1.01 fixed use with my Dension Car Cradle

[Mark Booth]

I have a Dension iPod Cradle installed in my 2001 Mazda Miata (my weekend fun car). It's a custom install in that I purchased the Dension Cradle by itself and "hacked" it into an existing optional tape player jack on the back of the factory radio. It works great with my iPod. When I got my iPhone, however, I was disappointed that it did not work well at all. While in the Cradle the iPhone would charge properly but the iPhone's audio would only play through the iPhone's speaker and NOT through the car speakers (via the Cradle wiring). Disappointing.

I am pleased to report that Firmware Update 1.01 has fixed the problem!

When the iPhone is in the Dension Cradle it not only charges, but plays beautifully through the car speakers. If a call comes in while it is playing, the music fades to a pause and the iPhone's ringer plays through the car speakers (even if the iPhone's ringer switch is turned to vibrate only!)! The display changes to show the caller's information and presents the familiar "Answer" or "Delcine" buttons. Unfortunately, upon answering the caller's voice does NOT play through the car speakers but, if I have the iPhone Bluetooth Headset on I can answer the phone by a single touch of the Headset button and all works normally. Then, when the call is over, the iPod section returns to the screen and the music automatically resumes play from the pause point.

As with other docking speaker devices, when first docked in the Cradle the iPhone asks if I want to turn on Airplane mode and doing so eliminates occasional background buzzes and noise. But the noise is worth dealing with for the easy ability to use the phone (via Bluetooth) in the car.

If Apple could now manage to route the caller's voice through the car speakers that would be icing on the cake. A total hands-free system not requiring Bluetooth!

The folks at DENSION include a variety of inserts with their Cradle to securely hold all different sizes of the iPod. I am sure it is only a matter of time before they offer a Cradle insert perfectly-sized for the iPhone!

Mark

 

[cflamm]

are you sure you didn't just have it set up incorrectly before?

i was excited when i read your post. before my sik imp in my car would charge but no audio line out...i had to use the headphone jack. i rushed to the car after reading, but nothing has changed.

seems strange that your line out has changed as a result of the update. if it had, mine probably would work now too.

my two cents.

anyway, if your's works now, that's what important.

carl

 

[Chili Red]

My Alpine IVA-D100 is now working as well. It kind of worked before, but I could not pick songs or playlists. Since the update everything works at it should.

 

[Mark Booth]

are you sure you didn't just have it set up incorrectly before?

VERY certain I had it set up correctly when trying it with iPhone 1.0. The 1.01 firmware update fixed the dock connection compatibility for several products.

BTW, here's the page where I document how to "hack" the Dension iPod Cradle into the cassette input on the factory Bose radio in my 2001 Mazda Miata:

http://thephotobooth.smugmug.com/gallery/2487764

Mark

 

[Hawk]

Sweet! I have a 2001 Pathfinder LE with the BOSE factory system in it. I should be able to do this as well!

 

[Mark Booth]

Sweet! I have a 2001 Pathfinder LE with the BOSE factory system in it. I should be able to do this as well!

Not necessarily. Bose does NOT make the radio in my Miata. It's made by a third-party for Mazda and simply has Bose's technology built-in per Mazda's agreement with Bose.

That 16-pin connector on the back of my Miata radio is, almost certainly, a Mazda-specific connector. That is proven by the fact that later Mazda Bose radios -even though they have a 16-pin connector- are NOT wired the same. My modification will not work in those later radios.

Mark

 

[Velodog2]

Ah I had an 01 Miata with the Bose audio. Very sweet ride. Gave it up for an 01 Porsche Boxster (sweeter ride, but of a different flavor) that I am now hoping to make the same mod to. Your diagram of the pin out config for the dension will be helpful I hope. The head unit is hanging out of the dash as we speak...

 

[Velodog2]

Mark
Why didn't you use the +12V pin (#9) on the back of the radio for your iPod charging function?
Mike

 

[Mark Booth]

Mark
Why didn't you use the +12V pin (#9) on the back of the radio for your iPod charging function?
Mike

Because the typical cigarette lighter charger for an iPod is rated at at least 1-2 AMPS! No way I was going to try to draw that much power through the radio.

Mark

 

[Velodog2]

Because the typical cigarette lighter charger for an iPod is rated at at least 1-2 AMPS! No way I was going to try to draw that much power through the radio.

Mark[/QUOTE

wow your right the wall plug converter is rated at one amp. That's an awful lot of current for such a lil device and just cause its rated that high doesn't mean it actually uses that much juice. Still, I don't have the tools to measure it.

What I am more interested/concerned about is the voltage. The wall converter says its output is 5 v. Can u push 12 v into it safely or is there a converter involved somewhere?

 

[Mark Booth]

The iPod has TWO pins on its dock connector that allow charging. One of the two pins accepts 5 volts and the other one accepts 12 volts. USB car chargers use the 5 volt one and Firewire car chargers use the 12 volt one. Fortunately, Apple continued to support both with the iPhone. And, since the Dension cradle uses the 12 volt pin by default, it was a simple matter to connect the appropriate charging wires directly to a permanent +12v source (fuse box tap) and ground.

Mark