gateway 500 install

[nmanning]

Hi

I've just started installing the Dension Gateway 500 into my MY05 C2S, and so far so good. I'm not using the ipod yet as mine is gen 3 and not supported - I'm usng a 2.5" USB 80GB disk instead. My question: what is the easiest point to get the necessary wiring (3 wires) through the bulkhead to the glove box area?

I have it all working correctly from the trunk with track displays on PCM, but I would like to have the ipod/USB/AUX connectors inside the cabin of the car if possible.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks.

Nick

[percymon]

You should find a factory grommet just off centre in the bulkhead - this should be visible with the PCM unit removed or possibly looking back from the front tunk.

Edited December 30, 2006 by percymon

[nmanning]

Thanks. I guess that will be the one behind the battery looking from the trunk - I'll check it tomorrow.

[Popolou]

Nick,

Any chance of an update to this. As with a few number of others here in the UK, i'm curious how well it interfaces with the PCM. I'd be obliged if you can answer a few q's of mine: -

1. Does it rely on a playlist for the tracks off the media or does it read the tracks individually.

2. Does it also read the ID tags (V2 or 3?).

3. Are the tracks all read in advance and catalogued by the GW500 or is there a slight delay between tracks for the info to load up.

4. Does the CD info screen in the INFO section show any more of the tag details per track?

5. Can you fully navigate all available tracks from the PCM?

6. Does it handle folders, such as one folder deep to aid sorting?

7. Does the unit radiate much heat when in opperation for a normal period of time?

Sorry for all these but being an early stage it's not proving easy to find knowledgeable people as yet.

Many thanks!

Regards

Popolou

Edited January 2, 2007 by Popolou

[larrytrk]

Hi

I've just started installing the Dension Gateway 500 into my MY05 C2S, and so far so good. I'm not using the ipod yet as mine is gen 3 and not supported - I'm usng a 2.5" USB 80GB disk instead. My question: what is the easiest point to get the necessary wiring (3 wires) through the bulkhead to the glove box area?

I have it all working correctly from the trunk with track displays on PCM, but I would like to have the ipod/USB/AUX connectors inside the cabin of the car if possible.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks.

Nick

How difficult was the basic install, just plug and play from trunk or did you have to remove the PCM to hook up the optical cables? I am not talking about the i-pod cord to the glovebox!

Thanks, larry T

[nmanning]

The Install and Operating instructions documents for the Gateway 500 are on the Dension site. I have situated the unit in the trunk next to the CD/DVD. I've run a ground wire from the closest source in the trunk (near trunk light), and a positive from the rear of the feed to the CD. I've broken into the MOST ring at the CD fibre out and connected as per docs. However, docs are not clear on best position within ring for optimum perfomance, and I may need to experiment with this as I do have intermittent telephone N/A issues. I've run the wires through the most accesible grommets within the bulkhead, but they do not reach the glove box! I need to look at the routing again for this. To early to comment on the UI experience, but it does seem that the iPod connection is more reliable and easier to manage than the USB hard drive (note, this needs to be FAT32 format not NTFS, and you may need optimise the file structure if it's a slow disk). Sound quality, as per icelink, is excellent. The PCM supports full Select mode so all track data is available.

From a Dension perspective, I guess their testing was carried out on a LHD vehicle, hence the short cables. Also the Porsche specific install info (ie where to place in the MOST ring) is not as clear as it could be.

However all said, you can connect your iPod to your 997 which is great!

Nick

[rickhuizinga]

I'm trying to install mine today, but the Gateway 500 is creating a break in the MOST ring.

I took power & ground from the back of the NAV drive, but the +12V line drops to +4V as soon as I plug in the Gateway 500 board. I think the board is dead.

Did you have to do anything special to get the Gateway to turn on?

[larrytrk]

I'm trying to install mine today, but the Gateway 500 is creating a break in the MOST ring.

I took power & ground from the back of the NAV drive, but the +12V line drops to +4V as soon as I plug in the Gateway 500 board. I think the board is dead.

Did you have to do anything special to get the Gateway to turn on?

Did you set the appropriate dip switches?

[rickhuizinga]

Did you set the appropriate dip switches?

I figured out the problem. I connected the power cable to a line that I measured to be +12V, but it wasn't a power supply line and couldn't drive sufficient current.

It all works now

[k950]

Congratulations! I've been waiting for mine from a group buy but still no word.

