I just had the toughest time with my iPod and Dension. Didn't drive the car for a day, iPod battery drained, recharged with wall charger but Dension simply couldn't recognize it (stuck on AUX/USB).

Tried resetting Dension and iPod at least 10 times. iPod simply could not be found. After a reset on both the Dension and the iPod, the iPod will briefly show up and then half a second later, the screen jumps back to USB/AUX.

Took me 15 minutes and still failed to find the sequence, at the end, got so frustrated I simply pressed the Dension reset button 4 times when iPod was loading up. That did the trick.

While my Dension is incorrectly installed not with a constant power source (which explains the iPod power drain), when plugging in a fully charged iPod, the Dension system should have recognized it after one or two resets.

 

TD, did you ever get a chance to install the Dension microphone in the stock Porsche location? And if so, did it help eliminate the echo/feedback loop?
Thanks

 

I've had all kinds of issues with my update. HTF do you reset this thing anyway. I'm emailing Eric today, doubt I'll ever do another update, should have left well enough alone.

 

Yes, I installed the Dension microphone in the "spare" microphone location.

If you look on your steering column, there are symmetrical microphone locations. The stock microphone is used for the BOSE system.

If you install the Porsche phone, you replace the stock mic, which has two wires, with a mic that has four wires, two of which are for BOSE and two of which are for the phone. I tried to use the stock mic, but the impediance is too high for the Dension bluetooth hands free accessory. So, I just put the stock dension microphone into the spare mic location, and left the stock BOSE mic in its location.

I am still working out issues with the iphone/dension operation, but the microphone works very well. The best part is that it is completely hidden.

Once I get the bugs worked out, I will write a summary post with pictures.

 

Just A note from an early adopter....(not a BT user) the firmware upgrade seems to fix several small bugs from previous versions....notably the random function is remembered between power-on and offs and the search function seems more robust. For me (who leaves the Ipod on random all the time) the GW achieves everything I want it to do. Random play most of the time and playlist/album/artist search when I want it.

Thanks Eric for helping "give birth" to this over the last year!

 

Ok, so I just checked my power source, it is exactly wired to the fuse, so I'm absolutely lost where it doesn't charge for that 2 hours, or whatever is needed.

Would like to find out from you all:

1. Does your iPod charge after you shut down the car? Mine immediately stops charging (after 10 seconds later).

2. I'm on 2.03 and I'm about to update to 2.05, hope it helps.

3. I notice that with my older iPod 3G 40G, the Dension kit often doesn't recognize it and I have to do numerous resets. However, I have no problem with the newer nanos.

4. Even with the more robust newer nanos connection, the nano still stops charging after car is shut off. Very puzzling.

Thanks for any feedback in advance!

 

I 'm still waiting for a firmware update, so my ipod doesn't drain when leaving it plug in while the car is off...

 

Power should always be UNswitched, not switched.

6th Gen Classics have different firmware that won't shut the iPod off when the Dension shuts off. Dension is in development on this issue now.

3G iPods have never been compatible with the Dension Gateway 500.

On the charging, if the iPod is set to sleep mode, it will shut off when the car is off, will charge when car is on.

W211 - update to 2.05.

Any problems - just email me so I can track it and create a ticket for Engineering.

Chris - responded via email about the 6th Gen, it's in the pipeline and should be resolved soon. Will post and email you as soon as the fix is out, as we want you to test for us locally.

Thanks everyone, have a great Thanksgiving!

 

Any updates to iPod Touch compatibility (it won't charge).

 

Touch is underway now....they are working through the 6th gen issue first (power on/off) then touch is in the pipeline.

 

It sounds like a few people here have routed their microphones for their bluetooth phones to the steering column. I am hoping to do the same but was not sure how first to get from the front trunk to the car compartment, then how to get the mic into the steering column. Any help would be great, pictures would be even better.

Thanks,
JW

 

I have wired my dension from the trunk to the inner compartment .. there are two rubber grommets; one towards the footwell of the driver and the other one behind the cd changer. I cut a hole in each and wired the cable through.

I will try and take a couple pictures if you can't find them.

 

Thanks for the call Eric to follow up.

Ok, so now I'm caught in a tough situation, what iPod should I buy to make it work with the Dension, if 6G is incompatible? I had the 3G for the longest time.

Thanks for any feedback!

 

If you can get your hands on a 5th gen for a bit, that would be best. 6th Gen Classic WILL work but will not take the command to shut off, so you'd have to handle that manually for now.

 

If you get a chance can you explain how you cut the hole. I tried to get in there but had a really hard time. Pics and methods would be great.

JW