steering wheel controls interface

[fabioss]

Hi, I have a Seat Leon 1P 1.9tdi 105hp and I installed a Kenwood DDX4021BT radio, but now I want to use the steering wheel controls and I was looking for an interface that allows me to do this, obviously it has to be all integrated perfectly behind the radio.
I want to know what are the brands that produce these interfaces. I found Phonocar (too expensive) and Connects2 but I wanted to try to understand if there is anything that costs less.

 

[The_Saint]

In my experience I spent a lot more buying useless kits than I would have by going to Connects2 originally (which I had to eventually)

 

[fabioss]

Then Connects2 is a good choice. Right?
But how many of the 8 commands are recovered? I have no phone controls

 

[The_Saint]

I can only speak for the Philips CED1800BT unit I have but everything works, the Philips has a setup screen where you "train" the buttons in question - initially I didn't bother as everything appeared to work other than track skip/forward.
Maybe the Kenwood has an equivalent.

 

[fabioss]

if I don't mistake the interface which is fine is Connects2 CTSST001.2 but from what I could understand is retrieved only 4 of 8 commands, regardless of the radio.

 

[The_Saint]

I'm not sure what 4 of 8 commands you refer to or what you mean by "regardless of radio"
Mine does (from memory)
Answer/Hangup Phone (dedicated button)
Volume Up/Down or navigate in these directions depending on context
Skip Forward/Back or navigate in these directions depending on context
Mute (dedicated button)
I'm not sure what else they could do really, a play Angry Birds button ?

There are two Connects2 leads - the main bit http://www.connects2.co.uk/ProductInformation.aspx?id=10780
Then the appropriate one for your headunit manufacturer from the list in the bottom left, mine was
the rather unimpressive-looking http://www.connects2.co.uk/HeadUnitProductInformation.aspx?id=CTPHILIPSLEAD

 

[fabioss]

If you open "Installation Instructions" you can see the .pdf file that shows which commands will be recovered and specified only Volume Up/Down, Seek/Track+ and Seek/Track-.
When I said "4 of 8 commands" I was referring to the fact that, if I have not misunderstood, of 8 buttons on the steering wheel actually interface makes work only 4 (on my steering wheel would be those on the right - unfortunately I can not insert link but just look on Google images of Leon 1P 2005 to see what are the controls on the steering wheel).

 

[The_Saint]

My experience, not having read instructions, is as I stated above, when I am next in the car I will go through the list with the Philips setup screen in case I missed any.
Just on what I have said, those instructions seem to be mistaken unless I am missing the context in which they are meant.

Answer/Hangup Phone (dedicated button) - that strikes me as two functions.
Volume Up/Down or navigate in these directions depending on context - that strikes me as two functions.
Skip Forward/Back or navigate in these directions depending on context - that strikes me as two functions.
Mute (dedicated button) - that strikes me as two functions mute/cancel mute.

 

[fabioss]

on my steering wheel I have 8 buttons:
- on the right

- Volume Up
- Volume Down
- Track +
- Track -

- on the left:

- Mute
- button to change source
- button to go ahead with directories or with your favorite radio channels
- button to go back with directories or with your favorite radio channels

If what is written on the instructions (which can be downloaded from links posted before) I'll be able to use just the right side.

 

[Updown789]

If you have the phone buttons you have the large mfd and Bluetooth module under the drivers seat. The bluetooth and phone functions will no lobger work with the new head unit so the lhs buttons will be pointless anyway

 

[fabioss]

I don't have the phone buttons.

on my steering wheel I have 8 buttons:
- on the right:

- Volume Up
- Volume Down
- Track +
- Track -

- on the left:

- Mute
- button to change source
- button to go ahead with directories or with your favorite radio channels
- button to go back with directories or with your favorite radio channels

If what is written on the instructions (which can be downloaded from links posted before) I'll be able to use just the right side.

 

[The_Saint]

I can't currently access documents on the web, only pages.
I suspect that I'm not really understanding and as I said I will need to check in the car but . . . .
All the listed functions (right and left) mine does.
I don't have the Bluetooth module and the phone button works.

 

[fabioss]

In conclusion you have just one interface and you run all the commands, thus theoretically should work also in my case (although I have a radio other than your own).

 

[gh.fr]

I have:

2010 FL FR
DDX4025BT
CTSST001.2

Steering wheel buttons do the following:

Volume up/down
Track next/previous
Track fast forward/rewind
Attenuate on/off

Annoyingly the phone button does not answer/hang up the phone but will change source with a long press

There is no steering control setup screen on my stereo.

Hope this helps...

 

[fabioss]

thanks for the reply. from what I understand I think that in my case then work all the buttons having no phone controls.