Audio Interrupt "Black Box" for Stock Head Unit

**jmciver** · 03-07-2007, 09:44 PM

As some of you may know, many new aftermarket head units have a built in audio interrupt feature so that when you install a navigation system, for example, the navigation commands will automatically interrupt the radio, CD, etc.

Well, I would like to do this with my stock radio. I was wondering if there is a "black box" out there that will do something like this. The "black box" would do the following:

1. Sense any audio output from an audio source (i.e. a carpc).
2. Mute the audio currently being played by the head unit
3. Inject the audio from the CarPC
4. Un-mute the head unit once the audio from the CarPC is done.

I actually know how to do step 2 & 4 (or actually my stereo installer says he knows how to do this). Step 1 is the hard part (and then integrating it all together).

Has anyone seen or done something like this before?

**ron1** · 03-07-2007, 10:22 PM

I have installed a Parrot MK6000 which does all of the above.

**jmciver** · 03-07-2007, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by ron1

I have installed a Parrot MK6000 which does all of the above.

Looks very promising (although I don't care about the hands free phone aspect since I already have thaat in my car). A few more questions now....

1. Where did you get it, including price?
2. How was the install?
3. How does it perform?
4. How do you use it, just for hands free phone or for a carpc as I described?

**ron1** · 03-07-2007, 10:54 PM

1. Retail is about $240. You can get it for about $200 at quickconnectproducts.com. Add about $80 for a quick-connect harness to eliminate the need to cut and solder.
2. Install was not hard, but I have not resolved all issues.
3. Performs adequately, but I have not mastered it.
4. I use it for audio "A2DP" from my carpc to my car audio, which does not have an "aux-in" jack. I am not presently using it with a phone or pda.

**jmciver** · 03-07-2007, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by ron1

1. Retail is about $240. You can get it for about $200 at quickconnectproducts.com. Add about $80 for a quick-connect harness to eliminate the need to cut and solder.
2. Install was not hard, but I have not resolved all issues.
3. Performs adequately, but I have not mastered it.
4. I use it for audio "A2DP" from my carpc to my car audio, which does not have an "aux-in" jack. I am not presently using it with a phone or pda.

Thanks for the good info, of course I have a few more questions...

1. Which BT Dongle did you use? I am currently using a Kensington BT dongle for my carpc.
2. Will the MK6000 allow the carpc to automatically interrupt the radio or is user input required?

The goal I have here is to use this product with the navigation software I have installed on my carpc. Whenever the carpc makes a sound (i.e. the navigation sotware gives a command, etc) I want the radio to be interrupted, preferrably without user interface with the MK6000 controls each time I want to use the navigation system on the carpc.

**ron1** · 03-07-2007, 11:28 PM

1. I am using the Parrot Bluetooth dongle. I was using a Targus Bluetooth dongle. I went to the Parrot because I was not sure that the Targus supported all the protocols required by the MK6000. (It probably does.) Be sure to compare the required protocols with whatever is offered by the dongle under consideration. I am using Widcomm ver 5.0.1.1100 driver for the dongle. I did try .2700 from the Broadcom site, but I thought there were problems, so I went back to .1100.
2. Yes, muting is automatic. All 4 speakers are muted, but audio is only directed to the 2 front speakers

I am using the MK6000 to channel audio output from iGuidance. I have noticed some problems when I am playing audio from the carpc and iGuidance breaks in. It seems to affect the volume setting in RoadRunner with DigitalFX Blue skin. There are separate settings for the volume in iGuidance and RoadRunner. I have not mastered this completely.
No problem when running iGuidance by itself or with the radio playing.

**jmciver** · 03-07-2007, 11:36 PM

Great! I am also using iGuidance with the DigitalFX skin. I don't play a lot of MP3s so it is good to hear that it works with just iGuidance running.

Have you had any isues with this system and the pc coming out of hibernation? I am using the m10000 motherboard for my carpc.

Oh yeah, one other thing. Did you even bother to mount the control pad or the microphone since you said you are not using the handsfree phone portion on the MK6000? Is the little controller even necessary in your application?

**ron1** · 03-08-2007, 06:23 AM

I don't use hibernation. Tell me about it.

I did mount mike and control pad because I eventually want to use a phone in the system. But, for computer output only, they may not be necessary, except for the volume control on the control pad. I suppose that would depend on how well the carpc volume controls work.

**jmciver** · 03-08-2007, 07:09 AM

I use the M2-ATX "smart" power supply. It has circuitry that allows me to place the computer in hibernation when I turn the car off (and come out of hibernation when I turn the car on). It can also be set up to turn off with the ignition, but I chose hibernation (as do many others) to minimize the time it takes for the carpc to come back online when i get into the car.

There is some software/hardware that does not work well with hibernaton (some people have had issues with USB touchscreens not operating properly with hibernation). People's experiences vary. That is why I asked the question about the MK6000 and hibernation.

**schapman** · 10-11-2007, 12:40 PM

jmciver,
Did you finish your setup with the parrot? Have you also gotten it to work automatically without having to push the answer and hangup buttons? Can you actually listen to the stereo between "turn right" and "turn left" commands from your pc nav software without touching anything? Are those buttons only for answer and hangup commands sent to the phone?
Thanks for the reply

ron1, if you can confirm this that would be great.