DICE iPod Operating Instructions

[Bill Merchant]

I installed the DICE unit without too much difficulty, now I'm trying to decipher DICE's cryptic one-page (6) instructions for operation. I keep having to pull out my iPod and scan for playlists/albums/etc. Also, sometimes I get the disk named "INIT" and it takes a while, and luck, to get the DICE and iPod in sync so I can see what's playing.

Any wizards figure this out yet, and document it?

[SynergyGuy]

Hi Bill,

Could you tell me how did you install this unit or where did you find instructions on how to do it? I just got mine but have not found instructions whatsoever on how to install it in the car.

Thanks!

[Alnilam]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Dec 2 2006, 11:24 PM) [snapback]356890[/snapback]</div>

I installed the DICE unit without too much difficulty, now I'm trying to decipher DICE's cryptic one-page (6) instructions for operation. I keep having to pull out my iPod and scan for playlists/albums/etc. Also, sometimes I get the disk named "INIT" and it takes a while, and luck, to get the DICE and iPod in sync so I can see what's playing.

Any wizards figure this out yet, and document it?

[/b]

I started a thread on this a week or two ago that went nowhere. The DICE unit is buggy. It'll usually play music but I have no idea what song it is going to start with or play next. Several people have notified Dennison, including myself, and we've all gotten simplistic answers that ignore the problem and suggest dumb fixes that go no place. Maybe in the future it might get upgraded to where it works, but right now I find it next to useless. Turning the whole radio off and on again usually gets it to play something. The playlist folder list has never shown me a thing. All Dennison said was that maybe I needed to swap it for another. I'll wait until I hear somebody has one that works before I start that game.

[bravoballer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alnilam @ Dec 3 2006, 08:17 PM) [snapback]357165[/snapback]</div>

I started a thread on this a week or two ago that went nowhere. The DICE unit is buggy. It'll usually play music but I have no idea what song it is going to start with or play next. Several people have notified Dennison, including myself, and we've all gotten simplistic answers that ignore the problem and suggest dumb fixes that go no place. Maybe in the future it might get upgraded to where it works, but right now I find it next to useless. Turning the whole radio off and on again usually gets it to play something. The playlist folder list has never shown me a thing. All Dennison said was that maybe I needed to swap it for another. I'll wait until I hear somebody has one that works before I start that game.
[/b]

Is there supposed to be a list of folders? Mine works (after turning the radio on/off three times) and most of the bug issues I'm willing to blame on my IPOD because we all know those things have weird "habits."

Once it is up and running the disc "1" button advances tracks in your current playlist when you use the steering wheel or the "track" button on the head unit.

Disc 2 switches between playlists (I assume playlist 1 is your entire library) and the other playlists follow aphabetically.

Disc 3 switches to the next album in said playlist. Not as good as I had hoped, but it seems to work on my 2005 after a few reboots. Also, I was disappointed to find out the "UR" mode claimed on the Priuschat webstore was not true.

[aaf709]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SynergyGuy @ Dec 3 2006, 07:38 AM) [snapback]356950[/snapback]</div>

Hi Bill,

Could you tell me how did you install this unit or where did you find instructions on how to do it? I just got mine but have not found instructions whatsoever on how to install it in the car.

Thanks!
[/b]

Use the instructions for the Vais AIC-100i at http://priuschat.com/index.php?act=Attach&...ost&id=5767
The installation is the same.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bravoballer @ Dec 3 2006, 08:09 PM) [snapback]357208[/snapback]</div>

Disc 2 switches between playlists (I assume playlist 1 is your entire library) and the other playlists follow aphabetically.
[/b]

For me, I never get my entire library, unless I set it to shuffle on the iPod itself. If I used the iPod during the day it starts in the first song on the last playlist I was on, otherwise it starts on the first song of the first playlist.

[Bill Merchant]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SynergyGuy @ Dec 3 2006, 07:38 AM) [snapback]356950[/snapback]</div>

Hi Bill,

Could you tell me how did you install this unit or where did you find instructions on how to do it? I just got mine but have not found instructions whatsoever on how to install it in the car.

