An interesting solution to adding phone support to CarPC - Page 2

vicky_obee · 09-29-2008, 07:30 AM

Hi Guys
well this sounds pretty cool...but has any one ELSE been successful in making this work...
I am looking up to this option but frankly speaking the layout and the discription of relay inputs/outputs is NOT at all clear....

So can some 1 help but being MORE descriptive as how to go about it....

Thanks

AvWuff · 09-29-2008, 09:10 AM

You could always ask.

If you are familiar with basic electronics, the system is pretty simple. But you will require knowledge on:

- How to use a soldering iron
- How to solder really tiny connectors
- Building basic circuits with relays and an Arduino
- Programming the Arduino
- Programming the software to show on-screen messages/etc

If you are not familiar with electronics and programming, this solution is going to be too complicated for you.

Good luck!
-av

vicky_obee · 09-29-2008, 12:58 PM

Hi Thanks for the help

well i am SURE i can do the 1st three steps... For sure
Rest two i Dont have the Expertise to write the codes or programing.....

So how do i go about the coding and programing part....

I would acutally like to know to begin with as what and how are the relays controlling... I mean after geting the Arduino board and hackng parrot for the 4 wires where do i solder the other ends of the relays....

AvWuff · 09-29-2008, 01:06 PM

Well, if you have no experience programming then you might simply want to install the Parrot board in the way it is intended -- mounting the little controller at the front and wiring it directly into your car's speakers.

The relays simply close contacts, in effect doing the same as pressing the red and green buttons.

vicky_obee · 09-29-2008, 01:21 PM

Well if i have to stick to parrot the way it is intended too be... then y not just use a Blue tooth earpiece !!!!

The idea is to have every thing integrated..
Y dont you release the software that u have made...

or may be u can spare in a few mts from the hectic schd of urs to make it more detailed so that people like me in this community can benefit by ur hard work !!!!

Thanks

AvWuff · 09-29-2008, 01:26 PM

I appreciate your interest. But if you have no idea how to write software, there's nothing I can do short of posting a complete book here to make you understand.

My concepts are very simple and if you knew the basics of programming you'd have no problem understanding them. Please don't be offended, but it is not my fault that you don't understand programming. I don't know how to change spark plugs -- I wouldn't expect a forum member here to do it for me for free, now would I?

My software is specific to my setup and won't do you any good. I don't have the time or desire to turn it into a plugin or standalone application -- I merely posted my solution as an inspiration to others.

rodweb · 10-01-2008, 12:33 AM

And what an inspiration you post has been AvWuff. However, it just so happens that I am touring New Zealand for the next couple of weeks, so I can't weigh in here.

Vicky_obee, if you Google Arduino and read up on the help files, and tutorials like I have, you will get a better idea if this is within your capabilities.

turbocad6 · 10-03-2008, 01:34 PM

avwuff, great that you have shown your project here as an inspiration. I too have struggled with bluetooth to carpc for way more hours than I'd care to admit & I have a handful of bt dongles collected too. honestly I too have for the most part given up & resorted to a prebuilt bluetooth solution, not integrated like yours though. I always thought that it would be awesome if a parrot bt kit was made to support pc interfacing, I'm sure if there was a big market for this it would be easy for a company like parrot to do this, but for the moment were just a tiny geeky minority that won't be catered to in this way yet.

centrafuses newest bt stack does seem a bit promising out of all of the others I've played with, but still just needs work, especially the echoing part that they can't seem to lick just yet, not to mention contacts etc...

vicky, if programming seems a bit out of your realm as it is for me too, you can look into the fusion brain as a possible control for a bt carkit. it is easier to impliment & I have used it to control my alarm system & remote start & a cellphone too by hardwiring to the buttons with no programming experience even. I've been able to get this to do control similar to this, considering this doesn't do anything for caller id or dialing or much else really the suggestion of just using the parrot as designed is not a terible one either, it can still be integrated to the point of audio muting & such, & touching & viewing the parrot is not sooo much more horrible than it would be on the pc screen, considering what it would take to really integrate it fully, that's not such a bad way to go either...

vicky_obee · 10-03-2008, 01:39 PM

Hi Thanks for all the gr8 info.. Well i think u do make scene... At least the muting part works... and i shall try fusion brain and how it can be programmed...
thanks once again

HiJackZX1 · 10-20-2008, 02:44 PM

Thats a cool project, but you do know that CF has greatly improved its phone control. Only issue I have is the person on the other end hearing a echo. Most users use 3rd party echo cancelling software. Flux is in the works to get IVT to add echo canceling and also support for v-cards, what ever that is.

