COMAND APS: How to connect an external video monitor?
 

Hello,

Has anybody been able to connect an external video monitor to the 25-pin rear connector of the COMAND APS?

I'm referring to the 2nd connector on the back of COMAND-APS which is for a rear (aux) screen connection.

The EURO spec COMAND APS unit has 4 connectors on the back:
1 - Green FAKRA - Video Input (only if Video capable)
2 - 25-way D-Type - Rear Screen (only if Video capable)
3 - 3 Way - AUX audio input
4 - Multiway - Power, Ground, Wakeup & MOST fibre plug

Here's the Pin-out for the D25 (Rear Screen) connector:
1 Ubat+ (circuit 30)
3 AUDIO R
4 AUDIO L
6 CAN Low
7 CAN High
8 CVBS (FBAS)
14 Circuit 31
15 AUDIO screening
16 AUDIO ground
20 AUDIO GND CYBS (FBAS) ground
** All other pins are not assigned

I tried to connect pin 8 (CVBS (FBAS)) and 20 (CYBS (FBAS) ground) to an external Sony monitor video input RCA connector (Video Composite signal) but the screen just goes black.

At first I thought I would have to activate this rear screen output on the COMAND using the MB Star Diagnosis computer so I asked an MB dealer to activate it for me (Menu - Rear Entertainment). But still no luck , all I get is a black screen when the DVD starts playing (when anything else is playing other than the DVD the external screen stays blue)

Has anybody tried this?
Any idea why it doesn't work?
Can it be that this 25-pin connector only works for the Mercedes’ OEM rear screen which probably makes use of the other signals (CAN Low and Can High)?

I really appreciate anybodies’ help on this.

Thanks,
migabc


[IMG]local://upfiles/12770/3191CD5CF9ED44DAB9426E7208A46603.jpg[/IMG]

RE: COMAND APS: How to connect an external video monitor?
 

what car model and year was it?

RE: COMAND APS: How to connect an external video monitor?
 

It's a 2003 W211 E Class.
The COMAND APS is model 6061 (A2118272442 000).
Thanks,
migabc

RE: COMAND APS: How to connect an external video monitor?
 

interesting!

i know it's easy for input, but let me check how we can get video output from rear screen connector.

RE: COMAND APS: How to connect an external video monitor?
 

i think the CAN has nothing to do with the video output...but that FBAS does.

getting a black screen instead of blue, means it's getting the video signal but cannot process the image.

hmmnnnn....let me think more.

[IMG]local://upfiles/1/67CF95B84F164A0A886D87E6985E7553.jpg[/IMG]

RE: COMAND APS: How to connect an external video monitor?
 

FBAS is the standard Video Composite (single wire + GND) video signal that almost every video monitor uses (usually connected on a yellow RCA jack).

But maybe the COMAND APS will only enable video output if it detects CAN signals.
Can that be the case?
Thanks,
migabc

RE: COMAND APS: How to connect an external video monitor?
 

Do you mean the connection on the Green FAKRA Video Input connector?
What kind of signal is this? Is it also FBAS (Standard Video Composite)?

Can I connect any type of Video Source into this connector (example, Video Camera)?

Note: When I press the Video Button on my COMAND APS I do not see the Video Aux nor TV softkey buttons (I only see the DVD button). Does this mean I first have to activate the TV input with Star Diagnosis? Can it be activated using the Engineering menu instead?

Thanks a lot,
migabc

RE: COMAND APS: How to connect an external video monitor?
 

Do you mean that it is easy to send video to the comand display?
Without the MB TV-Tuner?
I'm hardly looking for any way to do it. How is it possible?

JML

RE: COMAND APS: How to connect an external video monitor?
 

with tv tuner tuner of course.

without tv tuner, you will need RGB adapter. you also have to remove the faceplate.