Neucleus NC-X2iLAN iPod Integration for 07' GM's (ALTERNATIVE TO iConnect)

Neucleus NC-X2iLAN iPod Integration (MORE FEATURES THAN THE iConnect!)

This may be the alternative to the iConnect and having to deal with lack of concise information, product literature, customer service, and tech support from Smart Park. 

It's called the Neucleus NC-X2iLAN.  I bought it from: http://www.logjamelectronics.com/neucncx2ilan.html

It's a little bit cheaper than the iConnect and it seems to be easier to get a hold of.  I spoke with Log Jam Electronics and they assured me that it's the latest software version (5.40), and it does what the iConnect does not do.  They make it a point to say that you have "unlimited" playlists, not to mention that the screen shots show that you get pretty much ALL of the iPod functions on your OEM screen including albums, artists, etc.

Here are great screen shots and install pictures: http://www.cadillacintegration.com/ipod_07_escalade_photos.html

In all fairness to Smart Park and their iConnect product I must say that I haven't been able to confirm as yet, if I have a defective iConnect unit or if the iConnect just doesn't offer all of the features besides setting up playlists.  (See post: http://www.chevroletforum.com/fb.asp?m=16572 )  However yesterday I did PM this forum's Smart Park "rep", who was online for about an hour, and in typical Smart Park fashion I got no response.  So again unless I have a defective iConnect unit that really should  incorporate all of the iPod features, it seems like the Neucleus NC-X2i is a better buy, because even if turns out that the iConnect has the exact same features, the Neucleus NC-X2iLAN is still a little bit cheaper!

As always, just lookin' out for my peeps on the forum, and the peeps that look out for me.  vyslouzil good catch on the discrepancy in the model number and finding a good online store for the product.  My apologies to those out there for not COMPLETELY doing my homework first on the product before starting the thread.

Again just sharing the love!

thanks for the info.  I have been watching the iConnect thread closely, I hope you get some sort of response from Smart Park.  Are you looking to the return the unit at this point, or are you gonna stick with it?
Again, thanks for taking the time to help other with this ipod integration.

Smart who?  Ha, ha.  I really don't intentionally mean to give them a hard time, but I'd like to get some kind of reaction out of them.  They don't even acknowledge any of the posts about them, and most of them are negative.  It just seems to me that they'd want to clear the air.  Oh well.

To answer your question I already purchased the Neucleus NC-X21iLAN just based on the reading material, the screen shots and the good reviews I've been reading about it over at http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/  I hope to get it by week's end.

They also rip pretty hard on Smart Park.  There's an unconfirmed (always being fair since I don't know the truth) that GM stopped using Smart Park's iConnect units.  You can sift through this thread if you're interested.  http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-cts-v-series-forum/90147-official-gm-ipod-kit-cts-v.html?highlight=ipod+video+on+nav+screen

So yes I'm lookin' forward to, and hoping that the Neucleus will do exactly what it's supposed to do.  I just want to get the iPod set up so I can enjoy my sounds.

And yes, I love lookin' out for everyone on the forum.  I feel like for everything that I learn here, I have to give back twice as much.  That pay it forward mentality I guess.  Ha, ha.

As far as what I'll do with the iConnect, it's TBD.  Probably going to ebay today.

isnt the correct part  NC-X2iLAN for this?  I thought the  NC-X2i was for 2006 models, and the LAN version was compat with the 2007.  I found this product and was going to post the info also..  let us know what you think, the screenshots looks awsome.

let me know if you can find it cheaper than this

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/neucncx2ilan.html

found one here

http://www.audio-discounters.com/ncx2ilancl.html
and
http://www.ambientweather.com/dbncx2ilancl.html

here is the official site
http://www.americaninternational.net/

app guide
http://www.americaninternational.net/AI-2006_NeucleusCatalog.pdf

Im wondering what the CL part of the P/N means?

NCGM44TCL is the GM LAN harness for the X2iLAN unit.. guessing all GM LAN harnesses are the same?

http://www.audio-discounters.com/ncgm44tcl.html

Sorry for so many posts on this

I ordered a Neucleus NC-X2i  and they told me it should be here by tomorrow.
I will let you guys know how it works. I hope it does all it says.... we will see.
 

quote:

ORIGINAL: vyslouzil

isnt the correct part  NC-X2iLAN for this?  I thought the  NC-X2i was for 2006 models, and the LAN version was compat with the 2007.  I found this product and was going to post the info also..  let us know what you think, the screenshots looks awsome.

