Database Develop

Carkit / Navigation / Radio Mute

Hello friends.
Long time after planning to build my own Car Kit, at least i orderd yesterday an original Car Kit from O2.... :roll:
Not having received it, i´ve got some questions about it. ....
I´d like to connect a GPS mouse to it and will use my TomTom-Software with it.
Wiring the GPS should not be a problem since FVH did such great reverse Engineering... (Thanks a lot for it)
My Question is now about Radio Mute / Speaker output....
I´ve got 2 input Systems at my Radio. one for Telephone and one for NavigationSystem....
Where do i connect the car kit now? I think, i can do only once of it, or?
What will happen, when i use the mute-connector for phone on radio-side? Will it stop the Radio on every output of the Tomtom? Will it only mute the radio when a call comes in?
What are you´re experiences?
Glad about every answer....
Regards
Stefan

Come on guys....
Where are your answers?
I know there are some people using the Car KIt, and i think they use the Navigation function too....
So plz geave me some tips....
Regards
Stefan

Yes,
Also using the XDA carkit. I found the radio mute function very disappointing: it is triggered by a variety of events (screen tapping, navigation output, GSM basestation handover etc). Finally decided not to connect the radio mute to the car stereo.
If you have a line in port on your radio/cd, you can profit from good quality mp3 from the xda without using the mute cable. Also connect the carkit speaker, parallel to the line-in.

Radio mute
I have taken a closer look at how the radio mute works. It quiet easy, if what ever signal (beep, voice, music or what ever) is sent to the XDA speaker, it will trigger the mute signal.
The mute wire is pulled to either ground or VCC (i can´t remember which one, it´s been to long...) as long as there is audio output. When connecting it to my radio (Renault Laguna) I found it works the opposit to what you would expect: no signal--> no radio ; voice or telephone --> radio on.
SOlving this is easy, just get a small relay (make sure it power usage is low, specs can be found in the Carkit manual) and connect it to the mute signal. Use the switched contact to create an inverted signal.
Good luck,
Francois

@FVH
your wrote: 'The mute wire is pulled.....as long as there is audio output.'
The mute wire is also pulled as long the GPS Software of TOMTOM is active.
Any idea how to fix it?
THX
Marlboro

marlboro said:
@FVH
your wrote: 'The mute wire is pulled.....as long as there is audio output.'
The mute wire is also pulled as long the GPS Software of TOMTOM is active.
Any idea how to fix it?
THX
Marlboro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my case this isn´t so.
Mute turns on, when audio ouptut is from Tomtom or anything else. After this, it turns on Radio again.
Regards
Stefan

GPS Software of TomTom switches Mute
I also have the same problem:
As soon as the GPS Add-On of TomTom starts, Mute of the O2 Car Kit is switched and the radio keeps silent until the GPS Add-On is terminated.
Any idea how to solve this???
Thanx,
Charlie

Looks like a faulty carkit.
I do see the problems as described, mute works correctly, even when navigating.
MAYBE this is your problem:
----------------------------------
When I put the XDA in the cradle and the GPS is switched on it looks like that the amplifier is switched on. You can hear this by listening to the noise that produced. It sounds a lot like RS-232 interferance.
I solved this by pressing the RED phone switch once or twice until you hear a beep comming from the XDA. This first legitemate sound correctly mutes the amplifier and from that moment on the carkit works like it should.
Try it and let me know,
francois

TomTom Navigator voice prompts and phone calls

I have recently accuired the TomTom Navagator 2 software and am extremely pleased with it.
I do not currently have any car kit for making handsfree phone calls.
I have installed tha loud voice prompts so that the tomtom voice commands can be heard through the xda's speakers and im happy with this.
However compared to the loud voice prompts by the navigator software the handsfree audio available through the xdas speaker during a phone call is almost inaudiable over the road noise.
I therefore think im going to have to buy or build some handsfree.
My question is primarilly if im to use the car_audio_r and car _audio_l pins to output audio does all audio output through these pins or only phone audio. ie will i also hear the navigator voice prompts through my hands free (this is what i want)
Also Im wondering if it is possible to use the output from these pins to send audio to a car speaker without connecting an external mic and continueing to use the microfone built in to the xda during phone calls as know one has ever complained about not hearing me - i just cant hear them.
Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give - im sure somebody out there has played with this allready.

roycruse said:
My question is primarilly if im to use the car_audio_r and car _audio_l pins to output audio does all audio output through these pins or only phone audio. ie will i also hear the navigator voice prompts through my hands free (this is what i want)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All audio (phone and PDA) is output on these pins.
Also Im wondering if it is possible to use the output from these pins to send audio to a car speaker without connecting an external mic and continueing to use the microfone built in to the xda during phone calls as know one has ever complained about not hearing me - i just cant hear them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as leave the CAR_ON# pin open (i.e. not connect it to ground or 5V), the microphone of the device is used.

