krown

Ok, I got the unit installed, but after trying everything that Skylaw has posted in his two threads, I still cannot get this damn thing to work.

From COMAND, I press AUDIO, then CD CHANGER which brings me automatically to CD5 which starts playing (1st IMAGE).

I then choose MAGAZINE (2nd IMAGE).

For some reason this looks odd because isn't CD5 supposed to be empty? I try to choose CD6 to bring me to the config page and it just brings me to CD6, TRACK 1, 99/99 songs and starts playing. Eventually it reverts back to CD5.

Any help would be appreciated!

Skylaw

"CD 5" is a "Parking spot." The device will always return to it after a selection has been made.

In the CDC mode, of course, button 1 actually selects CD - - which you can also do using the magazine menu, as you did. However, in the GW500 interface, the keypad buttons are menus - sort options, if you will. Try using the keypad buttons, not the magazine button, to make your selections.

To select a music sort by playlist, for example, use button 1 on the keypad. Album and artist sorts are buttons CD 2 and 3 on the keypad. If you are using Firmware 2.1.5, CD (button) 4 on the keypad is a new menu allowing "Play all" "Random Play" and "Sample" selections, so you no longer have to make those choices in the COMAND menus.

Once you have made a sorting selection using buttons 1, 2, or 3, you should see a result; to play the music within the sort, select the folder (playlist, album, or artist) and then press and hold "Seek+" for about 2 seconds to load the contents. You will then be able to scroll among songs within the folder.

If you do not press and hold "Seek+" your scrolling will take you to the next playlist, album, or artist - whatever you chose to sort by.

krown

I did trying choosing CD1 on the keypad by pressing "1". All it does is take me to CD1, Track 1 and the counter begins to count up. The music on the ipod is unchanged. Eventually, it reverts back to the CD5 parking position.

Skylaw

Do you have the music on your iPod organized into playlists? Did you include album and artist in the ID Tag information?

Reverting back to "CD 5" is normal, after either music beginning to play, or after you make some kind of selection AFTER you choose menu 1, 2, or 3.

The pictures you show don't look anything like the menus you should get; after you press "CD-Mag" you should see a list like the one in the attached picture (Item 5 is the name of my iPod).

One of two things has possibly happened: 1) You have not set the GW 500 up properly. See the hints I gave at https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-ele...ml#post2471051 - especially posts # 1 through 4.

Or 2) The GW 500 is not placed immediately before the CDC in your fiber optics loop. I do not have a loop diagram for your car, and cannot troubleshoot that for you.

krown

Ok, Thanks to fellow member FLobbydust, I finally got it to work. It seems the inital problem was that I didn't hit the dipswitch 6 times to get into the config menu.

I know have got it setup to access the ipod, but one more problem remains. When I try to SCAN PLAYLISTS (for example), it doesn't give me playlist names, track names or artist names, just a blank screen that reads "SCAN PLAYLISTS-IPOD UI". When I switch playlists with the joystick, it just id's them as TRACK 1, TRACK 2, etc. Same problem occurs when I try to SCAN ARTISTS or SCAN ALBUMS.

Any further help would be appreciated!

Skylaw

When you got into the config menu, did you ensure that the setup for text and "+paging" was accepted by the unit? Once again, please go to the setup hints in the link in my last response, especially post #1.

We do know, at least, that you don't have to worry about whether the GW 500 is in the proper place in the fiber optic loop. It is definitely a problem in how you are setting it up.

krown

Initially, I hit the dipswitches 6 times (on-off) and it brought me to the config menu. I scrolled to the "+paging" section and pressed SEEK+ for over 20 seconds. The screen did not reset or flicker, but switched to the first image you see below. I turned off COMAND and then turned ignition off.

I then hooked up my iPod. I turned on the ignition, then turned on COMAND. I could finally see the proper menu when I chose CDC (second image below). I selected CD1 (SCAN PLAYLISTS) and it brought me to the third image below. When I scroll up or down, I just get Track numbers which are my playlists.

I've tried again several times playing around with the other choices in the cfgdev menu, but cannot get the screen to flicker and reset and get track names. I feel I'm close, but unsure of what exactly is wrong. Could it be an installation issue?

krown

I've also noticed that when scrolling through the config menu, the TEXT and + CACHE options are skipped. It jumps from +TIMEOUT to TRACK 3 and TRACK 4 instantaneously, then + PAGING. On my cfgdev screen, you can only see one selection at a time, not the one before or the one afer the selected one. Is this normal?

Skylaw

We have different COMAND units, so I cannot say what is "normal" for yours. Mine initially showed one line (No Text) in the configuration (Cfgdev) menu, but then I could scroll, with a maximum of 3 lines showing as illustrated in my photos. Highlighting, as I recall, was done by scrolling to the item and possibly by pressing "OK," then set it into memory with "Seek+" - I am not certain as to the need to press "OK" - it has been 18 months since my install.

I do not recall getting "Track 3" and "Track 4" at all in the config menu. It makes me wonder if all of your connections are firmly made to the Gateway 500 unit (especially the iPod connector cable).

You might contact Dension support, or perhaps better, PM forum contributor GW500, who is one of the developers of the Gateway 500. Perhaps they have seen this problem. One additional thing you could try is to download Firmware 2.1.5 from the site (http://www.dension.com/), and see if re-loading firmware helps.

krown

Good news! I finally have everything working correctly. Initiall the problem was I didn't have the "+paging" selected because, frankly, I didn't know about the dipswitches and was pressing every conceivable COMAND button to get to config mode. When fellow MBWorld member Flobbydust PM'd me the correct location of the switches, I finally got the unit to display text.

