Audio/COMAND function

Function requirements for Audio/COMAND function, general

 Status circuit 30g ON

 Transport mode not active

Audio/COMAND function, general

The audio equipment is the center control panel for the entertainment and communications systems integrated in the vehicle.

The audio equipment acts as a gateway. It routes the signals from the interior CAN (CAN B) to the components of the telematics CAN (CAN A) and the Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) and thereby forms the communications interface.

The audio equipment communicates over the Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) with the following control units (except on vehicles with code 523 (Audio 20 CD)):

 Tuner unit (A90/4) (with CODE 536 (SIRIUS satellite radio), with CODE 537 (Digital radio (DAB)) or with CODE 865 (TV tuner), as of 02.03.2015)

 Digital TV tuner (A90/3) (with CODE 865 (TV tuner), up to 01.03.2015)

 TV tuner (analog/digital) (A90/1) (with CODE 863 (Digital/analog TV tuner), up to 31.05.2012)

 Digital Audio Broadcasting control unit (N87/3) (with CODE 537 (Digital radio (DAB)), up to 01.03.2015)

 Satellite digital audio radio (SDAR) control unit (N87/5) (with CODE 536 (SIRIUS satellite radio), as of 01.06.2010 up to 01.03.2015)

 SDAR/high definition tuner control unit (N87/8) (with CODE 536 (SIRIUS satellite radio), up to 31.05.2010)

 Sound system amplifier control unit (N40/3) (with CODE 810 (Sound system))

 Media Interface control unit (N125/1) (with CODE 518 (Media Interface), up to 01.03.2015)

All displays and menu displays for the Audio/COMAND display (A40/8) are generated by the COMAND controller unit (A40/3) if no smartphone has been integrated.

 Model 207
with code 523 (Audio 20 CD)
No MOST is available.

 Model 207
except code 509 (Navigation box)
The displays and menu displays for the Audio/COMAND display are generated in the audio equipment.

 Model 207
with code 509 (Navigation box)
Display and menu display for navigation is not generated in the audio equipment but in the navigation module (A2/30) and differ from the standard display.

 Some applications can also be displayed in the instrument cluster (A1), e.g. in the "Audio", "Telephone" or "Navigation" menus.

Equipment with CODE 867 (SPLITVIEW) enables the driver and the front passenger to use the entertainment and communication systems integrated into the vehicle, including the display on the Audio/COMAND display at the same time and independent of each other. In order to enable undisturbed concentration on the traffic situation for the driver, the front passenger receives the audio signals via headphones.

The COMAND controller unit transmits the audio signals via an integrated radio interface to the radio frequency headphones (H8/3). Cabled headphones (accessories) can optionally also be used. The cabled headphones receive the audio signals from the COMAND controller unit via the headphones (cabled) electrical connection (X39/6).

In vehicles with CODE 867 (SPLITVIEW) the functions of the audio equipment can be called up using the remote control (A8/7). The COMAND controller unit receives the signals from the remote control via the integrated radio interface.

The audio equipment contains the following subfunctions, which are described in separate documents:

 Audio mode function

 Disk changer function (with code 510 (Audio 20 CD with 6-disk CD changer), code 511 (Audio 50 APS incl. DVD changer), code 512 (COMAND APS incl. DVD changer) or code 528 (COMAND incl. DVD changer) or with code 814 (DVD changer))

 Video mode function (with CODE 512 (COMAND APS with DVD changer), CODE 526 (COMAND with single DVD drive (without navigation)), CODE 527 (COMAND APS with single DVD drive (with navigation)) or CODE 528 (COMAND incl. DVD changer) or CODE 531 (COMAND APS))

 TV mode function (with CODE 863 (Digital/analog TV tuner) or with CODE 865 (TV tuner))

 Internet connection function (vehicles as of 01.07.2011 except CODE 494 (USA version), with CODE 512 (COMAND APS with DVD changer) or CODE 527 (COMAND APS with single DVD drive (with navigation)), up to 31.05.2012 except CODE 494 (USA version); vehicles as of 02.03.2015)

 InCar hotspot function (with CODE 531 (COMAND APS))

 Media Interface function (with CODE 518 (Media Interface), up to 01.03.2015)

 Navigation function (with CODE 509 (Navigation box) or with CODE 357 (Map navigation))