You were right on point with this one man!  Great catch.  Thank you.

quote:

ORIGINAL: vyslouzil

isnt the correct part  NC-X2iLAN for this?  I thought the  NC-X2i was for 2006 models, and the LAN version was compat with the 2007.  I found this product and was going to post the info also..  let us know what you think, the screenshots looks awsome.

vyslouzil,

You are so correct on this.  I'm going to change the thread to reflect it's the NC-X2i LAN.

quote:

ORIGINAL: dac0068

I ordered a Neucleus NC-X2i  and they told me it should be here by tomorrow.
I will let you guys know how it works. I hope it does all it says.... we will see.

Where'd you order yours from and is it the LAN model?

I picked it up from here  http://www.logjamelectronics.com/neucncx2ilan.html
Neucleus NC-X2iLAN 2006-2007 GM-to-iPod® Interface w/Auxiliary Input

 

Cool!  Same place I got mine.  Should get it tomorrow.  The iConnect gave me a taste of how cool it will be to use the iPod.  Can't wait to get this and get the full version!  Fingers crossed there are no bugs or hiccups with it.

Yeah that is what i hope to...... I had some thing that was very simular in my 05 Silverado. But it was not on a Nav screen. It worked great. We will see what happens.. I will keep you updated...

I'm curious...[waiting for updates]

Tomorrow!!!  Can't wait!!!!

Mine si on the way i will have it today I just tracked it online

Yeah, if it works the way it's supposed to work, I'm going to actually put video up for all to see.  I want everyone to know that it works properly to avoid questions, and hopefully make it an easier decision for people to buy.

One person on another forum had a problem with their Neucleus, but it seems like it was a defective unit.

Hours away from our posting of the results.

it works... but it tells you how to get your XM back. and mine is gone and I can not get it back. So I will have to take it out and start again. I am going to call the in a while I am not sure what is going on with it. But it did work but when i wanted to go back to Xm. It said there was an error ... and then it all went away and now I can't even get the Ipod to work. Just an update.....

Here's my update,

First off dac0068, I'm sure by now you got it all figured out.  Remember you're dealing with a "computer" for the most part, and sometimes it takes a couple of "reboots" to get it all talking properly.  I had the same problem you did, but all I did was reconnect the XM directly to the head-unit, then repeated the Neucleus set-up, and everything is cool now.  (By the way this same thing happened the first time I hooked up the iConnect.  I think the XM just needs to see the head-unit one last time after you put a T harness on it.)  You'll get it if you haven't already.

My initial thoughts on the Neucleus are IT'S DEFINITELY BETTER THAN THE iConnect, but it's still limited and a bit disappointing.  I understand that this technology is pretty frickin' amazing, just the fact we can do what we can do with it is cool.  I still wish there was a device that could handle ALL of the information that's on the iPod.  I understand it's limited to 31 "slots" that the XM/head-unit software generates, but it would be nice if there was a way to just alternate the information in those limited 31 "slots".  An example would be seeing albums 1-31 in the fields, but then being able to turn the tuning knob and get albums 32-63 in those same "slots", and so on and so on.  That's what I was hoping this device did since I know most of us have hundreds of albums on our iPods.

So having said that, and understanding the technology is limited, the Neucleus is still pretty cool because you can at least control it manually, which is something that you couldn't do with the iConnect.  The cool thing too is, if you do manually play an album that's way down in the "Z's", and therefore won't show up in the head-unit, once you put the Neucleus back in advanced mode you still get the information on your head-unit, and you're able to control the tracks on that album with the head-unit and steering wheel controls.  So it's a round about way, since you still have to touch your iPod to start it off, but at least you have the info on the screen and some control.  Speaking of the screen itself, it's pretty cool to have the control of the Neucleus' functions via the touch screen.  Switching between XM and the iPod is cool, and again a little better than the iConnect as you don't have to turn the head-unit off and on.

Right now I'm testing to see if the charger turns itself off.  The paperwork says it charges for 2 hours after the key is turned off, and not the 30 mins that it said online.  I'll find out which one it is.  Other than that, I'm going to keep testing it out.  I'll report back anything I find out with it, but I just wanted to get this posted.

The Neucleus NC-X2iLAN is not quite there yet, but it's closer than, and a better than the iConnect for sure.

Still no luck.... i don't get it I re-connected the xm that works great, but then when i try to do the hook up all over again .. no more Xm

I just sent you a PM.

TMW,
Have you done any research on the ipod interface offered by peripheral? 
http://www.peripheralelectronics.com/prodDetail.asp?strProductID=736&strSearch=

Just wondering

It looks like it does the exact same thing as the Neucleus, it even has the same "packaging".  It's worth sending them an email to find out, but I'm pretty sure it's the same 29 bit information flow.  The limitations are within GM's design.

Update:  Yeah, I just read the PDF and it's the same as the Neucleus.  Someone is licensing out the hardware and the software. 

Hey I am not sure if this has happened to you . I unplugged the IPOD last night to load some more music on it. and this morning I get in the Tahoe. Plug it in start it up and get ready to leave the house. And no XM and no Ipod.