Taking wireless technology to the next level, Dension Audio systems have developed the next step in connectivity for you vehicle to bring it into the 21st century. Using 3G and wireless technology, WiDrive plugs into a USB port inside your car, any USB port is fine, and if your vehicle does not have one the installation of a Gateway 300/500 will provide one.

Once connected, the WiDrive provides a wireless connection for all wireless devices in the vehicle. It allows you to connect to your wireless network at home, when your car is parked outside, meaning you can synchronise your vehicle with any information from your home computer, or wireless applications.

The system will allow you to keep your vehicles storage device up to date, by automatically updating itself when in range of the houses Wifi Network. You can be sat at your Pc one night, updating your music or film collection, and the information can be sent automatically to your vehicles storage device without touching a single button.

Another key feature of the WiDrive is its ability to provide a Wifi access point within the car, when used in conjunction with a 3G dongle. Plugging the 3G dongle into the device, the WiDrive then broadcasts the signal within the vehicle; in the same way your broadband router does at home. This means that one 3g dongle can provide internet for several devices. Laptops, PSPs, PDAs and other wireless applications will be supported.

In all the WiDrive provides a fully mobile solution for all of your electronic needs whilst in your car. Stay tuned for the next update, and when we have had a play with a beta model to put it through its paces.

If (like many of our iPod Car Kit customer) there isnt a fully integrated kit for your vehicle then previously your outlook was bleek. You had to settle for a poor transmittion system which sent your iPods audio signal via airwaves to your car stereo. This method is very basic and simply asking for nearby radio stations to use their stronger signals to interfere with your iPod Car Kit. The result of this was very pooe quality audio – if any at all!

The answer came around a year or two ago when Dension decided to make their first HARD-WIRED FM kit. It worked by sending the iPods audio via a wire, insterad of through airwaves. This was a huge success and improved the quality of audio no end.

Since then, a few brands have jumped onboard using the same design but evolving it slightly. Dension made a second version called the Dension Ice Link One which had a clever auto-switch inside the unit which electronically unplugged the cars aerial when the iPod was playing and when the iPod stopped playing it would reconnect the aerial. This would make interference impossible.

Dice Electronics came next with their Dice FM-RDS, promising to revolutionize the universal iPod Car Kit. They had been developing a system which uses the same base model as the Dension but took advantage of the radios ability to display RDS information. Dice Electronics adapter their kit to allow the iPods Track Information (ID3 Tagging) to be sent through to the cars display! What a great idea!

Connects 2 have delved back into the fold now with the Connects2 iPlug-RDS TX MK2. They have evolved the Dice Electronics kit even further by creating a similar kit which has all the great features but also includes a remote control! This allows you to skip tracks from the device instead of from the iPod! Not only have Connects2 managed to create such a cracking peice of kit, they have also managed to roll it out at a cracking price! Coming in at only £110 RRP (iPod Car Kit Direct Price – £79.97) it stands to compete with the Dension Ice Link One and the Dice FM-RDS kits all the way!

We have been hitting stumbling blocks recently with misconceived ideas about FM Modulation when connecting an Apple iPod into your vehicle. Understandably, people get confused between Modulation and Transmission. We are here to set the record straight as these thoughts couldn’t be further from the truth.

Here are a few questions that we get asked and our answers:

Will I receive interference?

Absolutely not, no. There are a number of features that make sure this isn’t possible with Modulation;

·         It doesn’t transmit through airwaves as it is fully hard wired so radio stations signals cannot be received by your iPods signal.

·         As it’s fully hard-wired, the iPods signal is being sent down a wire, just like you would expect from an Auxiliary wire or a CD Changer wire.

·         The Modulator kits have a electrical "on/off" switch which physically block out your cars aerial when the iPod is connected to the kit, meaning that your aerial isn’t even connected.

Does it charge the iPod?

It does indeed. All the iPods will receive a full charge from the iPod car kit.

How hard is it to install?

Installation takes about 30 minutes at the maximum. The kit just needs to plug in to the rear of the stereo, it’s that simple.

How good will the audio quality be?

This will be similar to what you would expect from DAB, very close to CD Quality. On 99.9% of installations, you won’t be able to tell the difference between the iPod and your CDs, especially when you take into account the road noise coming from the car.

Why can’t I have a fully integrated kit like the Dension Gateway devices or the Dice Electronics Car Kits?

There are a few things that might stop you being able to use a fully integrated kit:

·         Your stereo doesn’t have a CD Changer port, therefore not being able to connect into the cars stereo

·         Your stereo simply isn’t good enough, this could be due to the lack of processing speed, the lack of software support or even because it is too advanced!

·         You just might not want to spend the amount of money that a fully integrated car kit costs

Are there any advantages of having a Modulator over an integrated kit?

There are a few, yes. Firstly the price, the Universal Modulator kits from Dension and Dice come in at £69.97 and £79.97 respectively. This can be a saving of around £40 over a fully integrated iPod Car Kit. Secondly, the kits come as standard with the iPod connection, unlike the integrated kits where you have to add the cable or cradle into the kit. Thirdly, the installation can be easier; it could save you an hour of labor!

We hope this might clear a few things up for you guys, if not then you are more than welcome to contact us at anytime.

As Christmas is drawing near, in car network have decided to make it that little bit easier on your wallet when purchasing your iPod equipment. We have decided to create one special offer per month until Christmas.

October’s special offer is free delivery to all UK Mainland customers when ordering Dice RDS FM Modulators.

