I had the Music Link installed in my RL yesterday...

1. I am running MAC OSX 10.4.8 and iTunes 7.0.2. MusicLink works with config...

2. MusicLink still uses the TTS Software...

3. TTS installed on my MAC without any issues...

4. MusicLink works just fine... Follow the direction in the user manual that comes on the CD and you will be fine.. It took me a while to figureout how the search for Artists, Albums and Playlists worked...

5. The one issue that I have found till now is that when I connect my iPod to Musiclink, MusicLink automatically turns shuffle off on the iPod.

6. When iPod is connected the screen displays "EXTENSION". Nothing Else...

7. Steering wheel controls work...

Hope this helps...

 

So no big change really.

Thanks for the info!

 

Probably just a software upgrade to work with iTunes 7.0.

 

I am at a crossroads. As some of you recall, I had MusicLink installed as part of my original purchase agreement on my RL. It really sucks and I think it's malfunctioning.

Would you:

a) "upgrade" to the new MusicLink
b) Just buy a Nano and keep <3.3 GB of music on it (my ongoing issue is that if I load the iPod with more than 3.3 GB of music, MusicLink doesn't work )
c) Give up and buy a Neo unit
d) Give up and buy a USASpec unit
e) Just burn a bunch of fricken mp3 discs on DVD and have the dealer rip out the whole MusicLink BS

I am leaning toward a) because in theory, I should be able to get it for free--since it was installed with the car, it's covered under warranty. So far, I've asked the dealer how much it would cost to replace, and the sales rep basically quoted the going part/install rate. I haven't started to negotiate yet as they likely just don't recall that it was part of my purchase, so no "evil dealer" comments yet.

However, if there's no significant change, I am thinking it would be better to go aftermarket. What choice would you make?

 

Neuronbob,

I would recommend the USASpec. I installed it myself in my 06 RL and it works great. I can control the iPod from the radio/steering wheel and from the iPod. It also has an Aux input for connecting my computer or another MP3 player. I am using the unit in direct mode, which allows operation via radio or iPod. There is another option which I have not used yet, playlist mode, which maps Disk1, Disk2.... buttons on the radio to specially named playlists. I just got the iPod a few weeks ago and really have not had time to set up meaningful playlists yet, so I really don't need that option. I did mount the unit within the interior of the console with the cables coming out next to the power outlet within the console. I usually keep the iPod inside the console, but can easily pull it out to change settings if needed.

 

Great offer. Which dealer?

 

This is with Rosenthal in Gaithersburg. I got an e-mail from them advertising this online special from their "estore". It says to contact Phil Fulker (parts manager).
Let me know how it goes if you decide to go with them. I'm still 50/50 on it.

 

What a load of crap. They had an opportunity to fix this piece of junk, and they just allow itunes 7.0? I was hoping they could enable direct control of the Ipod, like all their competitors do. Is Honda that stupid?

 

I have requested the dealer replace my MusicLink as they have the new ones in stock. They are doing so (reluctantly) at no cost as this is essentially a warranty repair. If it is not helpful I will likely go with either the USASpec (more flexible with an extra port) or with the Neo solution (e.g. MusicLink with better iPod control).

At this point, it's more the principle (e.g. getting what I paid for) than anything else.

 

OK guys, just spoke with Customer Service and was told that for the update to work all that is needed to be done is update the iTunes and iPod software via the Apple website and all would be working properly with the MusicLink - so essentially, it is a software update only and nothing else.

1/2 star for Honda/Acura for effort only.

 

The Neo also has the extra aux in port. I would recommend you defintiely get the musiclink replaced if they are going to do it for free. No reason not to. Even if you decide to go with a neo or USA Spec, doesn't hurt to have a working Musiclink as a fall back rather than a non-working musiclink just taking up space. I have a musiclink (disconnected now) that worked fine in my car, but I still switched to the Neo because I wanted better control of the ipod and you can't beat the control of the ipod from the ipod.

mwiles, does the USA Spec adapter pause the ipod when a handfreelink call comes in or when you switch to another mode like XM or FM? I heard that it doesn't, but I suspect it does work this way. someone on the RDX forum said that it didn't pause. the USA Spec sounds just like the Neo adapter. Some say the Neo and USA Spec are the same adapter just different label. I don't think that is true though.

 

The USA Spec does a pause when you switch to another mode, turn off the radio or turn off the car. But it does not pause when a handsfree call comes in. Sometimes I miss a song, but it is real easy to go back a track or even rewind backwards to hear what you missed. I have also heard that they are the same, but then I thought there were some feature differences between then. You can download the USA Spec anuals from Crutchfield and Discountcarstero to get a better idea of all the features and options. There are some options you can choose during installation via switches. These options might be difficult to change after installation depending on where you mount the unit. I mounted mine where I can get to it by pulling the carpet trim looking material off of the passenger side of the console.

