How to mute CarPC with bluetooth car kit

**Hark** · 11-29-2005, 11:55 PM

I want to get a Parrot CK3100 for using my Treo650 in the car via bluetooth (since Treo650 isn't currently supported by PhoneControl), but I'd like a way to mute/pause the music that's playing on my car pc when I get/make a call.

The Parrot has a "mute wire", which is supposed to connect to a headunit to mute it. What's the best way to use this? Can I use a Phidget and connect the mute wire from the Parrot to the Phidget, and program the Phidget to press the mute/pause key for whatever frontend I'm using?

Apologies if this sort of thing has been discussed before, and will take advice on search terms or links in the right direction.

**Wiredwrx** · 11-30-2005, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Hark

I want to get a Parrot CK3100 for using my Treo650 in the car via bluetooth (since Treo650 isn't currently supported by PhoneControl), but I'd like a way to mute/pause the music that's playing on my car pc when I get/make a call.

The Parrot has a "mute wire", which is supposed to connect to a headunit to mute it. What's the best way to use this? Can I use a Phidget and connect the mute wire from the Parrot to the Phidget, and program the Phidget to press the mute/pause key for whatever frontend I'm using?

Apologies if this sort of thing has been discussed before, and will take advice on search terms or links in the right direction.

Do you want to mute the sound, or also stop the song where it is, to continue later when you are off the phone. Also, I assume that your carputer plays through your car stereo.

If the first, you can do what I did. Connect the mute wire (it is a ground signal when it want to mute) to a relay, and put the relay in the accessory/ignition wire that leads to your stereo. In that way, when the CK3100 wants to mute, it flips the relay, breaking the connection to the stereo, turning it off. Then, when the call is done, the relay "un flips" and the stereo turns back on.

The advantage to doing it this way is if the car stereo is playing a tape of CD, the song stops where it is, and will continue when the call is over. Of course for radio, and/or the carputer, it will not stop the song in it's tracks, but at least it will mute.

Michael

**Hark** · 11-30-2005, 03:50 PM

Sorry, I guess it would've helped to specify that I don't have a headunit - I want the Parrot mute wire to affect the laptop that's playing the music through a front end, which is wired up to my car amplifier/speakers. That's where I was going with the mention of a Phidget.

**OhSh1rt** · 11-30-2005, 03:57 PM

A simple idea, using a COM port and winamp i'm sure you could wire it up easily.

-jeffrey

**ddn** · 11-30-2005, 04:03 PM

MUCH easier to use the parallel port. Trivial in fact. Serial would be more difficult, and who wants to waste a serial port.

**Wiredwrx** · 11-30-2005, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Hark

Sorry, I guess it would've helped to specify that I don't have a headunit - I want the Parrot mute wire to affect the laptop that's playing the music through a front end, which is wired up to my car amplifier/speakers. That's where I was going with the mention of a Phidget.

Well, you can technically accomplish the same thing as I described by interupting the amps turn on signal.

As far as connecting it to your computer to control it, that is out of my league, sorry. Hopefully someone else will chime in and help you out.

Michael

**Jahntassa** · 12-04-2005, 01:58 AM

It also depends on how your mute wire works. I know on some handsfree kits it'll 'mute' the signal whenever a button is pressed, which would be very annoying. I have yet to see how the mute wire on my Moto BT kit works..

**Alex Pt** · 12-09-2005, 03:20 PM

You could do that with a game pad or joystick port (or adaptor), connecting the Parrot wire -> transistor -> Game button -> Girder -> whatever

I've used a game pad to interface a Sony rm-x4s Joystick, and to use the game pad buttons to detect 12v. I've got 11 inputs + Joystick (or steeringweel commands)

Alex