Planet 9

I am installing the GW500 unit along with a spec.dock on a CDR-24 headunit.

I'm not able to get the CDR-24 into CDC (GW500) mode. Is that because my dealer didn't reprogram it properly? I just stays in CDS mode and says "NO CD" when I press the "CD" button repeatedly...

Also I can't access my iPod touch, it just says "Accessory attached"...?

The iphone requires a special cable and the itouch probably needs it as well. I bought a Dension in the original group buy, which was before the iphone came out. I need a newer cable to support the iPhone. Yours may or many not have come with that cable. My iphone does the exact same thing when I plug it in. The key is, does the itouch charge or not?

Where you get the power (per other post) depends upon whether you have it installed. I have mine in my front boot, so I use the cd changer power supply. If you have it in the car, it would be very easy to wire it to the fusebox with a tap a fuse.

__________________
"The Cayman doesn't need any more toys." -- My wife

Just a thought... but is the switch on the aux module of the GW500 in the on position? (solid white circle)



Other than that... I'd say its a programming issue, or even that you may have dip-switches incorrect for the cdr-24.

__________________
- Suneet

I have already powered it up - tapped the same fuse Suneet did. I'm sure the dipswitches are in the right spot, but I haven't tried switching the AUX box three times, like someone else mentioned.

I have the iTouch connected via the spec.dock cable and connector, so that seems to be good. It even charges.

This is not particularly clear to me: Should I be able to select CDC even with no GW500 installed? Or is it only available when the CDR-24 detects the "CDC" ie. the GW500?

I connected the MOST circuit like this (like it said in the installation manual):

Headunit <------- GW500 <-------- AMP
--------------------------------------->

And as far as I can tell it works (CDR-24 works with the GW500 turned on and off).

Firmware has been updated to 2.11. Only it didn't leave a file on my USB stick as it's supposed to do according to the instructions.

Right now, the whole thing is not connected as I want to buy some wire-taps and take the power from behind the CDR-24.

Thanks for helping out!

CoolAIR,

Sorry I can't help you --- I'm a couple of steps behind you and am just starting the install process. It sounds like you installed the Dension in the cabin. Where in the cabin did you place it? I'm thinking somewhere behind the head unit, but I don't see a good attachment spot when I took a peek last night.

--Andre

There's lots of room behind the headunit. Even for the wires for the USB and spec.dock connections. I used a couple of wire tappers to tap power from behind the headunit, on the brown wire for ground and on the red wire for power.

Thanks CoolAIR. My project today was to install the Dension, and it went OK. I'll be waiting on pins and needles until next week when I can get the CD changer turned on and see if I didn't screw up the install.

In the meantime, some useful tips for people installing a Dension with a CDR-24 and no CD changer:

1. You will need to remove the head unit. K-Man's writeup here is very useful:

PCM 2.1 Install (CDR-24 Radio Removal) - My Articles

I added a couple of notes in that article about the size of the Torx drivers (T20, T27) and wrench (7 mm) you'll need to remove the head unit. Other posts in that thread say what size Allen key (5 mm) you'll need to remove the unit.

2. For power, I used 14-16-gauge taps I got from an auto parts store. I tapped into a red/green wire for always-on 12 V, and the brown wire for ground. They are easy to find as they're the thickest wires in the back.

3. Replugging the MOST cable into the head unit, there's a little latch belonging to another connector right next to the MOST plug. This latch is in the way, so you'll need to pull it up a little bit to plug the MOST into the head unit. This took me about 15 minutes to figure out, so I figure other people might run into it.

4. Work slowly, and don't force anything. Everything comes apart pretty easily, except the carpeted end caps. Their screws take quite a bit of torque to turn!

There was lots of space behind the head unit, but I couldn't figure out a way to put the Dension in there without really sharply bending wires, and I couldn't see a way to secure it in there so it doesn't rattle. So for now, the Dension's going to be Velcro'd along with the aux input to the back left side of the passenger footwell until I figure out how to hide it.

And a plug for Bumperplugs: I got my Dension 500 from Bumperplugs. Eric could not have been more helpful or responsive --- recommended!

--Andre

I installed my Dension 500 this week also and also have not yet had the dealer perform the PIWIS step to recognize the CD changer on the M.O.S.T. ring. But I did not remove the headunit since I wanted to install the Dension unit and iPod in the front compartment, so I would have easy access to everything. The install went fine. I don't think you need to remove the headunit unless you want to mount the Dension 500 behind it.

The M.O.S.T. ring runs into the front compartment and I removed the individual fiber optic cables from the male Tyco connecters and used the supplied female connector to make a Y cable. I have the CDR24 with Bose and no PCM. I disconnected the plug from the amp and plugged the female connector of the cable I made into it. I then plugged one of the males into the Dension and the other into the amp.

