Android Tablet In-Car Sliding Dock using hacked DVD drive

**badmonkey23** · 11-27-2011, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by HopeSlayer

Have you had a chance to work on your steering wheel controls? I recently bought a galaxy tab 7+ to install in dash. I would love to be able to skip songs and control volume from existing steering wheel controls. I have thought of wiring the steering wheel controls to a bluetooth headset control but I think the audio will also be forced to the bluetooth headset. Well just wondering if you had a chance to get your controls working or maybe had any links that may help me, thanks

I tried a couple of different bluetooth multimedia keyboards and couldn't get any of them to sync with my tablet, so I never got any further with this route. You might have more luck with a Galaxy Tab. I never got around to buying a cheap bluetooth headset to try because I had the same concern with the audio. I also tried the iphone earphones with the inline volume control, didn't work for me, but again, it might work on a Galaxy Tab.

After mistareno's post here, Mp3Car's Sean Clark on 'Why Tablets?', I'm trying to learn android programming so I can write a widget/service for the IOIO to hook the steering wheel controls up to that. I'm still learning the basics, so I'm a long way off getting it working, if at all.

**badmonkey23** · 11-27-2011, 06:58 PM

There might already be an app that can be used for this, not much info on it though.
https://market.android.com/details?i...ntroller&hl=en
Not sure if it runs in the background or whether it can control volume and track etc.

**HopeSlayer** · 11-27-2011, 07:29 PM

Thanks for your replies badmonkey23. I'm going to open up this keyboard and try to hardwire into it. If I get anything to work I will check back in with you. Best of luck on your attempts

**hexxamillion** · 11-27-2011, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by HopeSlayer

I have a 06 chevy silverado with after market clarion nav, amp, speakers and subs. I want to get rid of the clarion nav and replace it with a galaxy tab 7+ installed in dash. I want to retain my steering wheel controls. The best way I can figure so far is to hard wire my steering wheel controls to a bluetooth keyboard tapping into the volume up/ down buttons and prev/next track buttons on the keyboard. No idea if this would actually work as far as hacking into the keyboard. Pairing my mac bluetooth keyboard to my tab and the volume and next track buttons work great. I think a keyboard would be better to use instead of a headset because then only the controls would connect and the tab wouldn't try to force audio out to the headset. There may be a better bluetooth interface out there. Any suggestions or advice is much appreciated

The only other thing I was thinking is if Clarion had a Bluetooth add on module then it may work but if you are replacing the nav then you still may need some type of clarion amp for that to work. I think hacking the controls may be a good way to go. I have seen some mods in the forums here for the steering wheel controls.

**HopeSlayer** · 11-27-2011, 08:33 PM

I found this video with galaxy tab in dash and working steering wheel controls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDgea...eature=related I don't think he is controlling the tab I think the only control he has is volume to an amp from steering wheel controls.

**hexxamillion** · 11-29-2011, 11:13 PM

Unless he tapped into the stock bluetooth module. When I had a rental ford fusion that had that SYNC software I was able to navigate and control the music on my Droid Eris smartphone at the time from the steering wheel.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

**thechainrule** · 12-01-2011, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by badmonkey23

I tried a couple of different bluetooth multimedia keyboards and couldn't get any of them to sync with my tablet, so I never got any further with this route. You might have more luck with a Galaxy Tab. I never got around to buying a cheap bluetooth headset to try because I had the same concern with the audio. I also tried the iphone earphones with the inline volume control, didn't work for me, but again, it might work on a Galaxy Tab.

After mistareno's post here, Mp3Car's Sean Clark on 'Why Tablets?', I'm trying to learn android programming so I can write a widget/service for the IOIO to hook the steering wheel controls up to that. I'm still learning the basics, so I'm a long way off getting it working, if at all.

Im interested in this myself. I'll be installing an android tablet in my vehicle over the next month being able to recycle my steering wheel buttons would be awesome! A button on the steering wheel to open speaktoit assistant would be a huge help. As well as a back button, home button and music controls. I have no idea where to start though, do you have any references or how-to's that you are following?

**thechainrule** · 12-01-2011, 11:04 AM

Wow it helps to poke around a bit. http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/280 This thing looks like a great winter project.

**99bravada** · 12-04-2011, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by badmonkey23

I'm trying to learn android programming so I can write a widget/service for the IOIO to hook the steering wheel controls up to that. I'm still learning the basics, so I'm a long way off getting it working, if at all.

badmonkey23, I bought the IOIO for the same reasons, to see if I could get the steering wheel controls in my jeep to control an Android tablet. Let me know if you make any progress on figuring out Android services. I have the Android SDK installed but have never written in Java before...

**badmonkey23** · 12-05-2011, 12:02 AM

I am pretty much starting from scratch, I did some programming for the iPhone, but I'd spend about 10 minutes writing 3 lines and then 4 hours troubleshooting those 3 lines so it was very slow going. And now I've forgotten all of it anyway. I'm just watching some video tutorials - http://thenewboston.org/list.php?cat=6