For potentials users of the new Version 2.3 GM PAL (Personal Audio Link), you may have noticed we lost our thread with all of the past couple of months of information. Apparently a vendor complained about our PAL test project, and because I am not a "vendor", the administrators felt they needed to take down the thread. I'm working with another excellent forum member, Paul Pearson (talon90), who is a "supporting vendor", so we'll see what is replied to my emails to the "folks upstairs".

In the meantime, I can't advertise the sale of anything on the forum, but at least we can discuss the progress of this pre-production project with Mediatronics.

I found that when tracing the Fedex tracking for some of the replacement modules being shipped to the first 50 Version 2.0 PAL owners, progress seemed to have stopped. I checked with Mediatronics and they confirmed that all modules to folks who received a tracking number left Mediatronics last Friday, but my logistics contact, Jim Carrigan, needs to trace a few and make sure they are actually moving. He will follow up.

Other replacement modules have not yet been shipped due to a circuit board issue about the 16 pin connector that is being cleared up now. More circuit boards are coming out of Phoenix, AZ and to make our deadlines, a couple of Mediatronics guys may drive to Phoenix to physically pick up the boards, program them there, install them in the modules, and ship directly from Phoenix rather than Los Angeles.

In addition to replacement modules, they promised me 65 kits by Friday and will overnight them if necessary. They have shipped the parts (iPod cables, extensions, manuals, and boxes) today via 2 day Fedex, so they are making every possible effort to make my Friday deadline. I can't ask for more. And my commitment is to ship any backorders before I leave on my road trip on Tuesday. I'm hoping everyone will have a working Version 2.3 PAL by the end of next week.

Andrew Carrington, the CEO of Mediatronics, and his senior software engineer are currently back in Detroit, working with the GM engineer for the new installations of the PAL in the latest Corvettes. Due to our efforts showing how easy it is to install a PAL at the XM receiver, rather than tearing into the dash and connecting at the back of the radio, GM is finally seeing the light and I think will agree to start a new installation program soon. Of course "soon" may easily mean several months for GM. And not only does GM have to decide on the installation method, they also need to decide on what features they want on the new PALs. As you know, Version 2.3 includes Direct Mode and the working Auxiliary Input on the PAL module. We don't know yet what GM will decide about those features.

Anyway, we should be able to use this thread for updates until (or if) we get our original thread back. I'll keep you updated on the shipping issues, and I know I'll feel a lot better when I have these new modules in my hands. It shouldn't be long.

So far, the feedback on the new version has been good. You may recall that one owner could not get his Version 2.3 module to work in his Nav equipped '06 Vette. Mediatronics received the module back from George and indeed found it defective. This was at least comforting, because there was no logical reason why it shouldn't work - he wasn't getting a PAL menu to appear in XM2. Mediatronics will be shipping George another replacement module as soon as it becomes available.

That's about it for now.

Ray

 

thanks for the update Ray... keep us posted!

 

Wow....thank you for all the info and follow-up Ray.

As to the other thread being taken down.......I'm all for the rules here and I appreciate them every day. But......here you are expending tremendous time and effort to help others with no compensation and some Vendors get their panties in a twist. JMO but there needs to be just a liiiiittttle more leniency of the rules for situations like this so people can discuss it openly.

 

X2

 

I hope your status gets resolved soon, you were/are providing a valuable service to CF members.

I've been on the fence regarding the purchase of a PAL because of the bugs and knowing you were working with Mediatronics to resolve those issues and enhance future releases.

Best of luck and here's hoping you and Paul can partner. With two of the most highly regarded and respected CF members partnered I see nothing but great things ahead.

Cheers

Tom

 

I hope this doesn't mean that GM will be calling all the shots and user inputs are no longer wanted. There are still quite a few of us out here waiting patiently (?) for the Bluetooth capability. I'd hate to see that get shunted by the same sort of frivolous GM marketing mindset as the one that deliberately delayed offering the F55 suspension on the GS until the 2011 model year.

 

Certainly GM will be calling the shots for their own products (PAL in this case), but I think we have made a valuable contribution and at least certain people within GM are hearing what us users want. Mediatronics is thinking aftermarket as well, so even if GM decides to restrict the features for some reason, we should still have other choices.

Ray

 

Installing my PAL sure was easy. Thanks for the update

 

All I have to say is I wish I had ray install method when I did mine instead of the original GM way.

 

Could not agree more. Class acts both. Looking fwd to future updates.

 

just noticed this thread and the prior one - are kits available for a 2007 coupe with the one CD unit? how can I get one?

 

Here's my main website:

http://www.kawal.net/vettemods.htm

Click on the top link for information about the new Version 2 PAL kits.

I've suspended ordering until I catch up on my backorders and get feedback on the new software. Backorders are being filled within the next week, but I'm leaving on a road trip on Tuesday and won't be home until around July 4th. By then, I hope to have all feedback and enough PAL kits in stock so I won't have to have backorders again.

Ray

 

Ray

I sent you an email a few weeks ago and haven't heard back from you.

 

Ray, thanks for keeping us posted on the updates and progress.

It sounds like we are finally getting The interface that we have been waiting for.

 

I'm very sorry, but I looked through my emails and I found an email from you on 2/24 asking about upgrades. I replied that same day. Then on 3/15 you ordered a new 5v iPod cable and extension. I sent them out on 3/16. I haven't seen an email after that. If there is something I missed, please resend it to ray@kawal.net.

Ray

 

Resent email.

Thanks Ray.

 

Well said.......................+1

 

I have what may be a stupid question: Is it possible to get the 2.3 features described on an original installed-by-dealer PAL?

After reading the 2.3 features, it looks like it offers the ability to disable the timeout that returns the PAL to the main menu. This seems like a pretty critical safety feature that I would like to have.

On my unit, I pretty much have to operate the PAL only while the car is stopped because once you start navigating the menus, you have to keep going or else it will return to the main menu. I am not willing to keep my eyes off the road for this length of time. It seems like that could address this problem.

Thanks,
-Wade

 

It isn't quite yet....but it definitely will be. Ray is working with Mediatronics on the ability to upgrade the original units with the new features and it will become available.

 

Thanks! That's great to hear.