Valentine1 Serial Adapter - Now Shipping! - Page 3

CityFan86 · 08-17-2009, 10:10 AM

It is possible, I just don't think its going to be very practical right now. It would definitely take some development and I feel that the usage of it would be quite limited. I think most people who will be developing for the V1Connect will have a Valentine1 to use or be able to get one. For those that don't, then I would hope the sample code and the protocol documentation would be all that is needed so that data can be read. The developer would then just have to pass the plugin off to someone who can test it with a V1 after they have written the GUI code. This is not the most ideal situation, but it would work.

If anyone needs any more sample code or some V1CS data output sample I will be glad to provide it.

CityFan86 · 08-24-2009, 03:58 PM

Quick status update: I should be sending of the first unit to a beta tester this week who will test it and my software for a week or two. Hope to open up my website for sales shortly with expected ship dates of Oct 1st (Im out of town for 2 weeks in Sept). Sorry for the delays but I want it tested for a week or so before I start selling.

CityFan86 · 08-31-2009, 01:50 AM

For the latest updates please follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/v1connect) or at http://forums.v1connect.com. It may get hard to keep all forums updated with the same info from now on. FYI, the first unit has shipped out to a beta tester and I expect to open up for sales soon with shipment starting around October 1st.

DAE51D · 09-23-2009, 08:47 PM

So, here's what I don't understand. While I love that you're building this and hope to see your project and others like it flourish, thus bringing a whole new area of CarPC integration -- including perhaps networks of radar-detectors that can transmit over their WiFi to other drivers where they encountered traps, and GPS integration, etc.

I digress... So what I don't understand is that I'd still need to keep the V1 (or any radar detector) up on my windshield correct? Thereby notifying police and other drivers that I have one! I get/appreciate that this moves the lights/display to my LCD and can have the potential for extra features (as mentioned above), but the core problem I have always seen with radar detectors is their obviousness. If a cop see's one, he's probably going to nail you for something. He might get you for 5 miles over the limit just to be an d-bag, whereas if you didn't (appear) to have one, he'd probably let you skate by if you're in the < 10mph over range. Just today I got nailed for 71 in a 60 and he dropped it to 65 in a 60. I didn't have a detector. If I did though, I'm pretty sure he'd have kept the 71 (or maybe even padded it further to 75).

What someone needs to do is make a "bubble" sensor that can be mounted inconspicuously to your windshield, snake the wire around your A-frame and dash/glovebox, and connect to the "guts" of the detector hidden away, and that display is on the CarPC. This way everything is nice and stealthy. You could even put the bubble outside the car for even better range/sensitivity -- it's very common for cars to have GPS or XM-radio bubbles on their roofs now for this very reason.

f1racr · 09-23-2009, 11:35 PM

Hi there,

What you've described is exactly what I have done. I've used clear acrylic to create a totally sealed box around my V1 and then have mounted it in the front of the car.

Rear detection still works, just not as well, but front detection is exactly the same in fact a little better as I tested by finding a radar source and putting my second V1 up on the windscreen and seeing which went off first and with 4 different sources, there was no more than 10 metres in each occasion before they both alerted with the front mounted unit going off before the windscreen one if anything.

You can purchase sealed boxes for V1's off the net from a few places, but they were rediculously expensive for what they were. I just sealed off the cable coming out with silicone sealant and also covered the box in sealant on any areas I wanted to be 100% sure of, but I used sealant inside the box also before sealing the lid so I'm pretty sure it'll be water tight, but haven't had it in the car for long enough to give you a definative answer. Oh and yeah I drilled a small hole in the back so you can still get to volume switch to be able to program it if needed and sealed it with a flexible rubber bung that expands so should seal OK.

So I hope that answers your question about why this is useful

Will post some pics of my first effort if you want later on.

GizmoQ · 09-23-2009, 11:36 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by DAE51D

What someone needs to do is make a "bubble" sensor that can be mounted inconspicuously to your windshield, snake the wire around your A-frame and dash/glovebox, and connect to the "guts" of the detector hidden away, and that display is on the CarPC. This way everything is nice and stealthy. You could even put the bubble outside the car for even better range/sensitivity -- it's very common for cars to have GPS or XM-radio bubbles on their roofs now for this very reason.

