Peripheral PXAMG Instruction sheet
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Peripheral Technology’s PXAMG Install and Initial Evaluation
Parts Required:
Peripheral Technology’s PXAMG
Peripheral Technology’s PGHGM5 radio Harness
OVERVIEW
Installation of the Peripheral Technology’s PXAMG
(http://www.peripheralelectronics.com/prodDetails.aspx?strProductID=276) requires access to the back of
the Corvette’s radio to interface with the factory entertainment system. The supplied PGHGM5 radio
harness is basically a “Y” cable which connects to the back of the radio, the factory radio harness and the
PXAMG. The supplied 11 foot iPod cable is then connected to the PXAMG. The PXAMG supports two
AUX inputs and a iPod connection. One available device that can be connected to the PXAMG is a HD
Radio receiver. I did not want the HD Radio interface at this time, so this will just cover the PXAMG.
INSTALLATION STEPS
Removal of the center console is required to gain access to the radio.
Here is an overview of the procedure.
•Flip open the center arm rest and remove the 4 T15 Torx Screws.
•Remove the Blank/F55 cover that is at the bottom of the center console by using a small screw
driver to pop it off.
•Remove the two 7mm Hex bolts that were located under the cover.
•Now grab the boot for the Emergency Brake and pull it up until the boot disconnects from the
center console.
•Remove the two 7mm Hex bolts at the top front of the area just made visible from the lifting of the
E-Brake Boot.
Now you are ready to remove the center console.
•Remove the shift knob by pulling down on the shift boot and removing the screw holding the knob
on (2008 and newer require a different procedure to remove the shift knob which is documented
elsewhere on the forum), Once the shift knob is removed.
•Starting at the bottom of the console trim (nearest to the arm rest) gently pull up on the console
until all of the clips holding the trim in place are out from the dash.
•Once the console is free from the dash, start disconnecting all of the electrical connectors for the
different switches mounted to the center console trim.
This is what your center console will look like.
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Now you are ready to remove the radio.
RADIO REMOVAL
•Remove the two 7mm Hex screws that hold the Climate Control Module (CC Module) to the dash.
(The CC Module has a clip on each side that fits into the radio frame). I placed a towel over my
shifter and center console frame to protect the CC module.
•Once the CC Module is removed, start removing the four 7mm Hex screws that hold the radio in
place. Once the screws are removed, pull the radio out and you should see the two connectors
on the back of the radio we need to disconnect.
Here is a picture looking down from the top of the radio at its back.
•Disconnect both cables that have the blue disconnects. One connector will be black and one will
be grey.
•Now plug the PGHGM5 cable into the radio (there will be one plug for the grey and one plug for
the black connector.
•Plug the cars radio harness which was disconnected from the radio into the two plugs on the
PGHGM5.
This is what the connections should now look like.
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Now it’s time to put the radio back into the dash. You may need to guide the extra cable and connectors
to the side of the dash in order to fit the radio back in.
Please take note that the radio has a pin sticking out its bottom back that fits into a bracket located at the
back of the dash.
Here is a picture of the bracket the radio “plugs” into
Once the radio is back in the dash, temporary place two screws into it to hold it in place. Now reinstall the
CC Module. Once this was completed, I ran the cable that goes to the PXAMG under the CC Module.
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As seen in this picture. (It’s the cable with the electrical tape wrapped around it under the CC Module
between the second and third button from the right)
I now connected the PXAMG to the PGHGM5 cable.
PGHGM5 Connector
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PXAMG connected to the PGHGM5 cable
This was then connected to the iPod interface cable and mounted into the space under the CC Module.
The iPod interface cable connects to the 1st DIN connector on the PXAMG. (Note: The four DIP switches
on the PXAMG are in the “OFF” position for correct operation)
As you can see from the above picture, I placed the extra iPod interface cable next to the PXAMG.
At this point, I wanted to test the installation out to verify its operation and functionality.
