Hello TMC Friends-
Like many of you, I have been following two independent projects that allow the use of the MCU's "Rear Camera" function to show alternate video streams.
The first is @artsci's "Front Camera Switcher Kit" (found here). This is a custom kit that he recently put together that allows you to add a front-facing camera to your Tesla and swap between rear/front camera displays either by pairing it with HomeLink or using the included wireless fob. It's great and allows me to see the full width of my bumper when parking forward and avoiding hitting curbs, etc. This kit cost me about $300 between his kit, buying the second Tesla camera and cables, and maybe an hour to install. As of today, @artsci has a few extra kits, so PM him if you want one. The image below shows the kit (sorry this is an old image, I failed to take a pic of my actual kit before I installed it, but it's the same idea):
The second is @BearBu's "HDMI Input Box" (found here). This custom kit was designed by him and allows you to add an HDMI source video device to your car. This will allow you to stream videos on your MCU!!! I ordered one directly from him. He's based in Hong Kong, but shipping was unbelievably fast via FedEx and I've developed a real friendship with him as I went through testing with him. He's very responsive and helpful. If you're interested, I recommend you contact him and place an order as he's about to put together a second manufacturing run.
@BearBu's HDMI kit is top notch. Mine was a pre-production test unit. It comes with all needed cables, including the OBD cable to provide power (which also will work to power the front camera switcher kit!). This HDMI kit also comes with a blue canbus decoder box which watches CAN signals in the car. This allows you to hold the steering wheel's "Menu" button for 2 seconds and it will tell the HDMI box to switch from Rear Camera to the HDMI input source. It's really sleek. Everything is plug-n-play.
Each of these two projects are independent, but I chained them together.
Here's how I did it:
Both kits are designed to work with AP0/1/2/2.5 cars and basically connect to the rear camera's LVDS HSD cable before it reaches the MCU. In essence, the MCU thinks it's always showing the "Rear Camera" even when the kit(s) switch to Front Camera or HDMI source. The MCU doesn't know any better and just displays the signal it's receiving. Furthermore, these kits do not affect Autopilot functionality in any respect because in all cases the autopilot ECU gets the rear camera feed first, then sends it to the MCU (where these kits are then inserted).
Neither kit requires any cutting/splicing of wires. Simply plug and play. Power for the kits is achieved via an OBD connector that plugs in and can power the kits/cameras, etc. No software modifications are required. Additionally, these kits are switched off when the car is off, so no power drain on the 12v battery.
First - @artsci (and others, thank you all!) custom designed the Front Camera Switcher Kit. It basically has a "Rear Camera", "Front Camera" and "MCU" connection point. I purchased a spare Tesla rear camera part and installed it on the front of my car. It's very hard to even see, but it works great. See if you can spot it. (I have two extra cameras for sale if anyone needs one, PM me).
Routing the new Front Camera's cabling was relatively easy. I just ran it along the side of the frunk towards the front passenger door. I was able to sneak the cable underneath the front passenger door's weatherstripping right where the glovebox meets the door and it's perfect.
The next thing you need to do is disconnect the Rear Camera OUT from the Autopilot ECU before it goes to the MCU. This is accessible right behind the glovebox and is very easy to access.
You will need to remove the BLACK cable from the Autopilot ECU (it's the third from the back on the left hand side). This is the cable that connects to MCU. You will need to plug it into either kit's "OUT" port.
What I did to chain together both kits was:
APE OUT > FRONT CAMERA KIT REAR PORT
FRONT CAMERA > FRONT CAMERA KIT FRONT PORT
FRONT CAMERA KIT DISPLAY PORT > HDMI KIT VIDEO IN PORT
HDMI KIT VIDEO OUT PORT > MCU
That way I can switch between Front Camera, Rear Camera, and HDMI Video on demand. Here's a short video showing you how it works:
Both kits fit snugly behind the glove box (to the left of the Autopilot ECU). I have also connected my iPhone to the HDMI box via a Lightning to HDMI cable, so I can stream any video source directly to MCU (Youtube, Netflix, Prime Video, Websites, etc.). The audio is sent from the phone to the MCU over bluetooth and not HDMI. Some people have worried about the audio delay introduced because the video is being sent over HDMI, and audio over Bluetooth. Yes, there is a very minor perceivable audio delay, but, honestly it's perfectly acceptable. Also, as I state in the above video, I LOVE that the audio is sent over bluetooth because I can switch the MCU's video inputs from Rear Camera/Front Camera/HDMI video at will, while still playing the audio over the speakers without interrupting what is playing.
Frankly, I LOVE them both. If anyone needs help with either project, reach out. I'm happy to help.