Now that you have it working, will you please give us a review of its performance?

thx

[rickhuizinga]

Here are some pics of the PCM display when playing the iPod.

Overall, I haven't seen any glitches but I've only taken it for one drive.

I wish the navigation of the menus would be better integrated with the PCM rather than through various audio commands (CD #, next/prev track, etc.) but that would have required new firmware for the PCM. Despite this, its not too difficult to get use to, although it is a different paradigm than navigating through the other PCM screens.

So far it looks good. Audio quality is great, as well as the extensive song selection! :thumbup:

[Rezz]

Q: If you want to, can you also select songs directly from the iPod...? I know it defeats the purpose of the gateway but just a curiosity....

[Popolou]

Thanks for the screenshots. Any chance of a pic showing the search function and page views when going into albums -> Tracks, say?

Regards

Popolou

[rickhuizinga]

Q: If you want to, can you also select songs directly from the iPod...? I know it defeats the purpose of the gateway but just a curiosity....

Yes, you can switch back and forth between iPod control mode and PCM control mode using a menu option on the PCM.

I prefer PCM mode because I have my iPod stored in the front trunk where the CD changer normally would go. :)

[Rezz]

Q: If you want to, can you also select songs directly from the iPod...? I know it defeats the purpose of the gateway but just a curiosity....

Yes, you can switch back and forth between iPod control mode and PCM control mode using a menu option on the PCM.

I prefer PCM mode because I have my iPod stored in the front trunk where the CD changer normally would go. :)

thnak you...! so when is teh group buy..?

[rickhuizinga]

thnak you...! so when is teh group buy..?

I'm not sure, but I bought mine from www.maxcount.de

[larrytrk]

where did you tap into MOST line. Did you just unplug the nav plug and splice there? Did you have to remove the NAV unit to gain access? Looks great!! I see where 12 volt unswitched is necessary! I will have to check the extra CD player plug for power and ground. Don't know if I can wait for group buy!!!

[rickhuizinga]

where did you tap into MOST line. Did you just unplug the nav plug and splice there? Did you have to remove the NAV unit to gain access? Looks great!! I see where 12 volt unswitched is necessary! I will have to check the extra CD player plug for power and ground. Don't know if I can wait for group buy!!!

I have attached a picture from before cleaning up the installation. In this picture, the cables still need to be organized and the front trunk plastic covers need to be reinstalled.

I connected the Gateway 500 by tapping into the connectors going into the back of the NAV drive.

The optical connection was very easy - the instructions in the Gateway 500 were clear and all required parts (couplers, optical cables, etc.) were included. It entailed unplugging the optical connector from the back of the DVD drive and unfastening one of the optical cables from the connector followed by inserting one of the included optical cables back into the connector. Basically, the cable that was unplugged from the DVD drive goes into the Gateway 500, and the new cable goes between the Gateway 500 and the DVD drive connector.

If your car doesn't have a DVD drive, you will need to perform this procedure on some other MOST component (head unit, amplifier, etc.). The DVD drive was convenient because it is very accessible. The amplifier is hard to reach with the optical connections hiding behind the speaker wires, and the head unit requires removal from the center console.

The only other thing to connect is power. You will need to find some location to connect the included power cable to get +12V and GND. I soldered the power wires onto the power connector pins the DVD drive.

[larrytrk]

Thanks for info, sorry for duplication!!

[nmanning]

Thanks for info, sorry for duplication!!

carrying on the thread of the original install, I'm still having difficulties getting a stable system.

I have tried connections at two points in the MOST ring:

1. CD - this allows control of the iPod, but drops the Telephone and the NAV system most of the time, and the PCM seems to spend alot of time trying to re-establish the connections.

2. NAV - this provides a stable system, but no access to the iPod!

I have Dension testing my config. (MY05 PCM, Bose, NAV, GSM, latest 80GB iPod) but haven't had any feedback yet.

I would be interested to know if anyone else has had similar difficulties?

Thanks

Nick

[rickhuizinga]

carrying on the thread of the original install, I'm still having difficulties getting a stable system.

I have tried connections at two points in the MOST ring:

1. CD - this allows control of the iPod, but drops the Telephone and the NAV system most of the time, and the PCM seems to spend alot of time trying to re-establish the connections.

2. NAV - this provides a stable system, but no access to the iPod!

I have Dension testing my config. (MY05 PCM, Bose, NAV, GSM, latest 80GB iPod) but haven't had any feedback yet.

I would be interested to know if anyone else has had similar difficulties?

