Bob the builder

How to install a proper working hands-free speaking system to the Rx-8 build in sound system?

I asked myself this question many times, but never found a proper answer. From time to time several ideas and solutions aroused how to install an auto-mute. But I never was satisfied. A satisfying solution seems to be the auto-mute system from Qubit in Denmark. Qubit produces auto-mute systems for several applications. Please find more information at www.qubit.dk. The Qubit adaptor system should auto-mute the stereo and use the build-in stereo speakers for the talk. WATTE?? introduced the system here some month ago. I requested Qubit in Denmark. They were working on a solution for the actual Rx-8 and Mazda6 build-in stereo. After a view month with my nasty hands-free plug in the cigarette lighter the adaptor is available and it works.

My review:

The adaptor comes in a clear plastic bag. The electronic device is built in a small plastic housing and the wiring harness is well designed. The plugs fit exactly. The system is build from three components. The wiring harness, the electronic unit and the wiring for the individual hands free unit. Several different hands-free units from many leading manufacturers can be used. I decided to use the Parrot CK3000, because it’s some time on the market and well described.
There’re many tests available on the internet. I don’t like the original Nokia hands-free systems, because with the 3650 I got many trouble with them.
An advantage is the plug and play solution of the Qubit system. There’s no need to cut any cables to get the energy supply. The Qubit adaptor supplies the hands free unit with energy. Fuses are built in. Result: less cables, fuses to hide in the car. All plugs are built in a way to avoid inverse polarity.

Installation:

It’s recommended to disconnect the battery. The stereo system has to be removed, because the plug on the backside is needed. No way to avoid this. In my case the wiring harness of the stereo was additionally fixed with a tape (blue). I needed to cut it before removing the stereo. The detailed disassembling of the stereo is described many times here in the board. Keep cool during disassembling.
Some time later I hold the revenge of Bose in my hands and the real work started. Mounting is not the right expression, because it’s a „plug and play“system. I used the place under the dashboard between the stereo and the glove box to hide cables and the two electronic devices (Qubit and Parrot). Disassemble the glove box and you will find a nice place on the upper left side. Pull out the main wire from the stereo and plug the Qubit wiring harness with the hands free unit between. Pass the microphone cable to the mirror. I passed the tiny switch of hands-free unit into the ashtray.

The trial

Before reassembling I tried the whole system. The system established the Bluetooth connection well, mobile and hands free system coupled and ready to go. I was successful with first trail. If you start ignition, the system couples the units and the stereo mutes shortly for two times. The hands free units works also without the stereo switched on, assumed ignition is on.
If I touch any key on my mobile, the stereo mutes and I can hear the signal on the front loudspeaker. The back speakers are quit. The stereo sound is back direct after ring off or the signal sounds. There’s a small screw to regulate the volume of the mobile sound. I decided for a medium volume, because I adapt the volume to the surrounding with the mobile volume control. There’s no impact from the stereos volume control and no display of the radio mute.
After this successful trial I started reassembling.
Regarding the sound quality of the Bose system, I realized no negative impact on the sound. But please make your own decision, because this a endless story. The volume rang is from ambient to ear-battering loud. With the terrible loud setting you can hear a light echo of your own. I think it’s caused by the hands-free device. I’m satisfied with the sound quality. I got no complaints from the other side of my mobile (not regarding the sound quality).

Summary:

No any longer a nasty plug in the ashtray. No additional speaker somewhere in the car. No welding, no clamps, no cut wires. No destructing work on the car.
Just a small box, well designed, with a proper wiring harness. Just a tiny microphone next to the mirror. Just „plug and play“and hands-free speaking as I expected.

Anything I forget to mention?

Best regards
Bob

truemagellen

does this work with BOSE? Does this work with Nav owners?

also...
This unit could be the key to a clean audio input if it really works (in otherwords...hack this unit after buying it)

truemagellen

this website and product is confusing...I cant find any info about bluetooth but man do they have a lot of connectors for cars and nav units (thew look into a possible nav matchup

RX-8 isn't listed but the list hasnt been updated since '03

this seems like a blatant advertisement...but we will have to look into it

Bob the builder

...it works with the Bose, no problem (as I wrote).
The Bluetooth unit is implemented in the hands-free kit, not the Qubit adaptor.
Qubit adaptor is the connection between hand-free kit and the sound system.
As I understand it's not a line-in unit for the sound system. It mutes the radio sound and injects the sound between sound system and speaker.
I got my unit after requesting the needed part numbers for my hands-free system and the Rx-8.

Best regards
Bob

thew

Pie has a few units now like this.. I am going to try to carry them..

truemagellen

thanks thew...

Thommino

Bob I buy yesterday Qubit product and Parrot Ck-3000.
When all arrive to my home I installa it. Is it difficult to install?
Haven't you other picture?
Thanks

Bob the builder

@Thommino
Unfortunately no further pictures. The greatest challenge is to remove the audio unit . The installation of the qubit system then is the minor problem because you just have to plug it in.
I've seen you're working on the deinstallation of the unit. You can find a very detailed deinstallation workshop at http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/ written by John Masone.

Cheers
Bob

Thommino

Thanks §I already solved it

David Wiggins

If you get a bluetooth car kit w/ a mute lead, all you really have to do is strip back the wire a bit and shove the wire into the connector in the unused "mute" position on the stock audo system connector. once you have it situated, i'd also recommend some e-tape to hold the mute lead onto the rest of the bundle.

i know this works, i have a nokia ck-1w bluetooth kit in my car, and it mutes the stereo when i make or get calls.

truemagellen

hey bud that sounds great...could you put together a thorough DIY with pictures?

