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Look forward to seeing what you got
8/8/2006: See pages 17+ for exciting news and examples.FINALLY!
After months of hard work I've managed to reverse engineer the CDC protocol on my HU-1205 navigation radio! I'll post some pictures of the work and the prototype, if I found out how...
I will soon open a website with more info (and maybe orderinfo....
As to be expected, the protocol is completely emulated by a microcontroller, I used an Atmel AT90s2313. Since I own an iPOD, I also embedded some remote commands to control the iPOD. Currently play/pause, next/prev track and rew/ffwd search are supported. In other words, I can control the iPOD from my HU!
Pretty cool, eh?
Look forward to seeing what you got
'04 V70 NA -- The anti R
Do you know how to post pictures?
I got it! Here are the pics:Work in progress:
here you see the first prototype working! On the right hand you see a bunch full of wires which connects the microcontroller to the HeadUnit. The headunit (HU) displays cd 09, track 99. In the microcontroller software I tried to display cd 99 but it only goes 'till 10 apparently. Further you see the iPOD connected to the HU (audio in) and playing music, which, of course, can be heard via the HUHere are two pictures of the first official prototype which includes iPOD control via HU (play/pause when HU changes to CD-C /back to radio, when telephone mute is enabled, when radio is switched on / off; next/prev track; rew/ffwd )
The prototype simply plugs into the HU via an 8-pin DIN cable and provides a stereo aux input via 2 RCA plugs.
That's really great news. Unfortunately, for HU-1205 is not available in the North American market. But I'm sure your adapter will work on other HU-xxx units since its also made by Melco.
Questions: I realize the HU-1205 is a radio with RTI but I wonder if your adapter will work with a wide screen DVD based RTI system. I ask because the USA*Spec CD Changer unit does not appear to work with radios with RTI. They admitted to a fault with the firmware.
Secondly, as far as you know, does the Melco HU-xxx radios have provision to show song titles on the HU display??
I have the 10 disc cd changer in my car. Do you think your adapter will work with it present?
'04 V70 NA -- The anti R
Q: I have the 10 disc cd changer in my car. Do you think your adapter will work with it present?
A: I've reverse engineered the protocol based on this 10 CD-C (branded by Volvo, but originally build by Mitsubishi), which I bought especially for this project. so that should not be a problem...
Modified by mrg_Ed at 11:33 PM 1-13-2005
Q: I realize the HU-1205 is a radio with RTI but I wonder if your adapter will work with a wide screen DVD based RTI system. I ask because the USA*Spec CD Changer unit does not appear to work with radios with RTI. They admitted to a fault with the firmware.A: I'm not sure, I've reverse engineered the so called melbus protocol that exists between HU and CDC. If other systems provide this as well (have the capability to connect the 10 CD-C from Volvo) it might possibly work.
Q: Secondly, as far as you know, does the Melco HU-xxx radios have provision to show song titles on the HU display??
A: There are no signs in the protocol data in order to display extra info like song titles playlists, etc. I've been looking for it, since the iPOD provides these features.
Theoretically, it might be supported by the protocol, but the CD-C doesn't reveal the data, so I don't know.
Modified by mrg_Ed at 11:29 PM 1-13-2005
That's what I thought, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to display song titles, etc. with the current line of HUs as they stand now. Perhaps a HU firmware upgrade from Volvo would change that. So do you feel like reverse engineering the HU's firmware to add this capability??
Seeing that you are successful in simulating the CDC, does the code going from your adapter to the head unit have any pattern? What I mean is that by changing/rearranging the code pattern, would it be possible to open up another channel such as the DAB, MD, etc. If you are successful at that, then you can make a multi-input adapter. This would be well suited to many owners here as many want to connect their iPod, satellite radio, etc. and be able to select them from the HU. So for example, you can select CDC (CD CHGR) for those that have the Volvo CD Changer already installed, the DAB for those with satellite radio, MD for iPod.