Someone already did - if you have $1,000 to $3,000 bucks for a commercial version.

http://www.1stradardetectors.com/Rad...mote/index.php
http://www.1stradardetectors.com/pro...-360/index.php

And they didn't even bother to dismantle the V1's! Which is probably a good thing considering the delicate nature of radar feed horns.

theshadow27 · 09-24-2009, 03:26 PM

CityFan86 - I've got a challenge. My car has an LCD in the gauge cluster (see top screen)which displays messages from the various computer modules in the car (like the door module, which sends a "passenger door open" message when you open the door) via a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. I'd be willing to help develop a interface like connect but rather than outputting via RS232, outputs messages to the CAN bus.

Many cars these days have similar screens, and they almost exclusively use CAN, however the protocols are probably different across makes, and even models. So the challenge is:

1) Develop a CAN hardware platform that can automatically determine vehicle network speed and monitor messages.
2) Create a USB interface that can log messages from the CAN bus.
3) For each make/model, have the user log a bunch of messages while triggering things that show up on the LCD
4) Start an online CAN message database/forum where CAN logs can be posted and us techies can figure out a "driver" for each vehicle
5) Once there's a driver, allow it to be loaded in the device and connected to the V1

You up to it? If not I'd still like to use your reader in my design.

BTW:

Quote:

So what I don't understand is that I'd still need to keep the V1 (or any radar detector) up on my windshield correct?

I just put mine here:

Which looks to cops like

DAE51D · 09-24-2009, 11:45 PM

Does your V1 actually work well shoved up there in the roof with all those electronics and no line of site to front or rear (and worse, metal from the car's frame).

Also, what is that crazy knob thingy?

theshadow27 · 09-25-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by DAE51D

Does your V1 actually work well shoved up there in the roof with all those electronics and no line of site to front or rear (and worse, metal from the car's frame).

Also, what is that crazy knob thingy?

Actually it works better there than on the visor. I have about 1.5 mile range with Ka. It has a metal free LOS out the front and back windshield, and plastic doesn't block microwaves. It's mounted perfectly level (can't tell from that pic but I made a bracket to hold it to the headliner support structure). The electronics are minimal and only affect the rear antenna sensitivity slightly.

The one thing it can't do is laser, but that's what the LI is for. Detecting laser is pointless.

The knobby thing is a Parrot BT interface.

I've done a number of these stealth V1 installs since VA isn't too fond of the whole radar thing. The S40 was the first that had enough room to put it there. The s60r went inside the rear center headrest. Mustang GT went in a custom lifted rear deck. 335xi went in the center domelight. I can post pics if y'all want, but prob in a different thread.

GizmoQ · 09-25-2009, 11:06 AM

I have mine up there as well, but I cut an opening so I can get to the controls and see the display. Luckily, when I shut it off, its invisible from outside the car.

CityFan86 · 09-27-2009, 11:11 AM

theshadow27, I have thought about doing this for my current car and I may start it and see where it goes, but its not going to be a small task. Ill see how it goes and if its possible to do on mine, yet alone other cars.

theshadow27 · 09-27-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by CityFan86

theshadow27, I have thought about doing this for my current car and I may start it and see where it goes, but its not going to be a small task. Ill see how it goes and if its possible to do on mine, yet alone other cars.

Cool. Keep us posted. I picked up two of these kits:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/id...t=MCP2515DM-BM
And will play around when they show up. The order has been pushed back until 30-october though :/

CityFan86 · 10-04-2009, 10:11 PM

FYI, I looked into the CAN project for my car. Looks like it should be pretty simple. I know the hardware I need and will start looking into making one after this current project gets more stable.

theshadow27 · 10-04-2009, 10:41 PM

The hard part for my car (05 Volvo S40) is that the control module addresses vary between vehicles. It may be a VIN-block thing, or may be randomized, I'm not sure, but there's nowhere that says "Dashboard = 0x3A" which would be very useful.

I've talked to folks who have tried similar things and supposedly the best way to sniff CAN is to hook up and start unplugging things. When that address drops off the trace, plug it back in and filter it out. Eventually you're only left with the thing you're looking for. This sounds like a tremendous PITA though.

What I'd like to do is come up with a method of "searching" for the correct address with the embedded system in it's final form. This may not be possible between different makes, but I'd bet that all Volvo's use the same type of command to put messages on the LCD screen. Other car makers probably do the same. It just doesn't make sense to re-invent the wheel every time you change the background color of the gauge cluster...

The Microchip boards are backordered and will take until the end of October to arrive

CityFan86 · 10-04-2009, 10:48 PM

I think the only way is the PITA way. You could log all the messages and try and look to see if one makes sense. You should in theory be able to see the ASCII characters being transmitted that correlate to the display, so may not be too bad. But yes, all message ids will vary between makes and probably between models. Email me or lets make another thread to discuss.

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