TxRx8

I have a motorola cell phone that doesn't have bluetooth, can I use this anyway? Is bluetooth just an option for this hands-free system?

mikeb

interesting
I just got the motorola v710

David Wiggins

No pics, I'm not taking my dash apart unless I have to but I'll give you the text DIY -

I have a non-Bose headunit, but I believe the connectors are the same for Bose. If not, so solly.

Anyhoo, first, take a look here:

http://www.fosketts.net/miata/audiopins/index.html#J-01

note that pin "L" is marked Telephone Mute. On the connector on the end of the wiring harness, you'll notice there is no wire going into the hole for pin L. Take your device's "mute" lead and strip off a 1/4" of insulation, and then shove the wire into the "L" hole until it bottoms out. Run some e-tape around the bundle so that your mute lead doesn't pull out so easily.

carefully reassemble your stereo into the dash, and test your handiwork before you get the whole thing put back together.

all that is going on is that when the head unit sees the L pin go to ground, it mutes. It doesn't show mute on the LCD or anything, but the speakers shut off. The current running on the mute lead is tiny tiny i'm sure, so the connection from pin to wire doesnt have to be THAT good. I wouldn't suggest using the "shove the wire in the hole" method for speaker connections though.

Enjoy.

zelig2

Well I just got the motorola V710 and I'm going to try and use the Parrot CK3000 with the QuBit mute lead. I'll let everyone know how it goes. It'll probably be a few days before all the stuff starts showing up.

zelig2

David,

Does the system you have in your car use the care stereo speakers to talk with the other person or is there a seperate speaker in the car for yours? I'm trying to get the QuBit mute lead for the bose stereo so that I can connect the Parrot CK3000. Or do you think I can do it without the QuBit box?

Thommino

I order Parrot Ck-3000 + Qubit Hi-fi mute for Mazda Rx-8 (Bose Sound system) + Adaptor to Parrot.
Next week my order arrive here, and the I install it

zelig2

Where did you order it from?

Thommino

I'm an European user. Parrot Ck-3000 from an ebay user (115Euro shipment inclused); Qubit from (www.skdaten.de www.nav-pro.de) about 115euro shipment inclused. You must write them an email.

Thommino

I wrote now this mail to Qubit:
"
I receive this moning your Kit for Mazda Rx-8 and Parrot Ck-3000 (3.13vers).
I Install it and I have a lot of problem:
1) Where shall I connect this 2 yellow cable? (see picture)
2) The button PArrot light together and then they don't work
See Picture and this video (www.thommino.com/Parrot_Qubit/MOV01353.MPG)
3) The audio doesn't work. Your product continue to switch
Look video: www.thommino.com/Parrot_Qubit/MOV01349.MPG
I wait for it more than 1 month and now it doesN'T Work?
Why??
Thanks
Thomas"

Do you install it successfull?
Thanks

Thommino

I solved the Problem 1 in this way (Where shall I connect this 2 yellow cable? (see picture) ): I don't connect them.

I solved the Problem 2 in this way (The button PArrot light together): I understand that when the parrot is power on, both lights are on together.

BUT THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM. WHEN I PUSH THE GREEN BUTTON THE PARROT DON'T RECEIVE THE ORDER, SO I CANNOT ACCEPT INCOMING CALL! look video: www.thommino.com/Parrot_Qubit/MOV01353.MPG (Red button works,so I can refuse the incoming call)

I solved the Problem 3 in this way: Your product work only if the engine is power on. Very Very strange. If the engine is power off it made this: see video: www.thommino.com/Parrot_Qubit/MOV01349.MPG

Rez

I received a Qubit Mute to go with a Parrot CK3100 and am having similar problems. Because my Parrot is the 3100 I can see more of what is happening on it's display so I might have some insight into the problem.

When I first connected everything the radio would still work normally, but nothing else worked, no power to the Parrot and no mute functionality. After much troubleshooting I found that the adapter cable from Mute to Parrot that I had received had the wiring reversed on the ends that connect to the Parrot.

After fixing the wiring on the adapter the Parrot would then power up properly and the display shows a connection to the phone. That allowed me to see by using the Parrot screen and the screen on the phone that calls were working properly and to configure the settings on the Parrot. The problem was that the mute still did not function.

Just as I was ready to give up and was jiggling the cabling mainly out of frustration I found that if some pressure was applied to one of the speaker connections into the mute it would click over to the output from the Parrot and would mute the stereo. I could then hear both the Parrot synthesized voice and phone calls. Pressing on the connector on the mute in the opposite direction caused the relay to unmute the stereo and normal radio sound to come back. The problem is that this does not happen automatically, I figured my mute was defective and pulled it from the system. But now I wonder if this is a coincidental failure of multiple units or a design problem with the mute.

I've been corresponding with another rx8club user who will also be attempting this install, let's wait and see if his mute works or fails and use that data point to determine what to do next.

Thommino

Do you try to power on your engine?
My HiFi Mute doesn't work if engine is power off. Try maybe you can solved your problem.
I have again the problem that green buttun doesn't work

zelig2

I'm the other rx8club user. I've got a kit and I'll be working on it this weekend. Right now it looks like I have a different wireing cable than Rez does.

Thommino

I have Parrot Ck-3000, and Mazda Rx-8 Bose Sound.