mCar UMI

[SchwarzesAMG]

So i am doing some "research" on all these MOST based units that are available as a bluetooth phone connectivity, ipod, a2dp solutions etc.

Dension is out of the game because it lacks serious bluetooth phone connectivity support (even with the extra module there are serious limitations such as for the phone to work, you have to be under cdc menu etc. )

Mobridge/CarTronics offer more or less the same package (hardware wise i think they are the same)! Frequent updates, many years on the market, so the product and any serious software glitches are somehow worked out!
So they offer bluetooth connectivity, a2dp, ipod support and AUX input!

About the mCar solution, the first time i heard about it, it was @ comandonline!
After some digging i found out that Rishtec Automotive developed the software! And some poorly developed websites such as mCAR and mCAR!
So mCar is far better compared to mobridge/cartronic because it lacks an aux port (i already have one with my NTG2 Comand) and it has USB Mass Storage input, so you can load flash disks, hard disks which from previous experience i know that they are much more easy and fast to handle (load music, delete, manage folders etc. )

Prices are more or less the same among them!

So what about it? Is there any user among us? Any problems?

I did check out that Rishtec is also developing a DAB unit and i am really happy about that, i was wondering why didnt we see any solutions like that till now (MOST based units that can be installed in our cars)


PS I think that this is the latest version if these devices (mobridge/cartronics/mCar etc.) that some manufacturers can get them and develop the software, but i can be making a mistake

 

[richard]

The UMI is a joint development between a UK company (Rishtec) and a USA Company. Software developed by Rishtec. Units are manafactured in USA.

Comand Europe is the UK distributor, so of course Comand Online sell it. Its a lovely product (even though I am biased) because it is all digital - i.e the music is streamed between the iPod and the UMI digitally rather than using the analogue output of the iPod, so the sound is really really good. It also works properly with all NTG1/NTG2 European and USA head units. (the way the phone system work on USA and EU cars is very different)

The DAB thing is a joint development between 2 UK companies (Rishtec and in2digi) and I am heavilly involved in that. 1st product will be DAB/DAB+/DMB for older MOST based Mercedes. DAB product will have an AUX in for cars without AUX input.

Richard

 

[SchwarzesAMG]

Nice to hear that Richard

So by the time mCar is installed in the car, future installation of the DAB unit will be possible without any modifications right? By the time these UMI units take the place of CDC, i am wondering how will the DAB unit function, but i can wait

Do you have any actual pictures of the unit or the actual package contents?
Will i be able to install it under the codrivers footwell? (Left hand drive, W209)

 

[richard]

Its about 12cm x 12cm x 2cm metal box, and you can put it in on the plastic plate above passenger feet. DAB box will be similar but may not be the same. The prototype DAB units are in a UMI box but thats because it was easy at the time.
(You can see UMI box on the product listing on comand online).

UMI comes with 2 fibres, MOST joiner, power, and USB lead and USB lead mounting thing to fix it in a round hole that you can drill if you want. You need to add an iPod lead if using an iPod.

DAB will come with power, fibre, and powered antenna, although its configurable so you could use a Mercedes genuine antenna amp and use the antenna inbuilt in many Mercedes. (its one of the TV antenna)

You have spotted the issue, both the iPod in the UMI and the DAB in the DAB retrofit pretend to be CD changer as that is the only way to get text display (as CD text) and digital input to the head units ..

I do not know whether there will be a combined UMI and DAB that device all pretending to be the CD changer.. since the UMI company and the DAB company (in2digi) are completely different this is not a trivial decision.

Cheers

Richard

 

[SchwarzesAMG]

USB lead and USB lead mounting thing to fix it in a round hole that you can drill if you want. You need to add an iPod lead if using an iPod.

Does that mean that i can either have a USB lead plug or an ipod lead plugged or that the ipod lead is not provided with the package and in case i purchase one, i can have both leads in my glovebox?

DAB will come with power, fibre, and powered antenna, although its configurable so you could use a Mercedes genuine antenna amp and use the antenna inbuilt in many Mercedes. (its one of the TV antenna)

You have spotted the issue, both the iPod in the UMI and the DAB in the DAB retrofit pretend to be CD changer as that is the only way to get text display (as CD text) and digital input to the head units ..