My last problem was also solved by going into the the MENU (6) and selecting iPOD GW (I was in iPod UI) to select the correct mode. Everything seems to be working out now correctly!

Big thanks go to Flobbydust who helped me out every step of the way. Also thanks to Skylaw, whose well-written instructions I must have read over a dozen times, and probably recite word for word!

Skylaw

Thank you for letting us know what the problem was.

Were the DIP switch positions different from those shown in the installation manual? On occasion (such as when someone had a satellite radio), we have had to recommend different switch positions.

krown

The problem was I didn't know there were dipswitches, or where they were located since I never got to see the installation manual, since it was installed profesionally. All I got to see was the user guide. It was only when Flobbydust mentioned that the switch is located next to the RCA jacks is when I finally clued in. Since it's located in the glovebox (for me) I couldn't really tell it was a dipswitch, but I was positive on the RCA jacks.

If there are any other dipswitches on the interior of the vehicle that have to be set, I'm afraid i can't help you there.

Skylaw

There are DIP switches on the GW 500 box itself. One can download the installation manual from the Dension downloads site.

For my own edification, and also for other late-model ML owners, are the switches you're talking about part of your car, or part of the GW 500 box? It sounds like switches that are part of your car. If so, how are they to be positioned?

Rick SL55

krown

I just installed the Dension on my 2005 SL55, it does work, but haven't been able to see thealbum or artist in the Command unit.
Can you clarify "correct location of the switches-dipswitches".
I did download the firmware 2.15 to the Dension but you downloaded a NEW version-2.16 which will be installed on the Dension tommorrow.

UK-C200

Hey rick - the dip switches are located on the top of the denison itself. I don't have a good photo, but they are below the red arrow in the attached picture..

If you left your CD changer installed and in the MOST loop all the dip switches need to be "off". If you removed (replaced) the CD changer, then switch 6 needs to be "on".

After you have done this, you need to toggle the Control switch (on the box with the RCA plugs and the blue LED) 6 times (3 off / 3 on) to bring up the config menu. Then select "+Paging", and confirm by holding the "forward seek" button on COMAND (double arrows pointing right). Default - as I recall it - was no text, so this is probably your problem.

Dip switches are on the opposite end of the device from the fiber connection - see picture and red arrow.

Rick SL55

UK-C200
Thanks for your reply.
All those dipswitches are off as per Dension manual(Command with CDC).
I did toggle the Control switch 6 times, but not correctly, 6 ups/down.
Will install the new firmware and do it correctly.

Do I need to reset the Dension again to install the new firmware or just downloaded?.

UK-C200

Hey Rick - last time I updated - and it's been a while - I recall that you just unplugged the iPod, plugged in the USB key with the firmware on it, and it took a couple of minutes to do. I *think* it reset itself (LED flashed?) when it was done, but I honestly can't remember. I had my laptop in the car with me, and the GW500 writes a couple of files out to the usb key if it was successful.

It also reset back to "text" only mode if I'm not mistaken, so I had to go re-config it after I was done - so probably pointless to set/reset before you update...

Skylaw

During my updates in the past, I have not unplugged the iPod; the older update instructions said it could be left plugged in. When the update completed, the iPod flashed the firmware number on its screen. However, the FW 2.16 update instructions for MOST now direct unplugging the iPod for the update.

Dension's update instruction advise to reconfigure the "+paging" feature after updating; I have only had to do this once using the old procedure. The rest of the updates I have done left the "+paging" instructions intact. For Rick SL55, I agree that resetting "+paging" before the update is pointless.

Indeed the GW 500 will change one of the files in the update folder (I have in the past used a thumb drive for updates, and don't see the change unless I reinsert the drive into the computer). Perhaps now it will be better to use a laptop for the update, to verify that it is complete.

It will be interesting to see what the FW 2.16 update does regarding "+paging" with the iPod unplugged.

BTW - nice pic, UK-C200. Very helpful. Curious to know what the device (with buttons) to the left is.

UK-C200

Escort 9500ci Control Unit - I got tired of having to remove my radar detector every time I stopped the car, so I installed a "hidden" version.



Display's not straight as I'd not glued it down yet - need to run a thinner wire for it..



Coffee holder intact - coffee and no tickets is a great way to start your day!

Skylaw

Nicely done!

Skylaw

OK, did the FW 2.16 update today - I used the thumb drive instead of a laptop, after all. I did disconnect the iPod, per update instructions.

After plugging in the thumb drive and powering up COMAND, the upper data line (usually showing the name of my iPod) showed "AUX IN." Same for the song title line.

After approximately 15 seconds, there was some background static, then the upper "AUX IN" line disappeared; the "AUX IN" on the song title line remained. After an additional 1 min., 15 seconds, "AUX IN" reappeared on the upper line. I waited the full 1 min. 30 sec. indicated by the update instruction - nothing further happened.

I presume the disappearance of the upper "AUX IN" means the update has started, and it reappearance means it is complete. Wish Dension would say so, now that one cannot see the completion on the iPod screen as with past updates.

I plugged in my iPod, which briefly flashed the updated FW version, then went to the "OK" checkmark. Music started where it had been when I unplugged it, and my "+paging" programming remained; it was not necessary to reset it.

There is no visible difference from FW 2.15 that I can see in the menus or operation. The update seems mainly intended to add programming for the new Dension AVR video interface, which is not yet compatible with Mercedes cars.

Rick SL55

Skylaw
thanks for the update.
Arrived late from work and was unable to play with my SL55 & Dension.

ebolick

How much did the Denson cost? i was thinking of getting one

thanks

Skylaw

Mine was $449, which seems to be a common price.

ebolick

Thanks for the price info,