[dbroome]

I managed to figure out a way to get the stock mini headunit to display the text I want it to that I send to it from a computer. This is in an 05 MCS, but it will work in any Sirius satellite radio ready headunit (or H/K). This would NOT be able to run at the same time as the Blitzsafe XMDirect adapter.

This does NOT mean that the cdplayer or a cd changer emulator will necessarily be able to display text (mp3 idvx tags), as I could not figure out how to do it, and believe that the headunit just doesn't support text in those two modes (though I hope I am wrong). It emulates a Sirius unit.

What do I plan on doing with this? Well, I will first firm up the basic program (this was just a proof of concept) that reads the IBus and does 'stuff' when buttons are pressed and sends text to the HU. Then, I will begin building plugins to that program that will:
1) Control an mp3 player, allowing navigation of folder hierarchy and playing of albums in folders or playlists, displaying the IDVx tags on the hu
2) Build a plugin to control the XMDirect or a PCR so I can get rid of the Blitzsafe enitrely
3) Build a plugin for displaying random text, that can be used to store directions in advance that can be accessed from the hu.
4) Build a plugin that will, when in a hotspot, check email and read it to you, or get weather or that sort of internet type function, all from the hu.

As an aside, this will probably be interesting to all the people who have purchased (or plan to purchase) the Denison ICE>Link plus, as this method of displaying text would allow that device to display the IPOD info on the hu of any Sirius ready hu (mini or BMW). So it IS possible.

Here is a link to a page with the video of it:
http://www.davidbroome.com/page.asp?Page=139

I posted this over on northamericanmotoring.com as well...

[GBMINI]

Well done!

[Bugged]

FINALLY somebody has at least looked further into the whole "MINI HU doesn't support text" statement when the Sirius and XM tuners were sending text to the HU with no problem. I'm sorry that just didn't make any sense to me.

As you have finally proven, it's not that the HU doesn't support the text, it's that the CD related modes don't support the text.

I gotta say... FRICKEN OUTSTANDING JOB!!!! (we need a thumbs up smiley like on NAM!)

Would it be possible to hookup some sort of switchbox to move between the XM Direct/Sirius tuner and the MP3 player without switching the mode on the HU?

[GadgetGav]

Happy New Year..!
Keep on hacking..!

[dbroome]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bugged

FINALLY somebody has at least looked further into the whole "MINI HU doesn't support text" statement when the Sirius and XM tuners were sending text to the HU with no problem. I'm sorry that just didn't make any sense to me.

As you have finally proven, it's not that the HU doesn't support the text, it's that the CD related modes don't support the text.

I gotta say... FRICKEN OUTSTANDING JOB!!!! (we need a thumbs up smiley like on NAM!)

Would it be possible to hookup some sort of switchbox to move between the XM Direct/Sirius tuner and the MP3 player without switching the mode on the HU?

Thanks guys! I think this would be a great idea, and shouldn't be too hard for a good hardware kind of guy. I'm more software, but when I get the software done, I may give it a shot. A simple switch would work great, but then you would have to pull over and flip the switch in the boot (or run a cable to the front of the car for a switch). I'd love it if it would be something that could be integrated into the IBus connector circuit, and hitting a specific key on the HU (not the mode key, maybe the INF key double clicked or something, (like the MINI Circuit does with the window up thing) would work as a toggle.

Any EE guys want to give it a shot? ;-)

[Bugged]

Ok, we know the HU supports AM/FM Tuner, CD/Tape/MD player on the unit, CD Changer, XM/Sirius, and Aux Input modes.... Now I've got to wonder... Is it possible to get the HU to support more input modes?


Things that make you go hmmm...

[GBMINI]

David,
Depending on the complexity and requirements, maybe you and I should be talking one day ...
You could use the unused MFSW button as a mode switch (at least for older cars with the two spoke steering wheel) - then you have the iBus and everything you need to receive the message!

[GadgetGav]

That MFSW button is not unused in my car thanks to Ian..!

