eXentric

Somone correct me if I'm wrong, but it should be available on all versions of the head unit in any RX8.

You can see the exact port we're talking about in this thread.

affenage

I think I think I think - but not 100% sure - that the Bose w/changer already uses that connection for the changer.
Most descriptions of the part tell you that you can not use this with a CD changer hooked up.
The pie people would know.
Someone should do a search and either link to, or bump up the original thread about the stuff where someone originally descrivbed all this stuff. I believe the people from Logjam were the ones who claimed it didn't work? Dunno.

Here's the info on what I got/paid:

Logjam (http://store.yahoo.com/logjam/ )
part mazpcalp 79.95
shipping 7.50
(15% restocking fee for returns !)

http://store.yahoo.com/logjam/piemazpcalp.html

The RCA adaptor can be found here for 14.95
http://www.pricescan.com/itemsx/item280449.asp
Logjam chages something like 30 for the same thing.

I will know probably on Saturday how well this all works. I'll post if I get it hooked up.
Sue

RX8J

The PIE people told the person on the Miata board that it wouldnt work at all and that seems to not be the case, so I wouldnt trust them to know about it working with a changer in a car they dont support.

I do have a stock Bose changer and I will pull the radio to check if I have to, but I think there is probably someone out there that has had theirs out and can tell me/us if the 16 pin socket in question is being used.

If nobody has done it and it will help us out, I can pull the radio over the weekend and check..... Again, hopefully i dont have to, but I will if needed (and post the results of course).

-RX8J

BritSti

Here you go guys:

Discount Car Stereo
www.discountcarstereo.com

MAZ/PC-ALP $76.99
ALP/M RCA KCM-122B Aux in Apapter $19.99

Good prices but no return options.

Thx.

S

eXentric

The 6-disc changer option in the RX8 is an internal module. The changer connects internally. The port we are referring to is a 16-pin external port. The two do not interfere with each other.

The port is not used for anything that we know of yet, with the possiblity of a TV Tuner option that is supposed to be available at some point in the future in Japan. There is also talk of a Sirius radio option that may be released sometime this year that would also use that port. But so far, I am not aware of any hardware on the market today that consumes that port. And I believe it is available on all head units in all models of RX8.

Thank you very much BritSti for posting those direct links and for taking the time and making the effort to test this all out.

starbucks

Please post pics of where all of you are storing your players to keep them out of the way. Can't just have wires draped all over your interior, can you?

This is great news. Can it be too good to be true for those of us waiting for Overloads aux in?

speedmaster

A blind guy here in electronics so help would be greatly appreciated:

a) What the heck is a protocol converter

b) What the heck is a DPX?

I have a Mazda 3 which should be the same head unit as the RX8 and others. What exactly parts should I buy.

I have a cassete unit to use with my IPOD, do I need to disconnect it?

The posting is great, gives us Ipod owners hope that finally we can do something good but if you're not used to do those things - as myself - you're lost. Who would be the good soul that will post a step by step with a item list for the rest of us?

Anyway a great post and we should thank all that went for it. Keep the replies coming.

Cheers all

SL01

Hmm... anyone try attaching one of these to the the aforementioned Mazda to Alpine M-BUS adapter?

http://densionusa.com/merchant/merch...IA_AFTERMARKET

Seems like an expensive route, though

--SL01

BritSti

I had looked at that, may take the plunge and try it out, but with a Mazda IceLink kit in the plans not sure if it's worth sinking the $79 on the adapter and another $159 for the Alpine MBus IceLink.

Although buying a good mount and Belkin Power cable for a iPOD mini would cost maybe $60, so that makes the IceLink a $100 addition.

The Dension forecast pricing is $219 for the Mazda kit on their site so the net total would not be that different if you tried this now.
http://densionusa.com/merchant/merch...ategory_Code=F

I would be somewhat worried about ground noise also, as the PIE MAZ/PC-ALP adapter isn't grounded for the audio line input which it would receive from the IceLink Mbus setup. I have seen some reports of ground loop noise with IceLink setups in the ipodlounge.com forum.

S

affenage

Happy Monkey,
When excentric first brought up this port, and we didn't know any better the PIE folks (or one of their distributors) posted that this (connector/translator to m-bus to rca) would not work. Obviously they were wrong.
That being said, another thing that came up and no one ever did figure out is that on this page
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/datail.aspx?ID=445
they state clearly NOT COMPATIBLE WITH MAZDA6.
The folks at discount car stereo have updated the page to include the use of the adaptor with ipod etc, but they have NOT removed the Mazda6 incompatibility warning. But if you think it makes no sense, since the 8 and the 6 have essentially the same head unit, I agree. But be aware before you take the plunge...

affenage

A- a protocol convertor connects to the back of your radio and "translates" the elctronic signals from the "language" of the mazda radio to the "language" of Alpine.