The PXAMG manual states that the first time the unit is connected to the radio it needs to initialize before
it is operational. This is done by turning the ignition on, then the radio, waiting a minute or so and then
turning the ignition off.
Once the above was done, I connected my wife’s iPod to the interface cable. Turned on the radio and
verified that the AM, FM, XM and CD worked as normal. Once normal radio functionality was confirmed, it
was time to test the PXAMG.
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Operation of the PXAMG
Entering PXAMG Input Menu
•From either the AM, FM or CD functions, switch to the radios XM function to enter the PXAMG
function menu. Once in the function menu, press the seek button up to change the PXAMG’s
function between AUX1, AUX2 and iPod (if you press the seek button once again after iPod is
displayed, SAT will be displayed which will bring you back to the radios XM function). Once you
get to the iPod input you are ready to use your iPod.
Hereareafewscreenshotsofwhatshoulddisplayonyourradio.
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NowthatyouareontheiPodinput,youriPodwillbegintoplaythecurrentplaylist.Themainkeyto
controllingthePXAMGisthePreset3Key,whichwouldbe“The70’s”presetonthescreenshotbelow.
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Each press of the Preset 3 key will move you forward on the browse menu.
To Browse by Artist, you would press Preset 3, “PL:LIST” will be displayed, press the Seek button until
Artist is displayed, press Preset 3 to select Artist.
The list of Artists on your Pod will be displayed one at a time in alphabetical order. “AR” will be displayed
in front of the artist’s name to indicate that you are searching for an artist.
Press the Seek button to cycle through the artists.
When the desired artist is displayed on the radio,
Press the Preset 3 button to select the artist and display the albums by that artist.
The Albums from the selected Artist will be displayed one at a time in alphabetical order. “AL” will be
displayed in front of the name of the album to indicate you are searching for an album.
Press the Seek button to cycle through the albums.
Once the desired album is displayed,
Press the Preset 3 button to select the desired Album.
The first song in the album will be displayed. “TR” will be displayed in front of the song title to indicate that
a “track” or song title is being displayed.
Press the Seek button to cycle through the songs in the selected album.
Songs are listed in the order in which they appear in the album, not alphabetically. Once the radio
displays the name of the desired song
Press the Preset 3 button to select and play the desired song.
The display will automatically change to display and scroll the title of the chosen song.
Browse by Album
Press the Preset 3 button to enter the browse menu.
”PL:LIST” will appear on your display. Press the Seek button until ALBUM is displayed.
Press the Preset 3 button to select browse by Album.
The Albums on your iPod will be displayed one at a time in alphabetical order. “AL” will be displayed in front of the
name of the album to indicate you are searching in the album folder.
Press the Seek button to cycle through the albums.
Once the desired album is displayed,
Press the Preset 3 button to select the desired Album.
The first song in the album will be displayed. “TR” will be displayed in front of the song title to indicate that a “track” or
song title is being displayed.
Press the Seek button to cycle through the songs in the selected album
Songs are listed in the order in which they appear in the album, not alphabetically. When the radio displays the name
of the desired song,
Press the Preset 3 button to select and play the desired song.
The display will automatically change to display and scroll the song title.
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Browse by Genre
Press the Preset 3 button to enter the browse menu.
”PL:LIST” will appear on your display. Press the Seek button until GENRE is displayed.
Press the Preset 3 button to select browse by Genre.
The Genres on your iPod will be displayed one at a time in alphabetical order. “GE” will be displayed to
indicate that you are searching for a Genre.
Press the Seek button to cycle through the Genres.
Once the desired Genre is displayed,
Press the Preset 3 button to select the desired Genre.
The list of Artists on your iPod from the selected Genre will be displayed one at a time in alphabetical
order. “AR” will be displayed in front of the artist’s name to indicate that you are searching in the artist
folder.
Press the Seek button to cycle through the artists.
When the desired artist is displayed on the radio,
Press the Preset 3 button to select that artist and display the albums by that artist.
The Albums from the selected Artist will be displayed one at a time in alphabetical order. “AL” will be
displayed in front of the name of the album to indicate you are searching for an album.
