13 replies to this topic

[Langas]

I thought I'd do a little write up for this brilliant piece of hardware from Pacific Accessory Corporation.

The PAC-SWI is a multi platform interface for connecting your cars steering wheel controls to an after market headunit.



The SWI-JACK makes use of the 3.5mm socket on the back of Alpine, JVC, Clarion and some kenwood headunits. For units without this accessory jack there is an infrared version available.

INSTALLATION:
Installation into my VX was fairly straight forward. The VX steering wheel controls form a voltage divider when a button is pressed. As far as the PAC-SWI instructions are concerned this style of controlls are 'negativly triggered'. PAC provide a sheet with different 'versions' to suit the characteristics of different vehicles.

You will end up needing to use three wires going to the SWI - +12v, GND and your control wire. I used the 'white' control wire as this suited negativly triggered vehicles. The 3.5mm plug coming out of the SWI plugged straight into the back of my Alpine 9887.

Programming:

To determine what 'version' you need to program the SWI as you need to measure the resistances between the steering wheel controls and ground. To do this attach a multimeter probe to the steering wheel control wire in the vehicle (in VX commodores this is a brown wire) and the other to ground. Write down the different resistances you measured when each button is pushed.

After you have made your measurements, compare them to the table provided by PAC and pick the appropriate version to program into your SWI. I chose version 9 for the VX. To program the version simply hold down the 'program' button and turn the ingition on, then release the button. The LED will go out at this point after which you press the program button x times (x denotes version number) - I pressed it 9 times. At this point, turn the igition back off and back on. You are now ready to program the functions in on your headunit.

PAC provide a table for the order the functions need to be programmed in. It is simply a matter of hitting the program button and the corresponding button on your steering wheel to make the SWI learn their functions. After this is done you have WORKING STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS!

PROS:
-Cheaper than the 'CAT' range of products (I paid 79 including freight from America)
-Very small size
-Clear instructions
-Programming was straight forward and logical
-Steering wheel controls work!

CONS:
-Buttons must be pushed in for slightly longer than with the original headunit for it to trigger - Takes a little getting used to.
-I could not program 'Preset up' and 'Track up' sepperatly; I ended up programming the 'Track up' function, however when listening to the radio it will scan to the next station as opposed to going to the next preset. No big deal really.

Overall 4.5 / 5

[OJE551]

Nice write up Langas.


Sounds easier than I thought it would be, and cheaper than I thought.

Can you buy these puppies in aus or do you have to get them from the states as you did?

[bobo333]

sounds great, now i just need a steering wheel with the controls to hook one too

Edited by bobo333, 29 December 2010 - 01:07 AM.

[~Samuel~]

Langas, on 28 December 2010 - 11:54 AM, said:

CONS:
-Buttons must be pushed in for slightly longer than with the original headunit for it to trigger - Takes a little getting used to.

I sat in the car yesterday and had a play and i did see any issue, i guess im not used to the factory speed of the buttons but it seemed to work great to me, a nice product indeed.

Nice review Langa's

[Damo95]

you can get them from the likes of JB Hi-Fi..

am waiting for some spare $$ to get one myself..

[wazzab4]

Langas, on 28 December 2010 - 11:54 AM, said:

CONS:

-I could not program 'Preset up' and 'Track up' sepperatly; I ended up programming the 'Track up' function, however when listening to the radio it will scan to the next station as opposed to going to the next preset. No big deal really.

Thats why you pay extra for the CAT 10 it has a wire that you hook to the Antenna output on the headunit so when the radio is on it works as a preset when the any other source is on it works as a track up track down.
Buy the CAT10 Damo it works better, easy to fit as in no programming, preset and track up down works.
If you are going to buy it locally then are the same price. I would go see PHAT or Frankston car audio then will give you a good price i am sure don't go to JB hifi.

Wazza

Edited by wazzab4, 01 January 2011 - 08:57 AM.

[Langas]

There you go, thats a pretty damn good feature of the CAT10! Any delay issues with the CAT10 responding to button pushes?

For the price I paid for the PAC-SWI I'm not going to complain. It was US $42.50 plus $18 postage and handling....Came to just over 60 bucks (Just checked my bank statement).

http://cgi.ebay.com/...RK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

Edited by Langas, 01 January 2011 - 10:32 AM.

[wazzab4]

Not that i can remember been awhile since i have done one.

Wazza

[miker84]

Great write up - thx for the great info - installing one soon :-)

[Damo95]

good write up SImon..

thought i posted earlier... Tried to do it, but got the versions mixed up.. then read your review and it works..

as you say, the SWI-JACK is a little slow on the response after pushing the steering wheel controls, but you get used to it and hold it that little bit longer.. i love mine!

[Audio Express]

depends on the car when you use those. on some cars they move quite well on others they are slow. if you are doing local cars them CAT works best. set the jumpers wire it up and go.

[Thomas1]

Has anyone got The SWI-JACK to work with a VS calais/statesman? The unit is picking up the signal from the buttons when pressed (as when I program it the unit flashes when the buttons are pressed) but it doesn't interact with the headunit (Alpine).

[Thomas1]

Bump......

[Thomas1]

Bumping in hope of an answer