B- I believe DPX is a proprietary name given to the translator by the PIE makers

the SIMPLEST set-up requires 2 parts, plus whatever your individual iPod or device require to hook into any ordinary audio device.

1- MAZ/PC-ALP : this will connect directly to the back of your radio and give you an m-bus connection with the Alpine "language".

2- ALP/M-RCA : this will attach to the m-bus connection above and give you standard RCA input jacks.

Your ipod/ other device should have an RCA out connection, whether it comes from a dock or output jacks. Wherever the signal is coming from, you will need to make sure that there is a wire that ends with 2 MALE RCA type plugs (red and white ususally). This will hook directly to the RCA input jacks.

Other , more direct options will be coming available (like the ice-link mentioned above) over time. You may or may not wnat to wait for a more simple approach to become available!

edited to inclue : no I don't think you will have to unhook your tape player.

Genom

Thanks brit! I finally have an aux in for my XM and other stuff! I'm gonna order this stuff right now!

Awesome!

AWillsea

Ok guys BAD NEWS!! I got the two pieces as mentioned in this thread hooked them up and the audio worked for about 60 seconds then my Nav Display "switched" to TV Mode (Really weird screen with Japanese lettering on it!) and the audio went out. If I hit the CD button again it goes back and works, but the same thing happens every 60 seconds! I called PIE and they said this set up would not work the way we are trying to use it. My guess is the adapter is not sending the proper signal to the Head Unit that a cd is in the changer and playing. When it does play my RED led display says "EX 1" with the 1 blinking as if it is looking for CD 1 and can't find it. Anyone think they could hack this? Any help would be appreciated.

RAM

I got mine today and won't be installing for awhile since I am waiting for some other stuff and don't want to tear the center console apart more often than necessary. Now we have one "IT WORKS!!!" post and one "BAD NEWS" post. Anyone else install yet?

flyboyindy

I installed mine today... GOOD NEWS! The sound quality is GREAT! BAD NEWS... it doesnt work for NAV cars. The EX 1 keeps flashing, and after about 15 seconds, it changes the screen to a TV Screen with a bunch of Japanese symbols... Sooo... I guess im just gonna go back to the FM Modulator, and wait for the AUX IN module... If anyone wants to make me an offer on the two pieces, the input adapter or the MAZPC converter... let me know, looks like it will work great for non Nav System cars...

RAM

Damn. I am one with flyboyindy. I bought. I have Nav. So it won't work. I guess.

flyboyindy

The sound portion works just fine. The problem is that the port on the Nav System cars is somehow connected to the screen. So for me to watch movies, it kills the screen but keeps the sound going. It will work great for an ipod or another mp3 player...

RAM

Okay. Now I am confused. If you connect the PIE connectors (which I got today but haven't unpacked based on what I read) it works as an audio input for an mp3 player but not for a video feed? Is that what you are saying flyboyindy? So for those using it only as an mp3 input it will work fine? but at a cost of not being able to use the nav system while listening to your mp3 player?

flyboyindy

Ok, let me start from the beginning.... I plugged my PIE unit into the back of my stereo. Then i plugged it into my source, the AVElectronics unit. I hit the CD button, and it worked great for about 15 seconds... then the screen on my NAV unit changed to a "TV 1" Screen...looks like the JDM TV unit screen because it had a look similar to the the NAV software. The audio still worked, but it wouldnt hold the video feed. I dont see how it would cause any problems if you were just using it as an audio feed without the use of the screen...

AWillsea

When I setup mine. The NAV display went into the JDM TV mode and the audio went out. So nothing would work. If you press the CD button the audio would come back for the 15 secs or so then cut out again. I talked to the tech support guy at PIE and he said this setup will not work for us as AUX in! It WILL work if you plug in one of the alpine CD Changers but that still doesn't solve the problem of getting an AUX in.

AWillsea

On another note maybe Overload is reading this (Hopefully)!

The problem that I see with this unit is that by using the AUX in connecter on the M-Bus there is no signal telling the head unit that there is a CD in the changer (because there is no cd changer). I bet Overload could figure out how to fake that signal through these connectors. so we could use it. I for one am willing to loan my unit for this purpose if he could figure it and send me back a working unit.

What do you think overload?

BritSti

Played with the setup a bit more myself as I do have nav also. Basically mine works with no cutout etc while my nav display is closed, which is most of the time for me, great investment on my part.

Opening up the display creates a nav video display cutout after 30+ seconds, audio remains. It seems like people with nav are getting a few different results.

My nav "software" was recently upgraded after disappearing, the different sftwr revs may account for something.

Discount car stereo have added a note that this can be used as an aux-in solution on their site.

S