v.link VL2-MTC User manual

Version 25.09.2019 HW: 25-10 VL2-MTC
v.LiNK Video-inserter
VL2-MTC
Compatible with
MASERATI vehicles
with Maserati Touch Control (MTC) infotainment
Video-inserter with 2 video inputs + rear-view camera input
Product features
Video-inserter for factory-infotainment systems
2 CVBS video-inputs for after-market devices (e.g. USB-player, DVB-T2 tuner)
Built-in audio-switch (no audio-insertion)
Rear-view camera CVBS video-input
Automatic switching to rear-view camera input on engagement of the reverse gear
Activatable parking guide lines for rear-view camera (not for all vehicles available)
Video-in-motion (ONLY for connected video-sources)
Video-inputs NTSC and PAL compatible

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Contents
1. Prior to installation
1.1. Delivery contents
1.2. Checking the compatibility of vehicle and accessories
1.3. Boxes and connectors
1.3.1. Video-Interface
1.3.2. CAN-bus box
1.3.3. Dip-switch settings –interface
1.3.3.1. Enabling the interface’s video inputs (dip 2-3)
1.3.3.2. Rear-view camera setting (dip 5)
2. Installation
2.1. Place of installation
2.1.1. Place of Installation –video interface and CAN-bus box
2.2. Connection schema
2.3. Connection - video-interface and Power/CAN
2.4. Analogue connection - video-interface
2.5. Connection –picture signal cable
2.6. Connection –video sources
2.7. Audio-switch and audio-insertion
2.8. After-market rear-view camera
2.8.1. . Case 1: CAN-box receives the reverse gear signal
2.8.2. . Case 2: CAN-box does not receive the reverse gear signal
2.9. Connection –video interface and external keypad
2.10. Picture settings and guide lines
3. Video interface operation
3.1. By infotainment button
3.2. By external keypad
4. Specifications
5. FAQ –Trouble Shooting-Interface functions
6. Technical support

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Legal Information
By law, watching moving pictures while driving is prohibited, the driver must not be
distracted. We do not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury resulting,
directly or indirectly, from installation or operation of this product. Apart from using this
product in an unmoved vehicle, it should only be used to display fixed menus or rear-view-
camera video when the vehicle is moving (for example the MP3 menu for DVD upgrades).
Changes/updates of the vehicle’s software can cause malfunctions of the interface. Up to
one year after purchase we offer free software-updates for our interfaces. To receive a free
update, the interface has to be sent in at own cost. Wages for de-and reinstallation and
other expenditures involved with the software-updates will not be refunded.
No liability for vehicle wire colours and pin definition!
Changes by the vehicle manufacturer are possible. The given information has to be verified
by the installer.
1. Prior to installation
Read the manual prior to installation. Technical knowledge is necessary for installation. The
place of installation must be free of moisture and away from heat sources.
1.1. Delivery contents
Take down the serial number of the interface and store this manual for support
purposes: ____________________

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Requirements
Brand
Compatible vehicles
Compatible systems
Maserati
Ghibli since model year 2014
Quattroporte since model year 2014
Maserati Touch Control (MTC)
Limitations:
Video only The interface inserts ONLY video signals into the infotainment. For inserting
Audio signals either the possibly existing factory audio-AUX-input or a FM-
modulator can be used.
Factory rear-view camera Automatically switching-back from inserted video to factory rear-view camera is
only possible while the reverse gear is engaged. To delay the switch-back an
additional electronic part is required.
Guidelines The display of the guidelines does not work in all vehicles.
1.2. Checking the compatibility of vehicle and accessories

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1.3. Boxes and connectors
1.3.1. Video Interface
The video-interface converts the video signals of connected after-market sources in a factory
monitor compatible picture signal which is inserted in the factory monitor, by using separate
trigger options. Further it reads the vehicle’s digital signals out of the vehicle’s CAN-bus and
converts them for the video interface.
1.3.2. CAN-bus box
The CAN box reads the vehicle’s digital signals out of the vehicle’s CAN-bus and converts
them for the video interface.

