aznevoviii

i got the PAC SNI-1 Ground loop isolator, and see if it clear up the mess (crossing fingers).

i had problem in past with noise on the AUX cable, it cleared up very good with this similar type.

i will keep you guys updated!

aznevoviii

OR.
someone need to try this.

on the original MB media cable, there are two cables coming out, one is 30pin iPod cable, and one is AUX cable. that AuX cable MIGHT have the video input in it. like this cable,
if someone can try this out, this would sold our problem. (or tomorrow I'm going to Radio Shack to try out)

Nuru

Seems that MB would use the same audio input for both cars with and without the rear entertainment and just distribute it via the Comand system? If it is different, that would be great info for all of us to have. Maybe someone who has WIS can look it up and post the schematics? I don't have time to search during the week, but maybe this weekend I can look?

Mike5215

You nailed it dude! I have the 3 way cable and the Media Interface aux in. Hooked up an old DVD player and selected VIDEO>AUX and there it was. Picture (not great but there) and full-on audio. Nice job! I'm going to try the Speck going HDMI into the HDMI to RCA converter and see what I get.

aznevoviii

YIKESSS!!!!

THANKS FOR THIS QUICK RESPONDS!!! OMG OMG OMG

Now i can take this pressure off my chest!!!!!! thanks GOD!

aznevoviii

i guess to be exact,
3.5mm MALE to 3 RCA FEMALE.

Mike5215

We're not out of the woods yet. The image can be tweaked via COMAND for contrast, brightness and color, and you can select a 16.9 or Widescreen format, but regardless of settings the image "trembles". I'd say it's a synch error but changing the refresh frequency on the Speck doesn't seem to affect it.

On the plus side the sound is excellent. You need to turn the Speck up full or you'll get some noise, but it sounds good. We need to isolate that image shudder. It may be in the transition between the Speck and the HDMI converter but I need some Radio Shack stuff to run from the Speck direct to the car's Aux In.

Also I need to point out that the Speck has what may be the ugliest music interface I've ever seen. Just saying...

Mike5215

I guess you'd need both the male and female versions. Female from the car's Aux In, and the Male coming from the media player's AV jack. Does Monster make one, because the more shielding the better. Two of these with 3 RCA couplers would work:

http://www.showmecables.com/product/...map=27-115-006

aznevoviii

got it!

i also have the ground isolator, so that will help with noise in sound.
just need to clarify the video using different types of cables.

it would be optimum if i can find a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable.. (in high quality), this will eliminate the RCA connection. less connection the better translating the data.

aznevoviii

http://www.showmecables.com/product/...FTMQ7AodencAqA

Nuru

Mike, this looks like it plugs into the COMAND rear ports/sockets. I wish there was a better picture of the cables. So it seems one would have to pull the COMAND out and connect up the appropriate cables. Then it would be a pretty clean interface.

aznevoviii

this is on its way.
i will update you guys on its performance.
i am not looking for 1080i quality, since this command's resolution is limited.
if this players video and audio fine, and have no difficulty watching listening, I'm fine!
(make sure there is 3 rings, not two! (2 for audio only))

Nuru

Ok, looks like I was incorrect, it does require slicing into the CAN bus wiring. I am used to adding in connectors, to the CAN bus but I have not spliced any wires into it. Required splicing into the CAN high and CAN Low wiring - maybe not so bad, depending on where you do it.

http://www.carnavi-tech.com/pdf/SE-Benz%20MB10.pdf

jerryt

Awesome background !!

Do you have a link to the source?

Mike5215

Yeah, we still can make up some ground with settings, cables and tweaks. I believe the native resolution of COMAND is 800x600. DVD res is 720x480, so the display is slightly higher res than DVD and standard res video (what we have) is 480 (basically VHS tape quality) so that's a pretty large disparity.

I should have the media box today. It has an on-board standard def output so that should be as clean as it gets.

aznevoviii

Mile, let me know how it turns out!!

Mike5215

The Verdict

I had a chance to configure and install the G-Box Midnight MX2 HD XBMC media player in the car, using the COMAND Video Aux In. The problem, and it's insurmountable, is that the playback image is limited to the resolution of VHS tape, on a 7" screen, and it looks like it.

Text is barely legible, images are crude and pixilated. Twenty years ago this would have been a stunning achievement in in-car entertainment. If you want to play HD or DVD movies on a little screen in VHS resolution that occasionally jitters, I suppose this would accomplish that, but the obvious choice would be to use the car's 6 disc DVD player and play your movies in full quality. with integrated COMAND controls.

This was a fun exercise. I love hooking stuff up and finding cool new gadgets for the car, but for me, this project is a "no". Now if MB ever starts putting Aux HDMI inputs in their cars, we might be on to something

Well, off to UPS to return a bunch of Amazon stuff.

Jason B

Damn!!! When I first saw this post, I was thinking the motherload was uncovered. Very cool of both of you to take the time and try and get this to work.

Now, is there any chance, and other brand coverters, or any other adapters, etc. could change this image quality?

Mike5215

The MOTHERLOAD. Yeah, it would have been very cool. To your question, it's possible to upconvert a lower res to a higher res, but it works the opposite way around than we need.

You can have a BluRay player for example that will upconvert a DVD so it looks better on a high resolution display. You can't take a higher res source and make it look any better on a low resolution device. While the COMAND screen itself is near-HD quality (800 scan lines, vs 1080 on a true HD device). because we are limited to the resolution of the Aux In channel (420 scan lines) the best we'll ever do is 420, basically the same as regular over the air non-HD TV, or VHS tape.

If there was a way to get into the COMAND and physically hijack the DVD player's 720 input we'd be in business.

aznevoviii

For some of you that only seeks for the high quality video play back this might be no-go.

For me, i do ALOT of driving (i drive to MD twice a month from FL), VIM was a must, when i had my A7, i bought Vag-Com just to do VIM. Even with A7, i was playing 420 quality videos (AVI format), i had zero problem watching it while driving.

So, this outcome using Micca and AUX solve my need of playing video while driving on highway.

I will keep seeking for the best possible output of video quality, and keep adding into this thread!

Nuru

Seems that one would have to go in through the video input on the rear of the unit. Or use that box on eBay?

aznevoviii

Or my alternative (for now until i get VIM installed).

Mike5215

That ebay box also only had Composite Video inputs. It had a bunch of them, but no component or HDMI. Not sure about the rear of the unit. Probably don't have standard AV jacks back there, would be no need. Anyone ever cracked one open?

Mike5215

I didn't really want it for movies on the road. I'm a crappy enough driver as it is. I wanted to have a slick multimedia interface to play music for me, or to play videos for the passenger. How is that IPad mounted? It looks huge on the dash.

jerryt

eglober.com has an video interface "GM04" for NTG4.5 (Round LVDS connector) Comand radio.
http://www.eglober.com/ProductShow.asp?ID=2042

I have it installed. It has a LVDS switch, which is between the radio and the 7" monitor. The idrive controls (Can Bus) the switching to Android 4.1.2

So it capable of full 800 X 480 resolution.