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07/15/2004

I built a unit - the PCBs work correctly.

07/15/2004

I got the boards. Tonight I will build the first production unit and test the board. This weekend I will drive up to the NY area and test the new hardware and software on different cars. If all works fine, this journal will be closed, and the first 50 people on the pre-order list will be contacted.

07/13/2004

Finally results on the production side. I will have the first 10 PCBs on Thursday. I keep my fingers crossed that they

don't have any design flaws.

07/08/2004

I recently went to NJ and helped Josh, who is beta testing, to install a V300 in his W203. Since besides the mikbox he only bought a used PSE, compensator, and cradle, his entire phone integration was less than $400. Installation material was not necessary, we used cable ties for everything.

06/22/2004

The biggest problem in the beta test so far has been the installation, as I mentioned below. Today I took some photos on how to hook up the mikbox between Y-cable and harness.

06/17/2004

I met "stream99" from the MBWorld forum yesterday, and for the first time I could check out the v60 phone hook up and the MOST bus on the W211. The wires between the telephone control unit and the cradle carry different signals than the ones in other MB cars that still have the D2B bus. There is a small circuit board inside the cradle, which I haven't seen in other cradles before. The current mikbox cannot be hooked up to the W211, since not only the connectors are different, but the interface is entirely different as well.

One surprising thing, though: I tested an ordinary V60 TDMA Cingular phone, and it worked in the W211 (yes, NOT a mercedes phone, and without the mikbox). The V60p, V60s, V600 phones however did not work.

06/14/2004

More hardware design changes were done last weekend to enable the OTA update and timeport integration. The design is now finally ready, and production is being set up.

Until today the only way to make sure that the connectors stay fastened during the car's vibration, was to cable tie them. Now there is a solution to the problem: Instead of plugging the mikbox between the PSE and the Y-cable, it can be connected between the Y-cable and the car's harness. This has two big advantages: Firstly, the mikbox is not statically sitting on top of the PSE (as in the pictures), but is flexible and can be located anywhere within range. Secondly, the bracket on the Y-cable can be removed so that the Y-cable screws right into the mikbox. The bracket can then be either attached to the mikbox or to a DB25 extension cord (which can be screwed into the mikbox). The bracket then snaps into the car's harness. I'll take pictures of it soon.

06/09/2004

Here are new pictures from Ken, who is testing the Mik-Box in his SL500 (R230), using a V300 and V600 phone, in the Motorola cradle.

06/08/2004

In the last weeks the 5 beta boxes were tested in different MB cars. Different problems came up, mainly about mounting the devices. I always assumed that the SLK, which I use for most of the testing, has the least possible space of all models. But it turned out that while most other MBs have generally more space, the mik-box does not fit  directly attached to the PSE as they do in the SLK (and as you can see in the pictures). As a solution I will have to provide another DB25 extension cable for some cars. The V300/600 cradles worked out nicely. Only one hardware related problem surfaced, that affected some v60 phones (interestingly including the original MB phones), but I found a solution for this just tonight.

I also made progress on the Timeport PSE, the Mikbox can now communicate with it and dial numbers, etc. It is not completed, though, and I have some trouble getting audio over the speaker sometimes, and turning the phone on and off, even with the original Mercedes timeport phone. Once I will get the phonebook sync to work with any P2K or SonyEricsson phone, I will build three beta units and immediately send them out for testing to the first three people that registered for the timeport PSE and have one of the supported phones.

The beta test also made me realize that for the installation of the final product I recommend a professional installer, unless you are really confident about working on your car. I am right now trying to find qualified people in all parts of the country that are interested in providing installation service for their area. If you are interested or know someone who might be, please contact me.

05/28/2004

Software update functionality integrated. From now on the firmware of the Mik-Box can be updated without removing the box from the car. There are two ways to do this. Either a laptop can be connected to the RJ48 where the phone is usually plugged into, using a special cable that I will sell separately. Or the phone can actually dial into my server, download the new firmware and install it on the mik-box. This is a very big step forward, since now there is no limit of how many phones can be supported by the mikbox. If a new one becomes available that is significantly different, the mik-box can simply be updated over the air.

05/17/2004

Finally, I made it back to the US. I will start catching up with the Mik-Box project and all the mails today.

04/30/2004

I have been in Amman, Jordan for the past 5 days for my job, and was originally scheduled to be back on Tuesday. Unfortunately I am having problems at the job and have to stay for longer - the return date is unknown. If I do not answer your mail, be patient. I check my mail every day, but have no time to respond, because I literally work night and day.

04/20/2004

Three more test units built. All beta testers have been notified. Tomorrow I will build the last one and send them out.

