Modding the new Motorized VGA Screens

**Wiredwrx** · 05-11-2005, 03:17 PM

Hey All,

I count myself among the lucky to have gotten my unit (The DWW-700M)You know the one, the new Motorized VGA units being sold by Armen at DWW and here on MP3Car.com.

Well, while I am excited, there are some issues that are bothering some people. First, the unit does not Automatically extend when the car is started. One must press a button to get it to come out. While I am lazy, I am not too lazy to press the button, but why should it act like that. It should be able to automatically extend. The other "issue" is that the front LCD for the clock and the Power button stay illuminated even whe the car is off.

I believe that these are flaws, yet they were designed into the unit. I want to change this some how.

First, I am working on the lighting when off issue. That seems to be an easy solution, and I hope to have something worked out in the next day or so. I will post my results, and how to do it then. Don't want to give hope when I am not 100 percent sure I can do it.

THe other issue, the "AutoExtend" can be attacked in a couple of ways. The first, not so elegent, and the second, elegent, but a pain.

I noticed when I took the unit apart (Not completely, just enough to see) that there is a PLCC chip on the main board. I believe that chip is the "brains" of the operation. Luckily it is socketed, so it can be easily removed. However, once I figure out what it is (I can't read the numbers on it yet) I believe we will be able to remove it, and get it reprogrammed. Where, however, is the big question. Does anyone have any experience with programing these things? I have no idea what language, and I do not have the ability to program PLCC's. I have found a place that does BIOS restoration on PLCC's, and I will contact him to see if he can extract the information, and perhaps the smart people on here can figure it out, and make the appropriate changes.

I will work on the not so elegant approach over the next day or so as well, and see if I can make some changes. Not sure how well it will work, but it is worth a try.

Please post here if you have worked, can work, or think you can help with this.

Thanx
Michael

**shotgunefx** · 05-11-2005, 03:31 PM

Well you could try modding the button. If you attempt the chip route, make sure you don't loose it or otherwise damage it. You might not be able to get a replacement.

**jcdillin** · 05-11-2005, 03:51 PM

Well get the numbers from the chip, if it's a pic microcontroller I doubt you will be able to pull the code off of it as they have a read protect bit. But there is nothing to say that we couldnt get a replacement and write our own program, might even be able to put in some more error checking in case the screen doesnt extend fully, etc, etc

**Wiredwrx** · 05-11-2005, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by jcdillin

Well get the numbers from the chip, if it's a pic microcontroller I doubt you will be able to pull the code off of it as they have a read protect bit. But there is nothing to say that we couldnt get a replacement and write our own program, might even be able to put in some more error checking in case the screen doesnt extend fully, etc, etc

The only issue I see with that is figuring out the Different I/O's the chip is using now.

Didn't know about the protection scheme. Bummer.

Perhpas the company that made the units can reprogram them for us. What a novel idea.

Michael

**bergeron76** · 05-11-2005, 04:24 PM

You could power the unit from a DSSC. When you put the key in the ignition, it can emulate a button press and provide power to the unit. That would solve both of your issues with one solution.

When you take the key out, the power to the Motorized display would stay on for about 5 minutes, then turn off completely (including the LCD display and power button led).

So basically, when you get in your car and put the key in the ignition, the display would turn on an fold up. Then when you turn the ignition off, the display would fold back in and then turn off the display a few minutes later.

Just a suggestion, but it seems like a perfect solution for this. And it's a lot cheaper than any of the other startup shutdown controllers.

**Wiredwrx** · 05-12-2005, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by bergeron76

You could power the unit from a DSSC. When you put the key in the ignition, it can emulate a button press and provide power to the unit. That would solve both of your issues with one solution.

When you take the key out, the power to the Motorized display would stay on for about 5 minutes, then turn off completely (including the LCD display and power button led).

So basically, when you get in your car and put the key in the ignition, the display would turn on an fold up. Then when you turn the ignition off, the display would fold back in and then turn off the display a few minutes later.

Just a suggestion, but it seems like a perfect solution for this. And it's a lot cheaper than any of the other startup shutdown controllers.

Sorry, but what is a DSSC? Can't seem to find anything about it.

I will, however, post a complete Mod for both issues tonight. Just need to get 2 parts (Hopefully Ratshack will have the second piece I need)

Michael

**vadimr** · 05-12-2005, 10:05 PM

Wiredwrx, I also got this unit and was very concerned about the two issues, I have an access to a programmer and I can take a look at that chip early next week. I'm also concerened about the lights staying out, I have a wrx as well and around here in the tri-state area they were high on the theft list, so I don't want to add to it.

LMK what you come up with..

**cyberpotato** · 05-12-2005, 10:14 PM

hey im on the fence to buying the motorized unit. i have a Xenarc 700TSV with the high brightness upgrade and noticed it uses the same or simmilar lcd panels would you be able to switch out panels so i could use the one with the high brightness upgrades(sent out to xenarc one) unless it already has those features. im not really sure of the schematics as obviously i dont have the new one yet. Anybody familliar with the two units the Xenarc and The motorized could tell me if my upgrade idea would be plausible. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. If not i have a very nice spot to put my upgraded xenarc in the back of my car. Just curious.

**Wiredwrx** · 05-13-2005, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by cyberpotato

hey im on the fence to buying the motorized unit. i have a Xenarc 700TSV with the high brightness upgrade and noticed it uses the same or simmilar lcd panels would you be able to switch out panels so i could use the one with the high brightness upgrades(sent out to xenarc one) unless it already has those features. im not really sure of the schematics as obviously i dont have the new one yet. Anybody familliar with the two units the Xenarc and The motorized could tell me if my upgrade idea would be plausible. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. If not i have a very nice spot to put my upgraded xenarc in the back of my car. Just curious.

I am not sure if it will fit, but it might. I don't have the manual in front of me now, but I do remember seeing that it mentioned which screen is in there. Perhaps you can determine the size, and figure out if it will fit.

Michael

**Wiredwrx** · 05-13-2005, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by vadimr

Wiredwrx, I also got this unit and was very concerned about the two issues, I have an access to a programmer and I can take a look at that chip early next week. I'm also concerened about the lights staying out, I have a wrx as well and around here in the tri-state area they were high on the theft list, so I don't want to add to it.

LMK what you come up with..

That would be great. I did go ahead and modify the unit. However, as you will see when I post it, there are some issues which a reprogram will correct. Let me know what you find out, and if you need any help.

Michael