"How to" alternative iPod install for Monsoon radios
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 13
But you might be surprised how many inexperienced people there are that cobble some wiring together and wonder why their project doesn't meet their expectations.
Ray
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 331
Thanks again for the kit Ray! Assembly took me about an hour and a short drive over to the GM dealership to crimp on the terminals free of charge!
I would recommend Ray's simple iPod solution to anyone that wants it in their H3. Cheers!
I would recommend Ray's simple iPod solution to anyone that wants it in their H3. Cheers!
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,461
From: Rochester Hills, Michigan
I spoke with Andrew Carrington, the CEO of Mediatronics, today and we discussed the Hummer compatibility with the Corvette Class 2 PAL, particularly with the Monsoon system. They feel that the PAL should be compatible and work as expected. However, we can do a couple of things for those Hummer owners who might be interested in a Version 2 GM PAL. The PAL application guide shows it will work with '03 -'07 H2s, and '06 -'09 H3s, including the Nav or non-Nav radio.
For those with the Monsoon system, if anyone would like to try one out, you can order, plug it in and test it, and if for any reason you are dissatisfied, you can return it for a full refund. Try it for a couple of weeks to make sure there isn't a battery drain issue.
Further, if there are any compatible Hummer owners in the Orange County, CA area (Mediatronics is in Irvine), they would like to have a volunteer allow Mediatronics to connect a PAL and some specialized equipment (I think a laptop with special software) for about an hour to positively determine that the PAL completely shuts down and will not cause a battery drain. They would also insure that the PAL did not "wake up" other devices on the Class 2 system that could possibly cause a battery drain issue. That owner could drive their vehicle to the Mediatronics location in Irvine, or if they are close enough they could send one of their techs to the owner's home to test it there.
I've found Mediatronics to be very receptive to test procedures to make sure that their products are completely compatible with any vehicles the PAL is designed for. Many aftermarket products often advertise they will work with a certain vehicle, but there is often insufficient testing to make sure. We have done very extensive testing in every year and configuration of C6 Corvettes, and we now have a very stable product that has become very popular.
Here is my main website again:
C6 Corvette Modifications
You'll find my email address at the bottom. Any volunteers can email me and we can discuss the next step. My wife and I are leaving for Molokai, Hawaii next week and we'll be gone for about five weeks. But I'll have email and phone there if anyone needs to communicate.
Ray
For those with the Monsoon system, if anyone would like to try one out, you can order, plug it in and test it, and if for any reason you are dissatisfied, you can return it for a full refund. Try it for a couple of weeks to make sure there isn't a battery drain issue.
Further, if there are any compatible Hummer owners in the Orange County, CA area (Mediatronics is in Irvine), they would like to have a volunteer allow Mediatronics to connect a PAL and some specialized equipment (I think a laptop with special software) for about an hour to positively determine that the PAL completely shuts down and will not cause a battery drain. They would also insure that the PAL did not "wake up" other devices on the Class 2 system that could possibly cause a battery drain issue. That owner could drive their vehicle to the Mediatronics location in Irvine, or if they are close enough they could send one of their techs to the owner's home to test it there.
I've found Mediatronics to be very receptive to test procedures to make sure that their products are completely compatible with any vehicles the PAL is designed for. Many aftermarket products often advertise they will work with a certain vehicle, but there is often insufficient testing to make sure. We have done very extensive testing in every year and configuration of C6 Corvettes, and we now have a very stable product that has become very popular.
Here is my main website again:
C6 Corvette Modifications
You'll find my email address at the bottom. Any volunteers can email me and we can discuss the next step. My wife and I are leaving for Molokai, Hawaii next week and we'll be gone for about five weeks. But I'll have email and phone there if anyone needs to communicate.
Ray
Last edited by Broken Halo; Jan 17, 2012 at 10:24 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 151
Do you have this crimp tool?
Home » Shop » Tools » Crimp & Strip » Standard » Wide-Range Crimper - Excellent for crimping Weather-Pack ( Weatherpack ), Metri-Pack ( Metripack ), GT Style and most Terminal Types *RECOMMENDED*
This is not your ordinary auto part store crimper, which is completely inadequate to make OEM quality terminal installations.
These OEM Delphi Micro 100 terminals are not made to be soldered. They are professionally crimped onto OEM body harnesses throughout your vehicle.