Like many of you, I have been following two independent projects that allow the use of the MCU's "Rear Camera" function to show alternate video streams.
The first is @artsci's "Front Camera Switcher Kit" (found here). This is a custom kit that he recently put together that allows you to add a front-facing camera to your Tesla and swap between rear/front camera displays either by pairing it with HomeLink or using the included wireless fob. It's great and allows me to see the full width of my bumper when parking forward and avoiding hitting curbs, etc. This kit cost me about $300 between his kit, buying the second Tesla camera and cables, and maybe an hour to install. As of today, @artsci has a few extra kits, so PM him if you want one. The image below shows the kit (sorry this is an old image, I failed to take a pic of my actual kit before I installed it, but it's the same idea):
The second is @BearBu's "HDMI Input Box" (found here). This custom kit was designed by him and allows you to add an HDMI source video device to your car. This will allow you to stream videos on your MCU!!! I ordered one directly from him. He's based in Hong Kong, but shipping was unbelievably fast via FedEx and I've developed a real friendship with him as I went through testing with him. He's very responsive and helpful. If you're interested, I recommend you contact him and place an order as he's about to put together a second manufacturing run.
@BearBu's HDMI kit is top notch. Mine was a pre-production test unit. It comes with all needed cables, including the OBD cable to provide power (which also will work to power the front camera switcher kit!). This HDMI kit also comes with a blue canbus decoder box which watches CAN signals in the car. This allows you to hold the steering wheel's "Menu" button for 2 seconds and it will tell the HDMI box to switch from Rear Camera to the HDMI input source. It's really sleek. Everything is plug-n-play.
Each of these two projects are independent, but I chained them together.
Here's how I did it:
Both kits are designed to work with AP0/1/2/2.5 cars and basically connect to the rear camera's LVDS HSD cable before it reaches the MCU. In essence, the MCU thinks it's always showing the "Rear Camera" even when the kit(s) switch to Front Camera or HDMI source. The MCU doesn't know any better and just displays the signal it's receiving. Furthermore, these kits do not affect Autopilot functionality in any respect because in all cases the autopilot ECU gets the rear camera feed first, then sends it to the MCU (where these kits are then inserted).
Neither kit requires any cutting/splicing of wires. Simply plug and play. Power for the kits is achieved via an OBD connector that plugs in and can power the kits/cameras, etc. No software modifications are required. Additionally, these kits are switched off when the car is off, so no power drain on the 12v battery.
First - @artsci (and others, thank you all!) custom designed the Front Camera Switcher Kit. It basically has a "Rear Camera", "Front Camera" and "MCU" connection point. I purchased a spare Tesla rear camera part and installed it on the front of my car. It's very hard to even see, but it works great. See if you can spot it. (I have two extra cameras for sale if anyone needs one, PM me).
Routing the new Front Camera's cabling was relatively easy. I just ran it along the side of the frunk towards the front passenger door. I was able to sneak the cable underneath the front passenger door's weatherstripping right where the glovebox meets the door and it's perfect.
The next thing you need to do is disconnect the Rear Camera OUT from the Autopilot ECU before it goes to the MCU. This is accessible right behind the glovebox and is very easy to access.
You will need to remove the BLACK cable from the Autopilot ECU (it's the third from the back on the left hand side). This is the cable that connects to MCU. You will need to plug it into either kit's "OUT" port.
What I did to chain together both kits was:
APE OUT > FRONT CAMERA KIT REAR PORT
FRONT CAMERA > FRONT CAMERA KIT FRONT PORT
FRONT CAMERA KIT DISPLAY PORT > HDMI KIT VIDEO IN PORT
HDMI KIT VIDEO OUT PORT > MCU
That way I can switch between Front Camera, Rear Camera, and HDMI Video on demand. Here's a short video showing you how it works:
Both kits fit snugly behind the glove box (to the left of the Autopilot ECU). I have also connected my iPhone to the HDMI box via a Lightning to HDMI cable, so I can stream any video source directly to MCU (Youtube, Netflix, Prime Video, Websites, etc.). The audio is sent from the phone to the MCU over bluetooth and not HDMI. Some people have worried about the audio delay introduced because the video is being sent over HDMI, and audio over Bluetooth. Yes, there is a very minor perceivable audio delay, but, honestly it's perfectly acceptable. Also, as I state in the above video, I LOVE that the audio is sent over bluetooth because I can switch the MCU's video inputs from Rear Camera/Front Camera/HDMI video at will, while still playing the audio over the speakers without interrupting what is playing.
Frankly, I LOVE them both. If anyone needs help with either project, reach out. I'm happy to help.
