Renault "Tuner List" Head Unit/CD changer hacking - Controls

**pippolippi** · 03-13-2006, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Vicne

Maybe find an adapter on eBay or "hope" it's the serial adapter which is defective - which wouldn't surprise me...

Yes, it's the serial adapter. With another one there's no such problem. The one that's working has a screened cable while the one with the problem has a plain cable, no screen.

**pippolippi** · 03-13-2006, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by pippolippi

I think that "simpler is better" (on the same principle I'll see if I can simplify further the optocoupler interface, I think that I can do away with at least the transistor from the HU).

Well, that wasn't a good idea, since not only it doesn't work, but while rewiring the circuit to revert it the previous, working, one, I made a mistake and blew the transistor. I hope it's just the transistor and not the hu

Edit: the mistake was that I connected the collector directly to 12V, bypassing the 680ohm resistor.

**Vicne** · 03-13-2006, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by pippolippi

Well, that wasn't a good idea, since not only it doesn't work, but while rewiring the circuit to revert it the previous, working, one, I made a mistake and blew the transistor. I hope it's just the transistor and not the hu

Edit: the mistake was that I connected the collector directly to 12V, bypassing the 680ohm resistor.

Hot hot hot

Well, I hope the transistor played a fuse role and the HU is not damaged...

**Vicne** · 03-14-2006, 03:00 AM

Originally Posted by Vicne

- CD change buttons are now handled correctly.

I noticed yesterday that I have a rather strange behaviour upon CD change and I think I know why, partially at least :

- First, after CD has changed, the HU sends a "PLAY" command to start playing the new CD. Unfortunately, Roadrunner (and Winamp BTW) give a toggle behaviour to "PLAY" : first time it begins playback, second time it pauses, third time it starts again, etc. So in our case, the "PLAY" sent after CD change is considered a "PAUSE". Then you have to press PAUSE twice to restore the correct behaviour (fortunately, Roadrunner and Winamp don't consider "PAUSE" as a toggle). So unless I find a non-ambiguous way to "PLAY" (that would have no effect if already playing), I'll have to filter out this "PLAY after CD CHANGE" (as well as the "NEXT after RANDOM ON" mentioned by Pippolippi)

- Second, sometimes, a CD change seems to lock things up. HU doesn't send commands anymore and I have to switch the HU OFF and back ON to restore the correct behaviour. I'm suspecting it's because I currently send the 18 frames that normally follow a CD change request in a single burst. Maybe I should send the first 15, then wait for the "PLAY" command before sending the last 3 ones... (see rosetta stone)

Apart from that, I'm rather happy with my tests. I'll concentrate on finishing the hardware this week...

**pippolippi** · 03-14-2006, 03:43 AM

Originally Posted by Vicne

- Second, sometimes, a CD change seems to lock things up. HU doesn't send commands anymore and I have to switch the HU OFF and back ON to restore the correct behaviour. I'm suspecting it's because I currently send the 18 frames that normally follow a CD change request in a single burst. Maybe I should send the first 15, then wait for the "PLAY" command before sending the last 3 ones... (see rosetta stone)

Though I didn't perform extensive testing, I didn't notice any problem upon cd change. But then I'm just sending the "I'm playing" frame, I don't try to simulate the cd changer real sequence.

**Vicne** · 03-14-2006, 04:45 AM

Originally Posted by pippolippi

Though I didn't perform extensive testing, I didn't notice any problem upon cd change. But then I'm just sending the "I'm playing" frame, I don't try to simulate the cd changer real sequence.

If you don't forward the "PLAY" command to Winamp, all is well indeed.
The problem is only that the HU issues a "PLAY" command after CD change, and if it's already playing, Winamp interprets a PLAY as a PAUSE

I asked Guino if he could implement a "FORCEPLAY" command. That would be much cleaner.
Edit : Guino said it was already implemented of course. It's the RESUME command.

And for the "hung HU", I'll have to do more tests, but you're right "simpler is better" and maybe I'll remove a few messages in the end

**pippolippi** · 03-14-2006, 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by Vicne

The problem is only that the HU issues a "PLAY" command after CD change

Not here (since I don't send the "correct" reply from the cdc).

**Vicne** · 03-14-2006, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by pippolippi

Not here (since I don't send the "correct" reply from the cdc).

I see. But still, you acknowledge it, right ?
And can you confirm it mutes the SPDIF in anyway ? If not, it would be a huge plus...

**pippolippi** · 03-14-2006, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by Vicne

I see. But still, you acknowledge it, right ?

Yes, I send the customary C5, but then I go on sending the "I'm playing" frame as if nothing happened (well, actually I reset the track number to 1, but that's another issue).

And can you confirm it mutes the SPDIF in anyway ? If not, it would be a huge plus...

I cannot, I still don't have an spdif adapter.