Since the HU is capable of controlling and changing 10 discs, can you change the playlist on the iPod by turning the change disc knob and perhaps match the playlist with the disc number on the display? At least you can choose between 10 playlists on the iPod from the HU. Can you also change the iPod to shuffle play when you press the RND button?? I have so many ideas!!!
BTW, I think you have done something that the likes of Soundgate and Blitzsafe have failed to do. For that, I applaud your efforts!
Modified by R-Car at 2:15 AM 1-14-2005
Quote, originally posted by R-Car » That's what I thought, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to display song titles, etc. with the current line of HUs as they stand now. Perhaps a HU firmware upgrade from Volvo would change that. So do you feel like reverse engineering the HU's firmware to add this capability??
Seeing that you are successful in simulating the CDC, does the code going from your adapter to the head unit have any pattern? What I mean is that by changing/rearranging the code pattern, would it be possible to open up another channel such as the DAB, MD, etc. If you are successful at that, then you can make a multi-input adapter. This would be well suited to many owners here as many want to connect their iPod, satellite radio, etc. and be able to select them from the HU. So for example, you can select CDC (CD CHGR) for those that have the Volvo CD Changer already installed, the DAB for those with satellite radio, MD for iPod.
Since the HU is capable of controlling and changing 10 discs, can you change the playlist on the iPod by turning the change disc knob and perhaps match the playlist with the disc number on the display? At least you can choose between 10 playlists on the iPod from the HU. Can you also change the iPod to shuffle play when you press the RND button?? I have so many ideas!!!
BTW, I think you have done something that the likes of Soundgate and Blitzsafe have failed to do. For that, I applaud your efforts!
Modified by R-Car at 2:15 AM 1-14-2005Thanks!
Reverse engineering HU firmware might be possible, first I'll need the binary file of the firmware (where do I get this??
I haven't fooled around with the protocol data yet, there is a special startup sequence, though, that might be used to address more devices on the bus. Further, the data only contains disc, track, time and some status (like play, pause, disc change, etc.) info, nothing more. I'm not sure whether the HU is capable of handling more than one device?
A more practical solution is one CD-C emulator which itself is capable of handling more audio inputs by use of a (digital controlled) audio mixer. The only problem is then how to select the audiosource. Might be done with the CD change knob... or some autosensing of the signal...Yes, it should be possible to change playlists with the CD knob, but I haven't found this info in the iPOD protocol on the web. There is some info here http://www.maushammer.com/syst....html and here http://stud3.tuwien.ac.at/~e00....html on the iPOD protocol.
But that's all I could find. I am using for now only the basic remote protocol, so I can only use the remote buttons functionality.Further, the iPOD has the capability to be controlled via the dock connector (see icelink, BMW solution, etc), which I haven't been able to get working. I am still using the top connector of the iPOD (where the remote attaches)
Strangely, I forgot to sniff the RND button... no problem... I have made a protocol sniffer for my project so I can easily check the protocol data on this. Again enabling shuffle on the iPOD has not yet been documented on the web.
Modified by mrg_Ed at 4:19 AM 1-14-2005
Modified by mrg_Ed at 4:34 PM 10-9-2006
I don't know if you're doing this as a project for self interest or you actually plan to sell it. I know of at least two companies, besides Volvo, that will be marketing an iPod adapter for Volvo HU-xxx and the first one will be selling for less than US$100 due out in February. So you will face some competition if you plan to sell your adapter.
On the other hand, now that you have developed the tools and the knowledge of MELBUS, I think you're ready for your next challenge. Volvo markets a TV Tuner option for their cars in Europe and Japan. The TV tuner unit is also made by Melco and daisy chains itself behind the RTI unit. I, for one, would like to use the RTI screen not so much to watch TV but to watch DVD. By opening up the TV channel in the HU, I can connect a Pioneer DVD changer to the back of the RTI unit and play DVD on screen (when the car is not moving of course).