As long as leave the CAR_ON# pin open (i.e. not connect it to ground or 5V), the microphone of the device is used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you mean that internal microphone is used but all audio is still output to the car_audio_r and car _audio_l pins with the car_on# pin left open.

roycruse said:
Do you mean that internal microphone is used but all audio is still output to the car_audio_r and car _audio_l pins with the car_on# pin left open.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct.

The soldering iron is warming up allready.
The soldering iron is warming up allready.
That sounds like exactly what i need - ill modify my tomtom cable to include the 2 new connectors then run an extra cable out of the 3 way connector on the tomtom lead to go to either my car stereo or a speaker amp mounted under the seat or something.
I dont know if my stereo in my car will except car phone input as its in the shop at the moment getting repaired so i cant take it out - but how do these things usually work - does a pin on the stereo side have to go +5 or GND for the car phone audio to replace the music or does it detect audio and automatically cut in over the music... excuse my ignorance car stereos and car kits are not in my realm of expertise.
If there is a pin that has to be made +5 or GND on steroes to know when the audio needs to be output can the xda handle this at all...

Usually car radios have a mute input to turn off or down the music when the phone needs the speakers. The XDA does not have such an output. You could fabricate something that detects audio and then for a preset time presents the right mute signal to the radio.
Always questions ask you do... Try and fail you must to learn!

Thanks for all your help. I'll start hacking at all my new kit as soon as possible...

Wiring my own car kit..

I'm trying to wire my own car kits for XDA 1.
As there is no way i'm paying the prices asked for the proper car kits.
I already have an in-car holder with a connector fitted for my GPS, and I wish to solder in some more wires to link phone features in.
I've done some searching around the site and this is the info I've figured out so far..
Pin 1 for Microphone Input
Pins 3 & 4 for Audio Out
Pin 19 to tell XDA its in car mode
So my questions:
Are pins 2 & 5 the grounds for the Audio out ?
My car stereo has line inputs (phono connectors) can I just rig up these connectors to Pins 3 & 4 (with grounds) to get audio out ?
I have a phone mute wire on my stereo, what do I hook this upto, so that music will mute while in phone call / getting navigation instructions?
Thanks
Neil

Swifty said:
Are pins 2 & 5 the grounds for the Audio out ?
My car stereo has line inputs (phono connectors) can I just rig up these connectors to Pins 3 & 4 (with grounds) to get audio out ?
I have a phone mute wire on my stereo, what do I hook this upto, so that music will mute while in phone call / getting navigation instructions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look at http://www.xda-developers.com/connectors/
There you can find all about the connector. Ground is ground, so you can use Pin 2 & 5 for your Audio.
Telephone mute at your car stereo won´t work easy. There is no pin at the connector that is used when a phone call is getting in.
The original car kit does this in a black box, that mutes every time a signal comes from the xda.
Just search a bit in the forum....
HTH
Stefan

Thanks already had a look @ the connectors page, its very usefull.
I've done some more searching but there are still a few things needing a bit of clarification.
1. Do I need any capacitors or anything else in the line from XDA to Line In on my car stereo?
2. Could one of the audio out feeds be split to also give the mute signal. If so how could i convert it so that the feed is Ground when outputting, and live/dead when not ?
Cheers
Neil

Anyone ?

i have my audio out direct to my line in on my car stereo
i have a mono analog sound amplifier for the mic in (using a carkit mic)
you dont have to do this, just dont put pin 19 to ground, and audio will go through the line out of the connector as well. you can just speak and the mic is fine for xda1
xda2 is very different , had to rewire everything
just take 4 or 5 GND wires from the connector
bundel them to 1 GND and put it to the - of you car

Thanks mate,
Can I just check a couple of things to make sure I don't kill my XDA or my stereo
1 - Nothing is required inline with the audio out 2 line in cables, they just hook straight up ?
2 - Only connect Pin 19 to ground if I don't want to use the internal mike?
Can anyone recommend a small mike, I can fit in the car to use with this setup ?
Cheers for all your help :wink:

^ Up we go

a external mic is a lot off trouble to build in
i can tell you that
if i was u and got a xda1, i would nog ground pin 19
use the internal mic
yes, just hook gnd and line 3 and 4 (audio?) directly to you line in of your car stereo, i think its stereo dependend. its a analog stereo sound wich is produced by your xda1, i have a line in for gps or dvd player audio on my stereo, so that works without any problem, clear sound
i have a nokia microfoon and a mono sound amplifier as a line in to GND and pin 1

Thats brilliant cheers mate,
I am really wanting to try putting an external mic on as the phone is mounted down low and quite a way from the drivers head so i don't think the internal mic would pick up clearly..
What size amplifier do you have for your mic ?
I'm thinking maybe getting a handsfree mic and mounting it up by the drivers head, would something like this be suitable to use with that? : http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=031221163652177&moduleno=2904
Thanks for all the help

i have something very similar like that
for my xda2 that is
maybe if you havent started the wirering and soldering. you could do like i did
get a LPT printer connector, it has more then sufficient connectors for each wire, and they have numbers!
ideal. for future plans.
then i just get a second connector and solder that to every componnent

Great!
If it used a tie-clip style microphone would I still need to use an amplifier with it, as I imagine the pickup is reasonably good on them..
Is 2.5W enough ?
Many Thanks :wink:

i dont know with xda1, if i connect a portable mp3 player to my xda2, i must set it to at least 2/4 of volume.

