[n2siast]

Looking to see if anyone can provide any insight into a Combox error I'm having in NCS Expert with my Combox Retrofit.

Connected everything with a purchased harness, however, I can't seem to connect to or read the combox via NCS.

Attached are the errors I'm getting, which alludes to no communication with the unit.

I checked for power and the Red Optical light inside the Combox turns on when I plug in the harness, not sure if it's supposed to stay on, but it turns off after about 10 seconds.

Not sure if it's a faulty Combox, wiring or some other issue.

I have no issues with other modules in NCS, as I have a good working copy of NCS.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tnx.

[smass]

Did the combox replace a TCU and/or MULF or did you just hook up to the pre-wiring?

[n2siast]

Originally Posted by smassey321

Did the combox replace a TCU and/or MULF or did you just hook up to the pre-wiring?

It replaced both TCU and Mulf

[ctuna]

did you buy the combox retrofit cables or repin
the existing cables ?
Also it may require an Icom cable for recoding.

[FEDE/E92]

Check fuses

[n2siast]

Originally Posted by FEDE/E92

Check fuses

Originally Posted by ctuna

did you buy the combox retrofit cables or repin
the existing cables ?
Also it may require an Icom cable for recoding.

Originally Posted by FEDE/E92

Check fuses

I bought the cable on eBay, presumably from the same person most people get theirs from.

Could it be that the harness didn't have the high/low Can lines?

Fuses are all good.

[smass]

Originally Posted by n2siast

It replaced both TCU and Mulf

Did you use a most terminator on the un-used fiber? Or re-patch most bus to remove unused fiber from the loop?

[n2siast]

Originally Posted by smassey321

Did you use a most terminator on the un-used fiber? Or re-patch most bus to remove unused fiber from the loop?

Sometimes too much reading and research can be a detriment..lol...I've literally researched and read hundreds of post and pages and I totally forgot the second MOST loop need to be terminated...SMDH.

Thanks for that input, hopefully that will solve it. I'll have to order one today.

Live and learn.

Thanks again!

[ctuna]

I have wondered if you can make your own most loop
jumper by taking something like a straw or small piece of
the appropriately sized tubing and cutting it down and shoving
both ends in to get the ends to point at each other?

You would have to take the two fiber lined out of the connector.
I think there is a pin that holds them in .

[n2siast]

Originally Posted by ctuna

I have wondered if you can make your own most loop
jumper by taking something like a straw or small piece of
the appropriately sized tubing and cutting it down and shoving
both ends in to get the ends to point at each other?

I tried that as I have some Fiber Optic cables and it was difficult to keep it bent at such a small degree. The light was finding its way out of the loop so I gave up. New terminator should be here tomorrow and I'm hoping that resolves the issue of the combox not being recognized.

[Emilime75]

Originally Posted by ctuna

I have wondered if you can make your own most loop
jumper by taking something like a straw or small piece of
the appropriately sized tubing and cutting it down and shoving
both ends in to get the ends to point at each other?

No offense, but I don't think you understand what fiber optical cable really is. There's a ridiculous amount of science involved, a straw isn't going to do it.

[ctuna]

All that should be necessary is for them to point at each other
the way they do in the Most Hub located in most cars under the
US Driver side rear passenger side seat bolster.

Most
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=727663
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347222
https://www.google.com/search?q=BMW+...VCkMqy2aCK09M:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...php?p=19256760

Are you saying the Most Hub doesn't work.
The most hub just points the fiber ends at each other
to complete the optic circuit. No bending no refraction's.
I would say that its you that don't understand fiberoptics.
The straw is just something to make the ends of cables
point at each other the way they do at the Most Hub.

I would think these are not the same grade of fiberoptics
they use to cross the channel to England where each fiber
is mapped to a specific channel or number of channels.
And there is no special ends or signal boosters.
Light can jump the gap without a physical connection.

[n2siast]

Originally Posted by ctuna

All that should be necessary is for them to point at each other
the way they do in the Most Hub located in most cars under the
US Driver side rear passenger side seat bolster.

Most
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=727663
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347222
https://www.google.com/search?q=BMW+...VCkMqy2aCK09M:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...php?p=19256760

Are you saying the Most Hub doesn't work.
The most hub just points the fiber ends at each other
to complete the optic circuit. No bending no refraction's.

No, the MOST Hub and Optical cables work.

What I was trying to do was take a piece of Fiber Optic cable I had laying around, same as what's used in the car and make a loop where both ends touch the one in the car, but it was hard to keep in place where they touch each other for the light to continue traveling.

I can see your point about using something like a small straw to keep the cable aligned, thus making a termination.

I figured since I needed a more permanent solution, I would need the terminator. Trust me, I tried every option to make terminate the MOST, but gave up.

[ctuna]

You can also route cables/modules. in and out of the Most BuS
at the Most Hub shown in the Links. As far as I know there just a bunch of plastic connectors made to point the cables at each other.
You can find something like an adding the Sat Module procedure to
do this it indicates how to add and subtract modules from the
Most Bus without using a jumper at the Most Hub.
Those links somewhat indicate how. If you attempt it label
everything before you take it apart.

I was talking to the guy that said I didn't understand fiberoptic
cables when I said the Most Hub wouldn't work under his theory
that pointing them at each other does not complete the optic circuit.
I admiit I am no expert on Fiberoptics but if the the Most Hub
Works by pointing fiberoptics at one another it should work
if you do it by some other means. I don't think there is an one end
is different than the other with these cables.


The most hub would not work in any car if that was the case.
That was my point.

[smass]

Re-patching a most hub to remove the unneeded fiber is easy. Remove back seat back. Remove cover on most hub. Note the 2 pieces of fiber than run to the front of the car. Pull up on the black tabs with a screw driver to remove the rear running fiber one at a time. Next , shine a flashlight into the end of the fiber. Look for the white light in the unneeded rear fiber. Once you find the correct two, leave them out and slide the remaining fiber over so the front running fiber are at the opposing end positions. Front fiber will be at the ends with one at the top and the other at the bottom. Just like they were when you started but with no gaps in the hub.

[n2siast]

All set, it was the MOST Terminator. Plugged it in and everything came to life.

Successfully installed a Combox Telematics and coded everything that's working as they should. Just wish there was better support for an Android Device with streaming and apps, but oh well, I may have to invest in an iPhone and tether my internet.

Thanks for the suggestions and guidance in helping me get this resolved.

[Scrippy]

Did you change the VO to reflect a combox and NOT TCU/MULFII? If you didn't the car is still looking to communicate with the old modules despite your retrofitting a combox.

[n2siast]

Originally Posted by Scrippy

Did you change the VO to reflect a combox and NOT TCU/MULFII? If you didn't the car is still looking to communicate with the old modules despite your retrofitting a combox.

Yep, I did, got it all squared away. As soon as I plugged in the MOST Terminator and fired up NCS it was able to read the Media (Combox) Module.