Hi.
Though I am not GOD - hmm, PCA - I still would like to add my opinion:
The length and type of cable you would be able to use is depending on the type of interface the headunit in question is using on its particular faceplate connection. I know that both multiwire serial connection (like one for display issues and one for buttons) as well as parallel connections with various connections speed exist. The higher the speed, the shorter the cable has to be.
In general, you might be best of with a relatively old headunit which doesn't have a graphic enabled display (i.e. has a text/segments only sort of display), because those don't need a high interface speed to the faceplate and thus tend to have a slower interface which in turn would allow longer wires.
Also, the higher the interface speed goes, the more important it will be to match the expected impedance on the wire, which is rather hard to find out IMHO.
Summerizing this, it is a tough task you are challenging here. The longer the cable needs to be, the tougher the task gets.
cu,
sven
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proud owner of MkII 40GB & MkIIa 60GB both lit by God and HiJacked by Lord