I have tried getting a TV Tuner from a dealer overseas but I have my reservations due to cost and compatibility. Even if I swallow the cost of the tuner, I'm not sure my head unit will recognize it. And, of course, there's no refund or support.
It would be awesome if you can get a hold of a Volvo with the RTI and TV option installed (car rental?) for you to do your magic on. At the same time, you can test your adapter with a car that has the RTI. Instead of competing with other iPod adapters, you can create your own market by making an adapter that will open up the TV channel on the HU. And its as simple as a little box with a DIN socket since the video goes through another connector.
Just some food for thought!
Modified by R-Car at 7:44 PM 1-14-2005
Hmm, interesting info, thanks for that, I didn't know..The project is mainly self interest (and frustration, since there was no info on the web about the protocol or HU radios - the only thing I could ever find was a pin layout of the CD-C connector, which by the way was correct)
There were no suppliers anywhere that made a CD changer emulator for the HU-series and, as I noticed, there is still enough interest. I was desperate to connect my iPOD to the HU, so I took the challenge and started the project. It took me about 3/4 of a year to build all the stuff in my spare time. (I've built a logic analyser to analyse the signals, a protocol sniffer to get the data out, some PDA software to upload the data (I don't own a laptop), and some other supporting hardware.)
As I started it, I couldn't imagine that it was that much work! So, I am thinking of selling a couple to compensate for the invested time. (I don't need to be filthy rich)
Anyway, since I don't have to charge development costs in the final product pricing (to keep a company running), I can sell for half of the price you mentioned, or even less... And if there are some DIY people that can handle a solder iron, I could only sell the programmed microcontroller. In that case you could have the emulator for less than US$30!
I am interested to know what functionality the companies offer to control the iPOD...
Your suggestions are quite interesting, though. Since I only own a HU-1205 with the navigation embedded, could you tell me more about the setup (what devices, what does it look like etc. - I don't have a clue)?
I have little technical details on the iPod adapter coming to market besides preliminary pricing info and that it will be announced early February.
I have little details to provide you on the TV tuner since its not an available option here. However, I can certainly point you to a thread that peaked my interest. http://www.vvspy.com/w-agora4/...27365
Several people on Swedespeed including bylle have successfully tapped into the TV tuner. http://forums.swedespeed.com/z...age=1The TV tuner is a box that fits on top of the RTI (DVD drive) in the trunk. The cable from the head unit (DIN8) goes to the RTI unit (DIN8), then from another connector on the RTI (DIN13) connects to TV tuner (DIN8). The CD Changer is the last on the chain since it only has one DIN8 connector.
Nice!
Since I know the Melbus protocol (at least for the CDC) I can understand what is said on the link you gave. I will very soon fiddle around with the data on the bus to see if I am able to 'fit in' an other device to the HU. I'll let you know...
That will be most cool. Thanks for the effort. I will be anxiously waiting for another message: "FINALLY: TV protocol has been reverse engineered!"
Thanks for the kind offer (laptop), I appreciate it.
Indeed too bad I am on this side, I would have liked to test the system on your configurations.The CANBUS is quite well documented and I even have several articles of DIY building projects about it. This means that actual deciphering should not be necessary. CANBUS is mainly used to read out the cars computer as far as I know. It never catched my interest, however.
Should it? Is it the way to read/update the firmware for example?
I just finished fiddling around with the data on the bus as I suggested earlier. I concentrated on the startup sequence, unfortunately without any positive results. I am afraid my HU simply doesn't support other devices. It might need a firmware upgrade or it might not be capable at all to get more devices on the bus (since there is no need to).To tell you a little bit more about the startup seqence:
The HU sends out a series of bytes, which I think is a kind of device list. If the device is attached to the bus it responses to its 'device-id' by sending a response byte. So, what I did was try to respond to all existing device-id's. Nothing happened (besides the CD-C of course). This seems to be very similar as described in http://www.vvspy.com/w-agora4/...27365 as R-Car already found out.So, I am kind of stuck. I do have a Melbus sniffer (as I mentioned before) but need the devices to sniff around....