I also used the power from the CD changer power cable and when I powered it up and turned on the radio, it worked normally. So at least I know that the ring is "wired" correctly (I think). The true test will be next Thursday when my dealer will program the CD changer option with the PIWIS. I am keeping my fingers crossed but if that al goes well it was not a very difficult install, but you must look at the diagram carefully and make sure that the path of the fiber optic "wires" is correct and they are correctly installed in the Tyco connectors.

I had my CDR-24 programmed this morning for CDC (Santa Barbara Auto Group was kind enough to do it for free!), and it appears I'm in the same boat as CoolAIR, except my iPod only charges for 1 second, and then stops charging after the blue LED stops blinking.

Looking through other threads, GW500 mentioned that the spare CDC preparation MOST cable in the trunk needs to be looped:

http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-ele...tml#post273653

How is that done? With the spare MOST cable, can I use 1 fiber optic cable with one end on the light-out and the other end on the light-in side on one of the MOST connectors?

From reading later in that thread, someone else reported that their Dension started working when connected directly to the head unit, which to me could mean that they also needed to loop their CDC preparation cable.

It also sounds like almost nothing else is on the MOST ring, and I wonder if PIWIS uses a different control pathway to get to the MOST devices rather than the MOST ring itself.

--Andre

The Most ring is a typical ring network bus. This can be comprised of 1 .. n devices. Essentially you could only have two devices, such as the Dension and the cdr24. If you have Bose, that jumps up to 3. Add nav to make it 4. Add a Tooki or Porsche phone to make it 5. For the truly extravagant, you can add sat radio for 6.

Point being, each device has an in and an out. One lane will exit the head unit, then go in/out every other device until it loops back into the head unit and completes the circuit. Make sure all of the arrows follow the flow, and you will be fine. If you have Bose, you can either use the components shipped with the Dension to unplug/plug/make a new cable or you can buy the waveguide cable that is appropriate for your configuration. Some people have this already laying in their front boot. I did not, but purchased the one with ends for Nav, the cd changer, Bose, and the PCM. When I had the cdr24, I used the pieces included to make a cable for the Dension. Either way it is very simple to make work, as long as you keep your gas tank intact.

I'll be happy to help anyone with their config, and so will many of the other members here.

__________________
"The Cayman doesn't need any more toys." -- My wife

Problem solved! As GW500 mentioned in the link above, there is an open MOST cable in the front trunk (probably used to connect the CD changer), and it needed to be looped. As soon as that was done, the Dension just started working.

It turns out that if you have a CDR-24, but not Bose and no CD changer, there is only one device on the MOST bus: the CDR-24, so it doesn't matter if the MOST ring is open or closed. In this case you have three options:

1. Splice the Dension into the ring, and loop the trunk cable so the ring is complete. I did this, and it's probably the worst option because the CD changer cannot be on the same ring as the Dension, and this has really no value for a lot of work.

2. Connect the Dension directly to the CDR-24 in the cabin using the cable that came with the Dension, and perhaps connect the MOST cable that used to go into the CDR-24 into the CDR-24's CDC port, so if you add a CD changer in the future, you can still get to it. This puts the Dension in cabin, but I'm having a hard time figuring out where to hide it.

3. Connect the Dension directly to the CDR-24 in the front trunk using the CD changer cable. You can still add a CD changer and switch between that and the Dension. It's a pretty good place to put the Dension, but you have to route wires through the firewall into the main cabin, and you have to buy the extra long iPod cable if you want the iPod in the car cabin.

I've attached some pictures for clarity. The first picture is how you make a MOST loopback. Just route a cable back to itself. It's shown separated from the shell.

The second picture shows the loopback attached to the trunk MOST connector which is behind the brake booster.

Option 1 is not recommended, and I'll probably redo it to be option 2 since I've already tapped the power wires in the cabin.

Hope this helps!

--Andre

Attached Thumbnails

   

I had my dealer program the CD changer in my 2007 CS today, and everything went well. I turned on the radio and was hearing one of my playlists on my iPod. However, I cannot figure out how to do switch intputs from "iPod User Interface" to "iPod Gateway Interface", and "Aux". Also, I can't figure out from the manul how to change between "Scan Playlist", "Scan Artist", and "Scan Album" on the CDR24 with Bose. It seems that all I can do is turn the right-hand knob to increase or decrease the track number on the playlist I am listening to.

Does anyone have specific instructions on how to switch inputs and use the "iPod User Interface" to control the iPod with the radio controls on the non-text CDR-24.

