Ok, so this is kinda long winded but stick with me...

After much research I decided to get a Denison for my '06 CTTS. I didn't want to entirely replace the PCM as mine still was working fine but I wanted hands free calling and the ability to stream music. Did a bunch of research and it seemed like the Denison was the best choice.

Decision made I then decided to go with one of our local Rennlist Vendors and I bought it from Eric@Bumper Plugs. Had a little issue with payment as I was trying to use a Visa gift card then put the rest on my credit card but got it all hammered out.

Denison arrived and I downloaded/printed off all the instructions as well as putting the latest version of firmware (57) on a memory stick. I read the instructions a few times and felt it was something I could easily install myself, I've done far more than this.

Well, I simply couldn't get my MAN sized hands back behind the CD Changer to unplug both the power and the fiber optics. Tried a couple of times, just couldn't make it happen. So I reluctantly made an appointment at a local car audio place to have them install it, after confirming they've installed these before into CTT's.

Got there, dropped off the truck, came back several hours later and was told they couldn't get it to work and I'd need to come back. This after I went over the specific installation instructions with the installer. Come back the next week, leave the truck with them all day, only to be told the same thing!

At this point I throw a bit of a hissy fit and the owner comps me the install and tells me his lead guy will install it next week. So I go back and they get it all installed in 1.5 hours. This guy seemed to know what he was doing unlike all the other "installers" there.

Anyways I'm happy, phone (iPhone6) pairs right up and streams music seamlessly. It imported all my phone contacts and all seems well.

Over the span of a few weeks I start to notice that the phone call functions are flaky. If I'm trying to call out, it won't connect the call and I have to try 5-6 times for the Denison to finally work. If someone calls in, it won't really "pick up" and put the audio through the speakers.

I contact Eric@BumperPlugs and he gives me a list of things to check along with the newer version of Firmware, version 57h. Ok, so I check everything out and it looks like everything is installed properly, the shop guy did it right. Unfortunately I somehow manage to break the plastic surround that goes around the radio. Doh! Order one from a Cali Porsche Parts dismantler, there goes $115...

I try to upload the new firmware and it just won't load, the Denison won't recognize it. I go into the Denison menu and see that it has version 56 on it. Weird, it's supposed to have 57.

Back and forth with Eric, he suggests using a different memory stick and he'll ping Denison in Europe. I try another memory stick and get the same results. After impatiently waiting for Denison to get back to us, Eric finally sends me some notes from them, along with Firmware 52-57 straight from them.

I check things again yesterday afternoon and discover that the 9 pin DIN plug for the connector box was inadvertently plugged into the iPod spot on the Denison. Easy to do, neither port on the Denison is marked and I didn't see anything in the instructions on where to plug that in.

Great! Problem solved! Blue light on the connector box is no longer blinking all is well! Try to upload the 57 firmware again, same thing, it won't upload. Argh!!! Contact Eric again, he suggests a hard reset. Do that again, still won't work. Getting really frustrated at this point...

So finally I plug the memory sticks into my computer and see that the .bin file is there that shows a successful upload. WTF? I think about that for awhile, then I wonder if the 57 Firmware update that Eric sent me was actually 56? Or was corrupted somehow? So I delete it off the memory stick and put the 57 Firmware that Denison sent me onto it.

Go outside, plug it into the connector port and HOLY CRAP, it uploads immediately! I check the menu screen and sure enough, it says 57 where it said 56 before. Hot damn!

I haven't had a chance to test everything out, but I am hopeful now that the latest firmware is installed.

So lesson here, check EVERYTHING. Don't assume that the firmware you got is what its supposed to be. Eric probably just sent me the wrong version by accident and if I hadn't tried again with the Denison version I'd still be getting pissed off...

So this hopefully takes care of the phone call issues, I'll update in a bit after I get to use it awhile...

 

Glad you got it sorted out. Mind sharing the total damage to your wallet?

 

Well, I think I have it sorted out. It remains to be seen whether the call in/out functions are better. I sure hope this is the end of it. If it still doesn't work properly I think I'll be removing it and asking for a refund. It is now running the latest firmware at least.

I have the Denison Gateway as well as the external USB connector for iPod etc. I use it to plug my phone in and charge it, especially when I'm using the Nav on the phone since it's such a battery killing app.

So whatever those cost from BumperPlugs, then I didn't pay for installation since the local Car Audio Place wasted my time twice with their incompetent techs. Then I had to pay $115 to replace the radio trim that I broke getting at the Denison so I could then spend hours troubleshooting why it wasn't working correctly.

So yeah, not cheap. Cheaper than a Dynavin, but still not cheap. Plus a lot of my time and frustration not only at how it wasn't working right but at myself for breaking the radio trim. I still haven't installed the trim piece, I want to see if the Denison is working properly before I do...

 

Small sample size I know, but I did receive a call Saturday morning and the Denison handled it correctly. Hopefully this means it'll do so consistently now...

 

Den-si-on.

 

Wanted to update this. With firmware version 57h it's been working perfectly. No issues with either receiving or making calls.

 

So if you had to do it all over again would you just get the Dynavin? I am really wanting to do mine soon, can't decide which way to go.

 

Hmmm. Probably not. If the new firmware had been correctly identified I wouldn't have had any of the issues. It was always running version 56 vs 57. It seemed like I got sent 56 the whole time, until Denison sent me 57 just recently.

Once I figured out that the 57 version that Bumper Plugs had sent me was actually 56 and I put the real 57 version on the memory stick all was well.

 

I have the Dension GW500S BT in my 996tt and am very happy with the performance.

 

Mine's been fine now that I have the latest firmware in it...