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MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) cebone Profile Anyone care to hack this item. If not possible you can still keep the microdrive. It will be good to be able to use some simple hardware to control this puppy. http://www.sounddomain.com/sku/BLAMDP01 11-09-2003 16:55:59

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) D2tw4all Profile The microdrive alone is worth that! Tom 11-10-2003 09:20:22

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) pdp1145 Profile | Email Here's the manual. http://www.blaupunktusa.com/NR/rdonlyres/7E87E1DC-64E8-4CE5-A8EE-401FD44FCD5E/0/MDP01.pdf Looks to be a simple serial control with an analog output. here's one guy looking at the protocol. http://www.mictronics.de/?page=cdc_proto I have also seen some references to them Blaupunkt using Sony's Unilink protocol. So they may have used several different protocols in the past. Now which one? Questions needed to be answered: 1) What level is the serial interface? Already at RS232? It would make sense, since they have to run 10 to 20 feet. Could be RS485 or RS423 too. 2) The obvious - what is the protocol. Should be simple and without much overhead. Afterall they don't want to spend mony on software or processing power. 3) Is the analog line-level. I assume it is. Max 11-11-2003 07:54:17

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 1 times) PeteC Profile Is there a way to put a "front end" to this device utilizing existing comm specs to one of the external CD-Controllers which interface with FM transmitters...I remember an old Pioneer changer (one of the first) 12-CD model with an interface (along with an IR remote) which I controlled the changer in the trunk...IE: If the command structure is the same (or like many) couldn't the pin outs be modified to use one of the existing CD-Changers front ends out there already? 11-12-2003 13:38:10

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) PeteC Profile On a second note I believe that my unit (double DIN with CD) already has a front end for a changer with a cable running to the trunk... 11-12-2003 14:19:48

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) pdp1145 Profile | Email PeteC, I believe converting the pinout is possible. However another and more differcult problem is that audio industry has not settled on a protocol for the changers. Hence you would need possibly a protocol converter too. Max 11-12-2003 18:37:18

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) Pyggi Profile Did anyone opened one up? What microcontroller is in? The compact flash interface is almost identical to IDE by standard - maybe a 2.5" HDD can replace that 1GB microdrive and make a useful player? 11-14-2003 14:46:44

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) cebone Profile I have taken some pictures but I have nowhere to post it. Anyone have a website, I can send the pics to you. 11-14-2003 18:46:28

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) ouzome Profile Sign up for a free 3 year web account at 1and1.com - 11-15-2003 22:15:36

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) Pyggi Profile or create an msn group and there's 3MB space for pictures. Make the group public so anyone can surf. 11-17-2003 07:22:56

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) elowe Profile You can get interface/protocol adapters to control different CD changer decks with different head units at http://www.logjamelectronics.com/ Maybe they have one to hook up your head unit to this MP3 changer. 11-17-2003 13:58:03

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) BigDog Profile | Email Anyone know what the interface that Ford uses on their typical cd-changer interface? I know that Blaupunkt makes several model radios and cd units for ford. I bought a cd-changer module for my Ford that allows audio input with the idea inmind of installing a mp3 player, now with such a good price on this, I am curious if this play might plug right into the cd/md changer port plug on the Ford... I can't find any referance to interface adapters for Ford vehicles to Blaupunkt. Anyone get one of these yet? With a CDC interface being serial, it would seem easy to control by PC software. 12-05-2003 09:45:56

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) aaron_800 Profile I have taken some pictures but I have nowhere to post it. Anyone have a website, I can send the pics to you. Send the pics to me (aaron 800 @ extreme-diy dot com, i have a webpage (www.extreme-diy.com) meant for projects like this. I'll set up a page for it. 12-06-2003 01:10:10

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) BigDog Profile | Email Well I ordered one, I am not sure about the cd changer interface which I going to try to find and adapter for my Ford head unit which Blaupunkt claims they have yet no one sells yet... BUT I am also going to order one of these.... http://www.pjrc.com/tech/mp3/ which is a homebrew MP3 player and if all else fails, use the 1gb microdrive with an IDE-CF drive I have and go from there. The Blaunpunkt player is worth the cost of getting a 1gb IBM microdrive. FYI - The microdrives work in most compact flash readers so you should use use this drive in the GCT to make a decent solid state MP3 player too and sell the base unit on eBay for a modest price; I found nothing near the $149 price which is what mine costs including shipping.... Hmmm..... (wonder how long these will last at that price?) 12-06-2003 09:29:08

