Well, Mazda never claimed that it worked, the Icelink promo materials did. The car is what it is, they're making a piece to work with it. If its not going to show the text then they need to include that bit of information in the ads (Note: For all I know they have changed their claims regarding this, I haven't looked recently).

jds

 

Ill let you guys know how it goes with my car, im installing it today.

 

Hey guys,

For those of you who this is working for and those who it is not what file format is the audio on your iPod. iTunes by default encodes in APPLE Audio encoding and not mp3 format.

 

Ok guys I got the lowdown. I visited dension today to have them install the IceLink Pro and got some questions answered. First off the IceLink Pro does not read the ID3 tags to the HU. The only car it does is the BMW. They are working on a solution for the IceLink to display the tags but it doesnt exist yet.

I am running Firmware 9.53 and all the versions of the IceLink have worked with my car. When we did the first install they could have sworn i told them I was on 9.55+ but ends up I wasn't. The IceLink Pro is now installed and it works better than before.

I doubt they are going to sell it for cars that are not 9.55 or higher but if you want to TRY it, go for it It works on mine just fine. I will be testing it and getting used to the new controls and letcha know the new features.

I want the tags to display but not this version for our cars.

 

zOOm-zOOm,

Do you have the ignition problem that we have discussed in this forum? I have to turn the HU off before I turn off the ignition or else the ipod goes into pause mode when I restart the car. The only way to get it out of pause mode is to disconnect it, turn of the HU reconnect and then turn the HU back on.

 

I get out of pause mode by shutting and restarting the ignition a second time. iPod goes back to normal. I reported to Dension yesterday. I think that the Dension device fails to detect an ignition shut off as a power-stop, like turning off the HU,

 

Ok, z00m-z00m, you are answering a question I have been asking. So, the IceLink Plus works on HU's with 9.53 Firmware. Can you confirm?

Does this mean even though you don't have any track information, the steering wheel and CD controls work, allowing you to move through songs and playlists on the iPod?

Do you have the ignition problem (sorry, duplicating bigcynic's question above)?

My goal has always been to get good, clean sound from my iPod into my 8's stereo. So I am getting one of OverLOAD's Aux-in modules, having been on his list for months. But additional features like track/playlist controls is a real bonus, hence my keen interest. Track information display would be fantastic, but no necessary

BTW, there doesn't seem to be anyway to have our HU firmware upgraded in Australia

 

They tried to replicate the issue talked about here I dont think it replicated but my firmware isnt one of the supported ones. Ill send them this way to help answer that question.

It does work on my car stereo which is 9.53 but I dont think they are going to sell it to people with 9.53 :P If your crazy you can try it It works on my stereo thats all I can say.

 

z00m-z00m, sorry to be pedantic, but what exactly do you mean when you say "it does work with my stereo"?

Specifically, do the steering wheel controls work to move between tracks? And the CD change controls to move between playlists?

Thanks for your help. If those things work then I reckon I'll take the risk. Otherwise I'll stay with OverLOAD's module

 

yes all features do work. but they said they wont say its supported because i guess it didnt work with some cars. But i have full steering wheel control and all features.

 

OK I switched back to IceLink Normal instead of pro because I am having some issues. Im reporting the issues to DensionUSA. The normal one does work fine without any of the bugs that people are reporting here on my 9.53 headunit stereo.

 

Thanks z00m-z00m ... so, just to confirm, the normal IceLink gives:
1. great sound quality?
2. steering wheel control of tracks?; and
3. ability to move between playlists using the CD up/down button?

 

*Bump*

 

timbo, ill have to test it for the playlist, i dont use playlists :P but the sounds perfect and steeringwheel control is there.

 

Ok, I have now managed to get a firmware version 9.67 Head Unit...but discussion on the IceLink has gone very quiet, and I understand Dension are no longer saying it supports the RX-8, regardless of HU firmware version. So, can those of you who have done the install report on how things are going, ie, if everything is working ok, or if you are having the powerdown problems, display problems etc...please???

 

I talked with Dension last week and they are still selling the ICElink plus for the RX8. They said they are out of stock so I bought the unit through NEO. They resell the icelink system and they have it in stock

 

Kachud,

can you give the link to NEO? Thanks

 

The link is:

www.mp3yourcar.com

 

Heres more info for you all..

1 st the icelink plus is just the PIE adapter and the Dension Cable. denision has no Pie boxes becasue they are back order... I too am a Dension dealer but have yet to sell any Icelink plus setups. 1 because theres no Pie boxs ready for shipment.. and 2 becasue IMO is a cheeper and better fix to use the PIE alone with RCA input so you can split the input and have more than one Input.. Since the Icelink plus still requiers you to see the Ipod I have not purchased any for resale becasue its to much money for not enough Bling bling...

Again the PIE and RCA adapter gives you the ability to split your inputs and add more than just an Ipod.. more bang for the buck..

Anyway. I can put the Icelink plus on order for anyone that wants them..

 

Ok, so the IceLink Plus doesn't display song titles. Does that mean the original IceLink is just as good as the IceLink Plus? Does the Plus model have any advantages?

James

 

I would say teh icelink plus only has disadvanteges especially if you diont have aftermarket HU
check out my post in this thread

to quote myself:

"If you get the icelink v1.1 then you do not have to unhook and re-hookup the ipod. This is because it dosnt install dension firmware onto the ipod which disables its controls when you drive (you have to use their menu). I believe this will only happen when you, for example, are playing a playlist then want to switch to play one artist song then you would have to do the on-off re-hookup trick.

Its a liability thing, ipod gave dension the ok then said that the ipod has to be disabled while driving for saftey reasons(similar to ourt nav not playing dvd's). of course people do what they want and found out yoyu can unhook it and crap.

The only difference in the 1.1 and plus besides whats mentioned above is that the 1.1 does not have id3 tags which if you are using the factory HU will not get anyway. Also it dosnt have "playlist contol" which is by pressing 1, 2, 3, ,4 or 5 on the HU will give you the the first 5 playlists; but of course you can play a regular playlist as normal.

oh its also cheaper....."

 

That's cool. I think I'm sold on the IceLink 1.1. I have one final question though. When I go to Dension's web site, the selection of IceLinks for the Mazda says this:

iceLink v1.1 for 1993-1998 Mazdas
iceLink Plus for 2003+ Mazdas

Is that just a typo? Will the IceLink 1.1 work in my 2005 RX-8?

Thanks folks,

James

 

i dont think its atypo i bet they they just want to get people to buy the new one; or maybe they just expect people to get the newer one with a newer car. Who knows i; i dont. but i do know that i have a icelink 1.1 and it works fine in my 2004 rx-8 with firmware version 9.55

btw i got it at www.mp3yourcar.com it might be called a Neo but its just a icelink rebadged; even the sales reciept says icelink.

one last important thing if you do decide to get it order by phone! That way if you get through neo you get it out very fast(3 days after i called and thats to NY), or if you go through dension then you can find out for sure if its in stock before giving them money, and finding out you spent 2 weeks waiting for nothing (as in my case).