The Dice are one of the leading brands of iPod car kits. Based in the USA they produce integrated kits for a range on cars and a very competent RDS FM Modulator that is universal providing you have a European ISO Aerial, so basically you can connect it to 99.9% of European stereos both factory and aftermarket…

The iPod Car Kit connects directly into the Aerial on the back of the headunit that provides an excellent signal interface that also reduces the chance of interference from other FM broadcasting stations and devices that FM Transmitters can’t block out. The Dice RDS FM also charges your iPod when it’s playing and provides RDS Track information if the headunit is compatible.

The Dice kit is provided with a dock cable for easy access and can be mounted anywhere in the car with the use of brodit mounting brackets and passive cradles depending on your iPod.

To claim your free delivery on the Dice RDS FM

type OCT_DICE into the coupon section when ordering

After spending a week over in the States with Dice Electronics, we have some exciting news. There is soon to be a new Dice iPod Car Kit to go in development for the VW-Audi group which will allow ID3 tagging and track info from the Apple iPod and iPhone on the vehicle screen!

Just how this is to be achieved is unknown by iPod Car Kit Direct at the moment but we have been assured that Dice’s secret has been tested and works fine.

This isn’t expected to be released until late 2009 but the anticipation is already kicking in as news spreads. Dension are sure to combat this kit with one of their own… Watch this space.

There are a variety of iPod car kits available on the market today, some good, some bad and some extremely poor. What are the best kits available and what features do they offer?

The installation of the Gateway 100 & 300 units are usually trouble free, in fact the most troublesome part of the installation is removing the head-unit. We have listed a few features regarding the installation that will help you when deciding whether or not you should try it yourself. (Please remember that The Gateway 100 & 300 products are car and radio specific and have different pin setting for different units)

Preparation,

Disconnect the head-unit (stereo) from the battery. If you have a security code applied ensure that you have it recorded.

Remove the Head-Unit

Often the radio will have a specific radio Key that will need to be used when removing the Stereo, (available at http://www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/iPod_Car_Accessories/Radio_Keys/). Simply insert the keys into the slots and pull out the head-unit.

Remove the Original Harness

Remove the harness that is attached to the stereo, these harness look different in different car models and manufactures.
Replace the Dension Harness
Attach the Dension Harness to the stereo and then re attach the old harness to Dension harness. The Denson attachment should then be connected to the Dension PCB (black box).

Attach & route the application

When the harness have been connected together, connect the Dension application (Dock Cable or Active cradle) to the PCB and rout into the position that you would like it to be kept, (for dock cables this is usally in the glove box, active cradles are usually attached to the Dashboard)

Insert the head-unit

Insert the head-unit back into the original position and re connect to the battery.
Remember,
The Key code for the radio, updated iPod software & Dension software also resolve 99% of installation problems

For more detailed instruction refer to the Manual when purchased, or visit http://install.dension.com

We would like to inform anybody that are looking to buy Dension Gateway iPod kits from ANY source – whether it be online or offline – to be very careful.

iPodCarKitDirect & Dension have been informed of a number of “Grey stock” items which have been imported illegally or through the wrong channels are worming their way into the UK market.

When buying an iPod kit for your car, please double check that the items you ordering are legitimate otherwise the Dension warranty will be void. If you are aware of anybody selling these kits then please inform ourselves.

There are VERY FEW legitimate online dealers of Dension iPod kits, for a full list visit the following link:

http://www.dension.com/dealers.php

OK, so you are probably thinking “How do i tell if the people selling me the Dension kit are buying them from the correct source?” Well the answer is simple:

When you buy, ask the retailer if they can tell you the serial number on the item, the serial number is always found on a Dension sticker on the bottom of the unit. If they cannot provide this then they don’t have one – meaning that the stock is NOT to be trusted.

If you already have an item purchased from anywhere which doesn’t have a sticker then please contact them to discuss.

Dension have been working very hard behind the scenes to make sure that all you guys with new Apple iPod’s and the new Apple iPhone can have them mounted on your dash in a cradle.

Previously, if you wanted a Dension Gateway kit that would hold your iPod or iPhone, you would have to have gone for the Dension Dock Cable and stored your iPod or iPhone in your glove box – NOT ANY MORE.

Dension have just released sleeves/inserts which will come with the Dension Active Cradle as standard on any order from now on. They will allow all new iPods to fit into the Dension Active Cradle as well as the iPhone.

This is very exciting news for our customers, many of which have been waiting for this for a long time!

If you already have a Dension Active Cradle and DON’T have the sleeve/insert for the new iPods and iPhone then fear not, these will be available soon to be purchased separately.

Due to the high demand for this item and a good platform, Dension have decided to expand the capabilities of the Dension Gateway Bluetooth Adapter. Expected features include phonebook browsing, music streaming from your phone, text capability (on supported cars and phones) and a few other little tricks which we are keeping up our sleeves.

Dension are due to split the original Gateway bluetooth adapter (the BTA1000) into two separate parts:

The Dension BTA1500 Bluetooth Adapter, specifically designed for the Dension Gateway 500 on all platforms (BMW, Audi, Porsche, Saab, Volvo, Mercedes) and will definitely feature phonebook display.

The Dension BTA2000 Bluetooth Adapter, designed for all other Dension Gateway models including the Dension Gateway 100, the Dension Gateway 300 & the long awaited Dension Gateway 200i (for when it finally arrives – most probably near December 2008).

The Dension bluetooth adapter is just another chapter in Densions push to continue to be the worlds number one iPod Car Kit specialists. Dension seems very confident that these new designs will be knocking on iPod Car Kit Directs doors within 2 or 3 months. Prepare yourself for the ULTIMATE integration!