TV-mode, function

P82.60-9080-79

Function requirement TV mode, general

 Circuit 30g ON

 Transport mode not active

 COMAND controller unit activated via "ON" button

TV mode, general

With the TV mode it is possible to pick up television channels (e.g. the Japanese National Television System Committee (NTSC) frequency range) in the vehicle and to view them on the Audio/COMAND display.

As of 1.6.2009 (with code (498) Japan version) reception is digital via Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting - Terrestrial (ISDB-T).

As of 1.6.2012 (model 204.9 except code (498) Japan version), reception is digital via Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial (DVBT).

The interface is generated by the COMAND controller unit and, like the TV picture, shown on the Audio/COMAND display.

 Except model 204.9 with code (867) SPLITVIEW, the TV picture is switched off for safety reasons starting at v  5 km/h. When the vehicle is moving, only acoustic playback remains active and a warning message is shown on the Audio/COMAND display.
In model 204.9 with code (867) SPLITVIEW, the TV function in the field of view is fully usable for the front passenger even while driving.

 The TV functions can be selected, activated and set with the following components:
- Audio/COMAND control panel
- Left multifunction steering wheel button group and right multifunction steering wheel button group
– Remote control (model 204.9 with code (867) SPLITVIEW)

TV mode includes the following function sequences:

 Receipt of TV signals

 Output of video signals

 Output of the audio signals over the speaker system

 TV mode with remote control and headphones (model 204.9 with code (867) SPLITVIEW)

 Additional information (model 204.9 except code (498) Japan version, as of 1.6.2012)

 Additional information (with code (498) Japan version, as of 1.6.2009)

Receipt of TV signals

The antenna signals for TV reception are received by the following antenna amplifiers:

– Over the TV 1 antenna in the rear window:

– TV 1 antenna amplifier and DAB band III (model 204.0/2)

– TV 1 antenna amplifier (model 204.3)

– FM 2, DAB and TV 1 antenna amplifier (model 204.9)

– Via TV 2 antenna in the rear window (model 204.0/3) or windshield (model 204.2/9):

– TV 2 antenna amplifier (model 204.2/9)

– TV 2 and KEYLESS-GO antenna amplifier (A94/2) (model 204.0/3)

– Over the TV 3 antenna in the windshield:

- TV 3 antenna amplifier

The antenna amplifiers forward the signals to the TV tuner control unit (up to 31.5.2009) or to the digital TV tuner (as of 1.6.2009). In model 204.9 with code (537) Digital radio, the FM 2, DAB and TV 1 antenna amplifier forwards the signals via the TV antenna splitter to the digital TV tuner (as of 1.6.2012). Upon receiving a television channel, the TV tuner control unit (up to 31.5.2009) or the TV digital tuner (as of 1.6.2009) generates audio and video signals.

Output of video signals

The video signals are transmitted via the following route by the TV tuner control unit (up to 31.5.2009) or by the digital TV tuner (as of 1.6.2009) to the Audio/COMAND display:

- Y-brightness (luminance)/C-color information (chrominance) (Y/C) line

-COMAND controller unit

- Low Voltage Differential Signal (LVDS) line

– AMG Performance Media control unit (model 204.0/2/3 with code (255) AMG Performance Media) and LVDS line

Output of the audio signals over the speaker system

The TV tuner control unit (up to 31.5.2009) transmits the audio signals via a direct line to the COMAND controller unit.

The digital TV tuner (ab 1.6.2009) transmits the audio signals via the Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) to the COMAND controller unit.

On vehicles except code (810) Sound system, the COMAND controller unit emits the audio signals at the speaker system.

On vehicles with code (810) Sound system, the COMAND controller unit sends the audio signals via MOST to the sound system amplifier control unit.

 More detailed information on the speaker system is available in the "Speaker output function" document.

TV mode with remote control and headphones (model 204.9 with code (867) SPLITVIEW)

Equipment with code (867) SPLITVIEW in model 204.9 enables the driver and the front passenger to use the entertainment and communication systems integrated into the vehicle including the ability to display them on the Audio/COMAND display at the same time and independent of each other. The TV function can be activated and operated using the remote control. The COMAND controller unit receives the signals from the remote control via the integrated infrared interface. 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 sends the audio signals over an integrated Kleer® radio interface to the radio frequency headphones. As an option, external cabled headphones can also be used. The cabled headphones receive the audio signals from the COMAND controller unit via the headphones (cabled) electrical connector.

Additional information (model 204.9 except code (498) Japan version, as of 1.6.2012)

The supplemental information is subdivided into the following categories:

 TV reception

 Additional functions

TV reception

As the transmission frequencies for analog TV will be used differently in future, only digital TV will be received in the range from 470 to 710 MHz according to the Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial (DVB-T) standard. In addition to the video compression standard Mpeg 2, Mpeg 4 is also supported. Receiving encoded programs is also possible via an integrated conditional access module.

Additional functions

New services will be offered in the frequency ranges from 90 to 108 MHz and 170 to 222 MHz in future that will be supported by the digital TV tuner.

The digital TV tuner currently provides the following features:

- Video text (pages: 100 to 899)

- Station list of channels momentarily receivable

- Last settings

- National settings

– Info (information on currently selected station)

 Videotext function
Some stations, primarily in central Europe, offer videotext in addition to their television program. For this purpose, the TV digital tuner is equipped with a separate video text decoder. Only videotext broadcast with Latin ASCII characters are supported, i.e. Greek or Cyrillic characters are not supported.

Additional information (with code (498) Japan version, as of 1.6.2009)

The supplemental information is subdivided into the following categories:

 TV reception

 Additional functions

TV reception

Reception of encoded programs is possible in vehicles up to 31.5.2012 with a smart card and as of 1.6.2012 with a B-CAS SIM card. With digital TV reception the "one-segment" substandard (TV standard for mobile telephony) is also supported in vehicles as of 1.6.2012 in addition to the "full-segment" substandard.

Additional functions

The digital TV tuner provides the following features:

- Digital image storage

- Last settings

– "BML" (Broadcast Markup Language) function: The digital TV tuner supports videotext for all available Japanese TV stations. This enables information to be shown similar to a small website on weather, news, etc. By selecting a region in the setting list you can obtain region-specific information.

– "EPG" (Electronic Program Guide) function: The Electronic Program Guide shows information such as start of program, end of program and detailed information on the television programs for each TV station.

– Bilingual function: Two languages are supported depending on station availability, e.g. Japanese on the main-sound track and English on the sub-sound track.