Yet Another IceLink Thread

[pieceofficer]

Ok, I am new to the LT and I have a 60GB Video I want to use on my bike. I want to get rid of the Changer in the side case. I have read about the Icelink Plus. However when I went to the site it says that the item has been discontinued in the US>

Can anyone tell me what I need EXACTLY, almost all threads regarding this are several months old.

I want to get what I need that is working!! No lockups, I want it through the external speakers on the bike, and I want to be able to control from the handlebars.

Also, are these setups "Key Hot" power? That last thing I need is something else to have to remember to shut off when I get off the bike. If not, I am only replacing the CD changer with jumper Cables....I am not gaining anything..haha. :D

[cavsfan2703]

well, I can tell you this much....

I have an 02 which I have just installed the DICE unit in. It has been about a week now, and I am very happy to have replaced the cd changer with it. Very simple plug and play.

My IPOD is the 3rd generation 20gb..no video. I can control the music to a certain extent. I can change the songs and the playlists...but nothing more....only because of the limits of the IPOD, not because of the limits of the DICE, or the bike. Based on what I read in the instruction manual of the DICE unit, later generations of IPODs will allow for more options (ff,rw, albums, chapters).

The music plays through the speakers, I have NO loss of volume, and there is only the SLIGHTEST hesitation at the beginning of each song...you can hardly tell...again, only at the beginning...nothing more.

The other item to warn you about is the heat. The first trip I took with the IPOD was about 1.5 hrs. I had the IPOD in a padded case (for obvious protection) and it locked up from, what I am guessing, heat stroke. I disconnected it, let it cool down, reset it, and it has been fine since. I no longer have it in a padded case, just a silicone cover to keep it from banging around in the side case and getting scratched.

As far as the drain on the battery? Good question. I have been on the bike nearly everyday since the installation, so I have not noticed a drain over a period of time. I did ask tech support before the purchase of the DICE, and I was told that they remedied the battery drain. Again, can I confirm it...no.

Don't know if any of this helps, but feel free to ask me any questions.
Mike

[pieceofficer]

Ok,
It helps a lot. I will call and ask them about pricing and such. What was the total price with everything needed?

Bill

[cavsfan2703]

$159 for the unit and $10 for shipping.

[pieceofficer]

I have a call in, and will find out Monday, but I have asked several direct questions regarding issues I have read on the site. Their engineer will be back on Monday and he is going to give me a call and then maybe he will address some of our issues, or the issues brought forth through the threads on this site.

"I'll take one for the team"

[BsquareWI]

Bill, check out this reseller: http://www.europeanautosource.com

Talk to Tom there, he has the DICE instock and ready to ship. He is very knowledgeable about the product and very helpful. He posts regularly on some BMW car forums helping people with DICE problems and he said he checks this forum as well.

[pieceofficer]

Bill, check out this reseller: http://www.europeanautosource.com

Talk to Tom there, he has the DICE instock and ready to ship. He is very knowledgeable about the product and very helpful. He posts regularly on some BMW car forums helping people with DICE problems and he said he checks this forum as well.


I will wait till I talk to the engineer. If there is any chance I can receive a "Beta" setup to figure out some specific problems mentioned here, etc.. I will do that.

He will call me Monday. I will keep you all informed...

If they do not have interest in the Motorcycle community and our issues, I wouldn't want to buy their product. If they show interest and are unable to supply me with a setup, then I will most definitely go to your site.

Thanks

[BsquareWI]

Wha? Beta? The DICE is well out of beta, shipping and works SIGNIFICANTLY better than the ICE Link. Not my site, BTW. I just found that site when searching for information on the DICE and the guy from that site was posting back (quite extensively) to a BMW Car forum trying to help people out with installation and basic questions. Try getting that from Dension...

Let's put it this way, I tried to order a DICE from Dension last week. They charged my CC then called to say they didn't have any in stock and they claim they should have some out by the next week. I called Tom@EAS and he had them in stock and got one to me by the weekend. To tell you the truth, I'm not thrilled about buying a Dension product at all because I think their support and billing is suspect at best, but the product offers the most compatability with our radios and our options are limited. Now, if I have a problem, I can go back to the 3rd party I bought it from (EAS) who is within driving distance from Dension and he can deal with them for me.

[pieceofficer]

Beta was in quotations.....

They were unaware of the issues we were having on the LT, or bikes...and they said and I QUOTE "We have not focused much on the two wheeled community" so I read a few threads to him of the problems etc, and they asked if my bike was modified or anything and I told them NO, So they thought they would send me a "Beta"...note the quotations.... set-up and try and RECREATE the past problems and note the corrections that cured the problems. When this will happen...I dunno....IF this will happen....I dunno... Just something I brought to their attention and they seemed as if they cared and I just posted the conversation details!!

