Heavy's ULTRA RADIO MODIFICATION
#102
Thanks!
To clear up any confusion (I am sure there will be more!),
THE MODIFICATION DOES NOT REMOVE ANY FUNCTION OR PART FROM THE OEM RADIO.
I add a circuit board and a couple of switches and connectors.
Currently there is an interest for 5 of the 10 modified displays.
1. Me (and one spare makes 2)
2. CTSVETTE
3.JWEYMAR
4.DMM (researching)
I appreciate all the interest and I am sure the ones "sitting on the fence" just need to see something working.
To clear up any confusion (I am sure there will be more!),
THE MODIFICATION DOES NOT REMOVE ANY FUNCTION OR PART FROM THE OEM RADIO.
I add a circuit board and a couple of switches and connectors.
Currently there is an interest for 5 of the 10 modified displays.
1. Me (and one spare makes 2)
2. CTSVETTE
3.JWEYMAR
4.DMM (researching)
I appreciate all the interest and I am sure the ones "sitting on the fence" just need to see something working.
#103
Excuse me if I'm not too clear on what you're doing... Why not remove the head unit completely and replace it with a carputer? I'm pretty sure you can access the CAN BUS through the OBDII port, and if you were able to dump and analyze the messages and learn their content, you could relatively easily write a new application to handle the stuff the head unit usually handles and give it the newer media, navigation, backup camera, etc that you want it to have.
Things like the doors being open, the trunk being open, low fuel, low oil, the car going into competition mode, the driver lighting presets, etc are all going to be streaming across the CAN BUS and could be intercepted and displayed in a more updated GUI on a larger screen. One of my peeves with the current display is that it's both small and pixelated, plus the button paint flakes off even though I pretty much never use them.
I have a feeling that the whole shebang could be replaced with a relatively simple carputer (like the apple you have, or a similar PC) and a massaged version of one of many carputer GUIs that are available.
I'm a software developer and have some experience in microcontrollers as well, so this kinda thing interests me. It seems relatively straightforward to be able to build a plugin for one of these carputer apps that has a thread listening to the CAN BUS and triggering events about things we are interested in. That way we can completely separate ourselves from the clunky and limited stock stereo and replace it with something sleeker.
I feel like this approach would be more universal as well, because every new car has an OBDII port and most have a CAN BUS system talking on that port. All we would need to do is construct a library of CAN BUS messages and interpret their meanings and any car owner that wanted a carputer to replace the stock head unit and maintain the CAN BUS communication to the display could do that with relatively small tweaks.
I like your plan about intercepting the VGA signals and switching inputs, but I feel like if I had the carputer running and I got a warning about my fuel level running low, I might not notice it and would be pretty much screwed.
Things like the doors being open, the trunk being open, low fuel, low oil, the car going into competition mode, the driver lighting presets, etc are all going to be streaming across the CAN BUS and could be intercepted and displayed in a more updated GUI on a larger screen. One of my peeves with the current display is that it's both small and pixelated, plus the button paint flakes off even though I pretty much never use them.
I have a feeling that the whole shebang could be replaced with a relatively simple carputer (like the apple you have, or a similar PC) and a massaged version of one of many carputer GUIs that are available.
I'm a software developer and have some experience in microcontrollers as well, so this kinda thing interests me. It seems relatively straightforward to be able to build a plugin for one of these carputer apps that has a thread listening to the CAN BUS and triggering events about things we are interested in. That way we can completely separate ourselves from the clunky and limited stock stereo and replace it with something sleeker.
I feel like this approach would be more universal as well, because every new car has an OBDII port and most have a CAN BUS system talking on that port. All we would need to do is construct a library of CAN BUS messages and interpret their meanings and any car owner that wanted a carputer to replace the stock head unit and maintain the CAN BUS communication to the display could do that with relatively small tweaks.
I like your plan about intercepting the VGA signals and switching inputs, but I feel like if I had the carputer running and I got a warning about my fuel level running low, I might not notice it and would be pretty much screwed.
#104
Excuse me if I'm not too clear on what you're doing... Why not remove the head unit completely and replace it with a carputer? I'm pretty sure you can access the CAN BUS through the OBDII port, and if you were able to dump and analyze the messages and learn their content, you could relatively easily write a new application to handle the stuff the head unit usually handles and give it the newer media, navigation, backup camera, etc that you want it to have.
Things like the doors being open, the trunk being open, low fuel, low oil, the car going into competition mode, the driver lighting presets, etc are all going to be streaming across the CAN BUS and could be intercepted and displayed in a more updated GUI on a larger screen. One of my peeves with the current display is that it's both small and pixelated, plus the button paint flakes off even though I pretty much never use them.
I have a feeling that the whole shebang could be replaced with a relatively simple carputer (like the apple you have, or a similar PC) and a massaged version of one of many carputer GUIs that are available.
I'm a software developer and have some experience in microcontrollers as well, so this kinda thing interests me. It seems relatively straightforward to be able to build a plugin for one of these carputer apps that has a thread listening to the CAN BUS and triggering events about things we are interested in. That way we can completely separate ourselves from the clunky and limited stock stereo and replace it with something sleeker.
I feel like this approach would be more universal as well, because every new car has an OBDII port and most have a CAN BUS system talking on that port. All we would need to do is construct a library of CAN BUS messages and interpret their meanings and any car owner that wanted a carputer to replace the stock head unit and maintain the CAN BUS communication to the display could do that with relatively small tweaks.
I like your plan about intercepting the VGA signals and switching inputs, but I feel like if I had the carputer running and I got a warning about my fuel level running low, I might not notice it and would be pretty much screwed.