It might be possible to get some of my sniffing electronics to you guys, so you can test and sniff around and send me the results back (the data is easily captured by an RS232 port on a laptop) to process.
If anyone is interested in this scenario, pls. let me know. However, it requires EE skills, like soldering and wiring a schematic to a PCB?
Besides: I made up my mind and decided to purchase a Dension icelink adapter. I really want to know what they are doing with the iPOD. They also make a very nice car cradle, which nicely fits in my car, I'm sure. I am planning to integrate their cradle into my CDC emulator (also). The cradle can be ordered separately and that should make a nice couple. I'll post some pics once installed...
I have a CD changer on a HU-803... am an EE.. so might be able to help
You're right, CANBUS is well documented but I'm sure Volvo would add their own twist to the protocol. I'd be leery about connecting anything foreign to CANBUS since the car's critical control systems (from ABS to airbags, etc) are on that bus.
I'm sure there is a way to access each of the 18+ control modules in the car including the AUM via CANBUS through the OBD port. One of the more creative application I've see is to display the status of the Valentine 1 radar detector through the information centre on the drivers information module (DIM). Someone markets such a box for BMW. But then, you would have to reverse engineer the protocol used by Valentine and Volvo. Too much trouble!
You're on the right track though, working on MELBUS. Just make sure you have a paypal account when you have the TV Tuner simulator box ready for sale.
Dension does make a nice setup with their Ice-Link. They were relying on Soundgate to come with a Volvo adapter which never happened.
Does anyone on the board have a S60/V70 with the RTI and TV Tuner option willing to drive over to mrg_Ed's place for an afternoon??
Quote, originally posted by R-Car » Does anyone on the board have a S60/V70 with the RTI and TV Tuner option willing to drive over to mrg_Ed's place for an afternoon?? That would be nice! NL is a bit far away I'm afraid. On the other hand, thinking out loud, if I can send a programmed chip over the ocean and someone is able to solder some things together, we might work together on this. You sniff around and send me data and I'll make a working emulator.
Hmm, maybe I'm too idealistic...Aren't there any (local) businessmen interested in this whole idea?
I would love to use your sniffer and connect it to my car but I, nor anyone else here in NA, have the TV tuner. Johann, are you watching?? Do you have the TV tuner in your car???
Instead of buying an Ice-Link, you should contact Dension and show them what you've got. I think they would be very interest to talk to someone who has already done the leg work for them. All they need is your MELBUS code to integrate into their PAL. You should give them a call. At the very least, you would get an Ice-Link out of it.
No, the MELBUS protocol and the HU-xxx head units are not designed to display song titles.
But what if Volvo comes out with a software download that changed all that. What I'm afraid of is that Volvo's firmware will only work on the newer HU-x50 head units (more RAM space?) while leaving everything else behind.
Doesn't anyone have the firmware for a HU-xxx unit? I'd like to look at it and see if there are ways to open up.
Mrg_Ed, how does one extract the firmware for a unit?while most on this board are in the states, I'm only over the north sea in the UK and I have both the TV tuner and RTI on a hu-801 headunit, I even own an ipod. I'm not an EE though. however, if you fancy a trip over for a weekend, I could put you up for the night
My best friend codes in CANBUS everyday, he works on industrial CAN though, I don't know how much of a difference there is, but I guess he might be able to advise on CAN issues
if you could decode volvo's CANBUS then this opens up a wide range of possibilities for using the information display and the steering wheel controls to control things. valentine scanners showing data on the info screen, ipod display there and controlled by the audio steering wheel buttons.
dave
Quote, originally posted by fyonn » Mrg_Ed, how does one extract the firmware for a unit? while most on this board are in the states, I'm only over the north sea in the UK and I have both the TV tuner and RTI on a hu-801 headunit, I even own an ipod. I'm not an EE though. however, if you fancy a trip over for a weekend, I could put you up for the night
My best friend codes in CANBUS everyday, he works on industrial CAN though, I don't know how much of a difference there is, but I guess he might be able to advise on CAN issues
if you could decode volvo's CANBUS then this opens up a wide range of possibilities for using the information display and the steering wheel controls to control things. valentine scanners showing data on the info screen, ipod display there and controlled by the audio steering wheel buttons.
dave
Wow, great! That's a generous offer, thanks Dave!