[stryder]

Oooh, cool. (and there is a thumbs up, its just a post icon, not a smiley )

Please don't make any hardware solutions use the unused button. When MINI defeatured the 3 spoke MFSW and forced 05s to have it, we all lost that button and the mode button, so something else would be better. Maybe something like holding 2 buttons at the same time could also work.

[Kodak]

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav

That MFSW button is not unused in my car thanks to Ian..!

GadgetGav, what is your button used for? ( I assume you are talking about the dead button on the MFSW. )

[GadgetGav]

It's play/pause on my iPod The other buttons on that side are track up & track down.
http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive/000406.shtml

[Rich_IX]

Nice mate, hope you manage to crack it

[jwardell]

Good job, how did you interface electrically to the ibus with your computer? How complex are the signals and coding? I assume the headunit must be in sirius mode as I have been saying to people. Making an a/b switch to switch between satellite and mp3 player or whatever should be very simple assuming the audio signal comes directly into the headunit.

[GBMINI]

Josh,
Not sure how David did his interface, but when I was doing iBus work I built a circuit detailed on HackTheiBus - see my weblog:

[dbroome]

GBMINI is right. I used Rolf Resslers circuit (I ordered a kit from him, just to practice my admittedly poor soldering skills). On the audio side, well, I haven't made an audio connection yet, but the 6 pin connector in the boot is there for that purpose. I just have to find info on it and build an adapter. Shouldn't be too hard (famous last words). But I'm waiting till I get the control program done before I go to that step.

The IBUS commands are pretty straightforward once you get your head wrapped around how it works. The Hack The IBUS group referenced above is a good source of info on message structure, but they had nothing on sat rad messages, so I just wrote a program to trap the binary data and then used the old noggin to map commands to buttons and eavesdropped on the blitsafe adapter to get the responses.

I have a few holes in what I understand still, but I am filling it in as I go. Basically, the computer sends an announcement out that tells the headunit it is a Sirius tuner, and then the headunit sends out commands and requests that the program has to respond to appropriately.

[jwardell]

Cool.
If you need a stock sirius system to see what is communicated while it is in operation, Ian you may want to monitor mine, perhaps you will find ibus commands you haven't come across before.

[Texy]

I,m also interested in try something like this. That is, hooking up my
iPod to the iBus. Thanks for the links to Ian site, and the hack-the-ibus site.
I,ve done a fair bit of tinkering with PIC's, but know nothing of the iBus.
Its quite a simple affair to control the iPod via its serial port. Thats how the
iPod's remote control manages the track selection, volume etc (it has a 12c508 in it, or
similar). Of course, it still cannot select playlists though, AFAIK.
Ian, can you point me in to easy access to the iBus in the Mini?
(or any other info you'd care to pass on?).

Texy

[GBMINI]

Texy, let's go off-thread to pass details back & forth - send me an email at GBMINI@MINIsOnTop.com; I can tell you about the iBus software I wrote for Gavins iBus->iPod interface; we did not try duplicating the remote software - he just sacrificed his iPod remote. The limitation at the time was sourcing a connector to plug into the iPod.

Long ago I found iPod stuff on the web, including something about I think Atmel software and connector details - is that your info by any chance?

[GadgetGav]

The neat way would be to go through the newer iPod's dock connector, but they keep the connector, the pin out and the protocol a closely guarded secret. You have to already have iPod accessories on the market and sign an NDA with Apple before you can get any info... and even then (in the case of the Ice>Link) it doesn't mean your second gen product is better than the first..!

[jwardell]

Sounds like it would be good for someone to get their hands on the new BMW interface and monitor its communications. See how it controls the playlists and grabs text from the ipod.

As for the connector, it's probably best to buy some $20 charger or something and sacrifice its connector, assuming all the pins are in it.

Don't forget this was also done by the guys at Stealth One, who send the status of a V1 to some BMW headunits. Their MINI version displays on the Nav screen.