Radio Dismantle

[The_Blur]

I'm no electronic engineer, but it appears that adding an additional USB would be as simple as splitting a few wires. Is that accurate? I'd love to see a concealed USB guide for installing an iPod in the glove box.

[y2jdmbfan]

Originally Posted by The_Blur

I'm no electronic engineer, but it appears that adding an additional USB would be as simple as splitting a few wires. Is that accurate? I'd love to see a concealed USB guide for installing an iPod in the glove box.

Why not just use a USB hub?

[The_Blur]

I was thinking about my last question. I have to wonder what the differences are between the non-USB models and the head units with USB ports. Is there any way to gauge how interchangeable these are? If they are bolt-on replacements, then the best option for getting the C&C package might be to splice wires or replace the 1SS head unit with a 2SS head unit.

In other words, can we get side-by-side pictures of the fully loaded (2SS) head unit and the stripper (1SS) head unit?

Originally Posted by y2jdmbfan

Why not just use a USB hub?

That would do, too.

[UCF w00t]

Originally Posted by The_Blur

I'm no electronic engineer, but it appears that adding an additional USB would be as simple as splitting a few wires. Is that accurate? I'd love to see a concealed USB guide for installing an iPod in the glove box.

I'm not sure you can do this. I don't think it's quite that easy.

Originally Posted by y2jdmbfan

Why not just use a USB hub?

A powered hub most likely won't work (it requires a driver or what not). A non-powered method might work but it will depend on the draw of the devices plugged in.

Originally Posted by The_Blur

I was thinking about my last question. I have to wonder what the differences are between the non-USB models and the head units with USB ports. Is there any way to gauge how interchangeable these are? If they are bolt-on replacements, then the best option for getting the C&C package might be to splice wires or replace the 1SS head unit with a 2SS head unit.

In other words, can we get side-by-side pictures of the fully loaded (2SS) head unit and the stripper (1SS) head unit?



That would do, too.

I don't think there's any difference in the head unit, just in the existence of the PDIM module.

Thanks to the FCC (ID VQQPDIMKTB), we've got pictures and data on the PDIM module.

[UCF w00t]

Looking up the major components on PDIM module shows a Freescale 140mhz 32bit cpu with a 16MB sdram module. There's also a flash rom but not sure how large that is (made by some obscure chinese company). I'm guessing that's storing the firmware for the device. Looking at the docs and samples for the CPU, it looks like they commonly run either a linux kernel or VxWorks. Would be funny if it was an easily hackable linux kernel.

The MCF5251 comes with a complete audio reference software package supporting the following:
• Windows Media Audio (WMA)
• MP3 decode
• MP3 encode
• mp3PRO
• Advanced Audio Coding (AAC)
• Ogg Vorbis
• SRS-WOW
• JPEG
• MPEG-4 decode
• Microsoft DRM (WMADRM10)
• ADPCM Voice Record
• PlaysForSure and PlaysFromDevice
• FAT16 and FAT32 file system
• Propriatory RTOS (FlexOS)
• USB Host MSC support
• SD/MMC Card support

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by UCF w00t

I'm not sure you can do this. I don't think it's quite that easy.

A powered hub most likely won't work (it requires a driver or what not). A non-powered method might work but it will depend on the draw of the devices plugged in.

I don't think there's any difference in the head unit, just in the existence of the PDIM module.

Thanks to the FCC, we've got pictures and data on the PDIM module.

Am I to understand that these are made by Daewoo? Maybe there is some merit in keeping that miserable brand. They must be developing the electronics for every GM vehicle.

Am I also to understand that the difference between being able to plug in the iPod or other media device to a USB drive is this module? If that is the case, how much trouble would it be to get these modules from a GM dealer? If we can order these parts, how hard would the installation be on a 1SS or 1LT that lacks the C&C package? From what I know about previous GM vehicles, the interchangeability of these sorts of parts requires full replacement of a variety of electronics, leading to a wild nightmare of installations, cables, and sticking limbs in very tight spaces. It seems that all a 1SS driver would need to use any USB device would be a PDIM module, a USB cord, and a little time to connect the PDIM to the back of the head unit. Am I correct?

[UCF w00t]

Originally Posted by The_Blur

Am I to understand that these are made by Daewoo? Maybe there is some merit in keeping that miserable brand. They must be developing the electronics for every GM vehicle.

Am I also to understand that the difference between being able to plug in the iPod or other media device to a USB drive is this module? If that is the case, how much trouble would it be to get these modules from a GM dealer? If we can order these parts, how hard would the installation be on a 1SS or 1LT that lacks the C&C package? From what I know about previous GM vehicles, the interchangeability of these sorts of parts requires full replacement of a variety of electronics, leading to a wild nightmare of installations, cables, and sticking limbs in very tight spaces. It seems that all a 1SS driver would need to use any USB device would be a PDIM module, a USB cord, and a little time to connect the PDIM to the back of the head unit. Am I correct?

Yup. As far as I know, this is the same or at least similar moduule that's being used across all the vehicles. Although I think the Camaro is the first one to use this particular module.

But yes, I think and believe that you should be able to buy this module and the associated cables (one harness that connects from the main deck to this device as well as the USB cable) and plug it in and like magic have full USB and bluetooth support in your 1xx car. From GM's perspective, this would be the most cost effective way as the head unit can remain standard across all the cars.

Also of note, uClinux is fully supported on this line of devices. They've even got a full document on how to create a MP3 player (basically what the PDIM module is) using uClinux with it. Let's just hope that GM/Daewoo decided to use this. Sure could make things fun.

[AhX]

Also of note, uClinux is fully supported on this line of devices. They've even got a full document on how to create a MP3 player (basically what the PDIM module is) using uClinux with it. Let's just hope that GM/Daewoo decided to use this. Sure could make things fun.

Do you have any links to this document or info?

[UCF w00t]

Originally Posted by AhX

Do you have any links to this document or info?

http://www.freescale.com/files/micro...ote/AN3385.pdf

And just to make sure noone goes all crazy, I'm just pointing out what's possible with the platform that the PDIM module is based on. There's lots of other ways they could've developed the firmware for the device. It will require some more intimate knowledge with it to know what it's running.

[The_Blur]

We need an experiment. We need a 1SS or 1LT owner and a 2SS or 2LT owner for the experiment. We are seeking to prove the hypothesis that the PDIM module is the only reason that the lower trim cannot have USB or Bluetooth. All we have to do is remove both head units and attach the PDIM to the lower trim's head unit. Upon doing this, we can try to plug in an iPod or use a Bluetooth device with the head unit.

[kdoske]

someone will do it, im hoping its sooner rather then later!

[Supermans]

YAY..THis wiill be great news for us 1SS owners if it is an easy upgrade

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by Supermans

YAY..THis wiill be great news for us 1SS owners if it is an easy upgrade

We just need to test the PDIM module on a 1SS and find a price for the PDIM.

[UCF w00t]

Originally Posted by The_Blur

We just need to test the PDIM module on a 1SS and find a price for the PDIM.

PDIM module part # is 92213212. List price is apparently $179. A couple sites supposedly have it but who knows how accurate that is.