Reverse signal for back-up camera

I've got a 2001 S8 in which I have installed RNS-E.

Up to now, I have not yet attached the wire for the reverse signal, because it normally isn't very important. However, now I am going to put a backup camera in my car, so I need to be able to have it automatically switch. This requires getting the reversing signal into the RNS-E.

For those of you who have already fully connected your RNS-E, where do you get the backup signal from? I've found a few places in the wiring diagrams in the Bentley that look promising, but I haven't actually found the corresponding wires in the car.

Thanks,

Eric Rechlin

[CliveH]

I'm looking at adding a reverse camera to my RNS-E installation (in the B6) and have just started looking at how this needs to be wired up.

I think Amar and Ian have done this so hopefully one of them will be along soon...

[notorious]

I've upgraded my 2002 D2 from RNS-D to RNS-E and reversing signal wire (the one where you have +12V when reversing is engaged) has been connected to existing RNS-D unit. All I had to do is to basically reconnect in to appropriate RNS-E pin.

I don't remember exact pin on RNS-D, but if I recall correctly it was in the "auxiliary" RNS-D connector (the grey color connector where CAN bus wires arrive).

Hope that helps.

P.S. If you still can't find the wire for this or that reason you can always steal it from reversing lamps.

[IT]

Factory fit RNS-E in a B6 A4 might have had the reverse over Can....

I doubt Clive ever had an RNS-D in it.

If he retro fitted the RNS-E, it might not even have reverse over Can either....

Worst case, you have to pick up the reverse signal from the reverse lights, which is often not too hard to do.

Then a bit of vagcommery and you tell the RNS-E to switch to the A/V input on reverse, and your Tv Tuner/Aux AV input box needs the camera connecting to it... Not too hard

[notorious]

RNS-E works differently depending on what car model it was coded for. I can confirm that if coded for A6 the RNS-E it will recognise signal on reversing wire. It will also recognise earthing mute pin if you want to control muting the unit from outside RNS-E, but I'm not sure how it all works in A4 mode.

I would start with experiment. Code your unit for A4 and apply +12V to reversing pin directly from Terminal 30 (=battery). If RNS-E recognises reversing signal (you can configure auto-switching to TV to test this), then all you have to do is to bring reversing wire from the boot.

If it appears that RNS-E don't recognise "wire" reversing signal when coded for A4 that would mean it expects ONLY can message to switch to reversing in A4 mode and it completely ignores the +12V on reversing pin. The same can be true for muting if you're planning to use external phone or to automatically mute the RNS-E when parktronic LED is ON.

In this case I'd recommend to contact Bjarne from audiforum.us. He made a great device that take reversing signal from wire, and inject reversing information to CAN bus speed signal, so RNS-E and other devices like Kufatec IMA will recognise that CAN bus signal for auto-switching.

Interestingly, If you have Audi TV tuner (and not Kufatec IMA), then there is no way to make the Audi tv tuner switch to AV1 even though reversing information is on CAN bus and Audi tv tuner is connected to can bus. Audi TV Tuner was simply not designed for that. It's a pity.

So, at some point of time you'll have to make decision: Are you going "3rd party" Kufatec IMA path which can do proper auto switching to reversing camera based on can singal, but do not allow to use original Audi TV Tuner, or are you installing original Audi TV Tuner, but will have to switch to AV1 manually or just leave it every time in AV1 position.

Too much information I guess...

[CliveH]

Thanks for the tips guys

I'll let you know how I get on when the reverse camera arrives.

[CliveH]

OK, so I have now wired up a reverse camera on the B6.

I have the Kufatec multimedia interface and have followed the instructions to connect the camera's video output to pins 5 and 14 on the connector interface and to also run a wire from pin 3 of the interface to pin C2 on the RNSE head unit (reverse signal).

I have coded the head unit for "TV tuner" (I know it isn't a TV but apparently that's the message the unit needs to get for video input).

Finally, I have coded adaptation channel 04 to 1 for reverse camera.

The camera takes its power from the reversing light wire, so all should be good.

BUT....put it into reverse and nothing happens.

No fault codes from the head unit and the presence of "TV" (video) is recognised.

Anyone who has done this got any clues or tips please?

[IT]

Back to what Notorius said - I suspect you may have to tell the RNS-E its installed in an A6 to recognise the reversing wire as the switch?

The C5 was old wiring really, so thats the oldest setup an RNS-E ever went in from factory and is probably the only one that recognises the reverse wire..

The A4 installed RNS-E's etc are far more likely to make it expect a signal over Can, which you're not providing I guess...

Keen to see how this goes, its one of my 'to dos'...

[CliveH]

I'm using the reversing wire to power the camera only and not as a reversing signal.

I had understood that the CAN signal comes from connecting pin 3 of the multimedia interface to pin C2 on the RNSE head unit?

I'll try your suggestion though - I've tried everything else!

[IT]

Oh, dont know then ,maybe.... Im not familiar with the Kufatec - Maybe they do generate the canbus signals for you.

I'm happy to have a looksie at it tomorrow....