Any opinions on Xcarlink ipod/iphone interface?

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Shoppinit
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Any opinions on Xcarlink ipod/iphone interface?

Post by Shoppinit » Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:14 pm

On paper, these look like just the ticket. Looking for something to use with my RNS-D. Has anyone had any experience of them?

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/product.php?p ... t=0&page=1

I probably would have gone for a Denison since I like the idea of the song info in the DIS, but don't want to lose the CD changer.

I'm currently using a Kensington LiquidAUX into the TV tuner and for various reasons I'm ready to throw it out of the window.

Also, if anyone can explain why the sound quality changes depending on what TV standard you choose on the RNS-D I'll be very impressed. USA NTSC sounds the best. SECAM sounds awful. Very strange.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
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"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

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Re: Any opinions on Xcarlink ipod/iphone interface?

Post by PetrolDave » Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:27 pm

Shoppinit wrote:I probably would have gone for a Denison since I like the idea of the song info in the DIS, but don't want to lose the CD changer.
You don't need to lose the CD changer with a Dension, you can get it with a CD changer retention option.

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RE: Re: Any opinions on Xcarlink ipod/iphone interface?

Post by Shoppinit » Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:32 pm

I just noticed that. Looks like you can't get text in the DIS with RNS-D anyway.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

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RE: Re: Any opinions on Xcarlink ipod/iphone interface?

Post by craigyb » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:39 pm

Ok, just to clarify.

The old Dension gateway 100 (non CAN version) can work with a CD changer retention kit but will not display in the DIS

The new Dension gatway 100 CAN will not work with the CD changer retention so you would have to lose the CD but it will display in the DIS

There are ISO and QUADlock versions of both units so they will both work with RNS-D

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RE: Re: Any opinions on Xcarlink ipod/iphone interface?

Post by Shoppinit » Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:30 pm

Thanks for the info. I tried to decipher the Denison car compatibility chart, and it seems to say that the only versions available for naviplus were non-text gateways. But then their site is clear as mud. One page says that the gateway products are discontinued and the next gives the price!
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

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RE: Re: Any opinions on Xcarlink ipod/iphone interface?

Post by craigyb » Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:06 pm

I think the problem with the RNS-D is that it doesn't have canbus on pins 7 & 12 of the 20 pin connector. So if you buy an ISO plugged Gateway 100 with CAN the High/low wires will be where the TEL +/- wires are located on the RNS-D. Hence why Dension state it is not compatible with the RNS-D system for the CAN based gateways.

One way round it would be to relocate the can wires to the TMC module underneath the dash. It would be a straight forward enough job to extend the canbus wires from the gateway 100 to TMC module and link them in. This would then give you a TEXT display in the cluster when using the Ipod. But you would lose the CD changer.

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RE: Re: Any opinions on Xcarlink ipod/iphone interface?

Post by Shoppinit » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:38 am

I don't understand why you have to loose the CD changer. This is a serious turn-off for me. I'ml not sure how they connect, but what about fashioning some kind of multichannel switch like the SCART switches? For changing between denison and CD changer?
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

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RE: Re: Any opinions on Xcarlink ipod/iphone interface?

Post by craigyb » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:48 am

Well that is what the CD changer retention kit does, but it's only for the non CAN version. Dension say that switching the CAN version was too complex and could cause issues with the canbus.

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