Thanks![/b]

Hi SynergyGuy. I've been looking for the pics I used that helped me, and will post the link when I find them. I used LurkAzusa's general method. The VAIS install instructions mentioned in frequent posts found with a search on "DICE Install" are helpful, but I found some great pics, which I can't find now.

First, I wanted to install the setup so I could have the iPod in the drawer in the console so it wouldn't be visible. Here are the steps I took:

I pulled off the plastic shroud below the radio/mfd console. I disconnected the 12V outlet to make it easier and to get the shroud out of the way while I worked.

I removed the lower glove box.

I pulled off the vent on the passenger side of the radio/mfd.

I clipped the cable tie holding the wire harness to the white plastic plug assembly behind where the vent was.

Using a 10mm socket (a #2 Phillips screwdriver should work too) I removed the screw holding the white plastic plug assembly. It's at the top, just under the vent tube, and a little hard to see easily.

I wrestled the white plastic plug assembly free and maneuvered it out of where the lower glove box was, to get it clearly out of the way.

At this point you can stick your head in where the lower glove box was and look over at the radio (flashlight helps) and see where some wires in a plug are plugged in near the edge nearest you. If you feel on the far side of this plug, you can feel an empty socket; this is where the Y cable male plug goes, latching clip up. I found it convenient to connect the intermediate cable that goes between the DICE unit and the Y cable first, so I wouldn't have to try to get a good solid connectinon while reaching under the dash. It took a little time and effort to get the Y plug in, and make sure it was tight. The first time I got it in, I gave a gentle tug on the wires and the plug pulled out. Push hard and make sure this is a tight connection.

With the cable connected to the radio, I turned my attention to the other end of the line.

Grab the cup holders and pull straight up, they pop out.

Two silver screws at the bottom front of the central console (visible without the cup holder) and two 10mm screws under the little carpet in the bottom of the console box hold the console down. Remove the screws and you can rotate the console up and back between the two front seats. The wire for the 12V outlet in the console prevents complete removal, but you don't need to.

Now you can figure out how to fish the iPod connector cable (and AUX extension cable, purchased separately, if you are so inclined) from the console area under the carpet to the area under the radio. It's easier to go this way since the mini-DIN (and male end of the AUX extension cable) are easier to pull than the square iPod end.

Once you have all the cables in the right place, you can put the DICE unit in the middle and connect everything. Things only fit one way, but now's the time to check. Plug the cable into your iPod and turn your Prius to ACC-on. Turn on your iPod and start something playing. Hit the Audio button for the MFD. Hit the CD button twice to select CD2. You should hear what your iPod is putting out. If not, check all connections and start futzing (technical term).

Once you have audio playing, turn everything off, it's time to put your car back together. Use cable ties to secure any plugs that might flop and rattle. I used some double-stick foam mounting tape to make sure the DICE unit was secure on the plastic air duct.

Re-mount the lower shroud, connecting the 12V outlet. Wrestle the white plastic plug assembly back into place and re-install a cable tie if you are scrupulous. Screw it back on and make sure it's secure. Re-install the vent. Re-install the lower glove box drawer.

On the console side, I removed the black screw on the driver's side of the front of the console, which connects the outer plastic to the black drawer assembly, slid the iPod wire and connector through, fished it around the back end of where the drawer slides, reached inside the drawer, and pulled the iPod connector as far forward as I could.

Rotate the console back down into it's mounted position, pulling and easing on the iPod cord so as to get as much out of the drawer as possible (not all that much, but you want to be able to plug in the iPod with ease).

Re-install the 10mm bolts in the bottom, and the silver screws on the front sides, to re-mount the console, Re-install the black screw connecting the outer plastic to the drawer assembly. Pop the cup holders (you did take this opportunity to clean them, right?) back into place and you're done.

