thew

yes it is

thew

and what if we just want to send it analog audio ?

bobclevenger

Yes, hitting the CD button repeatedly toggles between CD and EX on mine too.
Hitting disc up or disc down selects which disc plays when in cd mode but selects which EX input (EX 1, EX 2, EX 3, EX 4, EX 5, or EX 6) when in EX mode -- at least that's what it does on mine.

bobclevenger

Have you tried this? I just tried it on mine and with no input connected to the aux-in line, the HU went to EX 1 as soon as I powered up the car and it stayed there until I turned the power off.

thew

bob how are you converting the Audio out of the DVD ?

bobclevenger

Do you mean without the PIE adapter? Hmmm, I haven't tried that but I think that there is more to it than that because of the HU being able to select 6 different EX inouts when it is enabled. Now if the enabling is simply a dc connection (either to ground or to +12v) it may work -- that's what the older HUs did.
I'm thinking as I'm typing this and it occurs to me that we're using a 16-pin connector and two of those pins are (probably) being used to enable the TV/aux-in mode. This leaves 14 pins -- 6 aux-ins would use 12 pins (6 stereo pairs) leaving one for the TV audio and one for a common signal ground. This is all supposition, but it's a possibility and the TV mode does not display EX on the LED display, so it must be something other than one of the EX inputs.
Now IF the above is true, and that's a big if, we could just wire up the "enable" pin to +12v or ground (whichever it needs) and have our aux-in(s). Of course there is still the problem of identifying what each pin does

bobclevenger

No conversion as such. I'm just connecting the R/L audio signals from the DVD-ME3 to the PIE R/L inputs through a ground loop isolator. I have two other audio signals connected in parallel with the DVD.
The GLI isn't needed unless you have other audio sources connected in parallel to the DVD audio. It seems that the DVD-ME3 shunts the audio lines to ground when there is no video signal, including when it is powered off. This is probably to prevent a burst of loud white noise when a video signal drops to an unusable level.

thew

ok so the pie takes a analog rca connection.. thats all i need i just want to get a good clean audio input from my Avelectronics box

got a good source for the parts ?

bobclevenger

I am with you there!
Parts? Stereo cable, RCA to RCA -- anywhere that sells audio cables.
If tou're talking about the Ground Loop Isolator, I got mine from Radio Shack. But I don't think you will need one.
How is the audio signal from the Avelectronics box? High, Low, "About Right"?

thew

no i mean the pie ! i want a peice

bobclevenger

Oh. I got mine from Logjam Electronics. Part #s are PIE MAZ/PC-ALP and PIE ALP/Ai-RCA. Make sure that you plug the 16-pin plug into the HU connector all the way -- it fits pretty tight.

thew

well do..

thew

ok just orderd it.. Looks like this is the best way to get Clean audio into the head unit..

And it seems the fix is just to switch to the prpoer input? or do you have to cycle through it ? all the time ...

bobclevenger

I think so, withj the possible exception of the unit that RandyP (?) is getting from Japan. That just might provide multiple inputs!

Mine only did the cut-out routine one time. I've been using it for nearly a month now and it just stays on EX 1 whenever I poke the CD button (or poke it twice if it was on CD rather than EX when I switch to it). Cycling through it is only needed if it cuts off.

eXentric

Does anyone know if PIE changed their stance on this converter or if they upgraded their firmware? The reason I'm wondering is because the text on LogJams website has now changed. Now it reads:

"P.I.E. MAZ/PC-ALP CD CHANGER INTERFACE / AUXILIARY INPUT CONVERTER"

PIE has always said that their module couldn't officially be used for AUX input. But the LogJam site clearly states

Or, with the addition of the P.I.E. ALP/M-RCA cable (see below for ordering info), you can create an auxiliary audio input where you can connect any audio source, such as an iPod, portable CD player, DVD player, any audio source you want, to your Mazda factory radio without using an FM modulator.

And it lists the 2004 RX8 clearly on that page. I'm wondering if anyone knows if PIE changed their stance or if LogJam is willing to run the risk of it not working for some people.

I for one just completed my order. I also printed out the product information page that has all the verbage I just quoted. I'm going to keep it around in case it doesn't work for me. If it does, great, if not I'll simply ask for a refund.

thew

hehe that is meee with the unit from Japan.. It so far will not just plug in.. We are trying to find a sourc in Japan for the connecter to mimic the Pie unit.. Soll this is all relative..



Hed Mods.. can we please combien all 3 of these threads to one...

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Here is a great installation tutorial for the solder-in solution.

You can use the instructions for installing the PIE device. I should have mine on Wednesday.

The author suggests using s CD-R of scilence to keep the AUX input enabled.

http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/

thew

yes.. thats ok to.. but the pie plugs into the head unit... so maybe we need the cd of silince if the switching inputs does not work.. I now know from talking with peeps in Japan that the Head unit controlls the Video and audio.. Itis possible to get a video and audio input into the same connector that the pie is using on the HU. it may be possible to hack the pie connecter with the video input and get both

keep us posted as i will to .. mine will be here tommorw. Since my car is apart from the MAzda RCA input installl..

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

The place I ordered mine from (www.discountcarstereo.com) has a similar verbiage, however they write:

Note the "may (in some instances)" :D - they are a bit more careful.
Still, they clearly list the RX-8 as being compatible with this module in that drop-down box, so if mine won't work, I'll also ask for a refund. This Web vendor has a pretty good return policy (as I posted in the previous page in this thread), so I guess it should be OK.

thew

ok i installed mine sounds Great.. but shuts off just like the others.. Itriend switching the inputs.. I tired switching the Mode to cd ex ... but still does it.. Turn on system it gets signal then shuts down to T.V. screen

I can only get it to say EX 1 it does not cycle thur to 1-6 like yours..

....

thew

i can still switch out of that back to cd...

thew

ok so i can switch between ex 1-6 now.but when mine goes to the T.V. screen it shuts donw the HU.. i have to turn it back on first....then it runs fo 20 sec .... switching the Ex inputs does cycle thru 1-6 but when i go back to ex1 it has no audio.. I have to switch back to cd the ex and it works for 20 sec..

liqiud

yea, i cycled through the ex-1,2,3,4,5,6 and when i got back to one, i had to switch modes on my HU to get audio back...kinda wierd...it may have something to do with the whole 20 second thing.

thew

and you have no luck gettin git to work longer than 20 secs??

bobclevenger

Damn! I thought we had it solved for a while there.