Re-coding of Becker CDR-220?
Discussion
Chaps,
Quick one for you...there's a guy on eBay who has a new (repaired but with warranty) Porsche Becker CDR-220, trouble is, he's in the US. He appears to be an eBay trader rather than private individual.
After digging around on t'web (thanks also to phelix on my other thread) it appears the US use different FM frequencies, not the range, but their stations broadcast on "even" numbers, ie 99.6, 102.4, etc, whereas in the UK, we use both odd and even...hence, without doing anything, I'll only pick up even stations and/or weak odd reception (?!)
I've emailed him, and apparently he will supply "European" codes to essentially re-program the head unit.
Has anyone heard of, or done this, before?
Aside from the issue of unit being legit (which it does appear) and dealing across the water and (poss) import tax, I'm wondering whether to pursue. I do want to keep OEM stereo look in the car though.
Cheers
Spen
Quick one for you...there's a guy on eBay who has a new (repaired but with warranty) Porsche Becker CDR-220, trouble is, he's in the US. He appears to be an eBay trader rather than private individual.
After digging around on t'web (thanks also to phelix on my other thread) it appears the US use different FM frequencies, not the range, but their stations broadcast on "even" numbers, ie 99.6, 102.4, etc, whereas in the UK, we use both odd and even...hence, without doing anything, I'll only pick up even stations and/or weak odd reception (?!)
I've emailed him, and apparently he will supply "European" codes to essentially re-program the head unit.
Has anyone heard of, or done this, before?
Aside from the issue of unit being legit (which it does appear) and dealing across the water and (poss) import tax, I'm wondering whether to pursue. I do want to keep OEM stereo look in the car though.
Cheers
Spen
Assuming that the fm frequency used is 88-108mhz then the unit should find uk fm frequencies using the scan mode. I would guess the radio looks for a signal not a fequency. So i am a little confused as to what would be recoded. I would imagine that what he means is that the software would be reset to eu setting. Bear in mind that I'm not sure if the US has EON or RDS type addtions to spec. The unit will also not carry or be type approved for europe without a CE sticker, (not that you'll have sleepless nights over it).
Sorry but Spen is right, US frequency steps are different to UK, just outed a US MP3 player for this reason. Also the sceptics have very much higher powered transmitters than the UK which means that the US sets are less sensitive. E.G. reception only within a stones throw of the transmitter!
Jim
Jim
Spenny
If this unit is sale from a trader somewhere near New York then I think that he has advertised a number of these units in recent weeks. I have just bought a CDR23 from the US and am struggling to get it to work in my MK1 GT3, MOST connection and imobiliser issues. However, Porsche UK reckon they can reprogramme it provided I can get the VIN number from the donor car. I am trying to do this as we speak.
I guess the moral of my tale is be pretty sure that it will work before spending $300 plus and tax as the seller will say it's your responsibility to check compatibility. If I was in your shoes 3 weeks ago I would definitely have had a punt, however, in the light of my current dilemma I would probably go with a european specification Becker and ignore the fact that it doesn't have the Porsche badge on the front.
Just my 2 cents
Steve
If this unit is sale from a trader somewhere near New York then I think that he has advertised a number of these units in recent weeks. I have just bought a CDR23 from the US and am struggling to get it to work in my MK1 GT3, MOST connection and imobiliser issues. However, Porsche UK reckon they can reprogramme it provided I can get the VIN number from the donor car. I am trying to do this as we speak.
I guess the moral of my tale is be pretty sure that it will work before spending $300 plus and tax as the seller will say it's your responsibility to check compatibility. If I was in your shoes 3 weeks ago I would definitely have had a punt, however, in the light of my current dilemma I would probably go with a european specification Becker and ignore the fact that it doesn't have the Porsche badge on the front.
Just my 2 cents
Steve
spenny_b said:
pheeeweeeyyy...hmmm, yes, i *think* we may be talking about the same trader.
