ZENEC Naviceiver ZE-NC2011D

[Sunny43.5]

I had a look at the post link above and noticed that you can apparently access the gain information via VCDS of the original fitted radio . Now my limited knowledge of radios is such that the radios are pretuned at factory for the aerials fitted a bit like CB radio if you change the aerial you have to retune it so to speak , with CBs you would fit the new aerial and then turn a small screw on the back to "tune" it to the new aerial . This might explain why once the factory unit is removed and any other unit is then fitted then it no longer works like the original . As I said I am not a tech but their is something about different radios and VWS system , its all to do with impedance and some other sorts of mumbo jumbo . In Europe they also have RDS which are dedicated stations for traffic reports and alerts , the Chinese units I have have RDS facility but is not connected for Australia that would be why there are so many Aerial connectors GPS works on different frequencies from AM and FM then you have to factor Digital radio it goes on and on plus even TV reception . Also different countries these days have multiple radio systems like the US digital satellite so different aerials are needed depending on which country has what delivery system VW would probably cater for multiple systems so that's why there are so many aerials in place . One radio installation centre told me when pushed that they have the same problem with VW stuff his answer was that they use a test lamp not LED type and they connect one end to a12volt supply and then touch the other to the wires in the harness , he said that when you touch the correct one the radio will suddenly work properly [I tried this with our base model 2011 T5 and did not work ] so I fitted a roof aerial a powered model for the Nissan XTrail looks good and has improved reception but not for am as we are too far from Brissie .

[Sunny43.5]

DVD screen in wide screen format Do You Feel Lucky Punk ?
[IMG][/IMG][IMG]
Roof mounted aerial
radio Screen [/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

[pjondeck]

Hi again
Howard I hear what you are saying. I worked my life in electronics, specialising in radio, military and civilian.
The impedance match is important specifically in a transmitting application as signal power is reflected back into the transmitter if it is incorrect. Hence the ability to tune the antenna in a CB radio to minimise this reflection. In radio receivers so long as the antenna cable is the correct impedance the antenna characteristic is not critical in the frequencies we are talking here. ZENEC say there are two diversity antennas for the radio and that the system processes the two signals with an algorithm that derives from the two signals a third that is an enhanced signal. IN2VWS, interesting what you say. If the antenna connections is somehow different the the ZENEC does not accommodate that and is therefore not compatible as claimed. The story will continue, I hope to hear some more from ZENEC soon or will harass them. cheers Peter

[pjondeck]

Struth, I'm really starting to believe it all comes down to something in the way the ZENEC manages the antennas.
Sorry about your mirror though. I have the electric retractable mirrors, might start using them!!
Peter

[Sunny43.5]

Impedance that was the tech word I could not remember , good call . I still have my older T5 and its aerial is in the front windscreen . The later series T5 its in the mirrors as described . I found this little gem of info which might explain why aftermarket radios have issues in VW as I said remove the factory unit and it all goes pear shape

Quote " Modern active AM/FM window antennas and FM-antenna-diversity systems used for cars are described, and a novel type of window antenna is presented. For the antenna diversity system two main problems had to be solved. First, an extremely fast working criterion for FM distortions (noise, multipath distortion, equal channel, adjacent channel, and intermodulation distortion) had to be found. The time required for distortion detection in the realized system is only 25 μs. In consequence, no audible distortion occurs before the next antenna is switched on. Second, multiantenna systems adequate for modern cars had to be developed. For increased FM performance quality multiantenna diversity systems are used. One of the systems has been implemented in a production by Philips, Fuba, and BMW. It consists of a diversity processor and three narrow-spaced active window antenna arranged in the rear window of BMW type seven and type five cars "End Quote .

[pjondeck]

Now that is really interesting Howard. Can you give me the source of that info please? Might hit ZENEC with it, reckon it might get them thinking, or blow their little minds!
cheers again

[Sunny43.5]

Hi Pjondeck here is the page I got the info from there is heaps of other stuff if you just Google "diversity antennae for cars " IEEE Xplore - Multiple FM window antenna system for scanning diversity with an integrated processor With a little more research it seems that its the head units themselves that are capable of receiving the diversity signal as the head units have to decoded the two signals coming into the head unit and then switch in millie seconds the signal with the strongest strength , so the blame may well be with the head units not being built for the diversity system aerials , apparently if you only connect one of the two connections you only get 50% of the signal there are some adaptors on Ebay but not sure of quality . It is a world wide problem fitting aftermarket radios as each car maker has different systems so its very hard for aftermarket audio companies to keep up and make something that will work across the board . Its like I have been saying the old technology was so simple plug it in and it worked no need to be Einstein . These days its so complicated and us budding home modifiers are having to try and figure out a result .
Howard

[pjondeck]

Completely agree Howard, technology for technology's sake. It's a bloody car radio for crying out loud!!!
The thing about ZENEC is that they specifically claim that their system IS compatible and DOES accommodate the diversity antenna system. They also claim that they are the ONLY unit that does. It might be a claim that they regret.
I'm still waiting to hear from them, I'll give them til mid next week.
Will let you know how it goes.
cheers
Peter

[Sunny43.5]

I don,t think the Chinese ones support Diversity either so may not be the alternative you were maybe going to use . As you can see from the photos the unit looks the part in the T5 dash fits perfectly in every way it plugged in to the original loom as well and was supplied with CAN BUS decoder built in . The glare problem is a problem but I hope to have an answer over the weekend as I made a very neat eyebrow hood for the older T5 so I don't think the new one should be too hard to overcome will post another pic when done . Howard

[pjondeck]

