Hi everyone, first off. I am a new user, but long reader to/of this discussion board. I would like to get an idea of how many of us out there own Sony head units with Unilink connections and would like more information on an adapter that would go from the Unilink port to the Empeg serial port. The end result would be the infamous AUX-IN RCA jacks working due to the fact the Sony head unit is being fooled into thinking there was a changer installed. IF THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. Thanks.

The Sony unilink connection is proprietary, and cannot be connected to just any old serial port. So connecting the empeg serial port to unilink is not possible.

If all you want is Aux-in on your Sony, they sell a $99.00 adapter part that will make the unilink work like an aux-in (if I remember correctly). Try Crutchfield and see if they stock it.

I think you may misunderstand, I am in conact with a group that is developing the conector and software. But I would like to know the interest in this group so I can take some kind of proposal or order to them. And as a side note to the XA-107 adapter that will enable AUX-IN on a Sony head unit via the unilink port, that product is no longer produced nor sold. The cost of that particular part was around $100 I believe. I am hoping with enough interest, we Sony users could see something in the sub $50 neighborhood for a solution.

How would this system be better than the existing adapter part?

(Assuming I'm correct that such an adapter even exists.)

My $50 estimate is quite high by the way. A few more reasons why Sony users may want to try this. It will reduce the load of the CD-changer on the ciruit you radio is on since the CD-changer derives power from the head unit. Personally, I have noticed a great deal of heat from the head unit resulting from this. If you do own a CD-changer, you could sell it and then buy this adapter to return a little profit for yourself. Space can be saved by taking out a CD-changer, who knows what goodies you could put in it's place? If you don't have a CD-changer, what a deal compared to how much they cost right now; new or used. This seems like a efficient, sleek way to design an audio system in your car if you have the components like Sony head units and and Empeg. A simple solution to a complex problem.

Okay, let us know when you're actually manufacturing these items, I'll link them.

Your right that the XA-107 is not longer produced but the XA-300 is and crutchfield sells it for $99.

Basically its the same unit as the earlier model just a few more features like Headphone jack and USB. I have one, although its quite an overkill for what I needed it for, it did the job

Later

If you want to enable the Aux-in lines on a Sony headunit with UniLink, the simple and easiest answer is get the XA-300 from Crutchfield (or anywhere else you can find it).

If you're a cheap bastard like me who enjoys hacking together things, there is a better solution at http://gnunilink.sourceforge.net/. The most expensive part is a $30 1m Unilink cable (Sony P/N: RC61). You have no choice as the connector for the Unilink bus can not be found. I'm just cutting the cable in half and using each end for my 2 RX-7s. The rest of the parts can be obtained for ~$10-15 USD.
A great resource for reverse engineering the unilink bus can be found at http://www.cus.org.uk/~cleggy/.

Hope this helps; let me know if I can help.
Cheers!
Dave

What can you do with the USB part of this?
Remote control a PC from the sony? Remotecontrol the cd-chnager form the PC?

Marius (Escort Cab + Mark II)

I think the USB is so you can connect your laptop and play music from it....but I haven't tried it yet.

I'm not sure if you can do anything else with it though?

There's a whole load of people over at mp3car that would be interested in this...

I think this string is lacking in support. Come on guys where the usual empeg spirit gone ??? This guy has got a great idea, and he has been shot down. OK so he cross posted, so what, he is a newbie with only 5 posts under his belt.

I for one have been wondering for a while if I could use the Sony IR changer control to control the empeg. As a sony head unit user I would be very interested in trying out and helping with anythng suggested.

Sorry if I am out of place, I feel we need to relax alittle.

Cris.

BTW - If you are looking for cheap Sony changer leads head on over to http://www.unbeatable.co.uk and search for them I think they have them for £14.95.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to shoot down anyone's ideas. It's just a lot simplier to use a PIC chip (see my previous post) to fool the sony unilink bus into thinking there's another device on the bus thus enabling the aux-in jacks. The hard work is already done and no hacking on the empeg is required. The PIC chip's code is open, so you can have fun with it if you like. The PIC chip already supports a serial port, so you can figure out how to control the empeg from your sony headunit too if that interests you. Myself, the sony headunit is only for NPR and the four local college radio stations; that's it. YMMV.
Cheers!

IIRC the empeg can be controlled via simple ASCII characters sent through the serial port?

So just a case of mapping the incoming button presses from the headunit to ASCII chars...

But, Im still more interested in the otehr way round with an empeg controlling a changer, no headunit required.