Since I've fitted my Alpine CDE-9850Ri in the vauxhall vectra sri (53 plate), I notice when I turn on the radio the date at the top of the vauxhall's info display vanishes (as it did with the factory radio to display the radio info), but of course now its blank as the Alpine doesnt interface to the display. Does anyone know how the display knows I'm turning on the radio, and is there a way for the display to retain the date at the top instead of showing blank?

Oh and does anyone know a suitable interface for the steering wheel controls of a 53 plate vectra sri for the alpine head unit? If it exists?

Thanks
Simon