UKLooney Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 Hi all, I've recently been looking into a way to improve the visibility of the manually selected gear on my DSG box. To this end, I've been speaking to a company which specialise bus interfacing, and after initial discussions, concluded that if I can get around 50 interested parties/pre-orders, they could develop a unit with the following (initial) specs, cost under £100 (estimate) <ul type="square">[*]Small micro controller based unit, hidden away [*]Hooks up to Driver Inforamtion System CANBus on rear of radio. And to diagnostic CANBus under the dash [*]Adds additioanl 'features' to the Highline DIS display [*]New options selectable from steering wheel/stalk controls [*]Opensource firmware upgradable via optional PC interface We will have to do a little snooping around the CANbus signals before we know what will actually be possible, but a few initial thoughts are along these lines. <ul type="square">[*]Clearer in gear selection displayed on DIS [*]Digital speedometer [*]0-60 timed runs [*]Peak Power Indicator [*]Diagnostics code display and reset [*]Additional content is open to all for suggestion [*]more... Basically, the little micro controller will have access to all the data available on the diagnostic and dis buses. It can manipulate the data and present it to the driver via the DIS. I imagine the unit would be suitable for the entire mkv range (with highline computer???) as well as many audi. Now the question is, do you guys think there would be enough interest to take this project forward? Thanks for reading . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 I haven't voted yet because I have the Midline computer - Could it work? If so I'm deffo very seriously interested and would vote Yes. Excellent idea and post . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 If you like, I'll post a link to this thread from the GTI forum but won't be able to stop people posting there as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKLooney Posted May 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I have the Midline computer - Could it work? [/ QUOTE ] Probably, just need different firmware written, if there are enough interested... [ QUOTE ] If you like, I'll post a link to this thread from the GTI forum but won't be able to stop people posting there as well. [/ QUOTE ] Sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 And then my next quezzie is whether it would matter that I only use Macs and not Windows PC's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlhj83 Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 This would definitely be a must have upgrade for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKLooney Posted May 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 [ QUOTE ] And then my next quezzie is whether it would matter that I only use Macs and not Windows PC's. [/ QUOTE ]I guess it would used a pretty generic serial downloader. So, maybe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlhj83 Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 [ QUOTE ] And then my next quezzie is whether it would matter that I only use Macs and not Windows PC's. [/ QUOTE ] Best to get an Intel Mac so you can run windows as well via bootcamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlhj83 Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 By the way, Hello Fellow Mac User. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 [ QUOTE ] By the way, Hello Fellow Mac User. [/ QUOTE ] ....Golf Mk5, Macs, Artega - We are clearly men of great taste! We've got several Macs at home but the most up to date is a PowerMac Dual G5. So I'm not quite ready to justify a Quad Intel Mac yet. Hmmm....You've planted a worm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlhj83 Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulboy Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 I really like tis idea, as the silly little DSG display is useless. Would it be difficult / expensive to fit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zharca Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 We've got several Macs at home but the most up to date is a PowerMac Dual G5. So I'm not quite ready to justify a Quad Intel Mac yet. Hmmm....You've planted a worm! [/ QUOTE ] See the attachment to justify the Intel Mac: My OSX Macbook desktop. Notice the window on the right running Windows XP at the same time! Networking, Internet, the works. You can run it full screen or as a window like in the pic. Just buy the application "parallels". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 Thanks, zharca . Clearly it works well. However, because I'm a musician using Logic Pro etc etc, I need a powerful desktop Mac and the Intel ones cost a few grand when loaded. One day.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Thanks, zharca . Clearly it works well. However, because I'm a musician using Logic Pro etc etc, I need a powerful desktop Mac and the Intel ones cost a few grand when loaded. One day.... [/ QUOTE ] I'm sure if you sell your AP brakes then you should just about afford that new Mac... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I'm sure if you sell your AP brakes then you should just about afford that new Mac... [/ QUOTE ] ....And I wonder who would be the first to offer to buy them from me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentandy Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 I'd be interested in this for the DSG display alone. I do however have an aftermarket stereo with CAN-BUS interface, would this be affected at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMC950 Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 I'll pay £100 for a big gear number in the middle of my highline display. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I'd be interested in this for the DSG display alone. I do however have an aftermarket stereo with CAN-BUS interface, would this be affected at all? [/ QUOTE ] ....Good question - Me too (Alpine). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpaul0055 Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 Definately 100%... Its soemthing that really winds me up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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