 Navigation mode function (with CODE 512 (COMAND APS with DVD changer) or with CODE 527 (COMAND APS with single DVD drive (with navigation)); with CODE 511 (Audio 50 APS with DVD changer) or with CODE 525 (MB Audio 50 APS radio); with CODE 531 (COMAND APS))

 Mobile phone system function

 Voice control system function (with CODE 511 (Audio 50 APS with DVD changer), with CODE 512 (COMAND APS with DVD changer) or with CODE 527 (COMAND APS with single DVD drive (with navigation)) or CODE 531 (COMAND APS))

 Emergency call system, function (with code 359 (TELEAID emergency call system) or with code 348 (Emergency call/assist system); with code 347 (Mercedes-Benz emergency call system) or code 350 (eCall Europe emergency call system); as of 01.06.2016 with code 351 (Emergency call system (HERMES)))

 Electronic Toll Collection function (with CODE 498 (Japan version), up to 31.05.2012) or Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) function (with CODE 498 (Japan version), as of 01.06.2012) Dealer Option

 Telematics services, function (with code 06U (Mercedes connect me basic services), with code 05U (Remote Online); as of 01.06.2016 with code 360 (HERMES UMTS) or with code 362 (HERMES LTE))

The COMAND controller unit supports the following function that is described below:

 Integration of smartphones

Integration of smartphones

As of 01.12.2015, the audio equipment enables the integration of smartphones. In order to ensure that the content is prepared in a vehicle-compatible way, only smartphone applications (apps) that have been developed for the following integration standards are supported:

 CarPlay (Apple)

 MirrorLink (Car Connectivity Consortium)

 MirrorLink 1.1 (and higher) is supported. MirrorLink 1.0 is not supported.

In order to use the smartphone apps, the smartphone must be connected via the Universal Serial Bus (USB) to USB connector 2 (A90/5x2) of the multimedia connection unit (A90/5) and the integration standard selected via the telephone menu. If automatic connection has been selected under "Options" in the telephone menu, activation via the menu is not possible.

 With the MirrorLink integration standard, a Bluetooth® connection between the smartphone and the audio equipment is required as well as the connection via USB (Universal Serial Bus) (the connection is established automatically).

If a smartphone is connected and the CarPlay integration standard has been activated, the audio equipment is brought into a special operating mode ("Integration mode"), in which not all functions of the audio equipment can be used. The following audio device functions are not available if CarPlay is active:

 Media player

 Navigation (equipment dependent)

 Voice control system (equipment dependent)

 Telephony

The radio functions (AM and FM), vehicle settings and safety-relevant functions such as the emergency call function (with code 348 (Emergency call/assist system) or with code 350 (eCall Europe emergency call system), with code 351 (Emergency call system (HERMES))) or the breakdown assistance (with code 348 (Emergency call/assist system), with code 06U (Mercedes connect me basic services), with code 360 (HERMES UMTS) or with code 362 (HERMES LTE)) can still be used.

With MirrorLink, the following usage restriction on the telephony applies: Calls can only be made using the connected smartphone. Telephony with code 379 (Telephone module with Bluetooth® (SAP)) is not possible.

If an integration standard is activated, the audio equipment supports smartphone apps in the following manner:

 Volume control for all audio signals

 Forwarding of control signals (e.g. from buttons on the audio equipment, from the Audio/COMAND control panel (A40/9), long press of the voice control system on button (S111s4), pressing the accept/terminate phone call button (S111s3) from the right multifunction steering wheel button group (S111))

 Forwarding of signals from the hands-free system microphone group (A67b1) (e.g. for voice control or telephony)

 Audio output (e.g. for voice control or telephony) via the speaker system or forwarding of the signals to the sound system amplifier control unit (with code 810 (Sound system))

 Muting of the radio reception in the audio equipment, e.g. with smartphone telephony

 Forwarding of position data (e.g. GPS signals (global navigation system), gyro sensor signals, wheel speed signals)

 Forwarding of video signals generated by the smartphone for displaying on the Audio/COMAND display

 Forwarding of status information for displaying in the instrument cluster

 The smartphone applications themselves are not shown in the instrument cluster.

 If the smartphone is being used to make a call, with MirrorLink the audio equipment receives and transmits the telephone signals from and to the smartphone via the Bluetooth® antenna (A2/91), and with CarPlay via the USB connection to the multimedia connection unit.