997 PCM

Mike Cooper 33 · May 22, 2008

Hi,

I am a long term Porsche owner but new to 997 ownership having just bought a C4S. I ahve a couple of questions I'd be grateful for any answers on:

- My car has the PCM and navigation. It seems like whenever this is on, navigation, maps, screen etc the sound has to be on as well. Is there a way you can have this on with the radio and CD turned off? Seems very daft if you can't.

- Has anyone had the latest Porsche I Pod interface fitted? If so is it any good and does it display through the PCM screen, showing track selection etc?

Otherwise love the car. Did a day with Bernard Aubry yesterday and we had a lot of fun.

Thanks

Mike

grover · May 22, 2008

From my knowledge of having a 997 for three years now, you just turn the sound down to have the nav screen working.

I havent got to the ipod interface but there is lots on this site about the right system if you search

I am interested in what you got for the money and felt you learned from a day with Bernard. He has been mentioned to me as a person to help explore your vehicle on the road and track. I just havent done anything about it yet, other than the half day I had at Millbrook when I bought my 997s, my turbo was a couple of months old so I didnt get anything with that although have had track time in one at Thruxton. Was this in your own car or a track one and was it a race day or road craft day?

Mike Cooper 33 · May 22, 2008

Thanks, still seems daft to me that you cannot just turn off the sound but there you go.

The day with Bernard involves around an hour at the Chobham test track, this is a lot of fun but if you have done a lot of track work it's not a massive amount of use to be frank. It's good if you have a new car you have not taken on the track before though. (like me)

What Bernard is good at is the road craft section. He's very understated and subtle but he has hepled me to get more out of the car. He knows some great roads around Sussex and Hampshire and you will have a fun day out. I am sure you will learn something from him, I did. I have also been out for days with Don palmer, Mike Franey and John Lyon all who are different but Bernard has his own style and is vastly experienced.

If you want track training I'd recommend Dirk Stroysmann, I had a day with him at the Nurburgring last year in a 993 RS which was unbelieveble.

Rotorhead · May 22, 2008

IIRC isn't there a 'mute' option somewhere?

oceancarrera · May 22, 2008

ORIGINAL: Mike Cooper 33

- Has anyone had the latest Porsche I Pod interface fitted? If so is it any good and does it display through the PCM screen, showing track selection etc?

No.

For that functionality you need the mObridge.

MarcBC · May 23, 2008

There is a mute option at the bottom right if you are on the "Audio" screen. The SatNav still works

pwebb · May 23, 2008

If you have the multi function steering wheel there is a simple mute button on the left side - you also need the unit on for incoming phone calls - again if fitted.

Any more info on your new car?

Peter

berty987 · May 23, 2008

There are a number of options for the PCM for playing MP3 files. The mobridge unit is probably the best unit if you own an ipod , however its dedicated to i pod units. The other popular option is the dension gateway 500 , which is cheaper than the mobridge and can control either an I pod or USB flash drive from the PCM . I went for the dension unit as I dont own an i pod and felt the USB drive with MP3 files was a cheaper and more flexible option. Even with USB drives you can search/ scan artists and albums in just the same way as you would with an i pod , all from the controls of your PCM. A 16GB flash usb drive costs about 50 pounds , the dension unit about 280. The same dension unit (GW51M02) is also compatable with a large range of vehicles such as audi, BMW and Mercedes , so theoretically it could be transferred to your new car if you should change.Here is the link to the Uk distributors/ sellers :
http://www.dension.com/dealers.php?country_code=GB

Mike Cooper 33 · May 27, 2008

Thanks all for the advice. Looks like the Denison is the way to go.

I think my car must be one of the last non facelifted 997's as I had to accept stock. Did get a discount though and was qouoted next Jan for delivery of a facelifted car so decided not to wait!

Cheers

Mike

colloc · May 27, 2008

Your existing CD player is MP3 compatable which gives you 650mb of music on a single CD do you really need much more on a single journey?

paulstevens · May 27, 2008

Mike,

I posted a fairly indepth thread about having the Dension installed in my C2 a while back, with some install pictures and some Q&A's answered.