I do not know whether there will be a combined UMI and DAB that device all pretending to be the CD changer.. since the UMI company and the DAB company (in2digi) are completely different this is not a trivial decision.

Cheers

Richard

Well i hope its gonna be worked out and compatible with other devices using the MOST/CDC cause otherwise its gonna be a miss, personally i would not let the UMI go in favor of any DAB unit!

So in cars like mine, where dab was never offered and i dont have any TV installed, antenna position is an issue!

 

[richard]

mCar: The iPod lead is not provided as many use a USB stick. You just plug a standard iPod lead into the USB socket which will be in the glovebox

DAB:
Most Mercs have the antennas for TV in the glass already. Exceptions to this rule (or problems for this rule) are
SLK (needs different rear whip antenna)
SL (sort of, you cant get to the connections without removing the dashboard)
ML/GL/R which only have the antenna if you have the 'heightened theft prevention' option (all UK cars do) and you can see the antennas in the rear most side windows (in the boot area)

But they all need an antenna amplifier. If you have TV already you have to change one of the antenna amps to add the DAB connection. Or use the supplied winscreen antenna (stick on).

Richard

 

[Alfie]

The MoBridge solutions are good but pricey when installed. I believe they are around £800 - £850. Supply of them is controlled by one audio outlet in Surrey which are possibly the most expensive people around. The mCar is £599 installed inc VAT. There will be resellers around the country very soon.

I have to say aswell that in all the ipod kits ive ever heard, the sound quality from the mCar is by far the best. There are probably a couple of forum members here who have them. Perhaps they can chip in with some thoughts.

I am sure also that many of you have met Richard and know that if he is heavily involved in the product development then its going to be good. Richard was also heavily involved in an advisory capacity to Triamp the makers of the Viseeo products.

The DAB product is exciting. There is at least one very well respected forum member here who has been beta testing it in his car for a few months. Im sure that once the product is fully ready for market he will be sharing his thoughts.

 

[jaymanek]

Isnt there talk of DAB being scrapped soon? Most european countries dropped it a while back.

 

[SavMan]

I had mCar installed a couple of weeks ago to my Comand NTG1 so here is my unbiased opinion, the good, the bad and suggested improvements

Firstly the minor bad points

1. I have an iPod Video which is either 4th or 5th generation and for some reason the mCar will not recognise my iPod when I switch on the ignition. I have checked with my kids iPod’s which are more recent and they work fine so it seems to be due to the age of my iPod but you should check first. To get around this I have to unplug and re plug in before driving away.
2. The system is slower than the previous Alpine iPod head unit I had in my last Merc, now in fairness that was a purpose designed IDA system, to give you an idea of speed the mCar takes between 5-6 secs to change from Albums to Artists as an example and I do not know how this compares with the Mercedes kit (perhaps someone else can test theirs and update the thread).
3. USB socket is of poor quality and is a simple rubber grommet/plug which is not in keeping with the price of the product. I would like to see this upgraded.

The good points

1. Firstly the company! Dealing with the guys at Comand is a pleasure not only do they know their stuff but they really go out of their way to explain everything and help in any way they can. When I screwed up an update and thought I had fried my Comand system they calmly talked me through what to do and when that failed they arranged a time for me to come in.:bannana:
2. mCar user interface, once you have chosen your playlist/album/artist then you can flick through the remaining menu items quickly with almost instance response and track change and can use either the seek button, dpad, number pad or the steering controls to navigate your way around which is useful depending on the road conditions.
3. Being able to use both the Comand Screen, dash display and the steering controls is a joy and was one of the main reasons for me going with the mCar.
4. Sound quality – this was an interesting one for me as I had read and heard the guys at Comand say how good the sound quality was in comparisons to others. Well I have to say I was a little disappointed so much so that I plugged my iPod into the Aux input and listened to the same track time and time again and could hardly tell the difference. So why is sound quality a good point, well I turned off the Logic 7 system and the car just came alive . I have been playing around with the settings on Logic 7 to see if I can improve but for the moment I mostly leave it off and enjoy it in standard mode.
5. The user interface is almost identical to the rest of Comand so you quickly get to grips with it (if only you could use the OK button more!) – see below

Suggested improvements

1. It would be nice if you could reorder/personalise how the mCar sees the “6 CD’s” these are effectively replaced with CD1 “Playlists” CD2 “Artists” CD3 “Albums” CD4 “Genres” CD5 “Songs” and CD6 “Bluetooth”
2. Having to press and hold the SEEK+ button to select for instance an album does not make sense and seems counter intuitive surely the OK button would be the more natural and obvious selection button.
All in all I have really started to like the mCar and do not regret getting it, it’s simple, effective and sound brilliant once Logic 7 was disabled!

