Dension Gateway Five : combined ipod/handsfree , any good?

[zebby]

Just pop an email to poughton@dension.com and he will help you out.

Well did just that, but I think the answer he gave me left me knowing the same as I did before, or is it me and I have missed something. Have re sent again, explaining better what I was asking, but have not heard back as yet.

Original email,

Hi,

was told that you may be able to help me out. Please refer to the last 4 posts, the ones posted by zebby, and replied by BDMAlex.

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,23243.0.html

Would like to know if this update is possible, and how exactly does on e do it.

Thanking you

Zeb


Reply,

Hi Zeb,

The GWF for VW is a very good solution.

I have attached a PDF of the GWF product.

GWF1VC1 – Single CAN

Fits any VW Quad lock with RCD200, 300 or 500 head unit. The vehicle must have the MFD (Red) display that can show text info for the radio info.

Steering wheel controls needed to operate the GWF.

GWF1V21 – Duel CAN Media connector (MDI)

Fits any newer VW with the Media button, CDR310,510 and RNS310,510. The vehicle must have the MFD (White or Red) display that shows the text from the radio.

Either the 6 button steering wheel or the square buttons are compatible.

If your are experiencing issues then please do the following update:

GWF1VC1, update to the V29 software off the web site

GWF1V21, update to V28 or newer.

Please remember that the raw file must be put onto the USB drive root.

Open ZIP file, remove the Data file and open. Copy file to the USB root.

Now plug the USB into the USB input. (When unit is powered)and leave for 2 mins.

Now check in the settings menu on the device for the new Software (Settings – About – SW000000V**)

Zeb, I am very happy for you to add this to the forum.

Thanks

Pete

Best Regards

Peter Oughton

Automotive Product Manager

[zebby]

Well, got another opinion from Bluetooth Car Kit Direct, and they seem to not recommend the Gateway Five at all for Golf's with the half screen MFD. This is what they said,

"Unfortunately the kits do not work if you have retrofitted a different stereo to the one that was installed at the time of manufactured. It is down to the CAN Bus system on the vehicle.

Also although the kit is compatible without the full MFD cluster, we highly recommend only fitting it to vehicles with full MFD."

My reply,

"thank you for your time, and prompt response.
The stereo I installed is a factory item, and the Can bus was changed to be compatible with the new stereo.
Do you still not recommend the Gateway Five???"


Their reply,

"The thing is that the entire CAN bus system needs to have been replaced and every component would need to be fully compatible for the kit to work. The compatibility is very particular.

We are happy to sell you one, however our 30 day moneyback guarantee wouldnt be provided."

Have not heard back from Peter at Dension, as per my previous post.

Anyone have anything to add, before I totally disregard this option.

Cheers

[SeanyK]

If you can wait til after the weekend, I should be fitting mine on Sunday.

That said, I do have a Highline dash.

I wouldn't see the point if you had a midline dash? As half the features that make this a good option, wouldn't work for you?

[zebby]

If you can wait til after the weekend, I should be fitting mine on Sunday.

That said, I do have a Highline dash.

I wouldn't see the point if you had a midline dash? As half the features that make this a good option, wouldn't work for you?

I understand your point, but my hands a tied with the midline mfd. I know I will miss out on that feature, but as long as I can control it via the RNS510 screen, ipod and phone, and use the phone button on steering wheel to answer and hangup calls, it will be a bonus compared to what i have now.

[john_o]

waiting with baited breath to see how you get on Sean 

[SeanyK]

Hey folks! Quick update!

Had a bit of a heavy night so didn't start this til about 1pm  

Changed my CAN Gateway which was miles easier than I thought it'd be, took about 10 minutes.

Took out my old stereo, wired up the Dension adaptor etc, however, I have hit a stumbling block... Nothing to do with the Dension.

Because I am connecting an RNS510 up, I need to connect my sub/amp and remote on cable to the original wires.

