Hey, all you iPod-guys, our wait
may
be over...
Today, I received an email from a German friend of mine, who just ordered the Gateway 500 (and received an in-stock confirmation). They came out in Europe right before Christmas at a price of
€
419.00 and are available in two flavors:
- a CDR23 / CDR24 version and
- a PCM 2 / 2.1 version.
Here a short description from the manufacturer:
The GATEWAY 500 is compatible with Porsche models Cayenne, Boxter, Cayman and 911 with optical MOST bus...
GATEWAY 500 provides a comfortable controlling of the iPod via the steering wheel remote control or the PCM / CDR, CD text information from the iPod are displayed on the navigation system and in the car computer. The GATEWAY 500 offers the screening of motion pictures on head rest monitors or on the navigation system display which are integrated by a video line-out.
In addition to the iPod, an existing CD changer can remain in usage.
Besides the comfortable iPod integration, the GATEWAY 500 is equipped with even more interfaces for additional devices. Via the integrated USB port with charging, i.e. USB sticks or portable USB hard drives for music play back are connectable; in order to enhance the capacity of the connected iPod. The audio line-in (AUX-IN) facilitates the connection of further external multi media components like a DVD player or a PlayStation, as well as a voice recorder or a PDA with Bluetooth® wireless technology via maxxcount CarKit Blue. With the additional data line-in the GATEWAY 500 is prepared for any future enhancement options.
---------------
There are two catches though (aren't there always?):
The Gateway 500 supports only iPods version 4 and higher!
In 10% of the mentioned Porsche models optical cables made by Yazaki were used for the optical MOST bus.
If the MOST bus was manufactured with these Yazaki cables, the respective car is not yet supported by the GATEWAY 500. A version of the GATEWAY 500 for these cars is in process.
Therefore, before ordering the GATEWAY 500 please have your car checked on the existence of Yaziki optical cables in a Porsche specialized garage.
My friend's Cayman does NOT have Yazaki fiber optics cables, therefore he is in good spirits that the unit will work. I hope to get some further feedback sometime after Cristmas.
Here's the link to the provider:
http://www.dension4u.de/shop/product_info.php?cPath=151_153&products_id=1441
Wow, that's fantastic news...but I'd like to see how well it works in someone else's car before taking the plunge. Dension has too much of a bad track record.
Also, how can you tell whether your car has yazaki fiber optic cables?
"
offers the screening of motion pictures on head rest monitors
or on the navigation system display
which are integrated by a video line-out
"
Man and the cellphone "drivers" scare me.
Same here; I'm not buying anything from D. without prior positive feedback from a reliable source.
My friend - totally non-technical guy - had his Cayman S at his Porsche service center for that. I already emailed him the question: "How did they determine this? Where do I need to look?" He doesn't know; took their word for it.
LOL - I'm with you!! Sometimes I wish cellphone jammers were legal in the US...
Does CDR23 & CDR24 mean Bose non-nav systems?
Both Bose and non-Bose systems use the CDR24 head unit. The Bose system has fancier and more numerous speakers, a subwoofer, and different amplifier electronics connected to the head unit.
Excellent, cant wait to see some reviews on this now
no go..
heard today this doesn't work well in caymans...maybe its the wiring, i don't know but the only thing that will is the navtv setup which has a lot of problems still...amazing that there is no reasonable solution yet! instead of being frustrated at these aftermarket companies we should probably be annoyed with porsche for their lack of foresight!
Yuck. That's not promising.
I'm about ready to give up on waiting for anyone to come out with a decent iPod/AUX wired solution. At this point I'll live with my Griffin iTrip Auto. Even here in Los Angeles, with pretty much every FM frequency taken, I get very decent reception and sound on 87.9MHz.
eventually...
the only good news, if you can call it that, is that they are working (navtv) on software updates that most installers will upgrade you for free with...however you have to consider the source! in the meantime this is very frustrating!