Thanks

Nick

By CD, do you mean CD changer? If so, since it cannot be used at the same time as the Gateway 500, why not try to try the install of "2. NAV", but remove the CD changer from the MOST ring? Its worth a try because in this configuration, it sounds like your CD changer appears first in the ring and therefore is used. Removing it will make the the Gateway 500 appear as the first CD changer in the ring.

[nmanning]

carrying on the thread of the original install, I'm still having difficulties getting a stable system.

I have tried connections at two points in the MOST ring:

1. CD - this allows control of the iPod, but drops the Telephone and the NAV system most of the time, and the PCM seems to spend alot of time trying to re-establish the connections.

2. NAV - this provides a stable system, but no access to the iPod!

I have Dension testing my config. (MY05 PCM, Bose, NAV, GSM, latest 80GB iPod) but haven't had any feedback yet.

I would be interested to know if anyone else has had similar difficulties?

Thanks

Nick

By CD, do you mean CD changer? If so, since it cannot be used at the same time as the Gateway 500, why not try to try the install of "2. NAV", but remove the CD changer from the MOST ring? Its worth a try because in this configuration, it sounds like your CD changer appears first in the ring and therefore is used. Removing it will make the the Gateway 500 appear as the first CD changer in the ring.

Yes, you are right, and I have just manged to prove this. The MOST ring can have a max number of devices specified (as with my model/spec), so the easy way round is to remove CD from MOST ring and wire GW directly into the circuit - no conflict and 100% performance from all devices. Apparrently NAV TV kit comes with plug that means you have to disconnect CD drive, where as GW kit and instructions allow for (and recommend) piggy back operation that doesn't always work! Thanks to OPC Swindon for advice with this.

[ukchris]

Here's my contribution. I reinstalled from scratch today and it took less than fifteen minutes, I took pictures and compiled them in to a PDF, hopefully this will help reassure people that this thing can be installed easily without any great technical know-how.

Download the PDF here: http://www.radarrack.com/boxster.html

Chris.

[richardholtz]

Thanks for info, sorry for duplication!!

carrying on the thread of the original install, I'm still having difficulties getting a stable system.

I have tried connections at two points in the MOST ring:

1. CD - this allows control of the iPod, but drops the Telephone and the NAV system most of the time, and the PCM seems to spend alot of time trying to re-establish the connections.

2. NAV - this provides a stable system, but no access to the iPod!

I have Dension testing my config. (MY05 PCM, Bose, NAV, GSM, latest 80GB iPod) but haven't had any feedback yet.

I would be interested to know if anyone else has had similar difficulties?

Thanks

Nick

We have PCM, NAV, latest Gen2 Nano with 1.1.1 firmware and SmartTOP on 2007 C2S and having similar issue with Gateway 500. We updated the Gateway to version 1.0 Firmware at Dension recommendation and it still intermittantly appears. Working with them to do a swap out. We cannot reliably get the Dension to show its splash screen on the NANO with only the NANO and the Gateway connected??

Regards

Richard

[kkfor3]

May I ask you which version of PCM you have now on your '05 997? When you say earlier that a update may give you better interface do you mean upgrading the PCM?

carrying on the thread of the original install, I'm still having difficulties getting a stable system.

I have tried connections at two points in the MOST ring:

1. CD - this allows control of the iPod, but drops the Telephone and the NAV system most of the time, and the PCM seems to spend alot of time trying to re-establish the connections.

2. NAV - this provides a stable system, but no access to the iPod!

I have Dension testing my config. (MY05 PCM, Bose, NAV, GSM, latest 80GB iPod) but haven't had any feedback yet.

I would be interested to know if anyone else has had similar difficulties?

Thanks

Nick

By CD, do you mean CD changer? If so, since it cannot be used at the same time as the Gateway 500, why not try to try the install of "2. NAV", but remove the CD changer from the MOST ring? Its worth a try because in this configuration, it sounds like your CD changer appears first in the ring and therefore is used. Removing it will make the the Gateway 500 appear as the first CD changer in the ring.

Yes, you are right, and I have just manged to prove this. The MOST ring can have a max number of devices specified (as with my model/spec), so the easy way round is to remove CD from MOST ring and wire GW directly into the circuit - no conflict and 100% performance from all devices. Apparrently NAV TV kit comes with plug that means you have to disconnect CD drive, where as GW kit and instructions allow for (and recommend) piggy back operation that doesn't always work! Thanks to OPC Swindon for advice with this.