Was wondering if anyone owning a Phatbox system in a coupe (or sedan, I suppose since the stock head units are the same) in or close to Austin, Texas would be willing to meet up with me so I could check the system out. I'm curious to get see how the SSA system works and how the system is implemented. As an aside, I've been talking to some people on the phatnoise.com forums, and it seems that there is a beta software update out there that will let the Infiniti Bose factory head unit display ID3 information if you connect the Phatbox through the satellite inputs on the head.

Thanks for any replies. I'm in SW Austin, but will certainly drive to meet anyone that wants to show off their system.

-spill
<font color=blue>'04.5 G35 6MT Coupe, Diamond Graphite/Graphite Leather, Premium/All Options except NAV.
Pics</font color=blue>

 

As I mentioned over there, it always connects to the satellite connection (technically, the "N-BUS port") on the head unit. The CD changer and SAT tuner wiring are one in the same. You merely update the firmware, and you can start using it in satellite mode. It will connect to the SAT prewiring in your trunk, so installation is very easy.

I hope you can find someone with the system, preferably with the SAT firmware. No description really does it justice.

-- Rob

 

order it...you won't be sorry. Have you seen the demo with the voice announcements <a href="http://www.phatnoise.com/products/digitalmediaplayers/ssa.php">here</a>? (click the ssa voice demo) ...you can hear and see how it works.



03 6MT coupe, red/willow, premium, aero, splash guards, alum pedals, clear corners, limo tint, Phatbox 40g mp3 player

 

The demo all looked really cool until i listened to it trying to say the name of a playlist. It sounded terrible even for computer generated voice standards, can you even understand what says?

 

yes, i can understand it just fine.

It is saying things that you entered into the software/ song tags...so you will have an idea of what it is saying.

Also keep in mind, you control what is says. If you don't like the way it pronounces something, you can change the spelling of it to be more to your liking.

You can also choose the style and speed of the voice, some are clearer than others.



03 6MT coupe, red/willow, premium, aero, splash guards, alum pedals, clear corners, limo tint, Phatbox 40g mp3 player

 

The voices are much clearer in the car. It sounds like they fell victim to a poor quality sample rate conversion or something for the flash applet. They are using the AT&T Natural Voices product, but their software lets you use any Microsoft Windows Voice API compatible speech package.

Try the natural voices demo here

http://www.naturalvoices.att.com/demos/

They could have used an easier-to-pronounce artist name than "Paul Oakenfold" for the demo, although I appreciate their taste in music.

 

I'm in Austin and just bought a Phatbox, but am having some difficulty getting it to work. I keep getting errors and right now I'm talking with them to get it ironed out. Not sure if it is with the DMS cartridge or with the phatbox itself. I'll let you know when (or if) it is working.

 

I ordered mine on Friday night. Still haven't gotten a shipping notification, so we'll see.

Not sure if I'll do it myself or have someone install it. Might call around to some places and see what a professional installer will charge.

-spill
<font color=blue>'04.5 G35 6MT Coupe, Diamond Graphite/Graphite Leather, Premium/All Options except NAV.
Pics</font color=blue>

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

I keep getting errors

<hr></blockquote> what are the errors? like "corrupt track"?....i know some solutions for those.


03 6MT coupe, red/willow, premium, aero, splash guards, alum pedals, clear corners, limo tint, Phatbox 40g mp3 player

 

First of all it has never worked even right out of the box. I went so far as to download the linux boot disk and re-format the DMS cartridge. I then dl'd the new firmware. That all worked fine, but when I placed the cartridge into the phatbox in my car, it does not work. And when i bring it back to my computer, some of the files are corrupted. So I have not even gotten to the part of adding music. I've already sent one DMS cartridge back, but the new one is doing the same. Right now I'm waiting for a phatnoise tech guy to call me back. I have been VERY patient up to this point. I've got a $900 POS right now. Or a $900 external 40gig hard drive. Hopefully they will get it working real soon.

 

Hey, have you found a way to lengthen the sat pre-wire cord? I'd really like to mount it on the rear seat. I thought about trying to separate just those wires from the bundle, but I'm not sure if this is possible or if there is enough slack.

 

i am not sure what is all that phatnoise hoopla is all about. About a month ago I installed one in my friends audi S4. btw Audi sells them directly for only 399.99 for 20gig version. We (Infiniti owners) are being hosed $800+ for identical box where the only difference is firmware and connecting cable, and its not even great. navigation butons/selection controls are in odd order, voice anouncements are hard to understand, and the sync software for pc is not intuitive and awkward to use. The only benefit is that the sound quality is decent.

It is my opinion and i'm sticking to it .

 

I agree. We are getting bent over compared to VW/Audi customers. But I didn't like any of the other mp3 alternatives (aftermarket deck, ipod hack, etc.), so I just accepted it and bought it. I think I'll be satisfied if I can ever get it to work.

I just like the idea of having my entire cd collection at my fingertips and not have to fish through hundreds of CD's.

I can't comment on the voice technology since I haven't gotten it to work yet. I have my doubts, but we'll see.

 

Man, the install is so easy. It should literally take you 5 minutes. The only hard part I can see is if you don't have the pre-wire which if yours is a 04.5, then you have it.

You might want to get creative as far as mounting it since they cable is very short. I haven't had the time, but I'm going to play with it and see what I can come up with.

 

Incidentally, how long did it take you to get the system after you ordered it? From what I'm readiing on their page, it sounds like they do some testing before they ship it out... I ordered on Friday but have gotten nothing but the order confirmation itself, so far. Standard ground shipping.

-spill
<font color=blue>'04.5 G35 6MT Coupe, Diamond Graphite/Graphite Leather, Premium/All Options except NAV.
Pics</font color=blue>