@akira :
I'm wondering where to connect Pin 19 to ground...
Can i just lead one wire out of the connector and ground it to the car, to the ground of the audio (pin 2) or should i connect it to another ground on the connector... ?
Btw, i disconnected the org. ground from the connector from pin 2 (less noise)... So i have onder Ground-audio out on pin 2...

jpiek: Have you made your own kit ?
I would be interested on how you done yours, how you rigged your microphone up etc..
Cheers
Neil

Not yet, i used to have juts audio-out from the GPS cable on my XDA I.
For the XDA/MDA II i need to ground Pin 19. I still haven't done that since i don't have a external MIC.
Now i wish to be able to ground pin 19 with a switch. If "on" it will shorten the connection and use audio-out (for TomTom). I hope to be able to use the BT headset for phone.
If i don't use audio-out, i can disconnect Pin 19 and use the inernal mic for voicedail etc....

Are there any news on that topic? How can I generate a mute signal?
thanks
Mütze

Hi,
I have a SPV E100 what should be simular to the XDA's. I want to to nearly the same. My setup should work with a Safe2talk Handsfree Kit where I want to connect the Speakers/Audio to the Navigation/Phone in of my Blaupunkt radio. I also want to use a serial GPS receiver. I read different articels in this forum but could not find a answer to my question.
How could I realize a mute funktion?
Cheers
PT-1

can anyone help with wiring connections

Being a deaf old git (not totally but my hearing is not as good as I would like), I want to add a pair of apmlified speakers to the PDA so I can hear the voices in my Tom Tom on the Apline clearer since the socket is a 2.5 stero type plug does anyone know which is which on the connections please?

you should read this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1526625#post1526625

I presume your referring to the Garmin 2.5mm to 3.5mm Jack Adaptor?
nice but not what I was really after
I have found a small set of speakers with a 3.5 jack on the end all that concerns me is the standard headset that comes with the IIi is headset and mic I presumed that a common return (usually the last outer connection and I imagine one of the terminals is for sound and one for mic if so it means only mono sound which is different to what I have been lead to believe just need to know which is the sound out connections on the plug so I can buy a 2.5 plug and wire them up.
The other thing I suppose is I could get a bluetooth headset if the sound from the Tom Tom comes over that but that is a unknown also

i was not talking about the post i made in that thread but more about the DIY stuff people were doing
more about the connector wiring here
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Connectors

that would have been exactly what I wanted only thing it wasn't for the Apline unfortunately

Audio connections on himilaya and alpine are identical.

then one of us is wrong as the connections shown are on a FOUR pin connector my Alpine has a working THREE pin connector

not sure about alpine but i had no probs using my old wallaby headset and cradle on alpines sibling called himalaya

Well I seem to be a blind old git because I just noticed there is a inset on the plug and it is a four connection job sorry guys I only recently got given this thing and a quick glace it looks like three connections but one is inset behind the shield

The 2.5mm connector on BOTH Alpine & Himalaya can accomodate either a stereo or a 4-pin 2.5mm connector.
If the PDA detects a 4-pin plug inserted, it assumes the standard wired earphones and mic are connected, and bypasses the internal mic and routes stereo audio to the earphones.
When a normally-wired 2.5mm stereo plug (or adapter to 3.5mm socket) is connected to the PDA, it just outputs stereo audio.
I use a small 2.5mm stereo plug to 3.5mm socket adapter (having shaved away some plastic to enable it to fit, the socket is inset slightly) - to connect up a standard set of ipod-type speakers to the PDA, and it works a treat.
In short, either obtain a small adaptor to standard 3.5mm socket adaptor or if you get a 2.5mm stereo plug that fits nicely (Maplins, Radio Spares etc) and you want to solder it up yourself, it follows the same wiring cnventions as it's bigger 3.5mm brother, so a wiring diagram is just a google away.
Joe

Nexus6 hard-wired car dock help.

