DMM

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heavymetals

iTrader: (3)

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.

killernoodle

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.

heavymetals

iTrader: (3)

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.

killernoodle

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.

heavymetals

iTrader: (3)

I really like the way guys like you post about how "easy" it is to hack CANBUS.

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.

killernoodle

This was not intended as a thread hijack, I like that someone has the ***** to do something about our crappy stereo.

I was just making conversation.

Also, I'm not really sure what you mean about the twin turbo kit.

heavymetals

iTrader: (3)

twin turbo kit = wishware

heavymetals

iTrader: (3)

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

LAYGO

iTrader: (10)

Aww man, now you got me missing our Mexican Double Yellowheads.

LAYGO

iTrader: (10)

Have you considered what a cheapie monitor might look like in direct sun? I think this is one area I wouldn't go cheap on . . .

LAYGO

iTrader: (10)

I spy an OG hackey sack . . .

LAYGO

iTrader: (10)

I've got one of those for my phone that sits in the DVD slot. I had it in the Cd slot for awhile, but there's just a lil bit different area in the opening & it's less stable there & has fallen out. I've not once had an issue in the DVD slot, plus I like it higher.

LAYGO

iTrader: (10)

WHOA! Nerd boner.

heavymetals

iTrader: (3)

Check here:

http://www.macvroom.com/

LAYGO

iTrader: (10)

Android for life yo! I've got 6-7 Android devices floating around . . .

StealthV

Glad you found something to keep the brain working.

Yes, I have a microscope, your old one.

May have to buy an old V just to have the HU (Heavy Ultra) mod.

heavymetals

iTrader: (3)

You can always add one to that Vette!

(I am)

Nice to see you are still interested.

Hostile03SVT

Any updates?

heavymetals

iTrader: (3)

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.