KrisWillis.com

I’ve had my MPC 500 for a couple of weeks and in my limited experience using it, I appear to be having an issue. I’m not sure if it’s a setting that needs changing, if the 500 is faulty, my limited RAM (I have 128MB on order) or if it’s purely a limitation of the 500 model.

In a nutshell, I have created a sequence and have it looping while I play with some samples over the top. When playing patterns over the top, it appears to be affecting the playback of other samples in the sequence. (more…)

I was looking at adding some extra functionality to a couple of bits in my guitar set-up, in my case this involved buying some footswitches – One for my Vox AD30VT amplifier, and one for my Boss RC-2 Loop Station. Vox offer the VFS-2 and Boss has the FS-6 for a combined cost of around £60, which is quite a bit for what they actually are. Okay, the Boss has a few fancy features like interchangeable latching / momentary functionality, status LEDs and switchable polarity but I don’t need any of that. I was sure I could build something that does exactly what I needed for a lot less than sixty quid, so I did. (more…)

After looking at my usage logs, I have noticed quite a number of people have found this website after searching Google for the Gateway 500 firmware. So to help you all out, here are all of the versions released so far:

GW5_MOST_100.ZIP
GW5_MOST_104.ZIP
GW5_MOST_105.ZIP
GW5_MOST_202.ZIP
GW5_MOST_203.ZIP
GW5_MOST_205.ZIP

The above firmwares are for the MOST based version of the Gateway 500, i.e. Porsche, not the D2B version that is used in Mercedes cars. Installation is as follows:

Extract the G5_B_UPD.ROM file from the update package and copy to the root of an USB flash drive, then connect the USB drive to the Gateway 500 while it is powered. If there is an iPod connected to the Gateway you can leave as it is in any playback mode or status, do not need to disconnect or stop playback.

Update procedure will start automatically within few seconds and takes cca. 1.5 minute. Do not disconnect the USB drive within this time.
After a successful update G5_B_UPD.ROM is deleted from the USB drive and GW.EES.BIN file will appear with the new software version. If an iPod is connected during the update the iPod screen will light for the second time when the upgrade is completed and the new firmware version appears on the right upper corner of the screen.

When finished, it is better to restart the Head Unit and the Gateway 500.

What with Porsche not installing iPod support from the factory, and the fact that their stereo systems are all run through a fiber-optic system known as the MOST bus, a company called Dension have released an interface that sits between the iPod and the MOST bus – The Dension Gateway 500.

I purchased two of the above, one for my Porsche Boxster 986 with a CDR23, and the other for my Dads Porsche Boxster 987 with a CDR24 – The installation on the CDR24 went smoothly and is working, though I was having some issues trying to get it working with the CDR23. (more…)