Press the Seek button to cycle through the albums.
Once the desired album is displayed,
Press the Preset 3 button to select the desired Album.
The first song in the album will be displayed. “TR” will be displayed in front of the song title to indicate that
a “track” or song title is being displayed.
Press the Seek button to cycle through the songs in the selected album.
Songs are listed in the order in which they appear in the album, not alphabetically. When the radio
displays the name of the desired song,
Press the Preset 3 button to select and play the desired song.
The display will automatically change to display and scroll the song title.
Browse by Playlist
Press the Preset 3 button to enter the browse menu.
”PL:LIST” will appear on your display.
Press the Preset 3 button to select browse by Playlist.
The Playlists on your iPod will be displayed one at a time in alphabetical order.
“PL” in front of playlist indicates that this is the folder of Playlists.
Press the Seek button to cycle through the Playlists.
When the desired playlist is displayed on the radio, Press the Preset 3 button to select the desired
Playlist
The list of songs in that playlist will be displayed one at a time. “TR” will be displayed in front of the track
title to indicate that you are searching for a “track” or song. The songs will be listed in order that they were
added to the playlist.
Press the Seek button to cycle through the songs in the selected Playlist.
When the desired song is displayed on the radio,
Press the Preset 3 button to select and play the desired song.
The display will automatically change to display and scroll the song title.
Additional functionality is provided by the following radio controls.
•Next Track - Press the Seek button up to advance to the next track.
•Previous Track - Press the Seek button to down to move to the previous track.
•Fast Forward - Press Preset 2 to fast forward the song that is playing.
•Rewind - Press Preset 1 to rewind the song that is playing.
•Entering Browse Menu - Press the Preset 3 button to enter the “BROWSE” menu or to make a
selection while in the “BROWSE” menu.
•Toggle Random Modes (Song/Album/Off) – Press Preset 6 to toggle Random Modes
Manual iPod Control
To control your iPod manually using the iPod’s controls, press or select the “XM” radio function to enter
the PXAMG’s menu. Using the Seek button, select AUX1. You will now be able to use your iPod’s
controls to listen to your music.
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Steering Wheel Controls
The steering wheel controls for volume Up/Down work as expected and the Up Arrow and Down Arrow
are used to switch tracks. The 1-6 button operation still needs to be tested.
Initial Impressions
Installation took me about 1 hour to complete and test. Once I learned the radio functions needs to control
the iPod, using the PXAMG was easy. Overall sound quality was excellent with good volume and quick
iPod responses to user input. The PXAMG does a good job displaying as much information it can on the
radio screen considering it is hacking itself into the GM Serial Network. The following information is
displayed on the screen.
•Playlist
•Artist
•Song Title
•Length of Song
•Song Time Remaining
•Album
•Genre
Since the above information is only displayed on the top most line on the screen, it is displayed
individually.
The PXAMG charges the iPod while it is connected and will stay in iPod mode until exited out by
switching to another radio function. If the car is shut off while the iPod is playing a song, the next time the
car is started, and the iPod will continue to play from where it last left off.
Once I confirmed the functionality of the PXAMG, I finalized its installation as shown here with Velcro
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And ran the iPod cable to the Center Armrest Storage bin as seen here.
And Here
Installation of the Center Console trim is the reverse of the removal steps in the beginning of this
document.
Overall, I did not get much time to use the PXAMG but my initial feeling is that the unit works as expected
and its overall build quality is excellent. The manual that came with the unit does not really cover the
Corvette’s Navigation Radio touch screen as it seems to be written around the base radio. As I spend
more time with the device I will post additional information on the forum.
Here is a list of things I still need to try/test.
•Steering Wheel 1-6 button functionality
•Power usage when the car is not being used
•Failure/Recover when the iPod is removed while playing
•Random music playing for long periods of time.
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Here are some screenshots of the displayed information I saw while using the PXAMG.
Song Duration
Song Title
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Artist
Track
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Artist
Album
Table of contents
