DNS series head unit (new generation dual core RNS-510 alternative)

[moda]

Fair enough. That's the only thing I could think of that's causing general unit instability, otherwise it might just be the DNS610 software is immature, which is strange because it should be the same :\ I think RDS is in the hidden menu now, maybe? (ie hold half way down on the left of the aux screen until it pops up).

I'm half hoping that this new decoder chip just magically solves everyones problems.... buuuut yea, probs not.

[Goobz]

I have the 810. I do have RDS on. Usually in using BT audio with Nav (so doubt its RDS causing the issue) and of I try to switch between screens to change something, bang... Locked. As you worked out though, from memory, its only when I have a route programmed. I've had it freeze using my gf's iPhone on the apple plug (streaming Pandora) with Nav running too.

[lovsund]

Hi all,


Been following this thread since a couple of months ago, and I have the DNS-610 installed in my VW Polo 6R since March/April.


The software has from my point of view gone from worst possible to actual a pretty decent unit. I new about the problems when I ordered the unit, and it is really nice to see frequent firmware updates from Audiosources. There are still some bugs to be solved (bluetooth connectivity and random freezing), but performance wise, using Igo Primo and other features at the same time can be a big mess. (Causing my girlfriend to more or less stab the unit with the car keys when it wont turn off.)


However, I´m done some research regarding this issue, and it seems that it has come down to the very old OS (windows ce 6.0) that can not easily been solved by just fiddeling with memory optimization and misc settings. Please correct me if I´m wrong, I´m not an expert in the field, but not totally novice when it comes to this sort of hardware/software.

Here are my findings (sorry for the tech gibberish):


The hardware, according to Audiosources is:
CPU: ARM Cortex A9, (ARMv7-A Cortex) dual core 1,2 ghz
System memory: 512 mb ram
System: WinCE6.0


The operating system, Windows CE 6.0 (anno 2006), is not able to utilize either the dual core functions, nor fully use the modern instructions features that the A9 CPU holds. Therefore, the system and Audiosources software is only capable using one crippled core. The newer OS Windows Embedded Compact 7 (anno 2011) is fully able to use multiple cores and ARMv7 new instruction settings (source: Windows CE - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Below whitepaper from Adeneo Embedded, as a Microsoft Windows Embedded Gold partner states: (http://community.embeddedswstore.com...on%20final.pdf)

"Windows Embedded Compact 7, the latest release of the Windows CE Operating system, brings significant improvements such as an ARMv7 compiler and NEON or Multicore support. These improvements provide dramatic increase of OS performance, especially on high-end ARM architecture such as Cortex-A-based processors, and are key advantages when developing advanced multimedia
embedded devices.
We measured, for example, average performance gain on a Cortex-A based processor between code built with the ARMv4i compiler (the legacy compiler of Windows Embedded CE 6.0) and the ARMv7 compiler (provided with Windows Embedded compact 7). We found an average performance gain of about 8%, with a 23% improvement in integer operations and a 19% improvement in floating point
operations."

and continues:

"Previous versions of Windows CE (read Windows CE 6.0) supported only ARMv4 or ARMv4i, so software compiled for more
advanced CPU cores (such as the Cortex-A did not support the new instructions and would perform slower than expected on high-end CPUs."

My conclusion is that there is a really decent dual core CPU in the DNS610/DNS810! But since the old software is not able to fully take advantage of its power, we will never see the full potential of the until Audiosources may update the OS to Windows Compact 7 or later. This may also be the cause why some of you have ANS/EONON/Dynavin etc units with older single core CPUs that is performing better that the DNS series.

[moda]

I have the 810. I do have RDS on. Usually in using BT audio with Nav (so doubt its RDS causing the issue) and of I try to switch between screens to change something, bang... Locked. As you worked out though, from memory, its only when I have a route programmed. I've had it freeze using my gf's iPhone on the apple plug (streaming Pandora) with Nav running too.

I'd still turn off RDS anyways, but that's just me.

Strange, because with the latest software, i've never had it crash/freeze. Maybe a factory refresh might help?

The software has from my point of view gone from worst possible to actual a pretty decent unit. I new about the problems when I ordered the unit, and it is really nice to see frequent firmware updates from Audiosources. There are still some bugs to be solved (bluetooth connectivity and random freezing), but performance wise, using Igo Primo and other features at the same time can be a big mess. (Causing my girlfriend to more or less stab the unit with the car keys when it wont turn off.)

However, I´m done some research regarding this issue, and it seems that it has come down to the very old OS (windows ce 6.0) that can not easily been solved by just fiddeling with memory optimization and misc settings. Please correct me if I´m wrong, I´m not an expert in the field, but not totally novice when it comes to this sort of hardware/software.

...

My conclusion is that there is a really decent dual core CPU in the DNS610/DNS810! But since the old software is not able to fully take advantage of its power, we will never see the full potential of the until Audiosources may update the OS to Windows Compact 7 or later. This may also be the cause why some of you have ANS/EONON/Dynavin etc units with older single core CPUs that is performing better that the DNS series.

Yep pretty much. I'm fairly sure we're not going to be able to get AS to update it to WinCE7.0 though.

Almost all the new chinese units out run some version of Android, which would be a better platform to run on anyways. Not sure AS are interested in doing that either

It's still strange since, though the S600 is running the same hardware, it works fine WRT performance, according to Bazzle anyways.

Not sure what the answer is at the moment, though :|

[woweriux]

Gotta agree with the others, since the July firmware my unit has been very stable with no crashes or lagging (other than RDS and SD/NAV). Bluetooth works great, connecting automatically and maintaining the connection throughout. Sound quality is also very good whether it's radio, cd, sd or bluetooth. Of course there are still minor issues to sort out (misspellings, missing features, etc.) but for day to day usability the 810 is very solid.

For the people that are having issues, I'm starting to suspect "user error" on firmware flashing in some instances.

Regarding the WinCE 7.0 theory, Sandy would it be possible for AS to try that as a solution? I assume it would be a similar firmware flash, correct?

[551704]

Hello I had big problems with reading USB and SD. It turned out - that the USB cable is installed in the car was defective (or not fit for length). Changed on the cable that the device - everything works fine. Maybe this information will help someone. Device - DNS610

[azakoglu]

we have to know ... are these problems because of MCU or because of other files ? I am the Turkish dealer of audiosources and we are also struggling with these problems

[moda]

Just noticed that Audiosources have updated their website. DNS page has been updated, mentioning the 3line MFD readout: http://www.audiosources.net/prod_vie...FId=t3:50001:3

Interestingly, also saw this on their front page: http://i.imgur.com/g9oKb1X.png

Interesting.

Also worth mentioning that it seems their new S600 series only has a single core ARM11 1.2ghz cpu, and 256mb of ram, versus the Dual Core 1.2ghz cpu and 512mb of ram in the DNS. Could be why we're still seeing issues in the DNS, because WinCE6.0 just can't really handle dual core cpus. Should still be just as fast as a single core cpu though, in single threaded application, might be some optimisation/clocking issues though, who knows.

Hopefully we get access to the new MFD chip soon, who knows when though.

[asa572]

Nice to see they have there priorities right in making a flash new website that works!

[wanxu]

Any new info on these new S600 units? I'm really interested because despite I think they will finally fix everything with DNS810 I'm not sure when will it be.

Fiona from Audiosources sent me this video from S600:

https://plus.google.com/+FionaFangau...ts/1SpbZAUdbDM