Any help would be most apprciated.

iPod User Interface: Also called iPod UI, this feature will give you
direct access to use the iPod click wheel. During this time the head unit
commands can still be used to control the iPod. The iPod UI mode is
required when using an iPod 5th Generation in video playback mode, See
Page 11. During audio playback, the Track #, Time and Song info on the
head unit is invalid.
To access the iPod UI function from the Gateway menu:
1. Choose Disc #6 with the head unit controls
2. Wait for the head unit to display: CD 6 Track X (X is the current mode the
dension is in)
3. For iPod UI input choose with the Seek button: Track #2 (CD 6 Track 2)
4. Press Fast Forward (FF) on the head unit to Confirm your selection.
5. Once selected, the head unit will display: CD 5 Track 1.
6. The iPod click wheel is now unlocked.
7. During playback, use the iPod click wheel to choose the track to play or to
search in the iPod database (Playlist, Artist, Album, etc…). At this time you can
also use the head unit controls to do some actions on the iPod, but the Track #,
Time and Song info on the head unit is invalid.

OR

iPod Gateway Interface: Also called Gateway UI, this feature is the
default setting upon connecting the Dension Gateway unit. The Gateway
UI will give you control of the iPod via the head unit controls.
To access the Gateway UI function from the Gateway menu:
1. Choose Disc #6 with the head unit controls
2. Wait for the head unit to display: CD 6 Track X (X is the current mode the
dension is in)
3. For Gateway UI input choose with the Seek button: Track #3 (CD 6 Track 3)
4. Press Fast Forward (FF) on the head unit to Confirm your selection.
5. Once selected, the head unit will display: CD 5 Track 1.
6. The Gateway in now in control. The Dension logo and “Ok to Disconnect” will
be displayed on the iPod screen and the click wheel of the iPod is disabled.

That's part of my problem. I don't see any buttons on the CDR24 that have FF or Seek. When I turn the right knob the track number changes, but it starts playing the next track on the iPod. When I press the button in I believe the unit goes in scan mode, because an SC is displayed and only 5 seconds or so of each song is played before advancing to the next song.

There is no FF button on the headunit. There is a long row of buttons, but they are not lableled. I do see 1 3 4 5 6 above the buttons but the 2 is missing. The remainder of buttons have no labels. I have read the Dension manual, and frankly, it SUCKS.

I get the idea about setting the Disc # to get the input device ( I want to use disc 3 for iPod Gateway Interface), and then choosing tracks 1-3 to scan playlists, artists, or albums. But none of it works. I can't use the iPod User Interface because I mounted the iPod in the front compartment; the whole idea being I didn't want to fiddle around with the iPod when I could control it from the CDR24

I am currently using an iPod Mini, and it has the latest Apple software on it. Maybe I should try my newer iPod to see if that behaves the same way.

The interface is confusing enough but not being able to find the correct buttons is frustrating. What am I doing wrong?

Soft keys are activated by pressing the Menue botton, and then pressing the desired option (i.e., FF) via the multifunction bottons. Review the CDR 24 manual.

Thanks for the tip. I never knew what that Menue button did. After a few minutes playing around with the buttons I think I got it. Pressing the Menue button to show the disc numbers allows you t press the button below the 6 to get to disc 6. Then rotate the right knob until Track 3 is displayed. This gets you the "iPod Gateway Interface", which is what I want to use.

Then, press the button under the 1 and wait until the "Loading" message clears and you will see the track number corresponding to the current Playlist. Then before that display disappears rotate the right knob until the number of the playlist you want is displayed. Then just wait and it will start playing.

Selecting disc 2 instead of disc 1 will scan by Artist, and selecting disc 3 will scan by album. I think disc 1 (scan by playlist) is most useful. I have 15 or so playlists and I can access each one. You can rotate the knob and sample the first song and if you don't want that playlist rotate the knob further to find the one you want. You might want to write down the playlist name and number so you can find it quickly.

After playing with the interface for a few minutes I am very happy. Even though there is no text display you can access playlists fairly quickly and easily from the CDR24 headunit. I have the iPod in the front compartment and I can leave it there and listen to anything I want via the radio controls.

The install was very easy, and after a few minutes fooling around with the interface (using bcstorm's tip about the Menue button) I am very pleased with the Dension unit with my CDR24.

Thanks to all the Cayman Club members for the input on the Dension Gateway 500. My only complaint is the poor instruction manual. Without the Cayman Club I don't think I would have ever got this thing installed and working as well as it is.

I'm having some problems with getting the GW500 powered up, after I redid my optical wiring installation the way Andre described in this thread. The LED doesn't come on and there's no response what so ever from the Dension. Any ideas? I already tried reset and three times on/off...

Where is your power source?

__________________
"The Cayman doesn't need any more toys." -- My wife

It's behind the head unit, and I have confirmed that the wiring is hot, using a multitester. I didn't disconnect the battery during the procedure, since I only changed the optical wiring - but maybe that was stupid?

I have the second edition of the GW500, the power wires have a built in 5A fuse. That one is okay. Are there any fuses inside the GW500 that could be faulty?

Sorry to hear that this installation is not going well for you. I didn't disconnect the battery during my install, and it was fine. Is there a way for you go back to your previous power arrangment just to see if the Dension itself is still working? Perhaps run some temporary wires to the fuse box?

--Andre