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YOUR RESEARCHAnyone have a Phatbox yet?
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Check phatnoise website and realized
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ooopps...just checked the phatnoise website and realized that they've just released a porsche emulated version.
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The local audio dealer just got certified to sell Phatbox so I'll be getting one installed shortly.
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Suggestion
Contact PhatNoise if you have PCM, there's some sort of money-back test program there.
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I'm not sure what the status is now but at the time the phatbox did not have an emulation for any Porsche Becker units, although it is compatable with Beckers in BMWs...so the only option was to use an FM modulator.
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To the best of my limited knowledge there is no difference besides the packaging between the two units.
I'm thinking about getting one installed. This way I won't have to burn CD's, just download the MP3's and you're done. Just wondering how it works with the factory Becker head unit. Here's the link to their site. <a href="http://www.phatnoise.com/products/digitalmediaplayers/porsche.php" target="_blank">http://www.phatnoise.com/products/digitalmediaplayers/porsche.php</a>
A few months back I had looked into getting a phatbox to work with the factory Becker CDR210 in my 993. I'm not sure what the status is now but at the time the phatbox did not have an emulation for any Porsche Becker units, although it is compatable with Beckers in BMWs...so the only option was to use an FM modulator. This is the official answer; the unofficial answer is that there is a non-supported emulation workaround that lets the phatbox work with the Porsche units - a guy has made it work in his Boxster. If you're interested in using one with an aftermarket head unit, a guy on the 993 board has just installed one along with a Kenwood head unit. If you pursue the non-supported workaround I be interested on how you get along...thanks.
If you are thinking of using in iPod you can use the aux input as Rob suggested, or think about using a Griffin iTrip wireless modulator.
Phatbox is the ONLY way to go in a Porsche. I'll be having one installed in the next few days. First off the new ones are made to work with the Becker. Next they've upgraded the device with Burr-Brown DACs and it's supposed to sound much much better. Finally, it's the only device made to work specifically in a driving environment, as opposed to an iPod which is made to be hand-held.
Everyone I know that has the Phatbox loves it...
ooopps...just checked the phatnoise website and realized that they've just released a porsche emulated version. <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />
The PhatBox is supported with the CDR-220 now. The CDR-210 will not work. But, as Becker will tell you, the 220 is a drop-in replacement for the 210.
The 230 MOST people are still out of luck...
With the PhatBox, you use the cd changer controls to go through your music collection. There's a flash demo on the PhatNoise site that explains how it works. It's a much better in-car environment than spinning an iPod wheel with a tiny display - talk about an accident waiting to happen! Of course, the iPod doubles as a portable player, so it's not without it's own advantages.
Yes it is. It's the same as the Becker/Harmon Kardon Traffic Pro listed on the PhatNoise site. It's quite nice actually, the only one that uses both a text display and the SSA browsing.
Vince -
Are you the same Vince who is the phatbox employee who installed one in his boxster? if so, great as I can ask you some specific questions.
If I buy the phatbox for the CDR220 and later get a TrafficPro, will it work - ie. is it the same unit/interface? If not, would I be able to have it modified so it will, and if so how much would it cost? What if at some point down the road I get, say a Kenwood head unit, would I be able to have my Porshe or HKTP phatbox to work with the Kenwood?
Sorry for all the questions but I'm not sure what is phatnoise's policy with regards to customers who want to keep their units for other cars rather than buy new ones.
Thanks! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Keyvan:
<strong>Does it work in 08/02-03 cars with PCMII?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I think all PCMII cars have the MOST bus. So according to Vince, the Phatbox doesn't support that yet.
BUT, Does anyone know how to tell for sure which unit they have? I just looked and don't see any id info on my system, or in the docs that came with the car. Also, I searched the forums and found nothing about it either.
Also, for those of us with NAV, where does the CDR-2x0 end and the Siemens PCM unit begin?? Anyone with PCM1 using the Phatbox yet??
"Compatible with all 1999-2002 Porsche car stereos that are designed to control an external CD changer." >> Found @ <a href="http://www.phatnoise.com/products/digitalmediaplayers/porsche.php" target="_blank">http://www.phatnoise.com/products/digitalmediaplayers/porsche.php</a>
does this mean if i buy this Device it will fit in my Car ? 2002 996 with PCM1 ....
