Radar Detector Audio thru the CDR220 Head Unit?
 

Has anyone explored the possibility of running the line out volume of their radar detector thru the stock head unit (CDR220) usining the "telephone" function? The HU has a line in with a max rating of 8 vdc. My SR7 has a audio out jack that requires an amplified speaker (audio lines plus 12 vdc). It loooks like I'm trying to mix a line level signal with an amplified signal, so I've contacted Escort/Passport for some guidance on their end.

Does anyone have the phone fx enabled thru their HU? The manual states that you can hear the other party thru the stereo speakers, wich is what I want for the detector. But do you need to manually togle the phone fx each call, or do you set it up once and the phone rings thru the speakers as long as the HU is on (and is that over the music, or does it mute the tunes so you can hear the phone ring)?

If this works, the radar detector audio would be heard thru the speakers.

I'll let ya know what I hear from Escort, but would appreciate any experience or comments or with this idea.

Thanks

Mark
2001 Seal Grey 986
San Antonio, Tx

mwh98,

Please let me know what you hear back from Escort.

I have a Escort Solo S2 Cordless and a CDR-220.

I would love to have the ability to route the audible warnings throught the speakers.

I found that I can barely hear the radar with the top down and the radio on...

Right now I have the radar mounted on the windshield right above the speedo so I can see the visuals but I would much rather have my eyes on the road than on the radar detector :D

Great idea !

Nick

I have wondered about this but for my GPS rather than the radar detector, I'd like to hook the audio in to the phone kit but I don't know how I'd send the mute signal. I wonder if there's some sort of relay that could be activated by the audio signal, is it a voltage of some sort that could be monitored and used to activate the mute?

I've also contacted Becker for specs.......
 

I've also contacted Becker for specs on exactly what the HU does and how. It will be interesting to see what their response is.

The usual MO is "due to liability issues, we can not comment on how the two units would interact. The HU was not designed for this".

I'll keep ya in the loop as to what I find.

Mark
2001 Seal Gray 986
San Antonio, Texas

I've been looking for a vox circuit switch could detect the audio and use the signal to mute the head unit with a relay and pipe it through the phone kit.

This is the circuit I want to try and make http://www.aaroncake.net/circuits/vidswitch.htm but I don't know where to get the parts from, the online catalogs are kind of confusing. Any help would be welcome!

I started a thread here on PPBB too, no replies yet though.

Chris.

I had the same thought about input of cell phone without the Porsche kit. Even bought the Becker cables. Still cannot figure out how on my CDR23. I got the attachment from Becker with the 220 instructions if this is helpful to anyone.

Did they sell you the kit as being for the CDR23?

I've just ordered the transistors and so on to make up a vox circuit, I'll report back when I see how things go. I still need the Becker cable but that can wait until I know the circuit works.

They sold me a CDR23 cable kit. And I have the instructions for the 23.

Not sure about the cables for the 220s. I just posted the 220 instructions as potential help for some smart guy that might also help me! :)

Would you mind posting or sending me the instructions for the CDR23 phone cable?

Chris.

No problem. It is attached or available from Becker below.

http://www.beckerautosound.com/Porsche/Porsche%20Menu.html

BTW there are TSBs for install of cell phone kits.

Thanks, I appreciate it.

The more I dig, the more I................
 

Here is what I've learned.

ESCORT/PASSPORT
Customer Service Rep was a JOKER! Would not provide their name, only stating we do not sell or service those units, go back top your installer for info (I installed the unit!) Did mangahe to get a Tech on the phone who was great! Audio out plug is the standard "mono earbud jack" that one innexpensive sport radios use. Two wires, one is the audio signal, the other is 9vdc+ (I don't understand how two wires can carry both 9vdc and the audio signal, unless the audio signal was 9vdc, but the Tech as Escort clearly sepreated the two). To close, he did not know how I could get this to work. They do have a "Ground Loop Isolator" for sale on their website, made to interface with a motorcycle intercom system. When I inquired if this would work (similar situation) he said it might. Add this to my cart for $24.99. But this will not work to fix your issue to generate a "Mute" signal for the HU.

BECKER
No Tech reply, but spoke to a sales dude, who seemed to think the "mute" function (A3) was toggled when grounded, thus killing the music. He did sell me a harness that has the plastic connector, C with audio terminals 13 (red +) and 14 (black -) and the wire for the mute connection to connector A 3 for $25.00 including S&H.

The HU is enabled by holding the arrow down button for 8 seconds, change Tel to "on", wich may necessitate tuning up or down to access the Tel mode. The turn HU off. This kit will also allow for am ipod or other source with the harness.

MUTE SIGNAL GENERATOR
Audio stores sell "Low Voltage Trigger" for $10.00 to $20.00. This relay works like your amp on/anntenna turn on lead on the back of your HU. It is hooked to the + side of a speaker and when it senses vdc, it flips a relay to apply 12vdc+ to the line out. It requires very little power to trip the relay on the speaker side ( less that 1 vdc). It is used as a remote amp turn on signal ( i.e. HU is turned on, LVT senses vdc from speaker and trips relay to turn amp on). I think the same principle would work for my needs by adding another relay that takes the 12vdc+ out of the LVT and uses it to trigger the extra relay that would ground out the path and thus trigger the "mute" on the HU.

So here is the path:

SR7 to Ground Loop Isolator
GLI to Becker wire harness C (center terminal to red, outer termianl to black)
Mute wire from Becker A3 to blue wire in LVT
LVT green wire to speaker + (red wire in Becker harness above)

Should work right??

The only drawback I can see is the processing time. The LVT takes a second to sense the speaker voltage, another partial second to toggle the second relay, and the fade out of the mute. By then, I'm in good range for the radar signal to ID me. Second, since the radar detector may go off and on several times before getting a solid signal, the music will be fading in and out in an annoying fashion.

Any EEs out there????


Mark
2001 Seal Gray 986
SAn Antonio, Texas

Here's what I learned so far...

I have a circuit called a "VOX Circuit" and have ordered the components to give it a try. It should monitor for an audio signal and when found mute the radio by grounding the appropriate pin. The circuit can also be tuned such that it doesn't reset too soon (between words) or take too long (after the sound finishes).

Waiting for parts...!

Chris.