Things like the doors being open, the trunk being open, low fuel, low oil, the car going into competition mode, the driver lighting presets, etc are all going to be streaming across the CAN BUS and could be intercepted and displayed in a more updated GUI on a larger screen. One of my peeves with the current display is that it's both small and pixelated, plus the button paint flakes off even though I pretty much never use them.
I have a feeling that the whole shebang could be replaced with a relatively simple carputer (like the apple you have, or a similar PC) and a massaged version of one of many carputer GUIs that are available.
I'm a software developer and have some experience in microcontrollers as well, so this kinda thing interests me. It seems relatively straightforward to be able to build a plugin for one of these carputer apps that has a thread listening to the CAN BUS and triggering events about things we are interested in. That way we can completely separate ourselves from the clunky and limited stock stereo and replace it with something sleeker.
I feel like this approach would be more universal as well, because every new car has an OBDII port and most have a CAN BUS system talking on that port. All we would need to do is construct a library of CAN BUS messages and interpret their meanings and any car owner that wanted a carputer to replace the stock head unit and maintain the CAN BUS communication to the display could do that with relatively small tweaks.
I like your plan about intercepting the VGA signals and switching inputs, but I feel like if I had the carputer running and I got a warning about my fuel level running low, I might not notice it and would be pretty much screwed.
The quote I got for developing a "black box" to spoof the radio was more then the car is worth.
I got my CANBUS analyzer.
Fuel gauge warnings are on the dash.
This is the easiest and only method of adding a carputer and viewing it on the stock display.
Replacing the head unit disables driving options that are available through the radio.
However, if you have a better method, go for it.
Last edited by heavymetals; 11-06-2012 at 03:38 PM.
#105
The quote I got for developing a "black box" to spoof the radio was more then the car is worth.
I got my CANBUS analyzer.
Fuel gauge warnings are on the dash.
This is the easiest and only method of adding a carputer and viewing it on the stock display.
Replacing the head unit disables driving options that are available through the radio.
However, if you have a better method, go for it.
I got my CANBUS analyzer.
Fuel gauge warnings are on the dash.
This is the easiest and only method of adding a carputer and viewing it on the stock display.
Replacing the head unit disables driving options that are available through the radio.
However, if you have a better method, go for it.
After all, the stereo isn't the brain of the car. It is just an interface for the driver. Each of the nodes in the CB network is an individual service that is able to post and receive messages over the CB.
Last edited by killernoodle; 11-07-2012 at 12:03 AM.
#106
Those driving options are all transmitted over the CAN BUS (lets call it CB). A carputer could have a settings menu for the car that transmits those messages over the CB to set those settings in their respective services. "Spoofing" the radio could be as easy as listening to the CB on the head unit and dumping the output and doing some analysis.
After all, the stereo isn't the brain of the car. It is just an interface for the driver. Each of the nodes in the CB network is an individual service that is able to post and receive messages over the CB.
After all, the stereo isn't the brain of the car. It is just an interface for the driver. Each of the nodes in the CB network is an individual service that is able to post and receive messages over the CB.
If you are gonna post how "easy" it is, DO IT.
Then you can start your own thread instead of hijacking mine.
Your method goes right on top of the pile with the "Twin turbo" kit.
#107
I was just making conversation.
Also, I'm not really sure what you mean about the twin turbo kit.
#109
UPDATE:
Some parts received, boards are due in next week.
I hope to show a working model very soon.
Thanks for the interest guys!
1. Me (and one spare makes 2)
3. CTSVETTE
4. JWEYMAR
5. DMM (researching)
6. MADMAX
7. LUNERX
8. tpagreenhornet
Some parts received, boards are due in next week.
I hope to show a working model very soon.
Thanks for the interest guys!
1. Me (and one spare makes 2)
3. CTSVETTE
4. JWEYMAR
5. DMM (researching)
6. MADMAX
7. LUNERX
8. tpagreenhornet
Last edited by heavymetals; 11-07-2012 at 07:32 PM.
#110
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cross Roads, Tx
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks!
If I wasn't doing stuff like this I would be spending all my time making stupid videos of me and my parrot (Beaker).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=xzm70QkFBmY
If I wasn't doing stuff like this I would be spending all my time making stupid videos of me and my parrot (Beaker).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=xzm70QkFBmY
#111
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cross Roads, Tx
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That is pretty much the way it will be, except a backup camera interface is also going to be included.
Back up camera will have a "precedence" option to automatically be on screen when car is put in reverse.
The touch screen is an Ebay item like this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/7inch-4-wire...item2a1a85316c
I need a name for this mod.
How about "Frankenradio"?
Back up camera will have a "precedence" option to automatically be on screen when car is put in reverse.
The touch screen is an Ebay item like this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/7inch-4-wire...item2a1a85316c
I need a name for this mod.
How about "Frankenradio"?
#113
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cross Roads, Tx
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#117
Launching!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: On a mountain with snow
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, I have a microscope, your old one.
May have to buy an old V just to have the HU (Heavy Ultra) mod.
#120
Update:
The switching works!
YAY for me.
The bad news is the display won't sync up to it.
I got three images but at least the colors are right!
So....
I am trying to port the OEM display data (since I can switch it) to an external monitor.
This required another chip to generate a vertical sync pulse.
I should have a more detailed update by the end of the week.
The switching works!
YAY for me.
The bad news is the display won't sync up to it.
I got three images but at least the colors are right!
So....
I am trying to port the OEM display data (since I can switch it) to an external monitor.
This required another chip to generate a vertical sync pulse.
I should have a more detailed update by the end of the week.
Last edited by heavymetals; 11-26-2012 at 09:47 PM.