Steering Wheel controls / custom buttons / ignition,voltage sensing

[AndreD]

check out CarButtons at http://www.madhacker.org/carbuttons.htm

this device works with Centrafuse without any drivers.

it can, among many other things, be used for:

1- It allows you to connect resistive steering wheel media buttons to PC.
2- It allows you to control your carputer/media player using many after market controllers for gear-shifter, steering wheel, and other types, like Sony RM-X4S , plus many more...
3- you can detect when battery is below a minimum, or , starts to charge
4.-computer can detect when the engine is stopped, or started, so the computer can do animations, sounds, make computer ASK (with timeout) if it should hibernate when you switch off ignition, or continue running.
5. you can detect reverse-light, and switch to an USB cam.
6. you can simply interface a LOT of your own buttons, using only 2 wires, each button needs only one resistor ...... use your imagination

[vigilante_xix]

Hi AndreD,

Do you have any information as to whether the Audi TT MK2 (2008) uses resistive controls? I believe the Audi TT steering wheel controls broadcast on a dual wire CAN bus but I'm not sure if this means it's resistive or not??

I have already sourced myself a SWI-CAN which will connect to a SWI-X to then send my Infill G4 CarPC infrared signals to control the unit from the steering wheel controls. Although I know this will work, I don't like the Infrared solution and would prefer a hardwired solution like your CarButtons. The only way to program the SWI-X is with the infrared remote controller that came with the G4. I've already come across a feature I want to use one of the steering wheel buttons for but can't due to the feature not being available on the remote and therefore can't be programmed into the SWI-X to transmit the command to the Infill G4.

If your CarButtons controller will not work directly from the Audi TT steering wheel controls, perhaps it will connect to the SWI-CAN interface which interprets the CAN bus messages from the steering wheel controls and converts them to an analogue output which could potentially connect to your CarButtons controller?

The SWI-CAN & SWI-X are sourced from Pac Audio http://www.pac-audio.com/products/pr...l%20I nterface.


Just a bit of info on the controls - Identical layout on either side of the steering wheel...
On the Left side of the steering wheel, there is a wheel track selection control for next and previous track which also depresses to fast forward current track. There is also another button next to the track selection which is currently used for input selection.
On the Right side of the steering wheel, there is a wheel volume control for volume up and down which also depresses. There is also another button next to the volume control which is intended for activating voice dialling.

Do you think it will be possible to use all the above controls (8 in total) through your CarButtons controller?


Let me know what your thoughts are and if you think your device will connect directly or perhaps through the SWI-CAN device.

Thanks,
Vigil.

[AndreD]

CAN bus is not resistive, it's serial digital interface.
it should work just fine with the SWI-CAN device.

Regards
André

[vigilante_xix]

If I purchase and it doesn't work, do you offer a refund? Don't really want to loose out on a hundred bucks if I can help it!

Also, I know it states includes shipping costs but does that include shipping to the UK?

[AndreD]

Originally Posted by vigilante_xix

If I purchase and it doesn't work, do you offer a refund? Don't really want to loose out on a hundred bucks if I can help it!

Also, I know it states includes shipping costs but does that include shipping to the UK?

I cannot guarantee it works with anything, there are too many cars, and car designers are way to messy, and does even change these things within a years model.

What's why: I have a pretty simple description on carbuttons page, that tells how to measure, and what measurements you should get.
0-50Kohm per button, no connection when no button pressed.

Because worldwide shipping IS included, I do not give refunds, because that would really cost me a lot (shipping).

Please just read the website, and measure your car's output - if it follows common design, it *will* work, if it's resistive but has one permanent resistance when no buttons are depressed, it can be made to work.
If it's CAN-BUS it won't work.

Regards
André

[phatboy]

Are these avaliable now? I am going to order, but want to ensure you have them avaliable.

Thanks!

[AndreD]

Yes, they are built on demand.
Regards
André

[phatboy]

ive just placed my order.

Cheers!

[angelsix]

Andre,

I presume you are the maker?

Could you answer me a simple question; I program PIC chips myself and looking at your board I cannot see a USB interface control chip anywhere, which leads me to presume you are handling the ID/handshake yourself within the PIC. Is this true? And if so could you please provide me with a link to the information about how keyboards identify themselves over USB as the usual way to indentify yourself as a USB is long winded and pointless, hence the USB IC... or the PIC itself has a built in USB controller, and if that case any documentation on implementing that.

[AndreD]

Originally Posted by angelsix

Andre,

I presume you are the maker?

Could you answer me a simple question; I program PIC chips myself and looking at your board I cannot see a USB interface control chip anywhere, which leads me to presume you are handling the ID/handshake yourself within the PIC..

Yes, and Yes.
USB protocol is indeed complex, you will find anything you need about USB/HID at http://www.usb.org/developers/hidpage/