I think we are up to about 15 by now, I lost count a while back

You are more than welcome to bash me with a kipper and call me stupid on this one... :tomato: but I have to ask...

I have looked through old Vortex and Cupra posts but am still none the wiser, so hopefully "one of our own" can help me.

A while back I stuck an Alpine CDM-7892R player into the 'tavia. The install (changer, speakers, amp etc was easy). Obviously the ISO sockets meant that the head unit was just a plug in and play job (in theory) but ...

I now have to switch the Alpine on and off manually (on the head unit itself). What I really wanted was the unit to turn on and off with the ignition. Is this possible, can anyone shed a bit of light?

(By the way, I do not have a Bluespot adapter and don't know if you need one for the skud or if it's just a Dubbers problem. Do you just need a Bluespot for Blaupunkts etc. etc.)

Any ideas?

Well I upgraded to a Blaupunkt...

Before i bought the adaptor, I had problems with the clock losing its memory and it would only work with the ignition switched on.

With the adaptor in situe I solved the memory problem and it works with ignition switched on or off.

It also now switches itself off after 20 mins (IGN off) like the original head unit used to (to prevent battery drain)

It now illuminates when the side/headlamps are on even when switched off, whereas it didnt without the adaptor.

So in other words its far better with the adaptor...

Hope this helps.

This may or may not help. One of my previous cars (VW or Vauxhall...can't remember:confused: ) had an option in the set up menu to switch the unit off or not when the ignition is switched off. Have you actually explored all the set up options of your head unit? eg with the Skoda unit you can alter the start volume, loudness etc etc but it takes a careful read of the manual to find these.

More from Statingtheobvious inc. later...

I've just changed my HU and used the bluespot wiring adapter. HU opearates just as the standard HU; off the ignition, illuminates when side lights are on etc.

Th wiring adapter is needed as the face-lift models (MY01?) have the VW wiring looms. Search on "after market radio problem" for the problem.

Cheers.

Adrian.

Read the manual in English and French and it still didn't help.

I will buy an adapter and report on the result, watch the for sale section if it doesn't work for me

Time to make a bit more space behind my already brimming dashboard

Bluespot arrived in the week. Found a bit of free time so my dash board is in pieces again. The results are as follows.

1. Without adapter - Stereo works perfectly and radio memory etc is functional. Stereo turns on and off regardless of ignition. Only problem I have is I have to turn it off at the head unit rather than let the ignition do it for me.

2. With adapter - Stereo now turns itself off with the ignition BUT, the radio has no memory

So, am I doing something wrong or do I need to decide whether I want an Alpine which is Smart but Uncontrollable or Thick but very Off-and-Onable :confused:

Hmmm.....strange this, as the wiring adapter is supposed to handle the memory loss problem.

I wonder when the Alpine was originally fitted were the power cables swapped? If so you'll have to swap them back for the adapter to work.

Not much help really.:(

Cheers.

Adrian.

Nope, the power cables weren't swapped. Mine is an 02 / 03 model by the way. The Halfords / Ripspeed adapter manual reckons that I don't need an adapter whatsoever.

There is also the issue of disconnecting the K whatnot so that Skoda don't blow up in a mushroom cloud when they plug their diagnostic tool in. Although, reading later Vortex posts, they reckon that this problem has now been ironed out :confused: :confused: :confused:

I would love to be able to crack this one as (although not life threatening) it is doing my head in :blinker:

I have a blaupunkt hu in my RS and had to use the bluespot adaptor for it to function properly.

I seem to recall somewhere that some kenwood units had a switchy thingy on them that allowed you to manually swap the power cables through a switch, perhaps yours has this switch and all it needs is setting to the other position.

Also as already suggested I would check the radio settings with regard to switching on/off with the ign.