noelos

I'm new to the forum, so forgive me if this has been covered. The iTrip is one of the most hopeless gadgets ever invented and it work particularly badly with the RX-8 in Sydney. I was unable to find a single station where it would reliably get a signal and even out the country it would somehow pick up interference from ... well, who knows? It was just useless.

Thankfully we now have a solution - the Dension iceLink Plus. It's available from Dension USA while it's not cheap (ended up being about AUD 300 or so), you've forked out the best part of a grand for your iPod Photo and 60 for your cool car - why not get some decent sound out of it?

As far as I know they don't ship to Australia but I was lucky enough to have a seppo friend who was going home for Christmas so I got her to order and deliver to her home there.

I was worried it wouldn't work - there are potentially issues with older stereo firmware (greater than 9.55 is recommended) and hey, I wasn't sure the Australian stereo would be like the American one anyway.

Turns out it is though. I followed the instructions at this site and had the job done in under 15 minutes. The kit somes in four parts that can only go together one way. plug em together and get going. My own personal notes:

1. When you're pulling the gearstick cover off, it feel like you're going to break it, but it just pops out. Likewise when pulling the stereo unit out. Getting that side bolt out isn't as hard as it looks - but like they say, be careful not to drop it.
2. I had problems getting the cables disconnected - especially the ones at the back of the stereo - they're really hard to get out. Don't bother - just get enough slack so you can reach back. The hole you need is towards the back left and the plug is keyed so it can only go in one way. The black converter box can then live in the cavity where the optional tape unit would live.
3. Somehow the dension gives the iPod a new, simplified interface and many of the car controls operate the iPod - including track forward/back (steering wheel controls too). The CD up/down buttons change between the first 6 playlists on the iPod, while the FF/RW buttons work as expected.

And the sound? Perfect.

Controls are sometimes slow to react but usually only when you first plug in - I guess it takes some time for the iceLink to take full control.

That's about it. Just thought my experiences might be useful to others. Any questions, feel free to email me.

Oh, one other thing - the various mounts are all well and good - but the one with just the plug (i.e. the one that's not a mount) gives you the flexibility to use any 3G or later iPod and whatever the next version is. You can trail the cable under the gearstick panel and have the iPod sit in the cupholder area or in the compartment just behind. Thus when you leave your car, there's no visible trace of the iPod to tempt thieves.

kiwimeat

Useful info thanks.

http://www.shopthestates.com/ will resolve the shipping to non-US locations issue.

timbo

Welcome to the forum, noelos ... and that's a great first post. I have been pondering the Icelink solution but I must admit the requirement to have head unit firmware >9.55 completely flummoxed me. Also had been in touch with thew, who does firmware upgrades for US H/U's, and he advised there is no way to upgrade the firmware for a non-US H/U that he is aware of....

So, I now have a basic question: what firmware version do you have? (I assume if you are a recent purchaser, it's probably greater than 9.55) If not, then I am feeling more optimistic

So, the IceLink enables you to use the steering wheel controls to move through songs on your iPod. Do you see track numbers (or some information) on your stereo H/U display??

If all that is positive, then I'll be up this like the proverbial rat... :D


BTW, to check your head unit's software code: turn the radio on, then press and hold the text and preset 1 buttons at the same time (you might need to start pressing the text button slightly before the preset 1 button). The Software version should be in the display.

takahashi

Timbo there is a way to check your version...

I think you can see your song on the display too... it is so tempting.

For me most songs are in Chinese title so it is kind of useless but I am sick of the static in the iTrip alread

takahashi

Here is the link to Mazda RX-8 (IceLink Plus)

We could get someone in US link up with our groupbuy if there is a certain number. The first person that comes to my mind is Omicorn.

ILIV48

Yep I would take 2.

One for my 8 and one for my wifes SP23. Tried from their website but as said won't ship to Aus... Damn.

I would like... no I want... No I need... No I can't live without!

ILIV48

Update:

I have just recieved an email from Dension about ordering from Aus. It could be possible for each of us to order ourselves and have them ship direct to us. I am going to call the guy on the phone and see what can be arranged late tonight. Sleeps much overated anyway!

takahashi

Net us know...

ILIV48, you are in Melbourne right? I will check if my car will work first.

Think of it I don't exactly need it as I have a MP3 player.... I will see

ILIV48

Yeah I'm in Melbourne.

You might have an MP3 but how cool to have your Ipod running through the steering wheel controls.

Especially my gloss black U2 special edition Ipod. Will look great mounted there on the dash :D

I have the position all worked out, will just have to make a custom bracker to mount the cradle.

timbo

Hang on guys. First we have to see if noelos's 8 has a pre v9.55 H/U (or if you have >9.55). According to the to-ing and fro-ing I have had with thew, there is no way he knows of to upgrade a non-US pre 9.55 H/U. But maybe the IceLink Plus, which is a new version of the original Dension product, works with older H/Us

takahashi

I bet it is the same thing and need 9.55+.

Best is to check first before ordering

I think my version is old - I brought the car in 2003.



Anyway my $300 budget has gone to Hymee for his goodies, and I need money to go to HK and buy more goodies... and money to pay my garage man to install them too ....

I think I should start table dancing :p j/k

noelos

Okay. In answer to various points.

1. Didn't check my H/U version. But I did buy my car in October last year so guessing it's 9.55 or greater. Are you telling me the Australian Mazda dealers don't do an upgrade - surely this is the best place to start? But my experience suggests the US H/U is exactly as the Australian - so any US solution should suit here too.
2. IVIL48 - you shouldn't need to make a custom mount for your U2 iPod - there is a model from Dension which will take any 3/4G iPod.
3. The Little orange screen does not show track titles - so don't worry about Chinese. This is offered with some other cars and possibly with the RX-8 with satellite navigation - but not with your Aussie model with standard or Leather Pack Bose stereo. This disappointed me less than I expected.

timbo

Thanks for getting back on these. Just a first thing: can you please check your HU version, just to make sure? This is an important point esp for us early 8 owners -- spending $AUD400 to experiment if it works is not on

Well, according to thew, who is the man on this stuff, the early Aus and other o/s versions are quite different to US and he can't reflash. I suspect and gather from the dialogue on this that this was part of the development process for the US HU to accommodate DVD-based nav and SAT radio which are not supplied here. Nevertheless, I have written to MA on this point. No response as yet.

As to the controls and what shows on the screen, do your stg wheel controls move from track to track, and the CD controls from playlist to playlist?

Thanks for informing us on this

Gomez

Taka, my Jan 04 build is 9.55.....

Gomez

Timbo, to the best of your knowledge is there any advantage to having the later software other than this Icelink thingo we're talking about here? Any other advantage to us in Australia, I mean?

timbo

Not that I am aware of. It seems the upgraded firmware simply facilitates the switching and display associated with Nav and SAT radio...... But there's been scads of posts on this, ao I may have missed something

Gomez

Just doing a little research....the Icelink Plus was meant to enable song info on the centre info panel. That's why guys waited for the Plus to arrive. It seems no-one in the States has managed to get that feature to function yet. Apparently 9.67 is the Sat Radio firmware upgrade, BTW. The latest firmware 9.73 is out now....

timbo

I'd be happy with just track #/playlist number, as even the MP3 player doesn't include the track name AFAIK (taka?).

You know, I'll bet the only way to get the IceLink Plus to work on early model 8's here is to swap the HU for a replacement, later model

takahashi

No it does show trackname in the first 13 characters (english characters and simple signs from your keyboard). It shows file name, folder name, ID tag (which include track title, artist and album). It still does not display Chinese :p

Mine too! Just checked. Does that mean I can use Icelink? :D