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) *SF* Profile BigDog, I am sure I am missing something, But have You considered this ? for $159.99 after $50 rebate, free shipping. Amazon has the Archos 20 GB MP3 Jukebox Recorder Special Edition, $50 rebate Exp 12/31/03 I bought a 15gig from CurcuitCity over a Year ago & Love it. Imagine a Laptop hard drive with 4 AA Batteries on top of it, between the 2 Batteries on either side are ALL of the Electronics ! including the Recharging curcuit & Microphone. Using the USB interface this shows up in Windows as a Hard Drive. Just Drag & Drop MP3s for Playing or any other files for Transfer to another system. 8 ~ 10 Hours on battery, Great on Bike or @ WORK 12-07-2003 01:23:48

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) BigDog Profile | Email True, but i'm always a sucker when there's a chance that I can break out the soldering iron... Actaully your are correct esp when you figure in the cost of the homemade one doessn't include a hard drive and display. 12-07-2003 09:57:52

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) Stormbringer Profile Mayhaps this thing does have potential... You think ya can get a compact flash to 2.5 hard drive converter for this? Would be nice to use laptop hard drives for the car and sell the microdrive on ebay. 12-08-2003 12:30:53

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) BigDog Profile | Email There are a few cf to hard drive converters out there but the problem would be that a typical 2.5 hard drive pulls too much power and the Blaubunkt unit gets it's power from the head unit so most likely all you do is blow a fues or let the smoke out unless you hacked in a external power for the drive; The complete player is rather small too; a desktop hard drive would be just a hair smaller than the player it's self. 12-09-2003 07:35:50

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) *SF* Profile http://rockbox.haxx.se/mods/ Well You could solder on the Archos, If You want to, others have. But it Works Great right out of the Box. 12-09-2003 12:48:13

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) BigDog Profile | Email My Blaupunkt MP3 player arrived today; It's apart and yes I have pictures! Two torz screws on the end and the circuit board slides out the case... Nothing to earth shattering, it uses a Motorola MC912D60A and a couple other small chips, for USB, IDE and presumaly some memory. There is a 6 pin standard size header, perhaps a serial interface? The inside of a Blaupunkt MPD-01 I found a Ford OEM Blaupunkt CD Changer adapter but I am afraid it's the wrong one, hopefully I will be to exchange it for the right on or hack it to work with the correct plug which goes to the Ford head unit (anyone know were to find Ford CD Changer interface pinouts??) 12-11-2003 21:53:02

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) BigDog Profile | Email Well darn it! I found a OEM adapter that Blaupunkt's tech support told me might work with using the OEM Ford head unit's CDC port... and while it doesn't work, I gained some major knowledge on car audio cd changer protocols! Anyone want to try to hack a computer serial interface into the unit? I might be willing to accept offers for the MDP-01 with or without the 1gb microdrive. I am not a programmer much less able to use the assembly code to write a program for it. 01-14-2004 14:22:42

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) BigDog Profile | Email I never give up!! Started back tracking thanks to a slow week at work with a 10gb internet connection (yes, it's good to be the king!) The MDP-01 is basicly a data adapter that allows the compact flash/microdrive to interface into the ISO "CAN" buss which is a popular interface in european audio for cars such as the Audi, BMW. The standard is used to provide a comman interface for such things a navigation, cd changer and cell phone; sort of a USB type interface for cars if I understand it correctly. The MDP-01 uses the MC912D60 controller chip which is a programmable chip used primarly in RS232 buffering into the ISO CAN bus. I have not given up on interfacing it into my 99 Ranger yet, this time I going to try the premium Ford Focus MP3 head unit which is made by Blaupunkt for Ford, I found a site were a owner of a BMW found that the plug on the MDP-01 plugged into his CAN interface in his car and by golly it worked! Well the hopeful part of this is that the Ford Focus unit has the exact same interface plug. After a couple more emails to Blaupunkt's tech supprot they claim that the MP3 player won't work on any headunit other that the aftermarket ones they sell; all this boils down to to that it may work if the Ford Blaupunkt will support the CAN interface, by the way the CAN and CD changer port have the eact same pin pattern, Blaunpunkt tech support told me that the MDP-01 wouldn't work on the "cd changer port".... Hmmmm.... Well I should have my Ford Focus Blaupunkt MP3 player by the end of the week, I haven't got the ISO plugs to connect power and speakers but that's available for an extra 10 bucks locally. It's interesting to dig into something new, I have learned a lot about car audio in the last two weeks! It's amazing how well the european car audio companies have their act togather and actually make products that work with each other's products and share comman physical interfaces. I'm even taken a crash course in German since most the good technical stuff is in Germon, thank god for Google's "translator" function! 01-15-2004 19:52:32