I think the more LITERAL threads you are looking for are on www.bore.com :D :D

In the meantime, the Audiovox XM Xpress offers a MP3 input on it, so that is the route I am taking in the interim.

I will keep you posted on what happens with "Beta" test when/if it happens.

[BsquareWI]

Ah, gotcha. We in the "two-wheeled community" may never have a fully supported solution for the factory radios so unfortunately, "Beta" may end up having to just be good enough.

I myself am already a "beta" tester (as in paying beta tester) with the DICE and so far (4 whole days) it seems to be working pretty slick. I did have 1 lock-up, not sure what from, perhaps just trying to flip through playlists too quickly. Just pulled over, reset the iPod and was good to go again. I've also hit some pretty nasty bumps that would typically skip my CD player and the DICE/iPod just kept on playing, losing the cradle from the ICELink seems to have helped with the vibration issue.

Can I ask which specific problems you were discussing with them that this beta is to correct? The battery drain? The lack of text support for '05 and up LT's? Were you talking to them about the ICELink or the DICE?

[mhmorg]

Ok, I have posted about this before. I bought one of the first Dice units, the tech support states the first batch had a software problem. They are sending me out a new unit to correct the pause at the start of each song.
Recently I developed a distortion problem sounding like a blown speaker.

I hope they have the bugs worked out.........When I open my new unit on Monday and install it on Tues I will post my results..........

[wcarter]

Does anyone recall that our very own Joe spent a good bit of time gathering information for Dension about list members' experience with the IceLink, and then could not get Dension to respond at all?

I had a question about my IceLink (after upgrading the firmware) and to Dension's credit, they eventually responded and sent me a new unit with the most current firmware already installed.

I told the customer service rep (by email) that the IceLink was drawing power even when the iPod was not connected (a universal experience as it turns out), only to have her say that she had not heard that complaint before.

I am watching these posts to see if the Dice solves the power drain issue.

In my experience and in my opinion, Dension makes a great product for the LT but they sure don't seem to be focused on our group. I'm sure we are a speck compared to the different auto owners but sheesh!

[europeanautosource]

Does anyone recall that our very own Joe spent a good bit of time gathering information for Dension about list members' experience with the IceLink, and then could not get Dension to respond at all?

I had a question about my IceLink (after upgrading the firmware) and to Dension's credit, they eventually responded and sent me a new unit with the most current firmware already installed.

I told the customer service rep (by email) that the IceLink was drawing power even when the iPod was not connected (a universal experience as it turns out), only to have her say that she had not heard that complaint before.

This is true, the ice>Link does draw a minimal amount of power when connected to the BMW. Enough to kill a battery? Probably not.

I am watching these posts to see if the Dice solves the power drain issue.

In my experience and in my opinion, Dension makes a great product for the LT but they sure don't seem to be focused on our group. I'm sure we are a speck compared to the different auto owners but sheesh!

I've installed a quite a few systems on the K1200LTs myself when I was at Dension USA, let me know if you should need any assistance to your questions with either the DICE or the ice>Link Plus.

[europeanautosource]

I will wait till I talk to the engineer. If there is any chance I can receive a "Beta" setup to figure out some specific problems mentioned here, etc.. I will do that.

He will call me Monday. I will keep you all informed...

If they do not have interest in the Motorcycle community and our issues, I wouldn't want to buy their product. If they show interest and are unable to supply me with a setup, then I will most definitely go to your site.

Thanks

I'm assuming you were talking to Chase? Let me know if they do not return your phone call, we provide most of their BMW feedback and testing for DICE - I'd be glad to assist.

[wcarter]

"This is true, the ice>Link does draw a minimal amount of power when connected to the BMW. Enough to kill a battery? Probably not."

Au contraire. It drained my battery flat in about 2 weeks when I first installed the iceLink. I keep the bike on a Battery Tender now. That raises the "cost" of the iceLink by the cost of the Battery Tender.

Several other list members have reported similar results.

[europeanautosource]

"This is true, the ice>Link does draw a minimal amount of power when connected to the BMW. Enough to kill a battery? Probably not."

Au contraire. It drained my battery flat in about 2 weeks when I first installed the iceLink. I keep the bike on a Battery Tender now. That raises the "cost" of the iceLink by the cost of the Battery Tender.

Several other list members have reported similar results.

Did the ipod remain in the connection? Also, was the charging settings at on the ice>Link?

[wcarter]

The iPod was not connected when I experienced the power drain.

The charging setting was at factory default. I never changed it.

[europeanautosource]

The iPod was not connected when I experienced the power drain.

The charging setting was at factory default. I never changed it.

You have 3 different settings for charging:

- charge while playing
- never charge
- charge when connected and up for 2 hours after ignition is shut off.

Play with the charging settings and see what works best for you.