Pull out the drawer, plug in your iPod, and go for a joy ride to celebrate.

Now, figure out how to use the CD2 disk buttons and the forward/back buttons and write a clear explanation...

[SynergyGuy]

Thanks for the detailed instructions Bill, very much appreciated. I'll go ahead and get started now.

[aaf709]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Dec 3 2006, 11:59 PM) [snapback]357268[/snapback]</div>

Now, figure out how to use the CD2 disk buttons and the forward/back buttons and write a clear explanation...
[/b]

What I've found for my 2005 is...

D1- Using buttons on steering wheel changes within a playlist
D2- Using buttons on steering wheel changes playlists (alphabetically)
D3- Using buttons on steering wheel changes albums (never tried)
D4- Using buttons on steering wheel changes chapters (never tried)
D5- Using buttons on steering wheel toggles between AUX and iPod
D6- Displays DICE information (version)

The FF & Rewind on the MFD does the same on the iPod. This is handy for me as I have some MP3 audio books and it's nice to back it up or go forward as needed.

Only when on D1 will you see Artist, Album and Title at the same time when the TITLE button is pressed. On D2 you'll see the word PLAYLIST and the Title; D3 says ALBUM and the Title with D4 saying CHAPTER and the Title.
You don't see what the playlist (or album or chapter) actually is, just the word.

[CHART]

To throw my 2 cents in here....I just installed my DICE in my 2004 Prius today and noticed:

1. Playlist 1 is all of my songs on my Ipod in alpha order by album name
2. Album only moves you to the next album "within a playlist" To test this, add several albums to a playlist, go to D3 and hit the next disk button on the steering wheel. The playlist will skip the rest of the songs on that playlist until it hits a change in album name.
3. dip switch 2 doesn't seem to make any difference to me. I get text in either position. All other combos show INIT
4. Sometimes the album name doesn't change from the old album on the 1st line where D1 shows "Artist * Album." I played until I realized that happened repeatably when the artist or album field on the "new" song is too long, it just keeps the old album name....

So far, I like it. I wish it could actually go from album to album outside of a play list but other than that, I like it. I guess I will play with it for a few days until it starts acting weird like everyone elses!

[xraynano]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Dec 4 2006, 12:27 PM) [snapback]357459[/snapback]</div>

What I've found for my 2005 is...

D1- Using buttons on steering wheel changes within a playlist
D2- Using buttons on steering wheel changes playlists (alphabetically)
D3- Using buttons on steering wheel changes albums (never tried)
D4- Using buttons on steering wheel changes chapters (never tried)
D5- Using buttons on steering wheel toggles between AUX and iPod
D6- Displays DICE information (version)

The FF & Rewind on the MFD does the same on the iPod. This is handy for me as I have some MP3 audio books and it's nice to back it up or go forward as needed.

Only when on D1 will you see Artist, Album and Title at the same time when the TITLE button is pressed. On D2 you'll see the word PLAYLIST and the Title; D3 says ALBUM and the Title with D4 saying CHAPTER and the Title.
You don't see what the playlist (or album or chapter) actually is, just the word.
[/b]

Yes, that is pretty much what it should do. But it doesn't do that on 2006 and 2007. In some cases, it will execute the action, but won't display the result (for example, on D2 you see the word PLAYLIST but not the Title, or maybe you see nothing. Once there is nothing shown, any further operations may not display anything either until the power is cycled for the audio unit.) Of course, even if it does what it is supposed to do, that is not ideal. You would like to know what album or playlist you are in as you change through them. I suggest it should say PLAYLIST - "playlist name" or ALBUM - "album name", even if abbreviated. That would be far more useful.

In any case, the vendor is aware that this does not work properly for the 2006 or 2007, and believe it will require an update to the programming, and ultimately a swapout of the unit. They have swapped units for some of us seeing degradation of performance over time, believing the units are not only improperly programmed but also failing. In some cases, this has improved performance for 2006. I just received a replacement (with old programming) and will test it out this week.