Help: Rear-vie Camera and Navigation on 14 E class
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Joined: May 2003
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Help: Rear-vie Camera and Navigation on 14 E class
My rear-view camera does not come on unless the radio is on. Dealer told me that this is the way the system is designed. This seems odd since there are plenty of drivers who would not want any distraction while backing the car up. The same deal with the navigation: dealer said that radio has to be on for Nav to function.
Any input /advice is appreciated.
Any input /advice is appreciated.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2014
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2011 Lincoln Town Car L
Rearview camera
To avoid distraction, turn the volume down. The LCD monitor has to be on to see the camera image, that is why Mercedes-Benz requires the Comand System to be ON in order to view the rearview image. Here's the reason: it takes several seconds for the Comand System to wake up upon pressing the Power button, or if it was turned on internally when in reverse.
The ultimate driver behind this decision is a safety one: the engineers want the camera to be viewable ASAP, and not having to wait for the Comand System to boot up. In those few seconds, something could happen behind the car, for example, a child could run out into the street.
The ultimate driver behind this decision is a safety one: the engineers want the camera to be viewable ASAP, and not having to wait for the Comand System to boot up. In those few seconds, something could happen behind the car, for example, a child could run out into the street.
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2011 Lincoln Town Car L
GPS and Comand System being ON
The Comand System is just that: an integrated system. Welcome to 2014.
Obviously the "radio" must be on in order to hear voice instructions from the GPS. If you want to not be distracted from an AM or FM broadcast, turn the volume down all the way. You used the word "radio" so I assume you are referring to the traditional radio, as in AM/FM.
Obviously the "radio" must be on in order to hear voice instructions from the GPS. If you want to not be distracted from an AM or FM broadcast, turn the volume down all the way. You used the word "radio" so I assume you are referring to the traditional radio, as in AM/FM.
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2011 Lincoln Town Car L
The final word...
The issue is not with the vehicle, it is rather looking at this from an old-school perspective. Thinking in terms of having a "radio" on or off is not really applicable in this case.
You can eliminate audio distractions by selecting an unused or empty source. For example, you can press AUDIO then AUX, which will not play anything if nothing is plugged into the AUX jack.
That way, the Comand System will remain ON for GPS and rearview camera, yet you will simulate "turning the radio off".
You can eliminate audio distractions by selecting an unused or empty source. For example, you can press AUDIO then AUX, which will not play anything if nothing is plugged into the AUX jack.
That way, the Comand System will remain ON for GPS and rearview camera, yet you will simulate "turning the radio off".
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From: Cleveland Ohio
beater with a heater
Wow, how is the nav going to function otherwise with it off. you can always keep the audio in aux with nothing hooked up to it, that way you can hear the Nav and have camera with no sound. i am sure the salesman went inside and slammed his head on the desk a few times.
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I had thought exactly like you, jbondox. You and I were on exactly the same page.
Imagine my surprise, not to mention embarrassment, to find out that on other car makes, such as Honda, as soon as the transmission is shifted into Reverse, the rear-view camera would come on automatically even when the radio is off.
Refusing to believe that this is true, I even went to ask a few of my friends who are engineers. They laughed at my ignorance and said something to the effect that there is such a thing called independent circuitry that would allow electronic components to act independently of one another. My friends thought that I was such an ignoramus. I just pleaded mea culpa and thanked them for enlightening me.
Imagine my surprise, not to mention embarrassment, to find out that on other car makes, such as Honda, as soon as the transmission is shifted into Reverse, the rear-view camera would come on automatically even when the radio is off.
Refusing to believe that this is true, I even went to ask a few of my friends who are engineers. They laughed at my ignorance and said something to the effect that there is such a thing called independent circuitry that would allow electronic components to act independently of one another. My friends thought that I was such an ignoramus. I just pleaded mea culpa and thanked them for enlightening me.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Cleveland Ohio
beater with a heater
asdf,
I was maybe out of line, however... I can see where you are coming from with the wait on the rear view camera. where you have to have the COMAND booted up before it goes in reverse. I think that is a design flaw that was overlooked or was just accepted as it is grouped into the COMAND itself as camera input.
Now I know there is a way to get it to pop on instantly the vehicle is put in reverse because i used to add cameras to some of the MB's. Your video to the screen is transmitted from the COMAND via a 10 pin plug called LVDS. I believe only 4 wires are used today, and this is the same as transmitting video from the front camera to the instrument cluster on some of the S class with night view.
Anyways, if you want to have it the way you want, you will have to lose the predictive lines as it is done through the COMAND, and not the camera. use an LVDS converter from NAVTV.com, and input the camera straight to the screen via the converter.
There is no input for video to the separate MB screen, just LVDS signal being passed from the COMAND.
or
just get a remote start and start the vehicle with your phone or key fob prior to getting in, that way the telematics will be booted up.
yes i will agree with you that it is not perfect and should come on instantly. there are people with the new Infiniti Q50's that are getting their vehicles bought back due to the predictive lines not working, some Honda's there is a delay in the camera also... so it is not limited to the MB platform.
I was maybe out of line, however... I can see where you are coming from with the wait on the rear view camera. where you have to have the COMAND booted up before it goes in reverse. I think that is a design flaw that was overlooked or was just accepted as it is grouped into the COMAND itself as camera input.
Now I know there is a way to get it to pop on instantly the vehicle is put in reverse because i used to add cameras to some of the MB's. Your video to the screen is transmitted from the COMAND via a 10 pin plug called LVDS. I believe only 4 wires are used today, and this is the same as transmitting video from the front camera to the instrument cluster on some of the S class with night view.
Anyways, if you want to have it the way you want, you will have to lose the predictive lines as it is done through the COMAND, and not the camera. use an LVDS converter from NAVTV.com, and input the camera straight to the screen via the converter.
There is no input for video to the separate MB screen, just LVDS signal being passed from the COMAND.
or
just get a remote start and start the vehicle with your phone or key fob prior to getting in, that way the telematics will be booted up.
yes i will agree with you that it is not perfect and should come on instantly. there are people with the new Infiniti Q50's that are getting their vehicles bought back due to the predictive lines not working, some Honda's there is a delay in the camera also... so it is not limited to the MB platform.
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Thread Starter
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Dear jbondox
Thanks for the detailed reply. Truthfully, the info and knowledge on the forum is just so incredible> Not to mention so much more reliable than the dealership.
I’m actually ok with the features of the rear-view camera as is. Had to post here just to make sure that I didn’t skip a step somewhere, and as mentioned above, I have more faith with my fellow forum members than the salesmen, some of whom are pretty clueless.
Thanks again, jbondox.
Thanks for the detailed reply. Truthfully, the info and knowledge on the forum is just so incredible> Not to mention so much more reliable than the dealership.
I’m actually ok with the features of the rear-view camera as is. Had to post here just to make sure that I didn’t skip a step somewhere, and as mentioned above, I have more faith with my fellow forum members than the salesmen, some of whom are pretty clueless.
Thanks again, jbondox.
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2016 Audi Q5 - 2015 E63 AMGS - 2010 Acura TL SHAWD - 2009 VW GTI - 2004 SL55 AMG
I have a 2010 Acura TL - the back up camera comes on instantly upon putting the car in reverse - regardless of whether or not the nav system has booted up.
My GL350 takes about 10 seconds to find the camera after starting the vehicle. This is horrible.
Is there a slick way to fix this major issue with my GL350?? I hope I'm just ignorant to settings as a new owner.
My GL350 takes about 10 seconds to find the camera after starting the vehicle. This is horrible.
Is there a slick way to fix this major issue with my GL350?? I hope I'm just ignorant to settings as a new owner.