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1.3.3. Dip-switch settings –interface
Some settings have to be selected by the dip-switches on the
video interface. Dip position down is ON and position up is OFF.
After each Dip-switch-change a power-reset of the Can-box has to be performed!
See the following chapters for detailed information.
1.3.3.1. Enabling the interface’s video inputs (dip 2-3)
Only the enabled video inputs can be accessed by switching through the interface’s video
sources. It is recommended to enable only the required inputs, because the disabled inputs
will be skipped while switching through the video interfaces inputs.
1.3.3.2. Rear-view camera setting (dip 5)
If set to OFF, the interface switches to factory LVDS picture while the reverse gear is engaged
to display factory rear-view camera or factory optical park system picture.
If set to ON, the interface switches to its rear-view camera input while the reverse gear is
engaged.
Note: Dip 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8 are out of function and have to be set to OFF.
Dip
Function
ON (down)
OFF (up)
1
No function
set to OFF
2
CVBS AV1-input
enabled
disabled
3
CVBS AV2-input
enabled
disabled
4
No function
set to OFF
5
Rear-view cam type
after-market
factory or none
6
No function
set to OFF
7
No function
set to OFF
8
No function
set to OFF

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2. Installation
To install the interface, first switch off the ignition and disconnect the vehicle’s battery.
Please read the owner`s manual of the car, regarding the battery`s disconnection! If
required, enable the car`s Sleep-mode (hibernation mode)
In case the sleep-mode does not succeed, the disconnection of the battery can be done
with a resistor lead.
If the necessary stabilized power supply for the interface is not taken directly from the
battery, the chosen connection has to be checked for being constantly stabile.
The interface needs a permanent 12V source!
2.1. Place of installation
2.1.1. Place of installation –video interface and CAN-bus box
The interface box and the CAN-bus box are prepared to be connected behind the vehicle`s
monitor and head-unit. Both parts have to be removed for the installation

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2.2. Connection schema

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2.3. Connection - video-interface and Power / CAN
Connect the 6pin to 8pin cable’s both white female 6pin and 8pin connectors to the
male 6pin and 8pin connectors of the video interface.
Disconnect the female 22pin connector of the factory harness at the rear-side of the
head unit and connect it to the 22pin PNP cable’s male 22pin connector.
Connect the 22pin PNP cable’s opposite female 22pin connector to the previously
become free male 22pin connector at the rear-side of the head unit.

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2.4. Analogue connecting - video-interface
If the communication between the CAN box and the vehicle’s CAN bus does not succeed (not
all vehicles are compatible), an analogue connection is required by connecting the 6pin to
8pin cable without the CN box.
Connect the female 6pin connector of the 6pin to 8pin cable to the 6pin connector
of the video interface.
Connect the yellow, the red and the black wire of the 6pin to 78pin cable to the
vehicle’s power and ground.
Note: The connection of the green wire (Reverse signal) will be described in chapter “After-
market rear-view camera”. The white wire, can be used to switch the enabled video sources
, same as the keypad (see chapter “video interface-operation”). The grey wire stays
unconnected.

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2.5. Connection - picture signal cable
Connect the enclosed picture signal cable’s female 8pin connector to the male 8pin
connector of the video interface.
Disconnect the factory picture signal cable’s female 4pin HSD connector at the rear
side of the factory monitor and connect it to the waterblue colored male 4pin HSD
connector of the enclosed picture signal cable.
Attention: The factory picture signal cable doesn’t have to be disconnected for the installation!
Connect the picture signal cable’s waterblue coloured female 4pin HSD connector to
the previously become free white coloured male 4pin HSD connector at the rear side
of the factory monitor

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2.6. Connection - Video-sources
It is possible to connect two after-market video sources and one after-market rear-view
camera to the video-interface.
Before final installation of the peripheral devices, we recommend a test-run to detect a
incompatibility of vehicle and interface. Due to changes in the production of the vehicle
manufacturer there’s always a possibility of incompatibility.
Connect the video cable’s female 6pin connector to the video interface’s male 6pin
connector.
Connect the rear-view camera’s RCA to the female RCA „Camera IN“of the video
cable.
Connect the RCA of the video source 1 and video source 2 to the female RCA „Video
IN1“and „Video IN2“of the video cable.

