.ctico.com/park.htm lists an AutoPark 2000 for $39.95.

Here's an installation guide for the AutoPark 2000: http://www.ptdoityourself.net/ptautopark.html

Regards,

Maugham<font color=pink><center><font size=-5>

[This message has been edited by Maugham (edited 01-13-2002).]

 

[stevenj]

Maugham: What a resource this ODYCLUB board is! Helpful folks like you, finding out information such as the link you provided to a cheaper Autopark 2000, and even to an installation guide (it's for a PT Cruiser but I printed it out anyway because it contains some tips I will likely find useful). I went ahead and bought this device by phone, $49 with shipping. I realize there may be some issues in relation to the angle of the license plate, but perhaps I can devise a wedge-shaped shim if that's truly a problem. Weeks from now (shipping time, plus finding the right weekend to sneak away from chores my wife thinks up for me and from general family activities, he he) I will post my results with this device. I plan to do whatever it takes to make it work for me. Thanks! Steve in S. Calif.



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stevenj
'98 Odyssey LX-7

 

[Maugham]

stevenj;

Keep us posted, I'm very interested in how this works out. I need some sort of device like this for our Ody.

Regards,

Maugham

 

[hachiroku]

Stevenj,
Yes, please do keep us posted. I thought about getting this a few months ago but was "ify" since it looked too simple. Then again this may be a good option over the more expensive systems.
Thanks

------------------
-ROB-
'01 GG LX "Lagreat"(with lotsa stuff.S-T-U-F-F)

http://community.webshots.com/album/18601743AkjQIJiKqK

 

[stevenj]

Hachiroku and Maugham: The Autopark 2000 that I ordered is shipped from San Franciso, so it will be on my doorstep today (1-17). In the meantime, I measured the distance between the ground and the bottom of the license plate on both the 1st and 2nd generation Odysseys. On my '98, the distance is 30"; on later models, it is 36". That is pretty high off the ground to be mounting a distance-sensing device! I called the tech guy at ATN Corp in S.F, 800-910-2863 -- that's the company that makes it-- and asked if those distances are too high for it to work correctly. He said that while the horizontal sweep is 120 degrees, the vertical is only 12 degrees, and thus it may be necessary to angle it slightly downwards in order for it to "see" bumpers of normal height. As it is, the license plate on both generations of Odys angles back from the vertical a bit, making the situation even worse. I am not inclined to want to drill holes in the plastic bumper shroud below the rear hatch simply to mount it in a better location for picking up bumpers of normal height. Instead, I will see how feasible it is to make an angled shim (bend a piece of 1/16" right-angle aluminum or whatever) so as to make it aim correctly. I am aware, from a continuation of my search online, that there are many products out there that purport to do the same task, but Autopark 2000 is still the least expensive that I can find that appears to do the job. Several sites advertise it for $37.80. ATN itself sells it for $79! This is my interim report. Once I have it I'll know better if this device is useful or a waste of time. The big issue, aside from backing up into the bumpers of other cars, is avoiding hitting the theoretical child on a tricycle. In my lifestyle, that is likely never to occur, but I think it's best if the product can accomplish that, or nearly that. By the way Hachiroku, I grew up in Berkeley in the 40s and early 50s, attended Paly High in Palo Alto, and went to UC Berkeley in the early 60s. Later, my wife and I lived across from "People's Park" in 1968-71 when it was taken over by noisy but earnest protesters. Exciting times! Later, Steve



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stevenj
'98 Odyssey LX-7

 

[lotus18]

I had the autopark installed on my 99' back in year 2000. I bought that in Sams for about $29. I used it until I sold the 99' and bought my 02' ody. I still have it in my garage.
Two things that I did not like it:
1. I have to drill a small hole behind the license plate in order to pass the wire inside and hooked it up with the reverse light.
2. As have been said before, it is too high above the bumper and I have to angle it down a lot and still it did not give accurate reading or beeping. Actually, it annoyed my wife so much that she wanted me to take it down, but I did not until I sold the van.
That's why I picked the Poron and installed it on my 02' even though it is way more expensive, but I am still fine tuning that to filter out the false alarm. The Poron is not perfect, but it is more accurate and I do not have to drill any hole in the new van.

 

[hachiroku]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by stevenj:
By the way Hachiroku, I grew up in Berkeley in the 40s and early 50s, attended Paly High in Palo Alto, and went to UC Berkeley in the early 60s. Later, my wife and I lived across from "People's Park" in 1968-71 when it was taken over by noisy but earnest protesters. Exciting times! Later, Steve


</font>

Steve,
Sounds like you were here during those real exciting times! That was actually before my time but my younger brother is a CAL boy right now and he's seen his share of protesters.