I actually don't need the CANbus (in the first place) to create the emulators, but what I do need is a car with the devices in it, just like you have! What I'm planning to do is create an 'offical' (ahum) melbus sniffer (just like the CD-C emulator on the pics I've posted), which can be easily attached between the existing equipment and sniffs around cathing the data to a laptop.
Once I've got that I can come over (or you can even do it yourself, 'cause it's gonna be simple to attach and I'll make a little peace of software to use on the laptop - this could be something for you American people too). To make the actual emulator doesn't take much time then, since it would be much like the CD-C emulator.Your last statements about the CANbus are right though. These are very interesting thoughts, however my main focus lies at the melbus for now.
I haven't really figured out anything about the CANbus, your friend probably knows much more about it. Reverse engineering a valentine scanner sounds like the right way to go in that perspective.
firmware extraction might be nice in the future to investigate whether it can be modified to show other info on the radio (like songtitles, etc.) But that is a long way to go and might never succeed...
Quote, originally posted by mrg_Ed »
Wow, great! That's a generous offer, thanks Dave!you think? I'm just hoping to get someone to help me integrate my ipod into the car better with it's own input and display on the info centre. if it only costs me putting someone up for the weekend and a dinner, then I've come out with a *really* good deal, have you seen the cost of those denison kits?
[/quoteI actually don't need the CANbus (in the first place) to create the emulators, but what I do need is a car with the devices in it, just like you have![/quote]
Then I really am your man. I've got the TV tuner, RTI, the integrated phone and a dvdp, which has a source button on the back and shows the word "VIDEO" on the head unit. if you can decode all that then maybe you can create new source inputs that aren't part of the spec? and if you can decode the phone, well, that has it's own display on the info centre and uses steering wheel buttons.
Quote » I haven't really figured out anything about the CANbus, your friend probably knows much more about it. Reverse engineering a valentine scanner sounds like the right way to go in that perspective. I don't have a scanner alas.
I ought to point out that I'm not an EE, and while I don't mind unscrewing things here and there, I'm not intending to take half my car apart (not without help anyways
also, while I have a laptop, it's got no serial port I'm afraid, only usb, will this stop me doing anything for you?.
I'm interested in helping, if I can be of any use.
dave
That is just awesome! Thank you Dave for your generous offer and to mrg_Ed for pursuing this project!
There's no need to take apart half your car as all mrg_Ed need is one MELBUS port which can be found on top of the TV Tuner unit. Keep in mind your CD based RTI setup is different than the current DVD RTI units but I believe the head unit operates the same way.
I was looking at your photo album and I've never seen this setup before in the center console. I would have thought that Volvo would install a 1DIN Panasonic DVD player instead of using the pop lid portable one. You can't get any fully loaded than this!
Modified by R-Car at 6:17 PM 1-16-2005
Your car seems the right 'playground' to sniff around here and there! Don't worry, once the sniffer is ready it should fit nicely in between. We can rewire a few connectors from your trunc gear via the sniffer, probably no screw needs to be loosened.About the integration of the iPOD in your car:
In your case it would be ideal to try to open up the 'MD port' on your HU. That means you'll have an extra audio source to integrate the iPOD. That is something which requires some software experimenting on my side (see previous post about the startup of the melbus protocol) since you currently don't have an MD resource to sniff the bytes from. I need to do that onsite.Besides that you might need a cradle to put the iPOD into. Since there is no way to display info from the iPOD to your HU, the iPOD needs to be controlled by hand - at least the selection of playlist/ album; play/pause, rew, ffwd, prev/nxt track is then handled by the HU controls. You may consider to hide the iPOD however and preselect the music you want to hear before putting it away in your glove compartment or wherever it is put. (maybe it's possible to select predefined playlists with the CD knob, - I believe that's the way BMW does it - but that depends on how succesfull I am in sniffing the icelink (= iPOD protocol) ). I'm not sure how to exactly integrate the iPOD into your car, from an esthetical point of view. I can however deliver the electronics (with the above mentioned limitations).