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2.7. Audio-switch and audio-insertion
This interface is only able to insert video signals into the factory infotainment and switch
audio signals. If an AV-source is connected to AV1 or AV2, audio insertion must be done by
factory audio AUX input or FM-modulator to which the interface’s sound-switch output is
connected. When the interface is switched from AV1 to AV2, the audio signal is switched
parallel to the corresponding video signal by the interface’s built-in audio-switch. The
inserted video-signal can be activated simultaneously to each audio-mode of the factory
infotainment.
Audio pins
Definition
1/2
Audio input signal R/L of source AV2
3/4
Audio input signal R/L of source AV1
5/6
Audio output signal R/L for factory audio AUX
or FM-modulator
7
Ground
Note: If only one AV-source shall be connected, it is possible to connect the audio output of
the AV-source directly to the point of audio-insertion (e.g. audio AUX input).
Connect the audio cable’s female 7pin connector to the male 7pin connector of the
video-interface.
Connect the audio-RCA of the possibly existing factory AUX-input or the FM-
modulator to the audio cable’s female RCA port “Audio OUT”.
Connect the audio-RCA of AV-source 1 and AV source 2 to the female RCA port of the
audio cable’s „Audio 1 IN“ und „Audio 2 IN“.

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2.8. After-market rear-view camera
Some vehicles have a different reverse gear code on the CAN-bus which the included CAN-
box is not compatible with. In this case there are two different ways of installation. If the
CAN-box is able to detect an enabled vehicle’s reverse gear, the green wire of the 6pin to
12pin cable carries +12V while the reverse gear is engaged.
Note: Do not forget to set dip5 of video-interface to ON before testing.
2.8.1. Case 1: CAN-box receives the reverse gear signal
If the CAN-bus box delivers +12V on the green wire of the 6pin to 12pin cable while reverse
gear is engaged, the video interface will automatically switch to the rear-view camera input
„CAMERA IN“ while the reverse gear is engaged.
Additionally, the +12V (max. 500mA) power supply for the rear-view camera can be
taken from the green wire of the 6pin to 8pin cable.

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2.8.2. . Case 2: CAN-box does not receive the reverse gear signal
If the CAN-bus interface does not receive +12V on the green wire of the 6pin to 8pin cable
when reverse gear is engaged (not all vehicles are compatible) an external switching signal
from the reverse gear light is required. As the reverse gear light signal contains electronic
interference, a traditional open relay (e.g AC-RW-1230 with wiring AC-RS5) or filter (e.g. AC-
PNF-RVC) is required. Below schema shows the use of a relay (normally open).
Cut the green cable of the 6pin to 8pin cable close to the black 8pin connector and
isolate the shorter end of the green cable near to the 8pin connector (CAN-box side).
Connect the reverse gear light signal/power to coil terminal (85) and vehicle’s ground
to coil terminal (86) of relay.
Connect the rear-view camera power wire and the green wire (video interface side)
of the 6pin to 8pin cable both to output terminal (87) of the relay.
Connect permanent battery power to input terminal (30) of relay.
Note: If, due to a missing CAN communication, the 6pin to 8pin cable has been connected
the analogue way instead of the Can box, the green wire’s connection has also to be done as
shown in the picture above.

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2.9. Connection - video-interface and external keypad
Connect the keypad’s female 4pin connector to the video-interface’s male 4pin
connector.
Note: Even if the switching through several video sources by the keypad mightn’t be
required, the invisible connection and availability is strongly recommended.

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2.10. Picture settings and guide lines
The picture settings are adjustable by the 3 push-buttons on the video-interface. Press the
MENU button to open the OSD settings menu or to switch to the next menu item. Press UP
and DOWN to change the selected value. The buttons are placed inside in the housing to
avoid accidental changes during or after the installation. Picture settings must be done
separately for AV1 and AV2 while the corresponding input is selected and visible on the
monitor. AV2 and CAM share the same settings which must be adjusted in AV2.
Note: The OSD menu is only shown when a working video source is connected to the
selected video-input of the interface.
The following settings are available:
Contrast
Brightness
Saturation
Position H (horizontal)
Position V (vertical)
IR-AV1/2 (no function)
Guide L/R Offset adjustments
UI-CNTRL (guide lines ON/OFF)
Size H/V (picture size horizontal/vertical)
Note: If there is no communication between the CAN box and the vehicle`s CAN-bus
(several vehicles aren’t compatible), the reverse gear guide-lines can`t be shown during the
vehicle’s operation, even if they once appear after having switched the system to powerless!

