ICS videointerface - Alfa 166

[Tony Rome]

Originally Posted by rogier166

I don't think it will become available anyway.

Why not, Rogier? Yours was the device most people on this forum wanted and were looking forward to! It's cruel to show people what can be done and then not make it available .

Incidentally, I sent you four e-mails in an attempt to buy the audio-in device which connects to the CD changer cables but never received any reply. Is this still available?

[zippychips]

yes id like one of those units too

[stuhr]

I have video interface "composite to RGBs" for connect between Siemens navigation unit and ICS. Problem is in navigation unit - totaly damage optical unit inside GPS (CD upside down) and ICS cann't read software from CD and activate RGBs input. My ICS has RGBs input on black 26pin connector (pin 1,2,14,15,16) and on green 26pin (pin 7,8,9,10). How can I enable RGBs mode on ICS ?

[Addey]

I would also definitely be interested in one of Rogiers devices, but obviously a no-go... Why so?

[niallmoran]

Rogier's just a tease - he's the only one clever enough to do these projects and then won't share 'em

[cgt]

So what's the point in talking about something if it's not going to be available

Better to just keep quiet!

[niallmoran]

well at least we all know it's possible - i just wish i was clever enough to build one myself

[davidjbell]

I went and had a look at Anargyre's posts on the french site and there is a great description of how he cabled it all up to the ICS. There are also some good pictures of ICS removal there as well.

But the more interesting information concerning ICS is in a couple of the later posts, as he has included details from an ICS manual on what the connector pin outs are.

You can see them on his site at :

http://nicolas.georgiou.free.fr/Sche...son%20ics1.jpg
http://nicolas.georgiou.free.fr/Sche...son%20ics2.jpg

Thanks for posting these Anargyre

[Addey]

While I myself don't see the need for the possibility of playing DVDs on the ICS, I really would like to figure out how to install a rear view camera that switches on when you put the car in reverse. If I understand the French thread correctly (my French is useless, so I have to rely on babelfish...), an input on the tv-in-pins (3, 4, 5, 17 and 18 on connector 1) will override other input to the screen. As far as I understood, this was why he (Anargyre) installed a switch outside the ICS. If so, I figure this would be where to connect a camera, which is off at all times except when putting the car in reverse (connecting it to the reversing light would make it turn on when car is put in reverse).

Anyone who thinks this sounds sensible? If it works, it would work without having to open the ICS...

[davidjbell]

You would have to open the ICS to get at the back connectors. The 'TV' connection hooks into the existing connector 1 on the TV-in pins that you mentioned.

Anagyre took the existing ICS connector apart, added in the new cable and ran it back through a hole into the glove box to hook up to his DVD player. Obviously for a rear-view camera you'd probably run it under the mats and into the boot.

The switch hooks into the other connector (connector 2, pin-5) to switch the display between the ICS and the external source. Not sure what the polarity of this is - previous posts suggest that the input has to be grounded to selected an external source - but there's only 2 choices!

[Addey]

When I say "open the ICS", I mean disassembly of the box itself, not extracting it from the dash... From looking at Rogiers pictures on his website, I can see that he has opened it up and made modifications on the PCBs. That's what I want to avoid, since I'm not capable of doing such a thing...

[El Barto]

Correct me if I`m wrong, but this looks like plug&play - you have to bring RGB (from SCART) and audio (mono) to connector.

Only problem is how to select TV - is it operated by pressing NAVI button twice or do I need another button (switch) installed?


And I think, that Rogier added converter fom VGA to RGB inside ICS.

[colinc]

Yep - me too although I would need pretty explicit instructions/diagrams/photos to aid me

[anargyre]

hello !

I am going to sell retail my Alfa 166 therefore I sell the interface for ICS and a Amstrad DNX300 (with SCART RGB and very difficult to find because doesn't product anymore). prices of new interface and Amstrad : 108€+60€: 168€.

I sell them 75€ + shipping.