04/15/2004

I still don't have enough people for beta testing the Mik-Box with a V60 PSE. I have currently covered the S class (W220), C class (W203), E class (W211), ML (W163), SL (R230), SLK (R170), CLK (W208). I still need people with the V60 kit installed to test on the G class, the W210,CL, and 202.

Many people thought that the beta test works only with V60 phones. No, it works with all newer Motorola phones, like T730, V300, V600, etc. (except Nextel). But you will need to have a V60 PSE installed.

I cannot start the production of the Mik-Box until it was at least once installed in each MB model of the last 5 years. I learnt that the PSE and other phone components are installed very differently in the various models, so if the Mik-Box fits in one, it might not fit in the other. I am constantly trying to improve my footprint, but in some cases, it is impossible to fit the Mik-Box between the Y-cable and the PSE. In those cars it needs to be relocated and fastened somewhere else and connected with a ribbon cable. this requires a lot of work and testing.

04/12/2004

Today I installed the complete timeport kit. This one is unfortunately not as easy to integrate as the V60 was, in fact the protocol is entirely different. I hope that the StarTac communicates somehow similar.

04/10/2004

I switched the website to a new provider. The DNS transfer should be complete some time tomorrow. If the web site should be down, or you cannot leave feedback / request - something went wrong.

04/09/2004

The second firmware version, which builds the architecture of supporting other PSEs and phones, is almost completed. More prototypes were build. The form factor got smaller again. I am still not happy with the case though. Next week the design will be finalized, and the production run will be set up. Also 5 of the 9 available  beta units will be sent out for testing.

04/03/2004

Today I built the first field test prototype - it hooks up directly between the PSE and the Y-cable (see picture), this is a lot more efficient than the previous prototypes: It is a lot smaller, doesn't get hot, uses less power. Actually the space requirements are only about half the size of the box, so I might shrink it even further for the production units.

04/02/2004

I added a few items to the pre-order registration page: People who sign up can choose to participate in the beta test program. I will put up a page next week with more info about the beta test. If you have already signed up and want to participate, just fill out the pre-order form again, and put a note in the comments field that you are already on the list. I will choose the participants depending on phones, car model & year, and list position (in that order!).

03/30/2004

I found a good solution for the power issue today. It provides a lot more space, and also disseminates less heat. There is only one last hardware issue left now: The phone won't boot up when the ignition is turned on. I hope to solve this in the next few days. I ordered all the parts, to build 5 test units, which will be sent out next week.

03/25/2004

I finally have all the tools to build cables for the new cradles . The V300 works beautifully in that original Motorola cradle, and when mounted inside the armrest, there is more space left than when using the Mercedes V60 cradle. Also, the phone comes out of the cradle much easier than the V60. I heard that the V600 also fits into this cradle.

Although its possible to open the flip to go into privacy mode, its probably a better idea to just take the phone out of the cradle for that. That way the cradle can be mounted inside the armrest. The call will not drop, and when the phone is put back into the cradle the conversation will be back on the speakers. I think this is the way it will work with the new UHI as well. The only disadvantage is that the external antenna (and booster) can not be used.

The phone cable that came with this cradle is useless for the Mik-Box, since it connects to the wrong pins. Their connector is custom made to use certain pins, so using the ones that I need by soldering is almost impossible.

I have had a lot of contact with Germany in the last few days, and found a possibly good source for original (phone related) MB parts. This includes all installation material. I will be selling a complete aftermarket solution for the phone integration that includes Antenna Switch, Booster (or original Compensator if requested), PSE + Mik-Box, cables, installation Material, and cradle. The goal is to be cheaper than the MB dealer, and have more phone options.

03/16/2004

I am actively looking into BT dev kits now. The number of pre-orders for Bluetooth that I received so far does not really justify a multi thousand dollar expense though. But I hope that once available more people will become interested.

I heard from sunman, that in the C sedan the SBS module is not next to the PSE, as it is in my car and I assumed it was in all MBs. This has a major impact on the Nextel PTT interface development, since I need to tap into the connector of the SBS module.

03/13/2004

Spent most day on developing an improved software architecture for the application that runs in the microcontroller, the heart of the Mik-Box. I also reviewed the pre-orders that I got so far and noticed that about 50% of the people that signed up, are waiting for the Bluetooth solution. Although that makes perfectly sense, I was a little surprised. Personally I am most excited about the Nextel integration, since it is the biggest challenge and is the phone that I use most frequently. I will change my focus, and try to start earlier with the Bluetooth project than I originally had planned.

03/12/2004

Built P2K test-cable that can connect any phone with 17 pin (14+3) Motorola plug to the car's RJ48. Finally I can test different phones without breaking my fingers.

03/10/2004

Web site launched. I hate FrontPage. But I have no time right now to look for something better.