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3. Video interface operation
3.1. By infotainment buttons
To switch the video sources the vehicle’s VOICE button at the steering wheel button can be
used.
A double press of the steering wheels “Voice” key switches to the next activated video input.
If all inputs are enabled the order is:
Factory video  video IN1  video IN2  factory video  …
Disabled inputs will be skipped. While switching from Video IN1 to Video IN2 the audio-
source will be switched too, assuming the sources have also been connected to the audio
cable.
Switchover by vehicle buttons isn’t possible in all vehicles. In some vehicles the external
keypad has to be used (see following chapter).
3.2. By external keypad
Alternatively or additionally to the factory infotainment buttons, the interface’s external
keypad can be used to switch the enabled inputs.

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4. Specifications
BATT/ACC range 7V - 25V
Stand-by power drain 36mA
Power 270mA
Video input 0.7V - 1V
Video input formats NTSC/PAL
RGB-video amplitude 0.7V with 75 Ohm impedance
Temperature range -40°C to +85°C
Dimensions video-box 155 x 22 x 95 mm (W x H x D)
Dimensions CAN-box 80 x 22 x 43 mm (W x H x D)

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5. FAQ –Trouble shooting Interface functions
For any troubles which may occur, check the following table for a solution before requesting
support from your vendor.
Symptom
Reason
Possible solution
No picture/black
picture (factory
picture).
Not all connectors have been
reconnected to factory head-
unit or monitor after
installation.
Connect missing connectors.
No power on CAN-bus box (all
LED CAN-bus box are off).
Check power supply of CAN-bus box. Check CAN-bus
connection of CAN-bus box.
CAN-bus box connected to
CAN-bus in wrong place.
Refer to the manual where to connected to the CAN-
bus. If not mentioned, try another place to connect to
the CAN-bus.
No power on video-interface
(all LED video-interface are
off).
Check whether CAN-bus box delivers +12V ACC on red
wire output of 8pin to 6pin cable. If not cut wire and
supply ACC +12V directly to video-interface.
No picture/black
picture/white picture
(inserted picture) but
factory picture is OK.
No picture from video source.
Check on other monitor whether video source is OK.
No video-source connected to
the selected interface input.
Check settings dips 1 to 3 of video interface which
inputs are activated and switch to corresponding
input(s).
LVDS cables plugged in wrong
place.
Double-check whether order of LVDS cables is exactly
connected according to manual. Plugging into head-
unit does not work when the manual says to plug into
monitor and vice versa.
Wrong monitor settings of
video-interface.
Try different combinations of dips 7 and 8 of video-
interface. Unplug 6pin power after each change.
Inserted picture totally
wrong size or position.
Inserted picture double
or 4 times on monitor.
Inserted picture
distorted, flickering or
running vertically.
Video sources output set to
AUTO or MULTI which causes
a conflict with the interfaces
auto detection.
Set video source output fixed to PAL or NTSC. It is best
to set all video sources to the same standard.
If error occurs only after
source switching: Connected
sources are not set to the
same TV standard.
Set all video sources to the same standard.
Some interfaces can only
handle NTSC input.
Check manual whether there is a limitation to NTSC
mentioned. If yes, set source fixed to NTSC output.
Inserted picture b/w.
Inserted picture qual.
bad.
Picture settings have not been
adjusted.
Use the 3 buttons and the interface's OSD to adjust the
picture settings for the corresponding video input.
Inserted picture size
slightly wrong.
Inserted picture
position wrong.
Camera input picture
flickers.
Camera is being tested under
fluorescent light which shines
directly into the camera.
Test camera under natural light outside the garage.
Camera input picture is
bluish.
Protection sticker not
removed from camera lens.
Remove protection sticker from lens.