 

I wonder why they made the USA so that it doesn't pause. Must have been originally designed for vehicles with out features like handsfreelink, and maybe they just haven't updated the product yet.

The Neo adapter works flawlessly so far. It pauses the ipod on handsfreelink sessions. I think this particular Neo unit was designed for the 06 RL, but works in any of the newer acuras.

 

Sasair,

Does the Neo do a handfreelink pause on the RL, or on the RDX?

 

Both. It was designed for the RL, so neo says that it does this. I tested it for Neo on the RDX and it also works there. The RL and RDX have the same technology.

 

What displays on the Navi/Radio screen when in Neo mode?

 

The same "Extension" as the musiclink displays. This is a function of the head unit, not the adapter.

 

I was looking again today trying to deciede . It seem the Neo has been updated and calls it" Neo Prolink" now. It allows you to operate everything and still operate from Ipod. The USA will not let you operate from Ipod when hooked up. Here are both sites http://www.ipodforautos.ca/ this is the USASPEC. Neo pro link http://www.neocaraudio.com/

 

The USA does let you operate from the Ipod when hooked up, if you have the switches set to "direct mode". There is another mode called "playlist mode" which does lock the Ipod controls. So you can have it either way, as long as you can get to the unit to change the switches.

 

So when it is in the direct mode it operates the same as playlist other than the ipod contols working or not...

 

Checking prices of NEO prolink and USA spec. Neo just lowered their price to $149 from $199 the USA spec PA11HON2y is $125 on ebay. It sounds to me like they both are =.if i am missing somethingplease let me know.Thanks

 

I've heard from a few people that the USA Spec doesn't pause the ipod when a handfree link call comes in or when using handsfreelink at all. The Neo does....

 

Backfire, when it is in playlist mode, you can use the Disc1, Disc2... buttons on the radio to switch the Ipod to playlists named HONDA1, HONDA2.....etc. But you give up the Ipod controls. In direct mode, you can use radio/steering wheel or Ipod controls, but have to select playlists from the Ipod.

I bought mine from Hawk Electronics in Dallas for $110.

 

Sasair,

I have heard that too, but I don't know if it is because of the Neo or if it is a feature of the 2007's. In my 2006 RL, the music is muted when handsfree is in use, but the DVD or Ipod continues to run. I know the USA can pause the Ipod, as it does that when the radio is off, the car is off, or you switch to DVD or radio. So I am thinking that might be a function of the radio.

Can you confirm that on your 07 using a CD or DVD?

 

I'm not sure I know what you are wanting me to confirm. In my 07 RDX it pauses the ipod anytime anything else is used. HFL, CD, DVD-A, XM, FM, AM, Nav. It functionaly works like the Acura Musiclink for iPod, except that you can control the ipod from the ipod and doesn't use that crappy TTS software.

 

I wanted to confirm that the 07 will pause all of the input sources - CD/DVD/iPod when the Handsfree is used. I think that is more of a limitation of the radio in the 06 rather than the USA Spec - in other words, the radio head unit is not telling the USA Spec to pause. It looks like Acura got a little smarter in 07 and added that function.

 

ahhh I understand now, and yes it does pause the CD and DVD when HFL is activated...

 

I received my Neo pro link today. Does not look at all like the picture at their site. Actually the first think I thought was it is USA spec with a sticker over it. Looked closer and the cables it came with even say USA SPEC???????. If this is the case I wonder why they don't operate the same according to posts.

 

Thanks, that confirms what I was thinking, that Acura got a little smarter in 07 and added the pause when Handsfree is active. So in the 06, if it is not smart enough to pause the in-dash CD, it can't do the pause to external devices. I would imagine that a simple firmware or software change would add that to the 06. But I doubt that we will see anything like that

 

For those that have the USA SPec installed, does everything else still work such as CD changer, XM and NAV? Just wanted to make sure before I took the plunge. Thanks.

 

Everything works just fine on my 06 RL. No problems with XM, FM, DVD, NAV or Handsfree. There is an occasional glitch, like after I start the car and it is playing radio or DVD, after a few seconds I hear a pop in the speakers and it switches to the iPod. This is the same behavior as when I connect the iPod while the radio is on - it just switches to iPod. This does not happen every time, and is really not that much of a problem. There have also been a couple of times when the the pausing of the iPod is out of sync with the radio. Like the iPod is in play mode while the radio is on CD, then I switch to iPod and it then pauses. In this case I just click the play button on the iPod and it gets back in sync. Again, this only happens every once in a while and is not a big problem, but the first time it happens, you have to figure it out. This condition might have been forced by having the iPod already playing when connected. But most of the time it works really well.

