ARB LINX adds control

Off-road and vehicle accessory company ARB has released LINX. A dash-mountable smartphone style control interface, as the name suggests, LINX provides centralised control for a range of popular 4x4 and off-road after-market add-ons

The most obvious part of the kit is the gimbal mounted Google Android based LINX mobile touchscreen display – essentially like a phone, but either USB or Bluetooth connected to the LINX Controller unit.

The Controller unit is the central brains behind the system but can be mounted out of sight either under the seat or dash. ARB’s starter LINX kit includes the display, mount, controller unit and enough rails and wiring harnesses to get you up and running with the first of your LINX Modules.

The LINX Controller can connect to a number of wired modules (and, says ARB, has significant capacity for future expansion beyond the currently listed modules) as well as standard vehicle pickups such as ACC power and the lighting systems.

LINX manages systems that would otherwise require the addition of dash switches and/or analogue controls. Instead, the LINX display unit brings touch screen tropes, including large icons, swipe and scroll features to the drive.

The Front and Rear Traction module give instant toggles to the accessory air-locking differentials and gives control such as timing of diff locking for safety reasons (for example, so the front axle will only lock after the rear).

Compressor and Pressure Control is a module that give mastery of an onboard compressor pressure levels including setting a target pressure (for example when connecting to the tyres ) as well as ensuring under what conditions the compressor is active. And regardless of tyre pressure (or size for that matter), LINX can provide an accurate GPS based speedometer.

The Switchboard module gives over display space to six different switchable accessories on your vehicle. This means physical switches can be replaced.

The most obvious application is auxilliary lighting. LINX also allows some intelligence to be built into the lights’ management. Having spotlights lights linked to high-beam for example, or switched off when a low battery voltage thresholds are hit. All of this custom automation will work even if the LINX Display is removed from the vehicle or not active.

ARB stresses the strength of the LINX system is it is easily updatable. New software can be downloaded and new modules can be added as they are developed by ARB.

The $795 LINX Vehicle Accessory Interface that consists of the LINX unit and the LINX control pad is effectively a starter kit. So configured, LINX can control front air locker, rear air locker, compressor, switchboard, battery monitor and speedometer.

Other modules include the LINX Pressure Control Kit priced at $245.