FAQ: Hacking Your Steering Wheel Buttons to Control Your PC

**JasonWW** · 12-05-2006, 10:36 AM

I'm seriously considering just sticking a tiny remote into the steering wheel and have it's tiny IR transmitter peaking out from behind the wheel and then wiring each steering wheel button to the remote buttons. Then I could mount the PC IR reciever somewhere up front in view of the transmitter and bypass the SWI-2 or X completely. Then it would work perfectly and be smooth all the time.

**Iceman_jkh** · 12-05-2006, 08:36 PM

Gimme a few days mate

Ive written something.. hang in there
It uses the PhidgetLCD8/8/8 and interfaces with RR.
I'm trying to get it to run with the Phidget non LCD 8/8/8 as well.

Ice

**JasonWW** · 12-05-2006, 09:48 PM

I'm gonna wait to see what Iceman is working on, but I did pick up an extra steering wheel. I also found that the $50 X10 Radio Frequency mouse remote control device will work. The RF reciever plugs into the PS2 port. The big remote is for seldom use. I can then pick up a tiny slim RF remote for $20 which has 10 buttons on it. I can mount it inside the wheel.

With the RF device the steering wheel angle, sunlight and reciever location becomes moot. It should always work.

http://www.x10.com/products/x10_mk19a_2.htm

http://www.smarthome.com/4012.html

I guess this will be a backup plan.

**JasonWW** · 12-06-2006, 10:28 PM

Iceman, will the phidget be a direct link between the PC's usb port and the steering wheel's single data wire?

What vehicle do you have?

**Iceman_jkh** · 12-07-2006, 01:13 AM

The Phidget will be connected to the PC via USB.

The A/D port of the phidget will connect to the single wire controls as shown in the attached JPG.

I have a Holden Commodore VY (I'm in Australia).

**JasonWW** · 12-07-2006, 08:48 AM

Does your Commodore use a single wire which transmits variable levels of resistance?

I forget what it's called, but in my car each button has it's own resistance value and the headunit translates it. The PAC Steering Wheel control SWI-2 and SWI-X does the same thing and then translates that to a IR signal.

I know some of the latest cars use a digital signal over a single wire.

**Iceman_jkh** · 12-07-2006, 08:55 AM

My car uses multiple resistors in a 'ladder' and shorts them out according to which button is pressed. I get a different resistance along the wire for each button that is pushed. To answer your question: Yes, its a single wire which transmits a variable level of resistance.

It is not a digital signal, although that would be fun to interface with

.

I've just given someone a beta copy of my app to test. I'll let you know what happens shortly.

**JasonWW** · 12-07-2006, 09:31 AM

Cool, that means that at least our steering wheels work the same.

Is your program specifically for the latest RR version?

I prefer a older version, but I'm still curious.

**Iceman_jkh** · 12-07-2006, 05:49 PM

It uses the COM/ActiveX SDK Method as specified in (How do I integrate my application with RR ?) for RoadRunner.

Therefore it will work with any "October 06" and onwards releases.

**Strange** · 12-09-2006, 10:25 AM

im not sure of the possiblitys of it all but somthing ive been thinking about on my f150, dosent have radio controlls but has the cruse controlls on the left and the right side of the steering wheel and heres what its like

ON --------------------------- Set Acel

------------------------------ Coast

Off--------------------------- Resume

the cruise dosent do anything unless the On button has been pushed first.
what if i could i could use the Off Button as a "Ctrl" Button and then my buttons ont he right become other buttons (like pushing 2nd on a calculator) i could have at least volume and next song

possibily there? or would it require intire reworkings of the steering wheel (not worth it)