I recently got a new car. It's a Ford Escape with Ford Sync and Navigation. It also has a rear view video camera with backup sensors But it only works in reverse. The Navigation system doesn't allow you to enter an address unless you are in Park. It has a video input to the screen but that also is blacked out unless in Park. In my research, I find every owner of these great gadgets in cars today complain about being disabled when in drive. Yeah Yeah, I know all about but it's unsafe to enter an address while driving. It's unsafe to dial a phone number while driving. It's unsafe. It's unsafe blah blah blah. If you want to debate that go to the PIT please. Here. Let's just stick to the gadgets and technology, OK?
So, where there's a need there is a gadget and I found it. A bit of history- In the old days when the manufacturers felt they needed to do their good deed for society, they added a simple interlock switch to the gear shift or added a motion detector so it shut down the system when you were moving. That was an easy remedy as removing the switch was easy. Today the interlocks are much more complicated. They tie into a central computer and use some sort of logic code to disable various functions in the radio/nav/BT package.
But, along comes a little gadget that not only allows you to bypass the disconnects using existing switches on your steering wheel, you can also add additional video inputs to display on your screen, enable calling with your BT connection, enable address input to the Navigation. Add POI as needed while driving, or remove them. Even add 2 additional video inputs to the screen and select them from an existing button on the steering wheel. Cool!
The device is called the "Lockpick" The company makes them for different cars so you have to carefully select your car and model to get the correct one that plugs into your car's computer on the back of the screen. It consists of a wiring harness with plugs that connect to the computer and the existing harness connector, and a control module that allows additional video inputs, a USB connection to update the software as further developments come along, and a set of dip switches where you select the options you want to add, such as additional video inputs. All this is plug n play and is stuffed behind the touch screen. Once you set it up and test it, there is no longer any need to access the module. The Lockpick functions are turned on by pushing the call button on the steering wheel and instead of a momentary press which will normally activate your BT calling, you hold the button for 3 seconds and then it has just unlocked all the disconnects. Now you can use the Home button to toggle through the various video inputs while driving. In addition, it enables all the Navigation stuff that gets locked off when the shifter is out of Park.
This device will permit your passenger to enter way points and POI's, be able to access some of the other features of Ford Sync too.
One cool use of this is to turn on your home security cameras at home through your smart phone and then observe and select the different cameras to full screen from the touch screen in your car. Or, access your Sling adapter from your car's screen. (Note- this will use lots of data on your cell phone account) Or, you can just add another car camera or DVD player.
There are no wires to cut or splice, nothing to remove from the factory. But, you do need to remove the snap in dash bezel around the radio touch screen to get to the back to plug it in. Installation and setup takes about 15 minutes on my Ford Escape Titanium. There are many YT videos that explain how to remove the dash and molding without damaging anything.
Check it out to see what they have for your car's make and model: http://www.coastaletech.com/
So, where there's a need there is a gadget and I found it. A bit of history- In the old days when the manufacturers felt they needed to do their good deed for society, they added a simple interlock switch to the gear shift or added a motion detector so it shut down the system when you were moving. That was an easy remedy as removing the switch was easy. Today the interlocks are much more complicated. They tie into a central computer and use some sort of logic code to disable various functions in the radio/nav/BT package.
But, along comes a little gadget that not only allows you to bypass the disconnects using existing switches on your steering wheel, you can also add additional video inputs to display on your screen, enable calling with your BT connection, enable address input to the Navigation. Add POI as needed while driving, or remove them. Even add 2 additional video inputs to the screen and select them from an existing button on the steering wheel. Cool!
The device is called the "Lockpick" The company makes them for different cars so you have to carefully select your car and model to get the correct one that plugs into your car's computer on the back of the screen. It consists of a wiring harness with plugs that connect to the computer and the existing harness connector, and a control module that allows additional video inputs, a USB connection to update the software as further developments come along, and a set of dip switches where you select the options you want to add, such as additional video inputs. All this is plug n play and is stuffed behind the touch screen. Once you set it up and test it, there is no longer any need to access the module. The Lockpick functions are turned on by pushing the call button on the steering wheel and instead of a momentary press which will normally activate your BT calling, you hold the button for 3 seconds and then it has just unlocked all the disconnects. Now you can use the Home button to toggle through the various video inputs while driving. In addition, it enables all the Navigation stuff that gets locked off when the shifter is out of Park.
This device will permit your passenger to enter way points and POI's, be able to access some of the other features of Ford Sync too.
One cool use of this is to turn on your home security cameras at home through your smart phone and then observe and select the different cameras to full screen from the touch screen in your car. Or, access your Sling adapter from your car's screen. (Note- this will use lots of data on your cell phone account) Or, you can just add another car camera or DVD player.
There are no wires to cut or splice, nothing to remove from the factory. But, you do need to remove the snap in dash bezel around the radio touch screen to get to the back to plug it in. Installation and setup takes about 15 minutes on my Ford Escape Titanium. There are many YT videos that explain how to remove the dash and molding without damaging anything.
Check it out to see what they have for your car's make and model: http://www.coastaletech.com/
