Picture Hack for the satnav

[Pottsy]

This is a combination of a number of posts around the internet, adapted for UK cars.

Ingredients:
Paint Shop Pro (couldn't get PS to work)
http://guicide.com/cars/2006civic/nav/hacks/Bysin.zip
http://guicide.com/cars/2006civic/nav/hacks/8to16.zip
Some command line experience (windows).

Make a bitmap 480*234 and in PSP reduce it to 256 colours. Save it as a normal windows bitmap (not RLE) in the 8to16 release folder.

Convert it using 8to16 at the command line:

8to16 mybitmap.bmp Opening1.bmp

From the DVD copy the file SMGA2.bin to the Bysin release folder.

Copy Opening1.bmp also to the bysin folder. Run bysin from the command line

bysin SMGA2.bin update Opening1.bmp Opening1.bmp

Now make a folder called CD and into it put your new updated SMGA2.bin file.
Also put into this folder (from the DVD)
SMGA.bin
A0000_00.MNG
DCA0.REG
PRG_INFO.MNG
UPDATE_APL.exe

And burn these files to a CD.

Start the satnav, and then pop out the DVD. Put in your CD and close the lid. After an error, go into the diagnostic menu (3 buttons) and chose Version and then Download. Wait a few minutes for the data to load and bingo!

Put the DVD back in.

If you make a total mess, put the DVD in, disconnect the battery for a minute and reconnect (to reload the firmware from the DVD).

[steveking1000]

ha. now we're cooking with gas. nice post - I'm busy messing with bmp's at the moment. My real ambition is to stop the "press enter to agree to al the terms and conditions" page every time you start the engine.

[Pottsy]

I don't think that's possible. I can change the text (imagine the usual amusing stuff) and even change what the girl says, but hacking the software logic is very tricky indeed.

[CivPilot]

Nice one Pottsy

Here's an idea... why not create a zip file containing all the relevent files needed from the Nav DVD and uploading it?

That way anyone brave enough to try this hack out can download not only the relevant programs (as per your first post) but also the files needed for the CD/edit without having to find them on the DVD?**

My idea would be to create a CD with the new image and also another for the original un edited files on for easy correction/revert to original image. (although surely following your instructions to "download" but from the DVD will work just as well as disconecting the battery?)

** I know this is easier for us, but hey, you wanna help don't you?

[Pottsy]

Civpilot - excellent idea and it would only take me a minute to do BUT.....

The files are large (total 20Mb+) and I only have a limited bandwidth on this site, and I don't want to trash it (we're doing well at the mo). You're going to have to take the DVD out anyway, and it's not hard to find the files needed (they're all in the root folder), and I have a feeling that putting a copyright firmware on the web for public download (however useless it is to the public) might annoy someone at Honda.

I imagine you can re-download manually from the DVD, but the battery disconnect thing is for when you crash the firmware so horribly you can't even access the download screen. Useful if you really want to go to town and have Betty say all sorts of rude stuff (why do I always find hacking voice control to say f*ck hilarious - you'd think I'd grown out of this by now....?)

It's dead easy - pop out the DVD and copy the files to your PC! Go on, go for it....

[CivPilot]

Dam it, he figured out the firmware copyright issue

Don't worry, I was gonna do this the manual way anyway. I just gotta figure out what to have as an image. I'm thinking of making it was proffesional as possible (even keeping the text format/font).

But its a total dilema on what image to have greet me ( not sure my girlfriend would approve of Scarlett Yohansen's (sp?) smiling face :P ).

[Pottsy]

Give it a go - she may like it....

One thing I didn't mention, the image gets a bit squished. I did some unsquishing, but over-did it I think.

Try making the bitmap 480 x 248. Then squish it (so it distorts vertically) to 480 x 234.

[CivPilot]

Originally Posted by Pottsy

Give it a go - she may like it....

One thing I didn't mention, the image gets a bit squished. I did some unsquishing, but over-did it I think.

Try making the bitmap 480 x 248. Then squish it (so it distorts vertically) to 480 x 234.

If the system squashes the image slightly in the vertical then surely the answer it to make the image at a smaller scale then enlarge it to the required size? That way the image you upload will already be ever so slightly stretched and the system squashing will make it good again?

Would that work?

If the system squashes the image vertically then it seems strange to make the image larger then reduce... surely this will enhance the squashing effect when it takes place?

confused

[Pottsy]

Yes, it's my poor use of the word squish... You just can't get the posters eh?

The image file has to be 234 high, but the screen will expand the height slightly. If I wasn't slobbing around in my dressing gown on a day off, I'd make a test firmware with a pattern on to measure the expansion exactly, so instead I just looked at a photo of the screen and it's 480 x 248. So the original should be 248, you squish it to 234, and the screen will expand it to 248.

[CivPilot]

So by "Squished" you actually meant "stretched"

Makes perfect sense now, cheers

[CivPilot]

Job done

Thought I would go for something a little more "official looking" for now. But its pretty easy to do so can change it as and when it seems. Cant be bothered go to out now and get a photo, but will do tomorrow

Cheers Pottsy

[Pottsy]

No worries! I just spent ages modifying some other stuff... only to discover that the bysin program doesn't want to update other files. So now I'm donning my C++ hat and trying to debug the program.

[Copycat]

And while you're at it, why not add the ability to play DVDs?

[CivPilot]

Well, first off I made a picture of the car with "Navigation system" written across the top to test. Looked ok, but very amature.

Decided that the image needed to be something related to Navigation and set my mind on a landmark. So spent a little time this morning finding an image that screamed of somewhere you would want to go whilst trying to keep in with making it look as proffesional as possible.

came up with Mt.Fuji in Japan. Coupled with a chrome Honda "H" and the words "Navigation System" (also chrome) I think its turned out nice......




Sorry for the low res shots, camera phone and had it set to MMS resolution DOH

Opinions welcome......

[Fedorov]

Looks great, maybe we need a section in the Gallery forums for people to upload their homemade nav images to share with others?

[CivPilot]

I have no issue with that. I have actually made a couple of quick images that I havent used. I will see about starting a thread and uploading them over the weekend.

[MC Hammer]

Isn't there a way to play DVD's instead of just showing pictures?
That would be a cool hack (illegal whilst driving of course!) but great for the kids.

[Fedorov]

Wonder who will be the first member on here to post pics of the roof mounted DVD system for the kids in the back seats?

Do you think I could stick one onto my glass-roof with blue-tack Pottsy

[richierich]

I think the blue tac might not be up to the job, how about getting some longish bungie straps and looping them through the rear windows, over the roof and strap the DVD player behind them, you could even put the DVD player on the roof facing through the glass, stop the kids playing with it.

[Fedorov]

LOL!!! actually the rear section of glass roof will surely be big enough to strap on 32-inch TFT to the outside roof for the kids to watch