I myself want a nice looking cradle. Currently I'm using a Belkin http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCa...es%2F which I attached to my carkit with a self-made perspex 'clip' (see prev pics)
I don't find this a truly nice solution, though. That's why I am planning to integrate the icelink cradle into my emulator and use their connector.I don't think I can create some new non-existing input sources on the HU. That requires a great deal of firmware adaption and takes too much time.
I'll first finish off the sniffer and try to integrate the iPOD in my Volvo with the Dension cradle. I will then definitely get in contact with you to pull this off.
I can borow a laptop with a serial port, but the battery is exhausted. It requires permanent electricity but that should not be too big a problem.
It will be easier than you think to integrate the iPod on Dave's car since he has all the toy except for an audio CD Changer. The changer in the trunk is actually a 6-disc RTI CD changer for CD maps and not for audio. In theory, you should be able to plug mrg_Ed's adapter box and the head unit should show the CD CHGR channel.
Without a detailed look at the car, there is one hiccup. Volvo changed the audio/RTI setup dramatically starting MY02. Instead of using a MFI (concentrator) box where all the peripherals plug into, they changed to a daisy chain model instead. However, the head unit remains the same. In order to take an accurate MELBUS reading, you may have to tap the line between the MFI and the head unit as I don't know what protocol Volvo used between the peripheral and the MFI.
hmm.. don't really like doing lots of replies so lets wrap them all up into one shall we?
Quote, originally posted by R-Car » That is just awesome! Thank you Dave for your generous offer and to mrg_Ed for pursuing this project! no problems, I'm pretty interested myself to see it all work, and it should be useful for a good few people on this forum I should think/hope. besides, full ipod integration should add resale value in this day and age eh?
Quote, originally posted by R-Car » There's no need to take apart half your car as all mrg_Ed need is one MELBUS port which can be found on top of the TV Tuner unit. Keep in mind your CD based RTI setup is different than the current DVD RTI units but I believe the head unit operates the same way. good I thought that would be the case
Quote, originally posted by r-car » I was looking at your photo album and I've never seen this setup before in the center console. I would have thought that Volvo would install a 1DIN Panasonic DVD player instead of using the pop lid portable one. I have seen it before, though only on the web. http://www.ertlecars.com/volvo/s80/interior.php this page for a dealer in the states shows the same config so I can only assume it's standard. I know that the current executive spec cards have the dvdp in the back of the front armrest, and screens in the back of the front headrests. I think my car is just the first intepretation of that.
Quote, originally posted by r-car » You can't get any fully loaded than this! well, to be fair, I was a bit disappointed that it didn't come with xenons
Quote, originally posted by mrg_ed » Your car seems the right 'playground' to sniff around here and there! Don't worry, once the sniffer is ready it should fit nicely in between. We can rewire a few connectors from your trunc gear via the sniffer, probably no screw needs to be loosened. sounds good. if you need me to take any more specific photo's of anything then let me know and I'll get the camera out again. I'm gonna take up the base of the centre console again and get some pics of that too.
Quote, originally posted by mrg_ed » Besides that you might need a cradle to put the iPOD into. Since there is no way to display info from the iPOD to your HU, the iPOD needs to be controlled by hand - at least the selection of playlist/ album; play/pause, rew, ffwd, prev/nxt track is then handled by the HU controls. for my own use, I'd rather not have a cradle really, I've got a rather nice vaja leather case for my ipod and frankly, I can't get it out of it now
I know it's going a bit further, but as I said previously, my best friend is an industrial CANBUS engineer. I spoke to him earlier and mentioned this and he pointed out that he has access to a CAN decoding analyser and his opinion is that it shouldn't be a huge issue to work it out. the problem is that he lives almost as far away as you do mrg_ed, he lives on the south coast of england, but still. we may be able to work something out.
