Thread: Aftermarket Head Unit - connecting vehicle speed pulse line

Originally Posted by twr7cx

My main concern was if the D2's signal was compatible. e.g. as it's 0-12volts, if the headunit expected a signal up to only 3volts then it could cause internal damage, etc.

Yes, make sure about what's that head unit expecting before tapping into the D2's VSS cos in all the diagrams of Alpine unit's i've seen the VSS is described as "(Digital or Analog 0V - 3V)" with note 1*
*1 Improper connection of the speed pulse line may cause important safety features of the vehicle to fail (such as thebrakes or air bags). Such failures may result in an accident and loss of life. We strongly recommend that the installation be performed by a trained, authorized Alpine dealer

which means that you can cause problems the other way around too as the head unit to mix up the VSS and affect the vehicle's behaviour but unfortunately i dont know more about that

confession: I dunno nothing!

But, as I understand it, not every car uses 0-3v VSS.
I know of 5v in some cars, and we know of 12v in the D2 .. etc.
I'm curious now what the D1 and Defer uses on the transfer mounted VSS units too now.

Anyhow, surely Alpine would have factored into their design some way to account for the variances found between so many makes/models.

I'd say most likely is that the Alpine trained fitter/dealer would most likely use a resistor to drop the voltage from higher(eg. 12 or 5 volts) to the max 3v required by the head unit.
Can't imagine that they run a high current going by the wire gauge they use .. say 500mA or something .. most likely less.

I couldn’t be more disappointed with a supplier. Following three days of no response from Alpine from my tech query using their specified online submission I contacted them in 03 8787 1200. There is no tech support connection so I followed the wait for an operator who I outlined my query to and was connected to a company representative named Craig.

During the call I was reminded multiple times that providing support is not something they do. I kept responding with I’m not seeking support for the installation, only the specification data for the input on the unit as it’s not in the manual. He then told me about how he has to be careful with his words and what he says as he can’t tell me what to do and can’t provide advice that I follow and later hold Alpine to - strange from a company representative...

Craig was initially helpful. Somewhat unsure about the particular connection I was referring to, he initially mistook it for the steering wheel control connection then the illumination. Once I retrieved and described the specific looms we were in business, or so I thought.

He then read for me the data in their manual which was word for word what’s written in the included installation manual - just a warning about potentially upsetting the vehicles systems if improperly connected. No actual technical data or specifications.

I asked again about the input ranges the unit is comparable - ie can it handle a 12v signal. At this point I was given a lecture about how that’s proprietary information and intellectual property and not something Alpine can or will disclose as it would be to their detriment with the competition. While I didn’t understand that logic I let it go...

He then stated that I needed to have it professionally installed. I ask why though as if Alpine don’t have that information how would their dealers and authorised installers have it? He told me they would just know and couldn’t explain how or where they obtain it from if not Alpine.

He then stated there would be no warranty if it wasn’t installed by the authorised Alpine installers. I pointed out that the included documents with the unit actually states 1 year standard warranty with Alpine or two years if installed by the authorised installer which is contrary to what he is saying.

I then asked what about in the case of a warranty claim. If I connect 12v speed signal and it fries the unit because it’s only compatible with up to 3v, how could you deny a warranty claim when there is no specifications stating what it’s compatible with for anyone to foresee that there would be an issue? At this point Craig because infuriated and begun accusing me of trying to talk him into a corner, that it wasn’t their role to support the installation and it wasn’t information I was entitled to have. Finally he stated that he would end the call now and that’s where it was left.

It sounds more like they have no idea which is very disappointing.
I wonder what a “professional” installer would do in the same situation.

Is it worth sending an email to the USA if the unit you have is available there?
Alpine Electronics US Support KB - Ask Question

Originally Posted by alien

It sounds more like they have no idea which is very disappointing.
I wonder what a “professional” installer would do in the same situation.