I bought a RCA> LOC adaptor, and wired the Rear Pos + Neg cables up to the ISO block, however, I was left with an earth cable from the LOC which I didn't connect? And I also did not do the remote feed.

I bailed out! I am going to take it to the local car audio place tommorow just to do that one cable (lol) because I just don't want to mess around with ignition feeds, I can't face using the fusebox after my heated seat fiasco.
I suspect they can get an ignition live from the Dension adaptor block but it was getting dark and if im honest I don't have much patience with these kind of things.

It shouldn't take long hopefully, once they've done that I will then report back! :)

[apollo13]

Top job Shaun 

You must have small hands! I lost a bit of flesh changing my gateway 

So you went for an RNS instead then??

[SeanyK]

Thanks mate, I think with mine being DSG it made it a little easier to get to that area, as ordinarily, a clutch pedal would be in the way, which would be a total pain! Even though us DSG owners have a brake pedal the size of 2 pedals 

In the end all I did was just undo the 3 screws holding the plastic cowling under the steering wheel area, dropped it down, disconnected the light & diagnostic port, looked up above the clutch pedal area, saw the gateway, unclipped, pulled bracket down towards me enough to get gateway out, unclipped and replaced.

Went for an RCD510 in the end, weighed it all up, I always used my iphone for Sat-nav and don't plan on using it for movies so after SteveP provided an irrisistable price on his 2010 RCD, I went for that!

It looked brilliant in the brief moment I connected it, just can't put it in til i've sorted the amp/sub cable (hopefully tommorow).

[SeanyK]

Hey folks, right, all is in, and working, I finished this not long ago so it was dark when I took the pictures but hopefully shows what's needed.

Very easy to use, I have setup the iPod connector and bluetoothed the iPhone4, phonebook, full call control is possible from the radio itself, also from the highline dash / MFSW controls.

Here are some of the screens;

(iPod shows track details etc etc which is good, it also shows them on the highline dash but thats a bit pointless as the names are often too long!)







Ignore the wet marks on the last picture, I used cleaning wipes to clean the dash as I had made it look a bit untidy prior to that!

[john_o]

cool, do the names scroll in the highline? (im planning to fit it with RCD500 not your fancy 510 )

[SeanyK]

 

I don't think they scroll in the highline, but i've only used this once for about 2 minutes, I will give it a good use tommorow and see what else it does.

I am going to attempt to try the AD2P bluetooth streaming too, I could see it on the menu but didn't try it yet...

[zebby]

Would this work on a GTI with red half screen MFD?. I know I will have no fuctions on the screen, but can you control it via the RNS 510 touch screen, and button on the steering wheel.

Cheers chaps

Yes it would.  You just need to install an update on the gateway to turn off the can-bus always searching for the highline.

Hey BDMAlex,

could you tell me a little more about this update, as I am not getting anywhere with the relevant experts?.

Cheers

[SeanyK]

OK - found a couple of faults with this today, the main one being the track skip buttons don't work from the MFSW! I have updated the firmware as per Dension's support but thats not a good start...

The tracks don't skip, nor can you rewind/fast forward even when in the audio mode.

Will report back, it may be my RCD needs a firmware update.

[vRSAlex]

Would this work on a GTI with red half screen MFD?. I know I will have no fuctions on the screen, but can you control it via the RNS 510 touch screen, and button on the steering wheel.

Cheers chaps

Yes it would.  You just need to install an update on the gateway to turn off the can-bus always searching for the highline.

Hey BDMAlex,

could you tell me a little more about this update, as I am not getting anywhere with the relevant experts?.

Cheers

Its just a way to stop the dension unit searching for the highline, which could lead to the unit turning itself on and causing a drain.  Mine has been fine without this little fix.  I just ran the main update as posted in this thread.  I do still sometimes find the dension needs a reset as the headunit seems to loose the dension.  Usually if ive not used the car for a few days.

If the unit is working fine then you wont need to do the fix.