I am thinking of replacing the stereo in my car with a dock for my Nexus6. I was going to just buy a new head unit for Bluetooth connectivity and hands free calling on the road. Then i thought why spend money on adding a layer between me and my phone since i don't use my radio anyway.
I have seen lots of write ups and videos of how to replace your stereo with a tablet. But the one thing I have never seen anyone do is add hands free calling for their phone.
I am hoping someone can tell me how to wire a mic in to a USB cable as I also take audio out to run to an amp and power in back to the phone. I am aware I will not have fade control just balance and I am good with that.
I am aware that I will need to run the output to an amp and my Jeep has one from the factory. I am not worried about wiring in a converter to supply power and already have one that charges the phone while using gps and play music at the same time and a dedicated fused circuit activated by relay so there are no issues with battery drain. I will build a custom dock with a USB cable mounted in it in the dash in place of the removed stereo. I plan on using one of the wired mics you use with an aftermarket pioneer stereo mounted on the dash. The specs for it are Polar pattern: Omni directional Mic diameter's 9.7*4.5mm Sensitivity:-47dB+/-2dB Frequency Range: 20-20KHz Output Impedance: ≤2.2 kΩ SNR: >58dB Standard Operation Voltage: 4.5V Operation Voltage: 1.0V-10V.DC Wire Length: 4 M Ref Pioneer part no: CPM1064 CPM1084
What I need is someone to please show me how to splice the cable so I can add rca connectors to audio out, mic in, and power in and have it work. Or if that can't be done I can add a qi charger to the dock if I can wire the speaker out and mic in as a usb headset and make that work. Or if I need to add a signal booster to the mic input to make it work please say so and give me specs to go find one.
Thank you in advance for any help or useful suggestions.

Rmcrow2 said:
I am thinking of replacing the stereo in my car with a dock for my Nexus6. ......
I am aware that I will need to run the output to an amp and my Jeep has one from the factory......
any help or useful suggestions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A hard card case or soft case with a metal 1 cm below the M-logo. A neodymium magnet on the dashboard. No car kit needed. The speaker of the N6 is loud enough for use in a car for navigation and phone. Same with microphone.
Option is to use a phone jack converter to connect the N6 output to the radio.
An example how I used my N7 in the car.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2137636/ - post #65
Note my N6 case has metal at the outside and below the M-logo, because behind the logo is a magnet sensor that switches off the screen.

Thank you, but I have children. I need to be able to play music, and their moms voice through the car speakers on long drives.
The car I prefer to drive is also noisy and my phone can't always hear me when it is in the dash mount.
What I want is just to make a wired connection to a mic, speakers, and power, through the micro USB port. So I get in the car, plug my phone in, and slide it into a permanent holder.
Money matters and this would be free, also convient since all my stereo did was get music and calls from my phone anyway.
I know how to wire in a Bluetooth reviever for the audio, and a qi charger so that would be wireless but I don't know how to get a mic input back to the phone, none of the premade affordable receivers I have seen have a mic input.
And I am aware I could take audio out and in from the 3.5 jack and either go wireless for the charging or have to plug in two cords in I get in the car.
I appreciate your help but I am looking for help to reach a specific solution that will be best for me.

Rmcrow2 said:
but I don't know how to get a mic input back to the phone, none of the premade affordable receivers I have seen have a mic input.
I appreciate your help but I am looking for help to reach a specific solution that will be best for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assumed already that you were looking for a custom and cheap solution, that's why I gave you mine. Just for the possibility you will get an idea.
About the microphone.
Wired headsets with earphones and microphone are normally connected to the 3,5-jack.
I think the mic-input-connector is there and not in the USB connector of the N6.
The N6 is not that different compared with other smartphones.
There are adapters available Google '3,5 inch headset adapter'

You are right in that there are dedicated connections already at the jack, and that they would be easy to just splice leads onto a standard wired headset to extend to where I want the leads to go. Even if i need to add a signal booster to the mic line.
My wife has a usb headset that works fine with my phone though so I know the capability is there, as with audio out on a usb connection to a stereo.
She wont let me cut up her headset to see what goes where though and it takes a while to get one from china. I was hoping someone knew so I could use what I have on hand rather than spending anything, I am cheap.
Thanks for your help, i have used my phone for music and handsfree when it's just me in the car on short hops. It does work fine for that and as a portable music player anywhere not to loud without any problems.
Once again thank you.

Rmcrow2 said:
.
She wont let me cut up her headset to see what goes where .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://www.google.nl/imgres?imgurl...bNAhWH2xoKHRsUCi4QMwg_KBkwGQ&iact=mrc&uact=8/

Thank you. I spent my time researching if anyone has put an Android auto onto Raspberry Pi and stuck it in there car and I haven't Googled for the pan out yet because I haven't had time to rip open the dash in my car thank you I appreciate that period I'm having to voice text right now so please forgive me for poor grammar and spelling

Rmcrow2 said:
... so please forgive me for poor grammar and spelling
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome. It was nice to meet you.