 

[SchwarzesAMG]

It would be great if there is any chance i can take a mini hub with 2 usb ports and plug it on mCar and have both usb and ipod leads in my glovebox! No problem with the quality of the plugs cause if i change them for sure i would be installing a good quality one, neatly in the glovebox! Do you know if that is even possible?

@SavMan
Does that mean that with Logic7 enabled you were getting worse sound quality? Cause that is sure an issue that could really bug me!
What about A2DP, did you try it?

I think the description in comandonline changed a bit considering the usb capability but it may also be my idea
mCar would cost me about 579E and Mobridge 567E from a shop that does sell them here in Greece, so price wise they are the same, thats why i amtrying to figure out which one would better fit my needs!

 

[SavMan]

I have to be honest a say that I am not a huge fan of the Logic 7 system so my personal opinion is yes the mCar sounds better with Logic 7 disabled but others may well prefer the sound. My point was that while I do prefer the sound disabled it is far more difficult to distiguish the quality of the source with Logic 7 enabled. Enabled, to me eveything just sounds OK with over emphasis on bass and no vibrance to the sound.

 

[SchwarzesAMG]

Ok, so its more of personal taste than a real issue with the system, nice to hear that

 

[richard]

Isnt there talk of DAB being scrapped soon? Most european countries dropped it a while back.

They dropped DAB Band L which was for local area DAB but not DAB (or DAB+ or DMB depending where you are). DAB Band III was not affected.
So MB stopped putting the DAB L band antenna on the cars.
Then Italy and somewhere else decided to promote DAB Band L so the antennas are back again.

The MB DAB Band III antenna tends to be in the windscreen and the L band on the roof (or boot lid)

R

 

[SchwarzesAMG]

Well after some years on the search for the best all in one solution, mCar is on order!
I will keep you posted for photos and feedback

 

[richard]

Perfect. Dont forget the part of the install procedure where you load a config file onto the device - that configures microphone volume, text-to-speach volume and tells it whether its in a North American or a Rest-of-World vehicle and whether the car has an Audio-20/Audio-50 or a COMAND system.

There is a link on the box telling you where to get the instructions and the config file

Cheers

Richard

 

[SchwarzesAMG]

Thanx for the note Richard

 

[SavMan]

Don't forget a write up on the install and your review of using!

 

[richard]

2. Having to press and hold the SEEK+ button to select for instance an album does not make sense and seems counter intuitive surely the OK button would be the more natural and obvious selection button.

Sadly, the OK button does not send anything to the CD changer .. (i.e. in this case the mCar), so that one can not change

1. It would be nice if you could reorder/personalise how the mCar sees the “6 CD’s” these are effectively replaced with CD1 “Playlists” CD2 “Artists” CD3 “Albums” CD4 “Genres” CD5 “Songs” and CD6 “Bluetooth”

Does anyone ever use Genres?

I'm reasonably sure the next firmware update will change the behaviour of the CD6 button on cars with Audio-20, so that it then selects Bluetooth Audio and then the up/down buttons become track skip straight away.
On an Audio-20/50 the menus that are shown under CD6 are pretty useless since you can't see the text that would be associated with them as Audio-20 does not dispay CD-Text send by the mCar (or a Cd changer!)

Richard

 

[SchwarzesAMG]

Don't forget a write up on the install and your review of using!

No way i am gonna forget by the time i will be installing harman kardon at the same time Thats why i asked you about your issue with Logic7 and just wanted to be sure that it was more of a personal choice having it disabled!

 

[SavMan]

Im just not a fan of listening to music in surround sound ;-)