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) Glitch Profile BigDog: That is interesting info about the CAN interface. Most of the Germans use a fairly common interface based off from the 2.0b standard. This part should be fairly easy to interface with. There is a CAN-high and CAN-low signal. Connect these two wires and you have joined the CAN bus. The trick is to get the message list for the device. These are the commands that the devices sends and receives. The combinations of these are far to numerous to blindly guess. It is possible to reverse engineer the commands by "sniffing" a working bus. However, the most practice method is to just get the info from the manufacturer. Blaupunkt might give you the list easily or not at all. It is hard to guess what a German company will do. If you can get a message list I'd be willing to help on this hack. As far as the Ford end goes, I might be able to track down a message list for your car. I have a few contacts at Ford but I don't know if they have or can get the info. If you are lucky they commands will be compatible. Otherwise a protocol converter will be needed. I'm sure that I can track down the necessary info for GM cars. Glitch Electronics run on smoke, if you let the smoke out they won't work 01-16-2004 06:18:42

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) BigDog Profile | Email Found this - http://www.elektronikladen.de/en_card12.html which is a develpment board for the MC912D60A/MC912DG128A controller. From the tech sheet's on the board, both the MC912D60A/MC912DG128A board and the MDP-01 have a 6 pin header which on the developer's board is the CAN interface, so I believe the 6 pin header on the MDP-01 is also a CAN interface. The only Ford OEM radio that that I am aware of that might support the CAN interface is the Blaupunkt Focus MP3 player and the new 2004's Focus Balupunkt unit has a on board navigation system using the similer if not the same unit. Silly me, all this started with simple motive to keep the stock radio appearance and have MP3 capibilities, sure I could just go with the Blaunpunkt head unit that suppose to work but were would the fun be in doing what everyone else does !! and besides, i hate the little buttons on the those after market head units... 01-16-2004 06:45:37

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) BigDog Profile | Email All right, I give up for real this time; I bought a Ford Focus Blaupunkt MP3 player which while it has the correct cd changer for the MDP-01, the protocol is different. Ford must have insisted that while Blaupunkt made the head unit that it must conform to Ford's CD changer protocol rather than Blaupunkts, I believe the Blaunpunkt AUX adapter will work with since it's a simple three wire input so I guess I will just use a real external MP3 if I want massive storage. with a difference between 1gb and 650mb, re-writable cdrom's makes more snese anyhow and honestly I LOVE the Ford Blaunpunkt stereo, it read MP3 tags info on the display, has RDS, subwoofer and amp output; by any standard it's the best audio head unit that Ford has ever offered!! I strongly dislike the little baby buttons that the after market units have, at my age I like the big buttons!! I talked to Ford and to Blaupunkt about this, all I got out of Blaupunkt was that the pinouts on the CD changer were the same as all their other CDC's but the two serial lines used the Ford CDC protocol; Ford wouldn't even tell me anything and I was told to contact my local Ford dealer who told me the had no info on the cd changer funtions since Ford doesn't have a cd hanger for that model (gee, put a cd changer port on a stereo but not have a cd changer on it!!) Anyone want to buy a MDP-01 (with the 1Gb Microdrive?) I'm putting in the Swap/For Sale area.... Thank god that the computer industry isn't as closed minded about compatibility as the auto industry is!! 01-17-2004 17:40:07

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) strae Profile | Email This is just a shot in the dark - but maybe ford is using the i2c bus controllers: http://www.triangledigital.com/man9092/ch2i2cspi.htm 01-18-2004 11:00:03

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) BigDog Profile | Email Not sure, I know they have at least three different prtocols as looking into the AUX adapters that allow you have input using a box that connects to the changer ports. The microdrive is sold ($130 on ebay!!) and I will hang onto the MDP-o1 for awhile as I understand that Ford is switching to Blaupunkt for their premium audio equipment and something might come available later. I re-couped the major costs and still have something to play with. 01-18-2004 15:43:13

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) gr8_brit Profile Hey guys, Sorry to drag this from the archives! Anyone have one of these they want to sell me? $50? Without the microdrive is fine.... want to hook one to my Blaupunkt cd player. Email me: gr8_brit@yahoo.com 03-23-2005 12:22:39

RE:MP3 player hack (modified 0 times) gr8_brit Profile Thanks! A couple of helpful folks have hooked me up. Cheers, 03-26-2005 19:08:07

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