Quote, originally posted by mrg_ed » I don't think I can create some new non-existing input sources on the HU. That requires a great deal of firmware adaption and takes too much time. well, the reason I mentioned that was the video input on my HU. it's not an input shown on the lcd panel (the list of active sources at the top) but it still says video on the headunit itself. this isn't a completely independant source as it's only available when I select "tv". then I can press it and it'll change to video. but it brings up possibilities I think.
Quote, originally posted by mrg_ed » I'll first finish off the sniffer and try to integrate the iPOD in my Volvo with the Dension cradle. I will then definitely get in contact with you to pull this off.
I can borow a laptop with a serial port, but the battery is exhausted. It requires permanent electricity but that should not be too big a problemsure thing. I've got a good few busy weekends coming up anyways so I'm in no hurry. as for electrical connection.. well, we'll just have to get a long extention cable won't we
Quote, originally posted by r-car » It will be easier than you think to integrate the iPod on Dave's car since he has all the toy except for an audio CD Changer. The changer in the trunk is actually a 6-disc RTI CD changer for CD maps and not for audio. quite right. there is room for a cd changer too, but with an ipod then I'm not sure I really have use for one
Quote, originally posted by r-car » Without a detailed look at the car, there is one hiccup. Volvo changed the audio/RTI setup dramatically starting MY02. Instead of using a MFI (concentrator) box where all the peripherals plug into, they changed to a daisy chain model instead. However, the head unit remains the same. In order to take an accurate MELBUS reading, you may have to tap the line between the MFI and the head unit as I don't know what protocol Volvo used between the peripheral and the MFI. well, I'm not averse to opening up bits of the car, as long as it's with someone who knows what they are doing and is confident that they can put it back together
I suppose if we can pull the headunit out then we can tap it there?
hmm.. I'm quite excited about this idea
dave
I am **SO** excited about the prospect and how we can expand the audio/video capabilities of our car.
You're right. Having access to a CANBUS expert can be, shall we say, awesome!! If the MELBUS based head unit can't display song titles, how about displaying song titles and play lists in the two lines of the info center in the driver's information module (DIM)! And the ability to scroll through the songs using the dial on the stalk or using the cursor pad of the RTI. OMG! I have to sit down...
We can learn lots from your car since the display on the HU shows 'VIDEO' which I've never seen before. I'm sure we can manipulate it to say 'iPod' or anything else for that matter.
The reason I ask if the audio from the DVD player comes through the main speaker is because the Rear Seat Entertainment system available today plays through the rear speakers only (or headphones). If it plays through the main speakers, then there must be an auxiliary input box already installed for the audio coming from the DVD player. What I would do is to trace the audio out cable from the Panasonic DVD player and see where it goes. If it terminates where all the electronics are in the left hand panel of the boot or to another box somewhere else in the car. Perhaps you should take some photos of this box. BTW, there's no need to pull the head unit since the auxiliary input cable from the head unit should terminate in the MFI box. It should be very interesting indeed.
I think what mrg_Ed is doing is very lucrative. (Of course, we won't tell him that until we (you and I) have our iPod adapters installed and working properly in our cars!) Think how much Dension charges for the ice-link and how much Volvo will charge for their adapter. And that price doesn't include installation. I plan to mount the iPod in the center console cup holder using Belkin's TuneDok. I can keep the pod in place and close the cover. No worries about taking it on and off.
Good thing you don't have the audio CD Changer since it gives mrg_Ed an input channel which he already has instead of trying find another one.
I must agree, Volvo was a little slow putting Xenon HIDs in their cars. When I had a 2002 S60T5, I bought an aftermarket HID kit. The beam pattern was so bad. I would switch over to some high performance halogens such as the Philips Vision Plus. I bought a set for my T5 and they were just great!