As you say, if you have the donor VIN, then handy to know Porsche will re-program it. Be interested to know how you get on Steve, thanks for the heads-up.
Spen
take care... I love a bit of Ebay, and bought a CDC 4 6 disc changer a few months ago, I 'only' paid £80.
I only got round to getting the OPC to fit it last week, and the flipping changer was dead.
So what could i do (ie the interior was already taken apart and i was already in for 2 hours of labour), but purchase a new one from the dealer. How much total fitted price.....£900!
as they say, Caveat emptor!
yikes...i bet you felt 
after that...
UK law has yet to catch up with eBay according to Citizens Advice..I sold a diesel tuning box a few months back on eBay, guy who i sold it to maintains it was duff, but couldnt articulate how he was installing it nor what the symptoms were, apart from stating "..listen, it just doesn't f***ing work mate" over and over...which is helpful...not.
Of course, the box was NOT dead, it came straight out of my Golf and sat on the workbench for a couple of weeks, he was trying it on and was going to send me back his mates one (coincidence that his mate had the same model car, same box...hmmm)...that was prob knackered....got me to the point of wanting to know where I stood though. If it was fubar'd then it wouldve gone straight in the bin. Their opinion is only spend what you feel comfortable losing, which seems a tad inadequate in your case...could it not be repaired by a Becker dealer?..then eBay it again!
S
after that... UK law has yet to catch up with eBay according to Citizens Advice..I sold a diesel tuning box a few months back on eBay, guy who i sold it to maintains it was duff, but couldnt articulate how he was installing it nor what the symptoms were, apart from stating "..listen, it just doesn't f***ing work mate" over and over...which is helpful...not.
Of course, the box was NOT dead, it came straight out of my Golf and sat on the workbench for a couple of weeks, he was trying it on and was going to send me back his mates one (coincidence that his mate had the same model car, same box...hmmm)...that was prob knackered....got me to the point of wanting to know where I stood though. If it was fubar'd then it wouldve gone straight in the bin. Their opinion is only spend what you feel comfortable losing, which seems a tad inadequate in your case...could it not be repaired by a Becker dealer?..then eBay it again!
S
Spenny
Sorry if I've misled you, the dealer in New York was not the one I was dealing with. My man came from California and id still trying to help me out, but as yet no resolution to my problem. When I was looking at the CDR23 I noticed the New York guy selling the CDR22 and I thought there's less chance that this is not compatible but what the heck I would rather a newer model where I dont have to keep flipping the front down to load the CD's. With hindsight I would and perhaps should have gone for the guy from New Yorks stereo. Provide the radio frequencies are not an issue then I very much suspect that the units will be OK.
If you do buy from the US then to stand a good chance of avoiding being stung for import tax & VAT, pay the vendor with a chaps bank transfer and ask them to ship it as goods returned under warranty and worth insuring for less than $50. That's how my "friend" did it. The bank transfer will cost £25 and you will take a hit if the package goes missing but if you are using a reputable carrier company the risk is minimised and it's worth it just to stick 2 fingers up to HMCustoms
Sorry if I've misled you, the dealer in New York was not the one I was dealing with. My man came from California and id still trying to help me out, but as yet no resolution to my problem. When I was looking at the CDR23 I noticed the New York guy selling the CDR22 and I thought there's less chance that this is not compatible but what the heck I would rather a newer model where I dont have to keep flipping the front down to load the CD's. With hindsight I would and perhaps should have gone for the guy from New Yorks stereo. Provide the radio frequencies are not an issue then I very much suspect that the units will be OK.
If you do buy from the US then to stand a good chance of avoiding being stung for import tax & VAT, pay the vendor with a chaps bank transfer and ask them to ship it as goods returned under warranty and worth insuring for less than $50. That's how my "friend" did it. The bank transfer will cost £25 and you will take a hit if the package goes missing but if you are using a reputable carrier company the risk is minimised and it's worth it just to stick 2 fingers up to HMCustoms
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