Definitely interested in your feedback David

Another matter of note that crossed my mind recently is: Where are you folks mounting your VAIS units? I had initially thought to just nestle the little sucker back behind the radio, but that makes updating the firmware a chore. So really you'd need it some place that would let you keep the harness cables out of sight, but have the vais unit itself exposed. The glovebox, I guess, is the next best spot maybe?

 

Don't worry about the location. Firmware is uploaded with a USB-to-iPod adapter. the adapter connects to the iPod end of the SL2i's cable.

While I'm in there, I'm going to install a Speed Pulse Generator too. I'm building it myself, so I hope that I get it right the first time.

 

d'oh, re read the vais site, i understand how the firmware update works now.

 

Okay, my SL2Vi is installed, along with a home-made Speed Pulse Generator and a bypass switch. So far so good. I haven't driven it yet, but it does look like the SPG is working. The NAV is picking up a pulse every 3 seconds. This should be enough to prevent the lock-out.

As for the SL2Vi, I have audio and video, with a few quirks.

Video: I thought that it would start playing the Video Playlist. it seems that I have to select the video from the iPod itself. no biggie... I don't expect to do this often. But it sure will be nice when I'm waiting for the wife to "just run in for a second".

Audio: No EQ via the dock connector. No biggie, that was expected. My main issue is that the File / Folder sections do not work. They are just blank... no boxes even. In reading more, it seems that this is a Prius only option. I'll have to wait and see if there is a firmware update.

I'll post more tomorrow once I know if the SPG is working as expected.

 

Interesting. I went back and took a look at the car I was driving before my Camry (Honda w. Kenwood aftermarket stereo w/ ipod dock) and that system does actually output EQ adjusted audio via the dock connector. Maybe the vais unit locks it out or disables it somehow.

 

It actually seems that the SL2Vi and SL2i decode the audio, which is why the stereo has access to the playlists. The more generic interfaces simple tell the iPod to play.. skip... pause... etc. Where the VAIS units are able to access the full database.

 

What version of the Firmware do you have on the SL2Vi? 4.44 or 4.42?

I have the Soundgate model (which is a rebranded VAIS SL2i) in my Camry installed at the port and am considering upgrading from the 4.42 to the 4.44 firmware, but it'll cost ~$58 to get the USB updater for the device.

I have an '09 TCH with Factory Nav as well.

 

Okay, I played some more and I can not CONFIRM that the EQ settings ARE used. The tracks that I was testing with had preset EQ settings that were unaffected by the iPods default setting.

 

Just keep in mind that the Camry WILL NOT display Files or Folders with the 4.44 firmware. I'm not sure what you have now, but don't let the FILE/FOLDER display influence your choice. Maybe in a later firmware..

 

Curiouser and curiouser

Well in the meantime (I'm allowed to hijack my own thread right?) hows' the speed pulse generator working? That just spoofs the signal the Nav system uses to tell if the car's in motion or not, right?