Is it worth sending an email to the USA if the unit you have is available there?
Alpine Electronics US Support KB - Ask Question

I've submitted the query to Alpine USA, Alpine Asia and Alpine UK (although I changed it to the ILX-F903D as that's their markets version). See what, if anything comes back.

I'm at the point that I'll probably head back to the local dealer and just now pay them to instal it. Given it's a straight swap in and out from my old Clarions unit with crimped terminals all in place for easy connection, I would hope the price reflects the ease of the job. It means this speed sensor saga is not my responsibility and bumps the units warranty out to two years.


For anyone interested the Alpine USA website has an online copy of the Installation Manual at http://support.alpine-usa.com/produc...9_EN_ES_FR.pdf there's also a copy on the Alpine UK website for their ILX-F903D which is pretty much the same.

Originally Posted by alien

Is it worth sending an email to the USA if the unit you have is available there?
Alpine Electronics US Support KB - Ask Question

My question to Alpine USA:

In regards to the Alpine Halo9 ILX-F309 headhunit < Alpine | 9" Alpine Halo9 Mech-less Audio/Video Receiver >, can you please advise on the input specifications for the Speed Sensor Lead (Green/White). This input is part of the Interface cable and connects to the vehicle speed pulse line. It is identified in the Installation Manual on pages 9 and 10 as connection (3).
The vehicle in question (Land Rover) has a 0-12 volt Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) digital signal at 8000 pulses per mile with a 1hz baseline diagnostic frequency and I am trying to determine if this is compatible with the ILX-F309 unit but am unable to do so without the specifications.

The response:

If the vehicle has a speed pulse wire then the wire from the head unit simply would connect to that.

My reply:

Dear Alpine TechSupport,

Thank you kindly for your earlier response. I do understand that the head unit connects to the vehicles pulse wire, but as mentioned in my original question, the vehicle does have a speed pulse wire (specifically a 0-12 volt Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) digital signal at 8,000 pulses per mile with a 1hz baseline diagnostic frequency) and I am trying to ensure this is compatible with the Alpine head unit but am unable to do so without the specifications for this input for the Alpine head unit. For example, if the Alpine unit is expecting a vehicle speed pulse input in the range of 0-3 volts then this vehicle with its 0-12volt system would be incompatible and cause damage to the head unit if connected. I’m trying to ensure that the vehicle matches the specification range for the Alpine head unit but am unable to do so as there are no tech specifications provided in the units manual. If you could please advise.

Their response:

This is being over analyzed. There's not a great way to test for that in a vehicle. Either there's a wire and it would connect to the head unit or if you're unsure (which sounds like the case) you would just simply leave the wire unhooked.

Which of course leads into my next question to them:

Dear Alpine Tech Support,

Thank you for your guidance. Are you able to advise on what effect on the head units functionality leaving the Speed Sensor Lead disconnected has?

Waiting to hear back on that one... While they’re not overly forthcoming with details and assistance at least it’s slightly better than Craig from Alpine Australia was able to provide.

EDIT:

Received:

[QUOTE]All it would do when hooked up is try to keep the GPS more accurate when in an area that it's not being received (like a tunnel).[/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by twr7cx

.....
Waiting to hear back on that one... While they’re not overly forthcoming with details and assistance at least it’s slightly better than Craig from Alpine Australia was able to provide.

.....

Most likely reason for lack of info is that simply don't know.
They're not engineers, and not 'tech heads' .. so most likely just going through their motions at work, like drones. Uninterested in their work, and almost certainly more interested in their preferred social media sites! than having to find out with certainty.

I would have thought that leaving it disconnected would just do that ... maybe a nag that the speed wire isn't connected.
But Why would they limit themselves to only modern cars as a target market.
Still lots of cars scooting about that don't use VSS systems .. so a wider base for Alpine to sell too.

Originally Posted by AK83

I would have thought that leaving it disconnected would just do that ... maybe a nag that the speed wire isn't connected.

Which is something I would like to know about. If it’s going to plaque me with an annoying error message or a feature of the unit won’t function properly or fully this should be made clear.