Alpine AINet CRC solved

**Nik1976** · 08-21-2010, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by jcerecke

I'd be so keen for this. How can I get my hands on your controller? I love hacking round with stuff like this and making it do what I want, rather than what it was designed for. As for the device to intercept, I was just thinking an ipod? It should send all that stuff out.

Controller should be ready in few weeks, I'll post the message when it will be ready for shipping. Firmare and software will be opened, so you'll be free to add any functions you need. On hardware level it will be AiNet -> UART -> COM (or USB) adapter with integrated Atmega microcontroller. All operations (AiNet signal detection, packet analysis and send/receive operations) are described in Atmega firmware, so it sholud be easy to add your own code.
There's nothing to tweak in hardware besides output interface replacement. Let me know if you need something besides COM or USB.

**Nik1976** · 08-21-2010, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Tony G

Ipod / Ipad would be an interesting alternative - my install is in a VW Campervan, so would be good for the rear area when sleeping etc.

If an RS232 Com port is the hardware, this could be done using something like the Global Cache products such as a GC-100 or Itach IP2Serial for the device connection, and a PC, mobile device, and Ipod etc as a controller. Several Ipod/Ipad solutions for controlling the GlobalCache products out there.

Think I'm getting carried away with all the possibilities!

RS232 is hardware based. I guess it would be easier to connect Itach to PC (i.e. via bluetooth) first and then control H701 via some PC software.

IMHO: There are lots of other good opportunities besides Ipod integration as controller could operate with any AiNet device, not only H701. How about Alpine CD Changer control without HU? It's quite possible to write custom firmware to control both H701 and Changer (or multiple changers) from PC simultaneously.

**hans14914** · 08-23-2010, 02:44 PM

How about the ability to control a real automotive HD radio tuner. I have never really been happy with any of the existing radio options.

**mitchjs** · 08-23-2010, 05:09 PM

off topic, but something is wrong with the directed HD radio?
its cheap, and full control in RideRunner, partial control in Centrafuse
and there is control in OpenMobile

**chiefwigms** · 08-23-2010, 07:29 PM

off topic & stupid question (i'm new to car audio) -

I'm debating between an mra-d550, mra-f350 or pxa-h701.. can any of these power a sub? trying to find one cheap on ebay - the f350's are relatively inexpensive compared to the h701.

I looked at most of the optical threads, but couldn't find if they have an extra sub amp, amps in addition to these (if they are just equilizers), or if the above mentioned are all you need to power speakers & a sub.

my last carputer (acura rsx) didn't need an amp, but i've recently found out my new car (honda ridgeline) will (fog horn sound)

thanks!
-pete

**Nik1976** · 08-24-2010, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by hans14914

How about the ability to control a real automotive HD radio tuner. I have never really been happy with any of the existing radio options.

I know that Alpine producing external HD radio receiver for NA. It's connecting to HU via AiNet, so it could be controlled by my board. I have no access for such device and cannot check how it works. You could intercept AiNet packets and do your own analysis however.
Bottom line: it's possible, but probably time consuming task.

**Nik1976** · 08-24-2010, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by chiefwigms

off topic & stupid question (i'm new to car audio) -

I'm debating between an mra-d550, mra-f350 or pxa-h701.. can any of these power a sub? trying to find one cheap on ebay - the f350's are relatively inexpensive compared to the h701.

I looked at most of the optical threads, but couldn't find if they have an extra sub amp, amps in addition to these (if they are just equilizers), or if the above mentioned are all you need to power speakers & a sub.

my last carputer (acura rsx) didn't need an amp, but i've recently found out my new car (honda ridgeline) will (fog horn sound)

thanks!
-pete

PXA-H701 is processor without any amplifier at all. It should be connected to external amps like mra-d550 or mra-f350 to drive speakers of sub.

**hanspettersson** · 08-24-2010, 03:51 PM

Will this interface work whit the Alpine PXA-H100 to?

**gommer** · 08-25-2010, 09:40 AM

Oh dear, I'll try to explain what Nik1976 has been saying a few times now:

The interface will be able to speak with ANY AiNet device, since it converts the AiNet signals to messsages on the UART (serial port). It also handles AiNet encryption transparently.

BUT, in order to make a working system, you also need to know what kind of messages a specific device transmits on the bus. Each device sends and expects specific messages.

Nik1976 will only support a fair number of functions that the PXA-H70x provides, but the rest is up to you. So, it will only work out of the box for PXA-H70x and for everything else it does the hard work, but you will have to do the last bit of reverse engineering.

I hope all this is a. correct and b. clarifies a few things for all.

Cheers, Marc

**Nik1976** · 08-25-2010, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by gommer

Oh dear, I'll try to explain what Nik1976 has been saying a few times now:

The interface will be able to speak with ANY AiNet device, since it converts the AiNet signals to messsages on the UART (serial port). It also handles AiNet encryption transparently.

BUT, in order to make a working system, you also need to know what kind of messages a specific device transmits on the bus. Each device sends and expects specific messages.

Nik1976 will only support a fair number of functions that the PXA-H70x provides, but the rest is up to you. So, it will only work out of the box for PXA-H70x and for everything else it does the hard work, but you will have to do the last bit of reverse engineering.

I hope all this is a. correct and b. clarifies a few things for all.

Cheers, Marc

You're fully correct and thanks for the explanation.
I finally got IVA-D106R to check how presets, sub. level and fader/balance are handled.
Bad news is that presets and sub. level AiNet commands seems to not working without initial handshake between H701 and HU.
Good news is that Volume, input selection and Balance/Fader could be send to H701 anytime without initial handshake. Basically, those AiNet commands are available even when H701 is working is stand alone more and accepting volume/input settings from RUX as well.
Looks like presets and sub. level over AiNet are available only when H701 works in slave mode (volume and input selection are not possible from RUX then).
Proper execution of presets and sub. level commands over AiNet requires further analysis and coding. I'll keep you posted.