BACK SEAT THEATER.

Byline: Lewis Taylor The Register-Guard

It seems like such a bad idea.

A TV in the car.

And then you start to think about what it could mean for those long family road trips. No more back seat whining? No more bathroom breaks every 22 minutes? And maybe, just maybe, an end to the dreaded, "When will we get there" refrain?

A lot of parents have gone through a similar line of reasoning when it comes to in-car video players - even some who are generally opposed to making electronic gadgets a part of their parenting methods.

The promise of a more peaceful road trip just makes too much sense to pass up. And with prices falling rapidly on such devices, it's easy to overlook the negatives of putting an idiot box in the car.

"It's a life saver for a lot of parents," says Erik Reyes, a manager at the Stereo Store in Eugene. "They play movies, some hook up DVD players, they can do auxiliaries right through the front or back.''

By auxiliaries, Reyes means video game consoles, iPods, even satellite TV.

"I call mine the baby sitter," says Pettina Sams, 29, a Eugene real estate broker and mother of two. ``When I have to take the kids with me to put up (for sale) signs, I can plop a movie in and entertain them. ... For long trip rides they're great.''

Sams isn't the only one who's discovered a use for in-car video.

Since 2002, sales of mobile video devices have nearly doubled, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. The technology accounts for about 10 percent of all mobile entertainment, which includes satellite radio and car stereo equipment.

``Consumers are demanding it more and more. It's becoming more of a standard,'' says Jennifer Boone, a spokeswoman for the Consumer Electronics Association. ``People these days want to be able to take their entertainment devices with them.''

As in-car video becomes more popular, Boone says, car manufacturers are catching on. Higher end versions of family friendly vehicles such as the Lincoln Navigator and the Honda Odyssey now offer back seat video players as a standard option. And more consumers are installing in-car video systems in cars they already own, Boone says.

The Consumer Electronics Association, a trade organization for the consumer electronics industry, has launched a campaign to encourage the safe use of in-car electronics.

Because in-car video devices can offer navigation help, roadside assistance, rear view cameras and even keep kids from distracting drivers, the association argues, the technology can actually make road travel safer.

In-car video systems can be divided into two types: front seat and back seat systems. Back seat systems range from cheap fold-out screens that hang from the back of headrests to custom-installed systems that pop out of the ceiling. An inexpensive Polaroid model that sells for about $150 features two seven-inch screens that strap on to the back of the front seats. The unit plugs into the car's power socket.

A more elaborate model by Myron & Davis, which sells for about $1,000, puts two seven-inch screens inside the front seat headrests. The unit comes with two headrests customized to your car model.

``The competition is heating up and the pricing has gone down,'' says Reyes, pointing to an in-dash Pioneer Navigation model that sold for $2,000 two years ago and now retails for half that much.

The Pioneer is an example of a front seat system. In addition to playing DVDs and CDs, the device doubles as a personal navigation unit. The catch is that, by Oregon law, the video player cannot be on while the vehicle is in motion.

The restriction applies to all video devices with screens in view of the driver, although some drivers have found ways to rewire the players to circumvent the rules. The law was passed in 2005 to prevent drivers from being distracted by their techno gadgets.

But most parents aren't concerned with playing videos for themselves, which is why many opt for a back seat system. Sams, the Eugene mother, has a drop down screen that hangs from the ceiling of her Dodge Durango. The Sony unit, which is priced at about $1,000, was a gift from her husband.

`We just use it for (DVDs). `Cars,' `Dora' (the Explorer),' Sams says. "I don't think there's ever been an adult movie in there.''

Sams does impose a few rules. The TV doesn't go on for short rides (the trip has to be longer than a half-hour episode of ``Go, Diego, Go!'' she says). And there are limits to what her kids can watch.

Even though Sams allows the video screen to be on in her car, she says the TV set is not a constant fixture in her home. ``My kids don't really watch a lot of TV at home,'' she says. ``And (in the car) they're watching Disney movies. That's a lot better than some of stuff that's on in the evenings. Plus, you've got control over it.''

HOW IN-CAR VIDEO WORKS

In-dash: These front seat units often feature retractable monitors that are wired to function only when the car is parked. The monitor may serve as a control screen or GPS navigation screen while the car is moving. They install like a standard car stereo, but with a few more connections. Most include a hidden box as well that contains the "brains" of the system.

Headrest: Some of these back seat units feature monitors embedded inside the back of the front seat headrests. Other less expensive models strap on to the back of the headrest. The screens connect to separate player, which can be put under the seats, in the center console or in some other out-of-the-way location. Some units connect to the in-dash receiver. Others use small portable players that hook up to the car's power socket.

Overhead: These back seat units are popular with owners of SUVs, minivans and other vehicles with lots of head-space. Some have built-in players. Others connect to auxiliary players. Most require professional installation.

Audio: The audio for your video screen can come from a number of sources. Some players connect into your car stereo system. Others use headphone jacks or cordless headphones. Some send an audio signal over an FM frequency that can be picked up by your car stereo. Audiophiles can also add 5.1 surround sound to their car.

Bells and whistles: Using an antenna that mounts to the roof of your vehicle, it is possible to install satellite TV in your car. A rear bumper camera can also be hooked up to your video screen to provide a view of the road behind you. And systems with multi-zone capability allow simultaneous, multiple entertainment activities. For instance, the driver could be listening to satellite radio while one back seat passenger watches a movie and another plays a video game.

- Source: Crutchfield.com