 

WELL FIRST LET ME THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR HELP. I INSTALLED THE NEO TODAY IN MY WIFES 2006 RL. I TOOK MY TIME AND IT TOOK ABOUT 2 HOURS. BECAUSE I TRIED THE NEW SETUP BEFORE BUTTONING IT UP. ESPECIALLY THANKS TO SASAIR FOR THE INSTRUCTIONS THEY WERE PERFECT. I FOLLOWED THEM AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE ADDED SOME PICTURES SO PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN TORN APART. WHERE I INSTALLED THE IPOD IN THE ARM REST. I TOOK OUT THE SMALL SPACER ON THE FRONT AND DRILLED A HOLE AND RAN THE IPOD CORD THROUGH IT. THE RADIO OUT OF THE DASH. I USED A 8MM DEEP SOCKET WITH A EXTENSION MAGNET INSIDE THE SOCKET FOR THE TWO BOLTS THAT ARE HARD TO FIND. SHOWS WHERE I PLACED THE NEO ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE YOU PULL OUT THE CARPETED PIECE. NEO SAID TO PUT IT WHERE YOU CAN GET TO IT AND THIS ALLOWED MY IPOD CORD TO REACH WHERE I WANTED IT. SHOWS WHERE I HAD TAKEN OUT ALL THE GUTTS TO THE CENTER CONSOLE LIKE THE CUP HOLDER TO RUN WIRE TO IPOD. THE FINAL IMAGE IS SHOWING TWO CLIPS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE REST WHEN YOU PULL OUT PIECES. ALL OF THE PULL OFF PIECES HAD WHITE CLIPS EXCEPT THE FRONT OF THE CUP HOLDER WHICH HAD TWO METAL CLIPS NATURALLY THEY FELL OFF AND I HAD TO LOOK FOR THEM I AM VERY HAPPY IT WORKS NICELY. I JUST TOGGLE TO CD5 AND IT PALYS THE IPOD. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS I WILL TRY TO HELP. ONE BIGG FACTOR WAS HAVING ENOUGH LIGHT TO WORK IN THERE.

 

I am upset with Neo audio. I have wriiten them and USA SPEC. It appears that Neo audio is using USA SPEC's Unit and then RElabeling with their own label to say neo. I would NOT buy again. I would just buy the USA SPEC UNIT. No where do they tell us that, but it looks identical. The cables say usa spec.....

 

backfire,

thanks for the info on how to do the install. I expect I will get my neo next week.

I am equally distressed to find out that the neo is nothing more than a re-labelled USASpec!

How did you set your dip switches? I also wanted to add an auxillary input for a 3.5 mm jack for those without iPods (I am so accommodating to my passengers without iPods, since one is my wife!). I figure I will be drilling two holes in the storage compartment!

PS,

I may PM you when I get into trouble on the installation which I will foolishly attempt myself.

 

Both Switches Are In The Off Position. The Neo( Usa Spec) Does Not Go On Pause In My 2006 Rl. If You Havent Bought The Neo I Would Just Buy The Usa Spec Its Cheaper And The Same.....

 

Sigh, unfortunately too late. It is somewhere between LA and here according to UPS.

 

I want to thank everyone especially backfire for posting pictures which helped a great deal. Didn't have my ipod with me tonight but I did test my USA Spec with a MP3 player and it worked fine. It took me about hour and a half for the whole install. Everything went ok except when reinstalling the 2 silver side covers. I managed to rip the leather padding around bottom when forcing those covers back on. The "not an ashtray" was a little harder to take off than expected. The cup holder was impossible to take off so I had to snake the cable around the driver side of the console.

 

I think the cup holder is harder to get out because the 2 front clips are metal, not the white plastic. I used a large blade screw driver to pry up in front. I didn't notice the clips were different until I was putting back and cup holder would not stay. I then looked underneath and didn't see the white clips. Then noticed the gray clips in the console area. Thats why i posted a picture of the gray clips. Your welcome glad it helped

 

Did you notice there were 2 screws in front of the cupholder? Did those have to be removed for the cupholder to come out? I need go back in tonight because I think I forgot to reinstall those screws. I ended up with an extra screw and didn't know where it was supposed to go. I am pretty sure I dropped the other one underneath the cupholder so I probably have to fish it out of there. Thanks again.

 

My wife has the car and I wont be able to check till tomorrow morning, but i will get back to you