Thanks for the update but judging by the review of lotus, it looks like it's not the right product for a '99-on Ody.
------------------
-ROB-
'01 GG LX "Lagreat"(with lotsa stuff.S-T-U-F-F)

http://community.webshots.com/album/18601743AkjQIJiKqK

[This message has been edited by hachiroku (edited 01-17-2002).]

 

[stevenj]

Lotus 18: How much did you pay for the Poron? I received the Autopark 2000 in the mail today and am underwhelmed. Made in Ukraine. Uh, O.K. I'm not really eager to drill a hole as you say is necessary. I had thought it might be possible to follow the existing wiring to the license plate lights above, and then up the hatch door to the hinged top, and back down in the direction of a backup light. I do not see how you can adjust the angle, even though the tiny instructions say that you can do it. Plus, after getting accustomed to the high quality of Honda accessories (I installed the Map Light, Center Console and Cargo Cover on my '98) the quality of the workmanship seems crude. I need to look it all over in the light of day, maybe Sunday. My wife might, also, find the sound annoying! I haven't given up on it though. Steve



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stevenj
'98 Odyssey LX-7

 

[lotus18]

Stevenj, go to the accessories forum and look for the topic: 'Poron mini3 reverse aid', it has everything you need to know about the Poron, and you may also chck the 'Tech' section and look for Errol's detailed step by step illustration. I bought it around Christmas for directly from Poron for about $139. The thread has a 1-800 number to call.
As for the autopark, I stuffed a piece of rubber behind the top part of the autopark before I screwed it in so that it tilted downward. I did not think about wiring through the license plate light instead of drilling hole behind the plate. You may investigate about that possibility. The hole was not that bad as it was hiddened by the plate and the metal was so thin that I did't have to actually drill, but just poked a hole into it.

 

[stevenj]

Lotus 18: Thanks, I'll look into the Poron. I've got the AutoPark 2000; I'm pondering whether I was hasty in my decision to buy it. I am out $49. I prefer an installation that takes the least effort in terms of disassembling parts of my Ody. I'm re-thinking it before I do anything else, and I am glad to get the reference you sited on the accessories page to the Poron. Steve



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stevenj
'98 Odyssey LX-7

 

[lotus18]

stevenj, if you can wire the autopark through the plate light instead of drilling hole, I think it worths to try it on and see if you like it or not.
Before I decided on the Poron, I was also making sure I did not have to drill hole, less disassembling and transferrable to my future vehicle if necessary. I do not know about your 98' Ody, but the 99' and newer Ody does definitely meet the above requirements. If you need more help, feel free to ask. Good luck.

 

[stevenj]

lotus 18: A brief update. I prefer to MENTALLY install accessories, viewing all the intricacies and problems, before actually installing anything. That said, I decided to return the AutoPark 2000 because it will involve too much work running wires up the hatch and back down again, etc. Instead, I ordered the Magnadyne RB-06 for $29.95 plus shipping. It has two sensors that I think I can hang directly below each of the rear tail lights, making the wiring task dramatically simpler. I hate to dismantle my Ody if I can help it. Each time you pry apart a piece of plastic there is the danger the pry mark will show, or the fastener will snap. The 1st generation Odys are sufficiently different from the 2nd generation Odys that I am not sure my findings will apply to most of you folks. We'll see. I'll report back later. Steve



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stevenj
'98 Odyssey LX-7

 

[errol]

Post for Jim.

Do you think the thread should be retitled Autopark 2000 or something like that and then moved to Aftermarket accessories?

Thread title right now isn't descriptive enough. Folks who might be looking into this product might miss it.

Just a thought.

Thanks,
Errol

 

[stevenj]

Errol: I agree with your suggestion to Jim. It started out about Sondar, then I began discussing AutoPark 2000, then I noted that I will return AutoPark 2000 and have ordered Magnadyne RB-06. Probably this topic should be in Accessories like you say, with a folder named "Back up warning sensors." Steve



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stevenj
'98 Odyssey LX-7

 

[stevenj]

I received the Magnadyne RB-06 back up warning kit (including 3-day shipping it set me back $40). I think it will work perfectly for my 1st generation Ody. The little sensors will be hung below the tail lights. I'll report back when it's done. Steve



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stevenj
'98 Odyssey LX-7