Here are a couple of photos:
Ray
Home » Shop » Tools » Crimp & Strip » Standard » Wide-Range Crimper - Excellent for crimping Weather-Pack ( Weatherpack ), Metri-Pack ( Metripack ), GT Style and most Terminal Types *RECOMMENDED*
This is not your ordinary auto part store crimper, which is completely inadequate to make OEM quality terminal installations.
These OEM Delphi Micro 100 terminals are not made to be soldered. They are professionally crimped onto OEM body harnesses throughout your vehicle.
Here are a couple of photos:
Ray
Thanks!
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 13
Ray
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 13
In either case, the wiring is slightly different from the Corvette's (especially the XM communication wire), so I would need to send you a special kit after we return home on February 15th from Hawaii. I'd suggest you wait and email me at ray@kawal.net after the 15th - then I can take care of anything you want immediately.
If you are asking about the Version 2 PALs, they are also available for the Hummers after I return home.
C6 Corvette Modifications
Ray
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 14
If you are asking about the aux in harnesses, you can order the AUX-3 kit if you want to connect behind the radio or the AUX-2 kit if you want to connect at the XM receiver. In Corvettes, it's a no-brainer - the XM receiver is much more accessible. But it sounds like in a Hummer, the radio appears to be very accessible.
In either case, the wiring is slightly different from the Corvette's (especially the XM communication wire), so I would need to send you a special kit after we return home on February 15th from Hawaii. I'd suggest you wait and email me at ray@kawal.net after the 15th - then I can take care of anything you want immediately.
If you are asking about the Version 2 PALs, they are also available for the Hummers after I return home.
C6 Corvette Modifications
Ray
In either case, the wiring is slightly different from the Corvette's (especially the XM communication wire), so I would need to send you a special kit after we return home on February 15th from Hawaii. I'd suggest you wait and email me at ray@kawal.net after the 15th - then I can take care of anything you want immediately.
If you are asking about the Version 2 PALs, they are also available for the Hummers after I return home.
C6 Corvette Modifications
Ray
I am interested in the Version 2 PAL for the H3. For what I have read above it would plug in directly to my XM 1 or 2 and I would have control of my iPhone through the radio controls (by the way it's the stock Monsoon Nav with XM). There would be no battery drain, correct?
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 13
Ray,
I am interested in the Version 2 PAL for the H3. For what I have read above it would plug in directly to my XM 1 or 2 and I would have control of my iPhone through the radio controls (by the way it's the stock Monsoon Nav with XM). There would be no battery drain, correct?
I am interested in the Version 2 PAL for the H3. For what I have read above it would plug in directly to my XM 1 or 2 and I would have control of my iPhone through the radio controls (by the way it's the stock Monsoon Nav with XM). There would be no battery drain, correct?
Mediatronics does not believe you would have a battery drain issue, but the PAL has not been thoroughly tested in a Hummer - only the Hummer radio is for sure compatible. That is why they offered to do some thorough testing in a volunteer's Hummer if they can get hold of one in their area in Southern California. Without that option, the best we can do is offer the PAL for sale with a full refund option in the event you are not satisfied for any reason. I would encourage you to install one - very simple install - and try it out yourself over a period of time that you are satisfied there is no battery drain issue.
You can email me at ray@kawal.net if you have any questions.
Ray
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,461
From: Rochester Hills, Michigan
The PAL gives you control of the iPod section of your iPhone (music playing) on your radio, and it displays the song information, as well as charges your iPhone.
Mediatronics does not believe you would have a battery drain issue, but the PAL has not been thoroughly tested in a Hummer - only the Hummer radio is for sure compatible. That is why they offered to do some thorough testing in a volunteer's Hummer if they can get hold of one in their area in Southern California. Without that option, the best we can do is offer the PAL for sale with a full refund option in the event you are not satisfied for any reason. I would encourage you to install one - very simple install - and try it out yourself over a period of time that you are satisfied there is no battery drain issue.Ray
Mediatronics does not believe you would have a battery drain issue, but the PAL has not been thoroughly tested in a Hummer - only the Hummer radio is for sure compatible. That is why they offered to do some thorough testing in a volunteer's Hummer if they can get hold of one in their area in Southern California. Without that option, the best we can do is offer the PAL for sale with a full refund option in the event you are not satisfied for any reason. I would encourage you to install one - very simple install - and try it out yourself over a period of time that you are satisfied there is no battery drain issue.Ray
Ray....is there any way to add a USB input to an OEM radio, or is that not electronically possible? I'm thinking to be able to use a flashdrive with music downloads, but probably the radio screen and functions would not support it?
