Apparently the TV tuner can be added to the command system. If one adds it in Europe will it work in the US once the car is shipped to the US or are the TV frequencies between Europe and the US incompatible? Years ago when the CB option was available I simply took my European Delivery vehicle to the Becker radio service location and had the unit installed. Assume the command system is not a Becker product - does anyone know who supplies it, Alpine? Actually it would even be simpler to have the factory install the TV tuner since they include it with the European spec SL's that have the command system. Any chance the factory would do so upon request or even if I brought the part with me when I picked up the vehicle?

 

Why don't you send MB an e-mail with this questions. I think the US and europe have different broadcasting system, just like the VCR system are different. So, installed TV turner from europe will not work in US, but your problem is an easy one, once you have your car, buy a TV turner and have it install by a reputable store.

 

The Euro COMAND system uses different software than we get here in the U.S. That is why the TV button in the U.S. is blank and does not function. The TV protocol in Europe is PAL. In the U.S. the protocol we use is NTSC. PAL Tuners will do no good here in the U.S. if you had one.

Mercedes does not make a NTSC TV Tuner for the COMAND systems.

 

FEMI - good suggestion about emailing mercedes, but I already know their answers will be a) we can't release product information other than what is published b) if there isn't a code for it on the US price list it can't be done, or c) ask your dealer (who will even know less). That is what is so great about a forum such as this, there actually are individuals who have inside information or first hand experience.

Just by way of example, MarcusBenz gave us a price list for the available options - but the local dealer here still doesn't have this information as of yesterday March 2nd.

 

US Comand system has different s/w to the European Comand system, although I beleive the actual hardware is the same [although MB part nr is different to reflect the different installed software and the lack of TV legend on the tv button].
I imagine its possible to install the European s/w on a US COMAND, and then it would become a European COMAND.

In US, pressing TV button does nothing - in EU it says "no TV" on the screen, or selects the TV if you have the TV tuner option.

Ted Baldwin has installed a European COMAND on their US vehicle [see the audio forum] and has a list of what works and what stops working if you use European COMAND in the US

The only TV Tuner that I have ever found supports PAL and SECAM, which are different broadcast standards to the US NTSC system.

There are some adapters around that allow you to run video direct into Comand [i.e they similate the TV tuner communication protocol] - but I dont know what a US COMAND would do if one of those is connected or if a European TV tuner is connected., I suspect it would not work.

Becker make the TV tuner. I suspect that they may be the only people who know [and maybee willing to say] if a NTSC tv tuner is available. Mercedes seem to have very little to say about the subject - I assume that some engineer in Germany is the only person in MB that knows the answers.

R