Help using Dension - can I stream via Bluetooth?

Help using Dension - can I stream via Bluetooth?

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Discussion

rossyl

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

166 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
Hi All

I'm now the proud owner of a Meteorite Silver 2007 AM Vantage. It is a fabulous car, to look at as well as to drive!

The previous owner I am quite sure installed a Dension unit. There is an iPod lead in the glove box, pressing CD links up to the iPod lead there is also this in the passenger footwell.



I plugged in a Layen iDock into the iPod lead in the glove box, in the hope that I would be able to stream via Bluetooth.

The device pairs with my phone but I cannot play anything.

The Dension Unit scrolls and says "Aux GW"
Is there any solution to allow me to stream via Bluetooth? I'd like to stream from Android and iPhone.

I do have an iPod which I plugged in. I think that each of the 6 CD's have a different function. Does anyone know what these are?

Thanks very much
R

Thorny

1,076 posts

209 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
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That's definitely a Denison unit.

I don't think it's compatible with Bt unless you buy the dedicated Denison Bt module but sure someone will be along with more knowledge than me.

I need to check on what disc does what tomorrow

djmac56

206 posts

175 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
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I have that unit in mine and also bought the Layen idock to try but could not get it to work. I had heard people using the Tune2Air wma1000 adapter for Bluetooth so I tried that and it works. It's not perfect - sometimes I pair with that and not the car or vice versa but most of the time my iPhone streams to it fine from my pocket etc.

I have no idea why the Layen idock doesn't work as it is fine on another 30pin device I use, but the Tune2Air does work. I l I looked for one on Amazon and they don't do it any more - the ones they show don't appear to have 30 pin on, and that's what I think you will need. You will have to do a broader search to find one!

Edited by djmac56 on Saturday 3rd October 08:25

rossyl

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

166 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
quotequote all
Thanks very much for the first hand (and identical) experience. Does the Tune2Air work no matter what CD is selected?
Why oh why have they stopped doing the Tune2Air I do not know. But I will have a hunt for one.

If I can get a bit of advice on the various Denison modes in relation to what CD is selected I'd be grateful.

Thanks,
R

Edited by rossyl on Saturday 3rd October 08:35

djmac56

206 posts

175 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
quotequote all
My understanding (I haven't tried recently) is that when in iPod mode you can't play any CDs. There are two settings for iPod - one where the buttons are deactivated and one where they aren't.

In order to play CDs there is a slidey switch on the thing in your footwell that has the phono input. If you switch that it will allow you to play CDs.

CDs are better quality but I only ever use Spotify or Apple Music in my car these days for music.

With one of those 30 pin to lightning doodads you can play around with what buttons 1-6 do. I have instructions but generally get connected then use my phone for navigation of my tracks with the phone secured to the dash with an air vent clip.

However, one thing to note is that Bluetooth sucks quite a lot of battery so you might want to use a wired connection at times anyway.

djmac56

206 posts

175 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
quotequote all
In fact, I don't have instructions - I've lost them. However, there's a chap called James - username "Paralight" who installs them and knows what you do to switch modes, move from album to track view etc. Try contacting him, or if you like I might do it next week and get the FAQ updated. So many people have the Dension it would be a useful sticky to have.

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
quotequote all
I use this with my dension as the offical Dension BT thing was a pain to use.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wireless-Bluetooth-3-0-M...

Connect that to the ipod lead on the dension and then you can connect your phone via BT and play music in ipod mode. You can also skip tracks on the HU.

djmac56

206 posts

175 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
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Wow Sump, I might get one of those as a backup at that price! My Tune2Air was a lot more!

Logannz

45 posts

114 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
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It appears you need an adapter that supports track names to work with the Dension, It took me 3 before I discovered this. They are still cheap, I guess it's just a different chipset. This does not mean the actual track names transfer btw, maybe with factory bluetooth they might.

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
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Genuinely can't see any advantage of having a track name appear on the HU.

rossyl

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

166 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
Sump - thanks so much! I've ordered.

Any ideas on what the various CD's do?

Also, sometimes it the Denison just stops working. Do you guys just hit reset whilst driving?

Thanks
R

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
Download the manual.

You use the CDS to navigate the iPod playlists etc. It's all pretty rubbish so I just use my iPod interface or mobile with bluetooth and a mobile phone vent holder like this.



Trying to use the interface on the Aston head unit is a waste of time and completely pointless. On an iDrive it's brilliant, on the AMs it's moronic at best.

rossyl

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

166 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
Thanks Sump.

I've had said look for the manual but not found anything useful.

rossyl

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

166 months

Monday 26th October 2015
quotequote all
Sump said:
I use this with my dension as the offical Dension BT thing was a pain to use.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wireless-Bluetooth-3-0-M...

Connect that to the ipod lead on the dension and then you can connect your phone via BT and play music in ipod mode. You can also skip tracks on the HU.
Hey Sump and all

Unfortunately I bought this and had no luck. Although when plugged in I can connect via Bluetooth, it unfortunately does not stream the music.

Anyone found any others?

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Monday 26th October 2015
quotequote all
I have a Dension 500 and I connect via bluetooth and it works fine. The dension is also in Ipod UI mode, maybe that's your issue?

rossyl

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

166 months

Monday 26th October 2015
quotequote all
Cheers Sump.

Will give that a go tonight and let you know.

Thanks

djmac56

206 posts

175 months

Monday 26th October 2015
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I'm not a million miles from you Ross - Weybridge in Surrey. I am happy to try and help you figure it out if you are able to pop over this way?

rossyl

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

166 months

Tuesday 27th October 2015
quotequote all
Hi

So I plugged in an iPod, was able to select iPod UI and iPod GW.

Once I plugged in the Bluetooth Adaptor, I could not select anything. When I scroll through the Source it just says "no iPod GW" and "no iPod UI" Which leads me to think that the Bluetooth Adaptor is not tricking the Dension into thinking an iPod is plugged in.

DjMac56 - do you have this system working in your car. If so, that might be worth a play.

If anyone has a Bluetooth Adaptor that they have plugged into a Dension and it is allowing them to stream music via bluetooth, would anyone mind lending their Bluetooth Adaptor to me so that I can see if mine will allow the same? Or, if anyone has a spare that works, I would happily buy it off them.

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Tuesday 27th October 2015
quotequote all
This is the link of the one I actually purchased.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bluetooth-Music-Audio-St...

rossyl

Original Poster:

1,113 posts

166 months

Tuesday 27th October 2015
quotequote all
Thanks Sump.

Now purchased. Fingers crossed this one works. 4th time lucky!