This page provides an overview of the app's capabilities so you can use it to its full potential. To install it, please refer to the installation section of this wiki. Below is a list of its features.

Apple CarPlay / Android Auto

V-Link uses node-carplay to enable Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through a third-party "CarlinKit" dongle. This dongle allows us to capture the device's stream and display it in the app. Several types are available; below is a list of the ones that worked for us.

• CPC200-CCPA
• CPC200-Autokit
• CCPM Wired

It is possible to configure the dongle to some extent. To do this, connect your phone directly to the dongle's Wi-Fi. The password is usually "12345678" or "8888888." Then, open a browser and enter the dongle's IP address. On the settings page, you can change the dongle name, car information, video settings, and more. Some of these settings will be available in the app soon.

Disclaimer:

Apple, CarPlay, and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android, Android Auto, and the Android Auto logo are trademarks of Google LLC. This project is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Apple Inc. or Google LLC. All images of CarPlay and Android Auto are for illustrative purposes only.

Live ECU Data

By connecting the Raspberry Pi to the car's interfaces, we can display live ECU data on the screen. To do this, you need to connect either to the CAN Bus or an ADC interface (analog-to-digital). More information can be found in the individual sections of this wiki. Each value can be configured and customized to your liking. Currently, three dashboard styles are implemented:

Classic Automotive with round Dials

Racing inspired with more data

Charts for diagnostics and values over time

Data Recording

V-Link offers a feature that allows you to record ECU data with timestamps and export it as a .json file. All values visible on the chart page will be recorded.

To review your data after a drive, copy the JSON file to a USB stick (it will be located in the Pi's Downloads folder) and use either the tool provided on the website or plotter.py, located in the /resources/tools folder of the repository. Using the standalone script is straightforward, though you may need to install additional Python packages.

https://www.boostedmoose.de/json

python plotter.py /dir/to/record.json

Configurable Settings

The app features a rich user settings page, where you can customize all values on the dashboard, change the theme, restart, close, update the app, and more.

The configuration files inside the app folder are only templates. User settings are saved to the folder below.

~/.config/v-link

Extended Functionality

The app and HAT are designed to be hacked, adapted, and improved. At this stage, it's easy to extend the app’s functionality. The UI is structured so that pages can be easily added and configured. Features like DTC functionality and OEM screen support are already on the roadmap.

Feel free to fork the project, submit a pull request, and share your awesome ideas with the community! 😊