russdog

I am hoping to have MBenzNL install the comand unit when he is in the NY area at the end of May. I hate to bother him with silly questions so I figured i would post them here. Thanks in advanced!

I was wondering if there is a difference between the Comand unit designed for the w208 and the w210. From my understanding both units would work in my car and I was wondering if there was an advantage of having one over the other.

The TV feature sounds great. Is it worth installing in the car? How is the reception? What is needed for installation above and beyond what NBenzNL does? I figured this would be great for tailgating!

What kind of connection is the auxiliary input? Is it just audio? can I use it for a cell phone?

RGB input? Can i use this to connect a camera to the back of the car for backing up like one of the other users on this board did?

Thanks in advanced! I cannot wait to have this in my car!!!!!

Russ

Richard

>I was wondering if there is a difference between the Comand
> unit designed for the w208 and w210

Yes, buy the right one for your car. The mountings are different, and the functionality it expects from the CANbus is different.
The 208 can be programmed to behave like a 210 can, but not the other way, and only by a dealer
The right one for your car starts with A210 ...

In fact. see my www.ibex.co.uk/mbstuff document for a reasonably complete set of part numbers for the European COMAND systems

> The TV feature sounds great. Is it worth installing in the car?
Personallyt I think so. You need wiring loom, tuner/mounts and aerials. OEM wiring loom is best, but expensive.
European cars with COMAND have a rear windscreen with the aerals in it, but you need aerial amps

>What kind of connection is the auxiliary input? Is it just audio? >can I use it for a cell phone?
It (when you have the wiring installed) is a 3.5mm mini jack input like a microphone socket - I dont know the line levels

> RGB input? Can i use this to connect a camera to the back of
You need one of the adapters from audiocomp/megacomm. There are 2, one for RGB in, 1 for PAL video in. The former is cheaper than the latter


Hope that helps

R

russdog

Thank you so much. One more question... what is CANBUS?

Richard

CANBus is the car's local area network. Its a 2 wire network (and power and ground), where one of the signal wires can be cut, shorted to ground or power and still work.
Basically everything listens for things sent by others.

For instance, when you select reverse, the gear shift controller sends "he selected reverse" - then
The lamp controller lights up the reverse lights
The passenger door controller drops the mirror down
The overhead control panel turns of the interior mirror dimming
etc etc
COMAND starts counting distance backwards

Just about everything happens on canbus, COMAND uses things like: -
Ignition on/off
Speed
Reverse selected
interior lighting intensity
exterior lights on

Saves lots of wiring (weight, cost) and allows lots of flexibility.

Mercedes Cars have at least 2 canbus - one in the engine bay. one in the body. The cluster and the ignition switch act as gateways between the two.

CAN is also used for some "point to point" links, such as COMAND to TV controller.


Hope that explains

R

Fathead

Russdog --

Last I heard from Steve, he said he wasn't planning to come to the NY area until July.

Do you know otherwise? For sure?

BillM

Steve will be in the NY/NJ area May 20th to the 30th. Better hurry and order as he is already shipping out the units for install.

Fathead

Billy, Russ --

Thanks mucho. I reached Steve... and am awaiting his downpayment requirements for my config.

Again, thanks.....

Silver_Lana

Neither can we, you should come to the NJ meet in April and you can see some cars Steve installed COMAND in so you can know what to expect.
COMAND in a CLK430 and a C280 both installed by Steve.

Fathead

Silver -Lana:


Where is the NJ meet and when?

Details, please.



Thanks in advance.