[Alfa-CZ]

Originally Posted by El Barto

Correct me if I`m wrong, but this looks like plug&play - you have to bring RGB (from SCART) and audio (mono) to connector.

Only problem is how to select TV - is it operated by pressing NAVI button twice or do I need another button (switch) installed?


And I think, that Rogier added converter fom VGA to RGB inside ICS.

It seems,that the TV input on the cable, wich you can see on the french forum, is activated by the manual switch. This switch probably connects the pin no.5 on the black 20pin connector to the ground (or to +12V - i will try it today) and activates TV input. But disables all other ICS functions.

[Mitch166]

Originally Posted by Alfa-CZ

It seems,that the TV input on the cable, wich you can see on the french forum, is activated by the manual switch. This switch probably connects the pin no.5 on the black 20pin connector to the ground (or to +12V - i will try it today) and activates TV input. But disables all other ICS functions.

Keep us posted!

[Addey]

Originally Posted by Alfa-CZ

It seems,that the TV input on the cable, wich you can see on the french forum, is activated by the manual switch. This switch probably connects the pin no.5 on the black 20pin connector to the ground (or to +12V - i will try it today) and activates TV input. But disables all other ICS functions.

If that's the case, that would be the ideal place to connect my rear view camera. Will test it when I get it (already ordered...) and post results here.

[Alfa-CZ]

Originally Posted by Mitch166

Keep us posted!

Hi everybody,

yesterday i made first succesful test of my own videointerface. You can see it here:

www.sweb.cz/honda.vfr

How to do it ?
First download and print the documents.Then:

The pin no.5 on the green 26pin connector must be connected to the ground (ICS chassis) to switch the ICS to TV mode.
Everything you need to do then is to take some SCART to SCART video cable,dissasembly one SCART connector and solder pins on the requested wires (just see the documents). It`s necessary to connect ground signals for red, green and blue to one wire and then to pin 3 on the black connector. Next important wire is wire 20 on scart connector (composite video in), it must be connected to pin no.17 on ICS black connector (to sync the picture). Then just connect other wires for red, green, blue and audio and it`s done.

Be sure to have regular RGB/Scart output on your DVD player, DVD with composite video out with simple reduction to SCART will not work ! Or use some converter.
Good luck !

[Gustav_H]

This sounds nice! Must order a reverse camera...

[Gustav_H]

If I understand you correctly this camera won't work without an adapter on the ICS screen?

http://cgi.ebay.com/717-9-LED-NIGHT-...QQcmdZViewItem

Think I will fit a reverscamera in my car soon. This will be fun

[Alfa-CZ]

Hi,

the camera on the picture you posted has a composite video output, that means it will not work without a converter. You need to split the signal from composite out (1 line signal + 1 ground) to red, green and blue signals (RGB + sync + ground = 5 wires) and without converter it`s not possible.
I`m working on it and will post some schematics to make the converter by yourself ... But still don`t know when ...

[Gustav_H]

Ah, great! That's what I suspected. I haven't found any reverse cameras with RGB yet. Any one else who have done that?

[rogier166]

Hello,

...Therefore I added a composite video to RGB converter to this board inside the ICS.

If you use a B/W camera (most camera's are B/W, a colour cam will work also, but you see the picture in B/W), you can add the composite videosignal cable from this camera to the R,B,G and sync signal together. Remember to use a camera with a PAL video system. You can use the TV_on signal (switched to ground) directly to the reverse gear signal (also switched to ground) to activate the camera automatic.

[Gustav_H]

If I get this right. You could take a camera with compsite signal, and put that signal to booth R, G and B? And the sync? Or will I only be able to view tha picture in B/W?

[Addey]

Sounds like you'd only get a BW picture. I know there are commercially available composite to RGB converters, but these cost more than the rear view camera itself... Me, I'm happy with B/W picture on my rear view camera, so I just have to cancel the order I just put in for a NTSC camera and see if they have a PAL compatible one...