Agree Howard, the alternative to the ZENEC if I decide to pull it out is the original RCD-310 or or have an RCD-510 which I may be able to get the Bluetooth module for. This would mean running with the Garmin GPS mounted on the dash again. The advantage of that is if there is a glare problem it can simply be swivelled away from the glare. I have found the "eyebrow" as you so succinctly put it does do the job fine, just need to make a prettier one if I stay with the ZENEC. If I have a choice of the ZENEC with a crap radio for $2100 or the alternative system I might as well go for the Chinese jobby with a crap radio for $380 odd I suppose.
cheers
Peter

[Guest001]

Agree Howard, the alternative to the ZENEC if I decide to pull it out is the original RCD-310 or or have an RCD-510 which I may be able to get the Bluetooth module for. This would mean running with the Garmin GPS mounted on the dash again. The advantage of that is if there is a glare problem it can simply be swivelled away from the glare. I have found the "eyebrow" as you so succinctly put it does do the job fine, just need to make a prettier one if I stay with the ZENEC. If I have a choice of the ZENEC with a crap radio for $2100 or the alternative system I might as well go for the Chinese jobby with a crap radio for $380 odd I suppose.
cheers
Peter

Or buy a RNS 510 for $1180 and know it will work Put an eyebrow on it if glare is a problem

[pjondeck]

Hi Hillbilly, that might be the way to go. The popular delivered "upgrade" seems to have been the OPEL (Opal?) but the screen intensity is so poor as to render them useless. I know a couple of guys who have managed to get the dealer to send them to have them pulled out in favour of the ZENEC. They are both pursuing the poor radio scan/save situation with me with ZENEC.
I was in Tumut yesterday, there is one FM station. I was a few blocks from the transmitter and it took me 5 minutes to finally trap it on a button with the ZENEC, and that was knowing the frequency I was looking for. Useless!!!
What is your take on the RNS-510 GPS, screen brightness, radio, etc please?
ta, Peter

[Guest001]

Hi Hillbilly, that might be the way to go. The popular delivered "upgrade" seems to have been the OPEL (Opal?) but the screen intensity is so poor as to render them useless. I know a couple of guys who have managed to get the dealer to send them to have them pulled out in favour of the ZENEC. They are both pursuing the poor radio scan/save situation with me with ZENEC.
I was in Tumut yesterday, there is one FM station. I was a few blocks from the transmitter and it took me 5 minutes to finally trap it on a button with the ZENEC, and that was knowing the frequency I was looking for. Useless!!!
What is your take on the RNS-510 GPS, screen brightness, radio, etc please?
ta, Peter

I will just refer you to this thread for my views on the GPS part of the 510

All other functions are fine. The RVC is good the radio and music section is good. The Bluetooth works perfectly, It takes up to 32gig SD cards and I have 5000 tracks on it and the HDD, which the others dont have. The voice control works OK and the MDI setup plays from my IPHONE.

The GPS whilst it gets you there is woeful to be polite. Read here

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f78/rcd-510-rns-510-a-84419.html#post937419

specifically the last page

[Sunny43.5]

After reading that report I can be thankful my Chinese unit does not display some of those faults , whilst it does not give spoken street names it is pretty damn accurate with placement , I can say with all honesty it has not made me turn before or after I am supposed to LOL , it will tell you to turn in 300 metres so I now can judge 300 metres for myself to know which one .
Mapping is very up to date as it has the new Brisbane Airport link tunnel in it before it actually opened amazing ! There is a guy on VW Facebook page with a Tourag that does not have that tunnel or the Clem 7 which has been open for around two years plus and its a 2012 model he is pretty pissed as the unit was a $3500 option . I am still finding things in my units GPS that I did not know about you touch the screen and a new menu page opens up but I am too busy to use half its functions . The software is IGO NAVNGO with WhereIS mapping . and for a paltry all up price of $380 for the whole thing with Digital TV Bluetooth and so on .

[Guest001]

After reading that report I can be thankful my Chinese unit does not display some of those faults , whilst it does not give spoken street names it is pretty damn accurate with placement , I can say with all honesty it has not made me turn before or after I am supposed to LOL , it will tell you to turn in 300 metres so I now can judge 300 metres for myself to know which one .
Mapping is very up to date as it has the new Brisbane Airport link tunnel in it before it actually opened amazing ! There is a guy on VW Facebook page with a Tourag that does not have that tunnel or the Clem 7 which has been open for around two years plus and its a 2012 model he is pretty pissed as the unit was a $3500 option . I am still finding things in my units GPS that I did not know about you touch the screen and a new menu page opens up but I am too busy to use half its functions . The software is IGO NAVNGO with WhereIS mapping . and for a paltry all up price of $380 for the whole thing with Digital TV Bluetooth and so on .

I can judge distance as well but was in an unfamiliar area in Central Brisbane and it said "Turn NOW" so I did and ended up in a cul de sac when the street I wanted was a very short distance further up the road.
When driving the car position on the map is always 20 -30 metres behind where I am. Eg cross an intersection and icon is just entering it. Yet the voice instruction is ahead of it where the car actually is ahead of the icon. Has always been like that. Hence the navigation errors. Is kind of hard to explain but frequently says Turn now and am 5 car lengths from any corner.

A Touareg uses a different unit is an RNS850 which has different mapping system and needs a key to initialize it so maybe the maps cost more and therefore hasnt been updated, rather than the RNS 510 which can be got on here for free. Latest V6 for the 510 has all the tunnels. When I got my car in mid 2011 the map was early 2009 and latest is early 2012 which is disgraceful