I would say it has been superb and never missed a beat and worth doing. If you need contact details for my installer Email me, or look through the thread and that has all the contact details.

Paul

DSM · May 27, 2008

ORIGINAL: colloc

Your existing CD player is MP3 compatable which gives you 650mb of music on a single CD do you really need much more on a single journey?

Is that so? About how many tracks is 650Mb?

mex99 · May 28, 2008

150ish

chris.bailey · May 28, 2008

About 8-10 albums worth at high bit rate MP3 so 2 CD's in the car gives you a choice of about 20 Albums worth. Put each album in a seperate folder and you can choose which to play on the head unit with full track listings as well. Works great and has made the CD changer seem a but redundant. If only that played MP3's!

DSM · Aug 26, 2008

ORIGINAL: chris.bailey

About 8-10 albums worth at high bit rate MP3 so 2 CD's in the car gives you a choice of about 20 Albums worth. Put each album in a seperate folder and you can choose which to play on the head unit with full track listings as well. Works great and has made the CD changer seem a but redundant. If only that played MP3's!

Exactly how does one do this? i have itunes, which loads my ipod, as I guess others have. How can I convert to MP3, assuming that is the only way to get a decent number of tracks on to a CD?

dereksharpuk · Aug 26, 2008

ORIGINAL: DSM

ORIGINAL: chris.bailey

About 8-10 albums worth at high bit rate MP3 so 2 CD's in the car gives you a choice of about 20 Albums worth. Put each album in a seperate folder and you can choose which to play on the head unit with full track listings as well. Works great and has made the CD changer seem a but redundant. If only that played MP3's!

Click to expand...

Exactly how does one do this? i have itunes, which loads my ipod, as I guess others have. How can I convert to MP3, assuming that is the only way to get a decent number of tracks on to a CD?

If you are using MS Vista, download CDs to computer in MP3 format...(search for this option.)
Make a folder the size of your CD (depend on sample rate how many tracks you get)
Copy to blank CD

Simple

robert997 · Aug 26, 2008

Ahh, DSM. If you're using iTunes, like myself, it's hopeless. iTunes won't let you save as MP3 format - and there is no convertor. All to protect their digital rights management I believe.

The only solution, which isn't one really, is to re-import your music collection as MP3, which doesn't work for those you've bought from iTunes, in which case you're expected to burn them onto a music CD as normal, and then re-import them on MP3. Either way, that's hours and hours of agro.

Unfortunately those of us who bought iPods and followed all the defaults, such as import as AAC files, are completely helpless in this situation. Best find an iTrip or just keep burning your music onto audio CD's...

Hendrikus · Aug 26, 2008

I am trying to create a CD too; I have XP, and can't work out how to download CD tracks into MP3 format. Any pointers (bearing in mind I am pretty IT illiterate)? thanks

spyderman · Aug 26, 2008

ORIGINAL: Hendrikus
I am trying to create a CD too; I have XP, and can't work out how to download CD tracks into MP3 format. Any pointers (bearing in mind I am pretty IT illiterate)?

iTunes for Windows can actually "rip" CD audio tracks to MP3 files. By default, it will make AAC files - the same as those you buy from the iTunes store, but without the digital rights management (DRM). To change to MP3 file format:

Edit -> Preferences
Advanced
Importing tab
Import using: - change to MP3 Encoder

I also change the Setting: setting to Good Quality (128kbps) since the files are a bit smaller.

Note that iTunes and QuickTime (they come together) is a free download for Windows 2000 or later - and you do not need to install the Safari web browser that is sometimes bundled with it. The whole bundle is a big download!

berty987 · Aug 28, 2008

The dension or mobridge units are a great add on for those with PCM units as they allow for much bigger music libraries than single MP3 CD's and can be controlled and viewed via the PCM main screen.. The porsche i pod interface is a waste of money as you cannot control or view the i pod from the device. As to the issue of volume , i beleive that the PCM allows for adjustment of the Navi and Radio volumes separately. If you adjust the volume of the navigation during an announcement it stays fixed at this volume regardless of volume changes to the radio. Though I've not tried it , It would seem possible to reduce the audio volume to a near zero level and still hear the navigation prompts.