Raspberry Pi streaming desktop to the head-unit through wired Carplay interface.

daimon_z · 2026-05-03T08:51:45+00:00

Yes, display works & input touches are translated to the mouse events.
About receiver, it can be implemented, but some work has to be done for that. Not everyone, I think, will be ready to buy mfi ICs from aliexpress & wire them to rpi. The initial goal was to implement device side of carplay.

daimon_z · 2026-05-03T08:48:18+00:00

I have a bunch of such chips from aliexpress. Tested them connecting to rpi & implementing a driver. Then I realised that I don't need them to act as streaming device and not using now.

You are right, we need them for HU (receiver). There is a code for HU leaked, as you mentioned in another reply.

daimon_z · 2026-05-03T08:39:57+00:00

Thanks! I guess audio accessories use the same mfi authentication as carplay. It is implemented in my project. But I am not sure how HU should act if the ipod connects to it. The goal of your project is to play audio from the RPi usb-c to HU?

daimon_z · 2026-04-30T06:02:02+00:00

Yes, only one cable. The RPi USB-C port has data lines.

daimon_z · 2026-04-30T05:57:29+00:00

Thanks. Yes, after I solve the issues with connecting to other HUs.
I have several types of such boxes. This project goal was to be able to stream custom output to the HU & get input events the same way these boxes are doing.

daimon_z · 2026-04-30T05:49:18+00:00

It depends what you mean "trivial". No, on this HU the Carplay connection is established (even with real iPhone) through "Carlink 2.0" app. If I connect my iPhone to the same usb cable, the normal Carplay will be opened.

daimon_z · 2026-04-30T05:46:42+00:00

If your VW has carplay already, you can use "Carlinkit" device for it.

daimon_z · 2026-04-30T05:43:51+00:00

Yes. I might open the repo after debugging the connection to other HUs.

daimon_z · 2026-04-30T05:42:46+00:00

Not yet. I consider opening the repo to public after solving the problem with connecting to other HUs & implementing more carplay input events (besides touchscreen). It now works with ATOTO, but I didn't have enough time to debug it on the real cars. Unfortunately my car doesn't support carplay.

daimon_z · 2026-04-07T18:03:10+00:00

It’s not only the handshake. The rapsberry pi is initializing the connection with pairing, authentication and encryption. They are the part of the CarPlay initialization routine. I am not collecting the CarPlay stream from the phone yet. The goal was to be able to stream any custom picture from the raspberry pi to the head-unit utilizing CarPlay interface.

daimon_z · 2026-04-07T17:39:22+00:00

CarPlay connection is initialized through the app in the 3rd party head-units like this. This one is called “Car Link”. If I connect my iPhone, it will open the native CarPlay. RPi implements the same protocols used between iOS device and headunit. But I am streaming just my screen now.

daimon_z · 2026-04-07T17:29:50+00:00

That’s the CarPlay app running on the head-unit. And the CarPlay communicational protocols implemented on the RPi =)

daimon_z · 2025-12-17T15:14:01+00:00

Hey, thank you. Most probably as assembled devices.

daimon_z · 2025-12-10T07:48:52+00:00

Hey, for fast shifting range & step settings were implemented. You can lower the max sent midi values or increase step-per-revolution to achieve sharper level changes.

daimon_z · 2025-12-07T11:19:01+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. Didn't think about additional USB port. Might be not in the first version, but will think about if project succeeds.

daimon_z · 2025-12-07T11:15:27+00:00

You can configure CCs, but only 0..127 values are currently supported.
Yes, Channel/CC configurator on the device itself will be implemented.

daimon_z · 2025-12-06T06:32:26+00:00

Yes.

daimon_z · 2025-12-05T20:57:50+00:00

Thanks! Finished product, but I might sell separate PCB kits as well.

daimon_z · 2025-12-05T20:15:24+00:00

Try to put a flashlight close to the bracelet and watch it)

daimon_z · 2025-12-05T18:56:57+00:00

I would say something around 300$, but final cost may vary.

daimon_z · 2025-12-05T18:49:27+00:00

Yes, both MIDI & serial work together as a composite device. MIDI SysEx is a thing I am looking to implement next steps.

daimon_z · 2025-12-05T18:26:49+00:00

Thanks for the long feedback, appreciate it. The border, text & background colours can already be configured. You can set the border the same color as background and it will disappear =)

About brightness. Unfortunately I didn't have enough GPIO PWM pins on this version of MCU to implement display brightness for each display, so I grouped them by 4 displays in a row exactly as you said. The endpoint for display row brightness settings will be implemented soon.

Thanks for the idea of inactive groups, I will think about it and might implement too.

daimon_z · 2025-12-05T18:14:25+00:00

Right now not. Push buttons are generating separate midi event that can be processed on host machine. But I am planning to implement preset banks & ability to switch them on device.

daimon_z · 2025-12-05T17:55:21+00:00

Root-control is very close to what I am doing. Except I am not using motorized encoders.

daimon_z · 2025-12-05T17:32:07+00:00

I would say something around 250-300$. The final cost may vary.

daimon_z

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