Rockford OmniFi installed (pics & Opinion)
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:21 am
Finding the proper tool to remove my XG350's dashboard trim is not easy, since every place I went to was sold out I decided to spend about 30 minutes carefully prying the trim off. Wiring was cake I found a diagram online tested the pins to be sure and tapped the lines.
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/Wiring.jpg[/lvlshot]
Since no one makes a dash kit for the XG350 and the radio is bigger than standard double din I decided to keep the original radio and go with an active FM modulator. It goes inline with your antenna and cuts the signal so you have no static issues. If anyone is in the market for the “supposed BEST” FM Modulator the Audiovox FMM100A is the one to get. Street Price $59.99 can be found on eBay for half that NEW. Wiring is simple Accessory and ground, then a switch to turn the transformer on and off. It makes a dam good quality hook up for those of you with iPods, or other MP3 devices.
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/fmmodulator.jpg[/lvlshot]
NOTE: the Audiovox FMM100A only accepts less than 1volt inputs so if you do not have an adjustable output (ie. Volume control) you may nee to create one like I did the Rockford OmniFi has a 3volt output which distorted like mad when I played anything. Since it was late Sunday and everything was closed I grabbed one of my gaming headsets and rewired the volume control with RCA connectors and put it inline between my OmniFi and the FMM100A. Then spent a few minutes tweaking it. Wiring with my ColdHeat iron I was done in no time.
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/leveladjust.jpg[/lvlshot]
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/volumeadjust.jpg[/lvlshot]
Wiring and mounting the other hardware was a little rough, but I sacrificed one of my back seats and bolted the drive housing to the back of it. I also mounted the USB Wi-Fi card in between the seat and the rear pillar it’s barely noticeable. Ran all the wires through the factory channels, which was quite simple after removing the door plates and the carpeting.
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/driveantenna.jpg[/lvlshot]
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/wiringdoorjam.jpg[/lvlshot]
After a few tests and a quick firmware upgrade I was ready to go, now the only problem was figuring out where to mount the bastard. My original location ideas were above the rearview mirror, in a custom made housing, but I didn’t like that too much. I was also going to replace the sunglasses holder with a new plastic facia and mount it in there so I can drop it down only when needed, but I need a home for my Oakleys so didn’t go there. I finally decided to remove the useless slide out tray they put below the climate control and mount it in there angled up a little and it’s quite nice there.
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/firmware.jpg[/lvlshot]
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/done.pg.jpg[/lvlshot]
It’s been a while since I took a car apart for fun. I’m please with the system so far the wireless is able to connect to WEP protected networks and has an added bonus. It works great as a network sniffer in the settings mode it finds all the wireless networks and tells you weather they are open or protected. Great for wardrivers everywhere.
The wireless synch feature works great Hop in the software queue up some songs or playlists and I set it to sync at 10:00pm. It turns itself on syncs and shuts off, so the next morning I’m all loaded up and ready to go. The included software is a resource hog though and only handles 10,000 songs
. I need to use it for a few days to really have an honest opinion on it, but so far it’s exactly what I wanted.
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/donenight.jpg[/lvlshot]
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/Wiring.jpg[/lvlshot]
Since no one makes a dash kit for the XG350 and the radio is bigger than standard double din I decided to keep the original radio and go with an active FM modulator. It goes inline with your antenna and cuts the signal so you have no static issues. If anyone is in the market for the “supposed BEST” FM Modulator the Audiovox FMM100A is the one to get. Street Price $59.99 can be found on eBay for half that NEW. Wiring is simple Accessory and ground, then a switch to turn the transformer on and off. It makes a dam good quality hook up for those of you with iPods, or other MP3 devices.
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/fmmodulator.jpg[/lvlshot]
NOTE: the Audiovox FMM100A only accepts less than 1volt inputs so if you do not have an adjustable output (ie. Volume control) you may nee to create one like I did the Rockford OmniFi has a 3volt output which distorted like mad when I played anything. Since it was late Sunday and everything was closed I grabbed one of my gaming headsets and rewired the volume control with RCA connectors and put it inline between my OmniFi and the FMM100A. Then spent a few minutes tweaking it. Wiring with my ColdHeat iron I was done in no time.
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/leveladjust.jpg[/lvlshot]
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/volumeadjust.jpg[/lvlshot]
Wiring and mounting the other hardware was a little rough, but I sacrificed one of my back seats and bolted the drive housing to the back of it. I also mounted the USB Wi-Fi card in between the seat and the rear pillar it’s barely noticeable. Ran all the wires through the factory channels, which was quite simple after removing the door plates and the carpeting.
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/driveantenna.jpg[/lvlshot]
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/wiringdoorjam.jpg[/lvlshot]
After a few tests and a quick firmware upgrade I was ready to go, now the only problem was figuring out where to mount the bastard. My original location ideas were above the rearview mirror, in a custom made housing, but I didn’t like that too much. I was also going to replace the sunglasses holder with a new plastic facia and mount it in there so I can drop it down only when needed, but I need a home for my Oakleys so didn’t go there. I finally decided to remove the useless slide out tray they put below the climate control and mount it in there angled up a little and it’s quite nice there.
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/firmware.jpg[/lvlshot]
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/done.pg.jpg[/lvlshot]
It’s been a while since I took a car apart for fun. I’m please with the system so far the wireless is able to connect to WEP protected networks and has an added bonus. It works great as a network sniffer in the settings mode it finds all the wireless networks and tells you weather they are open or protected. Great for wardrivers everywhere.
The wireless synch feature works great Hop in the software queue up some songs or playlists and I set it to sync at 10:00pm. It turns itself on syncs and shuts off, so the next morning I’m all loaded up and ready to go. The included software is a resource hog though and only handles 10,000 songs
[lvlshot]http://pages.prodigy.net/dpfalandys/llama/Omnifi/donenight.jpg[/lvlshot]