Buttons on steering wheel to work with computer?

slboytoy · 10-21-2003, 01:22 AM

I'm about to buy a grand prix GTP, and it has volume and skip and next and such on the steering wheel. Has anyone been able to use these buttons to interface with their computer??

I'm using the VIA M board, with the 5.1 sound out. SO i won't need a head unit, and it would be great to get the steering wheel controls to work with the computer. I don't want to buy the inferred unit to make them work with cd players. there must be a way to use an old keyboard or something like that, so when you press the volume UP, it's like the pressing the UP arrow on the keyboard..

Thanks for any input.
~matt

mugu · 10-21-2003, 02:26 AM

What connection type is the steeringwheel controls? I was in my parents car today, and was wondering the same. If you can find some way to possibly connect it to your carputer via serial, you can use girder
http://girder.nl

to catch and do whatever you want with it (not just emulate keyboard keypresses, but change your volume directly). Girder forums are pretty cool, good place to gather resources.

[edited for accuracy -mugu)

PreZ_ImAgE · 10-21-2003, 08:58 AM

you can also hack a keyboard and wire it so when you press the button on your steering wheel it presses a key on the board. Kinda ghetto, but will work all the same. (and if no one knows, who cares, right?)

slboytoy · 10-21-2003, 12:33 PM

That idea just came to me this morning. Rip apart a keyboard and stick it in the buttons.. It will work perfect!!! And so simple. THanks.

Quote: Originally Posted by PreZ_ImAgE

you can also hack a keyboard and wire it so when you press the button on your steering wheel it presses a key on the board. Kinda ghetto, but will work all the same. (and if no one knows, who cares, right?)

mugu · 10-21-2003, 12:40 PM

heh, pictures?