Thanks for the replies guys. The local audio dealer just got certified to sell Phatbox so I'll be getting one installed shortly. I'll probably go with the head unit controlling things instead of the voice activated controls. I know how poorly voice activation works on my cellphone while driving in the P-car.
If you buy a PhatBox from PhatNoise, you can use it with most other PhatBox compatible head units with just a new cable and firmware upgrade. Just contact PhatNoise to get the new cable. Going from a CDR-220 to a Traffic Pro will use the same cables, so it's just a simple firmware upgrade.
The PhatBox has not been tested with the PCM system (I must have misplaced my 996 Turbo with the nav system...). It should work, though. Contact PhatNoise if you have PCM, there's some sort of money-back test program there.
The interface doesn't have voice control, but voice feedback, which allows you to easily audibly browse your music collection without taking your eyes off the road.
Details of my install are at:
<a href="http://boxster.sixpak.org/mp3/" target="_blank">http://boxster.sixpak.org/mp3/</a>
It sounds like installing the Phatbox unit in the CD changer location is not very hard, but does anyone have any experience with the difficulty factor in threading the cable from the Phatbox unit in the trunk into the head unit in the dash?
I asked my local stereo installer yeaterday about the phatbox. It is the identical item to the Kenwood Music Keg. Both have technology developed by phatnoise. He told me that the software even with the voice guidance is very dificult to navigate through 2000+ songs. He told me he would sell me the kenwood for 350 plus a new kenwood head unit and even give me a free sirrus radio box for free (175$) for 800. This will allow me to play mp3 off a cd-r, musickeg, sirrus radio, and regular cds. Anyway, it will all be installed next week.
Let us know how it turns out....any difference between the Kenwood Music Keg and the Phatnoise? Do they use the same software and do you navigate through songs the same way?
That sounds like a great price for all that your getting!
To the best of my limited knowledge there is no difference besides the packaging between the two units. I did learn however, that Volkswagen now offers the phatbox as a 800 dollar FACTORY option. Yes they use the same software and navigate the same way. Which is the exact reason why I am getting a head unit that can cleary read the album and track instead of having a computer generated voice scream it at me.
I found my 2002 C4S with the Nav system today. Turns out I left it my Malibu garage. Whoops...
Anyways, the PhatBox doesn't work with the PCM radio yet.
The PhatBox uses SSA navigation. To browse to a song quickly, just press one button (4) to switch to artist browsing mode, start fast-forwarding, the box will go through the alphabet. Stop on the letter of the artist you want, then spin the track **** to get to the artist. Then just change tracks to the desired song. I do it without taking my eyes off the road.
The Music Keg/Kenwood solution will display the text of the playlist and track, but doesn't have the SSA browsing. You have to put a little more work into making good playlists to find things easily.
Let me make sure my understanding is correct: if I buy a phatbox from phatnoise to work with a stock Porsche Becker radio and later I get a Kenwood or put it in another car with a compatable head unit, phatnoise will sell me the proper cable as well as a software upgrade, right?
But if I get a Kenwood music keg to work with a Kenwood HU and later want to use it with a non-Kenwood HU, will Kenwood or phatnoise be able to provide me with the correct cable and necessary software? Or once I buy Kenwood I am locked into Kenwood? Also, none of the Kenwood Kegs use SSA, right?
Sorry for all the questions, I just want to make sure what kind of flexibility I will have in the future.
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
Vince, Kenwood makes this unit
<img src="http://ebay2.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_EBAY_bb13a5ffb0bf978f21f75b87b0ded1cd/i-1.JPG" alt=" - " />
KCA-R70FM $75
Which allows you to hook up the music keg to any head unit via FM mod. Im putting thus unit in my boat, and another unit in my Cab with the Kenwood Deck..
Just a note: the Phatbox that comes direct is new, has updated software, and apparantly has significatly improved audio converters. Otherwise I believe they're the same.
BTW: The voice system is a really good way to navigate - I have about 15 gigs so far on my drive and its a breeze getting around...
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
