gyrex

Hi everyone,

I imported a Neo-Ion / Dension Icelink from the states and received it today. I seem to be having a problem, however, with pulling the head unit out.

It would seem that the wiring of the head unit has changed from previous models. I was following the following documentation.

The problem seems to be that there's a new wired connection at the back of the head unit that is restricting me from pulling the whole unit out. I spent a good 3 hours trying to detatch the plug from the head unit with no luck - I just can't seem to fit my hands behind the back to disconnect it.

Has anyone else here managed to install the icelink in a 2005 RX8?

I'll try and take some photos and upload them here. I may even try calling Mazda to see what they have to offer.

Cheers,

John

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

Not sure what kind of new wire could you have there - the head unit is supposed to be exactly the same as in earlier models as far as connections go.
Maybe the problem is similar to what I had - namely that they blue electrical taped the main harness so tightly with some other wire that it was too short to allow the head unit to be pulled out enough. Try to shine a flashlight to the wires to see if you have the blue tape around the harness. If you do, you can carefully cut that to free up the cables. Use some knife with a long blade or long handle. Then you should be able to pull out the head unit.

gyrex

Bloody beautiful!!! I'll whip outside and try it again. I'll arm myself with my camera too. Would you mind monitoring this thread Tamas in case I stumble again?

Thanks so much mate!

carls

I just installed the neo ion/icelink in my car, and I also had trouble trying to remove the head unit. Then it dawned on me that you don't have to remove the head unit. Just reach behind it and plug in the cable for the Neo iOn. I was able to do that very easily. If you can get behind the head unit it all, then you shouldn't have to remove it all the way.

Here is my initial impression of the Neo device. The sound quality is excellent, as it should be. The dension UI on the ipod sucks. It's slow, the text is too small, and the menu navigation is just painful. Thankfully there is an option to revert to the iPod UI, which I greatly prefer. It seems to have issues when I turn the head unit on, like it can't determine that there is something connected to the Ex input, but I just cycle through the inputs and then it works fine.

kachud

If you upgrade the firmware on the icelink then the text will be much bigger. The interface will greatly improve and if you loose connection between the ipod and the HU just hit the power on the HU twice. The newest firmware is 2.06. Version 2.05 is almost unusable.

gyrex

After approximately 6 hours, countless cuts, bruises on my legs and my girlfriend being rather p*ssed off I've finally plugged the NEO cable into the back of the head unit. My only problem now is where to seat the NEO box (black box where the cable from the head unit plugs into.

Also, I've got a cradle mounting kit from NEO and I'm wondering how I actually mount it to the vehicle? There's screws and other paraphernalia but it's not entirely clear where or how to mount it.

Any suggestions or hints here?

Cheers,

John

kachud

My neo box is mounted behind the head unit. I do not have the cd changer so there is an empty space there. I ran the cable under the ashtray. I have the cable plug so I wired into the center console next to the second 12v plug.

Juxagent

there is a big void under the head unit that the bowx will fit under; the little circuit (the icelink part) i have in the center console, but i didnt opt for the cradle but you should still have plenty of cord.

good luck

gyrex

Hi guys,

Thanks for the input guys. How did you actually mount the neo box? Did you use tape or screws?

What's the cable plug? Which connection type would you recommend? I'm thinking that the cradle wasn't the best idea

kachud

The plug looks just like the plug that comes with the ipod that plugs into the bottom of the ipod. The benifit is that any 3rd or 4th gen ipod will work. i.e. mini, photo, ect. I attached the neo box with copper wire. I was able to loop the wire through the holes under the headunit, being carfull not to allow the wire to contact the circuit board. Then I simply looped it through the neo box monting holes and twisted. It is very secure this way and I didn't risk drilling near the circuit board. If you find the cradle to cumbersome you can always order the cable. It just plugs into the dension unit. The neo box would fit even better if I had a 90 degree plug but since Neo sent one with a straight plug I was stuck. I managed to fit it in there at an angle just fine. Wish I had a few pictures.

jbrasure

I put the Neo box behind the stereo, kind of down low to the right. I didn't attach it with tape or anything. It's just sitting loose back there. However, I wrapped it with rubberized foam to keep it from rattling and moving much.

Then I ran the cable out the back of the center console, towards the right side behind the glove box. I taped up the wires behind the glove box.

To mount the cradle I used this product:

http://www.proclipusa.com/?sectionpa...d=&p_year=2005

It works great. It attaches itself to the right side of the center console, and doesn't require any screws or tape. It holds itself in place with simple pressure and friction. Once you have this thing installed, you can discreetly run the wire from behind the glove box to the iPod cradle.

kachud

You should post a pict.

jbrasure

Here are some picts of the Neo Icelink Plus installed in my 2005 RX-8 AT with a mounting clip from ProClipUSA.

carls

I did pretty much exactly the same thing that jbrasure did. I put the Neo box down to the right behind the head unit, and I ran the cable to the right and under the glovebox. I used wire ties to keep everything in place. I used the same Pro Clip mounting bracket, and it looks great.

carls

Hmm, I just checked, and I do have version 2.06. But the text is very small, and the interface is so slow to use. I just revert to the iPod interface anyway though.

kachud

What kind of IPOD do you have. I have the IPhoto and I see large text. I can read it from across the car.

carls

I have a 60GB iPod Photo. It just seems like the text is much smaller than the text on the iPod UI. And moving through the menus is very slow as well.

Do you use the Dension UI or the iPod UI?

I received the following from Dension support:

-----------------------------
The latest version is 2.07 and 2.10 but they are functionally the same as 2.06:

- 2.07 has a different programmint technic used by the factory
- 2.10 has a simplified menu

But they are working on the same way as 2.06 therefore no reason to update. What are your issues?

Regards... Dension Support
-----------------------------

I guess I'll leave it as is and just keep using the iPod UI.

kachud

I use the Dension UI. I tried the iPod UI and it works well for long trips but takes to long to cue up music for short (10 min) trips. I agree that the surfing menu is tedious. It takes a while and if you wait a few seconds the Dension exits the menu and loads the last playlist. It is good enough for now, but I hope something better comes along.

jbrasure

I always use the iPod UI. The Dension UI is just too slow and buggy.