AvWuff · 10-20-2008, 10:29 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

Thats a cool project, but you do know that CF has greatly improved its phone control. Only issue I have is the person on the other end hearing a echo. Most users use 3rd party echo cancelling software. Flux is in the works to get IVT to add echo canceling and also support for v-cards, what ever that is.

I dunno, I tried CF Beta 2 a few months ago and it was buggy as all hell. If they've worked it out, that's great, but the price tag on CF is still pretty nuts.

-av

HiJackZX1 · 10-22-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by AvWuff

I dunno, I tried CF Beta 2 a few months ago and it was buggy as all hell. If they've worked it out, that's great, but the price tag on CF is still pretty nuts.

-av

It depends on which version you get. I stuck with standard version since i think Destinator in the NAV version is pure garbage. I simply use the iGuiadance plug-in. I guess you have to pay more for the fact that its almost install and go. Not like RR, where you have to tweak this and that and add this code, that would drive me nuts.

AvWuff · 10-22-2008, 10:17 AM

Heh, yeah, I fiddled with RR for about 5 minutes before I decided it was not worth my time... and I'm a programmer. I probably should have given it more of a chance, but I decided to just go with my own home-brew solution.

-av

vicky_obee · 10-26-2008, 02:25 PM

Hi Guys
Well taking the lead from here and ""turbocad6's"" advice I got myself a Parrot MK6000 HF and i admit the voice clarity is simply gr8... No echo and no prob of BT stack...
The music from Radio / Carputer stops on incoming / outgoing calls and then restarts when the call is over...
Yes I DO lack the software integration part as i am NOT a PROGRAMMER but atleast for the time being live wid using the answer / hangup button of PARROT HF instead of software mode... till the time some of you gr8 gurus work on a software interface...

And BTW for those who are using an iPhone but are not able to use PhCo ( cos of BT ) this is a sure solution.....

tChao

stonestatue · 10-30-2008, 03:05 AM

AvWuff, I was considering doing something similar to this myself. Complete cell phone integration is a fantastic idea, but judging from all I have read on this forum, people just can't seem to get it right, as well meaning as they are.

The Parrot device solves the problem of compatibility (for the most part), as it allows audio AND data integration (you can hear your cell phone through its speaker and you can send commands to the phone via the device).

I have dabbled in a little experimenting with my present cell phone (LG Muziq), which is serviced by Sprint's EDGE network. I know that EDGE doesn't have the best record for cell phone integration with carputers. However, I did manage to connect it via two different bluetooth connections (to my laptop). The headset profile sent audio from the cell phone to the computer's speakers. The data profile (or whatever it's called) is intended for using the cell phone as a wireless modem, so the computer recognizes it as a modem. This being the case, I opened up Hyperterminal and selected the cell phone as the modem to communicate when sending outbound calls. I entered a number in Hyperterminal and hit send. Sure enough, the phone dialed the number I entered (I called my landline, and I heard it ring), but I couldn't hear anything on the computer's speakers when I talked into my landline, and I couldn't hear anything on the landline's end when I spoke into the pc mic.

I feel virtually the only option is doing what you did. But I am interested in complete integration with the carputer, not just audio. What do you think it would take to interface the Parrot device with the computer? Would it be possible to make some intermediary device to link the Parrot and the computer, or would it be necessary to reconfigure the Parrot's processor?

I am a beginning Electrical Engineering major, so I'm somewhat familiar with soldering and programming.

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