Splicing a Toslink cable

[lawrence99]

Splicing a Toslink cable
I am looking at getting a head unit that has proprietary optical connector
What I am wondering if there is a good way to splice an optical cable?
I need to make one end a standard Toslink and the other a proprietary connection for a Clarion drz9255
Anyone done this?

[robjak]

Hi
heres a link for Toslink crimp on ends

http://www.lifatec.com/Lifusa_connectors.htm

I am unsure of what u are trying to do but...
if u are trying to get digital out of the DRZ
you cant have CeNet changer hooked up
since it configures the digital port on the
DRZ for digital input. Just fyi

To make a Clarion - Toslink cable you would
need to cut up a DCA-008 or DCA007 fiber
cable depending on length. Since the Clarion
cable is directional you need to figure out
which end is TX and which is RX. If my memory is
correct on my ADCS-1 the headunit
digital out connector (TX) is grey and the processors
input (RX) is black. So if you are trying to use an
external processor or D/A, you would keep the
grey end and cut off the black end replacing it
with the Toslink crimp on end.
Once you know the length and which end is
needed, cut off the excess with a sharp razor
blade and crimp on your Toslink end.

I would stay away from optical splitters (unpowered)
Rather I would use a powered repeater if needed.
I think I got one from RatShack a while back..

Good luck!

[mugen]

I am also interested in connecting my Clarion VRX935VD (in dash touch screen DVD player) to an Alpine PXA H700. The Alpine is Toslink, but the Clarion is propietary - so I've been told.

Any help would be appreciated.

[robjak]

Hi Mugen

All you have to do is buy a Clairon optical cable and cut off "black " color coded end which has a embedded Toslink reciever inside. Then as I mentioned above replace it with a crimp on Toslink plug. You can then plug it directly into the Alpine. How you control the Alpine with a Clarion HU is the problem! It may want data over the Ai-Net or whatever bus format Alpine uses before it will allow audio out. If you have an Alpine controller for this processor it may pass remote control codes (vol,mute,source)
I am not that familiar with Alpine gear....

[lawrence99]

you dont have to cut the end off , just disasmble the end of the conector and this will leave you with a optical cable.
then use a mini to full size toslink addaptor.

[mugen]

So, take apart the black end and replace with a full size Toslink connector. This full size will then plug into the Alpine peice? Just double-checking.

I will do the same with the Clarion CD Changer I have, which also has optical out. Clarion uses what is called C-Net, which is like Alpine's Ai-Net, but I think both manufacturers use these wires to power the equipment as well as carry audio and control signals. When optical is used, I believe the sound signals default to optical......... is all this correct?

The Alpine comes with a separate controller, so it looks like I can make it work.


You guys just made my day.

[lawrence99]

heres the point i am at today:
hook up my drz and conected the optical cable
head unit will not see the optical in unless a changer is conected
so i think i will need to buy one and just leave it disconected and use the toslink from my pc , kinda a bummer but i am thinking this will work. there is a switch on the changer for optical or analog output. i am going to email warewolf from elite car audio .com for some help and maybe he know a bypass. will let ya know.

[mugen]

So your deck didn't recognize the digital out unless it was hooked up to a CD Changer?

I got this from someone at Clarion.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////

The optical output on our equipment is, as far as I can tell, a standard SPDIF output from the laser mechanism, it is wired in parallel to the input of the DSP module inside the head unit.

Our connector though is a proprietary unit that includes the Optical LED transceiver, so there is no chance of the connection becoming 'dirty' as with a direct fiber interface.

Toslink is a connector standard, and is simply a fiber optic cable - many high-speed LAN systems use this.

IF it will work, and all the timing and data line up (something I can't guarantee), then all you'd need is cable with a Clarion Connector at one end and a Toslink connector at the other.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Well, I just bought the Alpine piece today and will connect the two via RCA for now. I will then purchase a Clarion digital cable and do the change. This seems kinda crazy to do since I'm thinking of dumping the Clarion and going all Alpine anyway. The Alpine deck deck I want won't be available until mid April, so just for kicks I'll do it. I just hope I don't fry anything <hee hee>.

[robjak]

Hi again Lawrence99, Mugen

I was going to ask how the DRZ9255-carputer project was going but I got sidetracked.

I have a similar problem with my ADCS-1 and an external digital source. Basically you need to have a changer filled with "dummy"recorded blank CD-R(all"0" data) or just some CD-R with any 70 min long single track to fakeout the HU into accepting the input and releasing its mute.

Others have reverse engineered the various bus protocols to enable more direct control of a carputer from the HU but no one has done this for Clarion's C-Bus or Ce-Net yet. ( If they have they aren't sharing the info) If I had some motivation to decode the protocol I could do it, but I would have to enlist someone else to write the windows or linux interface code.

An approach that doesn't need a computer interface would be to make a changer emulator which would act like a changer with one really long track, the max track length accepted by the HU, lets say 99:99. So every 100 minutes the track would repeat and cause a brief mute. If you were willing to hack your HU you could get rid of this periodic mute.Just intercept the mute signal inside the HU send it to the changer emulator and let it decide when a mute should occur.This should be setup to default back to the HU when the external source is not selected. Yeah I know easy for me to say...Don't want to void any warranties! It really depends on how deep you want to get into the hardware and software.

I wish the aftermarket manufacturers would just allow for a carputer source thru firewire or usb but they all want to tightly control their market with proprietary interfaces. They aren't concerned with our needs unless we are in the majority, like the iPod guys.

-john

BTW Lawrence, did the DCA008 cable end come apart easily or did you have to break it open? Cool idea to use mini to full size adaptor!

[lawrence99]

for the drz i have to use a DCA-005-600 cable
it has a .9 cm end into unit vs 1.0 cm for older units.
the cable came apart without to much work and can be put back together.

i also hade the dca002 cable ( the 1.0 cm version ) and it came apart the same way.