Modified by R-Car at 1:50 AM 1-17-2005
Quote, originally posted by R-Car » I am **SO** excited about the prospect and how we can expand the audio/video capabilities of our car.
You're right. Having access to a CANBUS expert can be, shall we say, awesome!! If the MELBUS based head unit can't display song titles, how about displaying song titles and play lists in the two lines of the info center in the driver's information module (DIM)! And the ability to scroll through the songs using the dial on the stalk or using the cursor pad of the RTI. OMG! I have to sit down...<g> well, lets slow things down a bit I think. these are all possibilities and it would be dead cool to do them, but lets start with the basics first I think. if mrg_Ed can use my car to decode the melbus protocol so that we can add any regular source at will, ie cd changer, md changer etc, then that is a major advance over what we have now. even just a board with dipswitches for source item, phono's and a din socket would be very useful to alot of people. if we can extend that further then so much the better
Quote, originally posted by r-car » We can learn lots from your car since the display on the HU shows 'VIDEO' which I've never seen before. I'm sure we can manipulate it to say 'iPod' or anything else for that matter. Well, that's why I was wondering if it's coded on the headunit or (hopefully) negotiated over the bus. and if it's a matter of temp renaming an existing source, or creating a new source that can be chosen by the source knob (which would be cooler)
Quote, originally posted by r-carThe reason I ask if the audio from the DVD player comes through the main speaker is because the Rear Seat Entertainment system available today plays through the rear speakers only (or headphones). If it plays through the main speakers, then there must be an auxiliary input box already installed for the audio coming from the DVD player.[/quote » while I need to check it with a cd in the dvdp, I'm pretty sure it comes in over all the speakers, the TV does and it uses the TV input. As I pointed out in the thread I posted to this forum a few weeks ago, I know that there is a factory box that converts a phono pair (and composite video) onto the melbus protocol. I can see the red, white and yellow plugs (just) underneath my rear centre console. it's pretty cramped under there but it's got to be all OEM parts.
[quote=r-car]What I would do is to trace the audio out cable from the Panasonic DVD player and see where it goes. If it terminates where all the electronics are in the left hand panel of the boot or to another box somewhere else in the car. Perhaps you should take some photos of this box.I've done that, it terminates in a box under the rear console, which I will take pictures of and put on my gallery for you folks to see. there's some other stuff under there too and I don't know what any of it does really. But there is a fusebox there to draw power off, which could be useful.
Quote, originally posted by r-car » I think what mrg_Ed is doing is very lucrative. (Of course, we won't tell him that until we (you and I) have our iPod adapters installed and working properly in our cars!) Think how much Dension charges for the ice-link and how much Volvo will charge for their adapter. And that price doesn't include installation. I plan to mount the iPod in the center console cup holder using Belkin's TuneDok. I can keep the pod in place and close the cover. No worries about taking it on and off. My thoughts exactly. but if we can decode the internal canbus system too then we'ed effectively have a better system than the denison one, and possibly the volvo one depending what they do. afaik the volvo one (which will likely be for 05 cars only anyways) doesn't integrate with the DIM which is where it really begins to get cool. not sure what to do with mine. I don't want to (can't) take it out of it's leather case just to use in the car so I'd rather have a cable somewhere and either keep the ipod in the armrest, or maybe have a little cradle for it somewhere on the dash to hold it. not sure yet.
dave
Quote, originally posted by R-Car » The reason I ask if the audio from the DVD player comes through the main speaker is because the Rear Seat Entertainment system available today plays through the rear speakers only (or headphones). If it plays through the main speakers, then there must be an auxiliary input box already installed for the audio coming from the DVD player. Right, I've confirmed it. I put Air's Moon Safari CD into the dvdp in the work carpark and listened to it all the way home. it's def coming out of all the speakers (except the middle dash one, which I assume is just for rti's use? or for dolby prologic maybe?
no more photo's yet. not had time.
dave
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