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PCM Operating at the Speed of Light


Data Transmission by Means of Lightwave Conductors

A new technology bearing the name MOST (Media-Oriented Systems Transport) was introduced in the 2003 model year for exchanging multi-media data in all Porsche models. The big advantage of this system using lightwave conductors is that data is exchanged between the various units without any loss of quality and at a very high speed. Particularly in the interest of high-quality audio transmissions, both the radio, CD changer and amplifier units as well as the telephone module are all masterminded through MOST lightwave conductors. The customer himself decides when choosing his car and its specfic level of equipment which units are to be integrated in the system. Networking Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with the instrument cluster via the CAN (Controller Area Network), the driver is able to present the radio station currently tuned in, music titles, incoming telephone calls and navigation pictograms in the display of the instrument cluster. Basic telephone functions such as receiving or ending telephone calls can be controlled straight from the on-board computer switch on the steering column or via the multifunction steering wheel on the Cayenne.

PCM: a highlight in electronic management offering supreme comfort and convenience

Featuring a double tuner, a CD player, dynamic route navigation, a trip computer and, as a further option, a GSM dual-band telephone, Porsche Communication Management (PCM) available as a new optional package comes in user-friendly design. Two of the main features catching your eye immediately are the 5.8-inch (Boxster, Carrera) and, respectively, 6.5-inch (Cayenne) colour screen providing crystal-clear pictures in 16:9 aspect ratio and the 12-digit keyboard for entering telephone numbers or the frequency of a certain radio station directly and with utmost simplicity. A small insert beneath the 12-digit keyboard accommodates the user's SIM card, dispensing with the need for an adapter when making Telefone calls with your mobile telephone SIM card. The PCM system also facilitates the process of inserting the small card, its exact position being shown on the display.
The buttons beneath the display provide direct access to the individual menus such as telephone operation (Tel button), trip computer (Trip button) or the navigation system (Navi button). Two buttons providing direct access to the Set (Set button) and Return (button with a bent arrow) functions avoid the need to “jump around” from one sub-menu to another and waste a lot of time in the process. Apart from interference-free radio reception ensured by a modern double tuner consistently looking for the best frequency and significantly improved voice reception quality in Telefone calls provided by full-duplex transmission, the navigation module in particular features the following outstanding highlights:

• Large choice of various navigation functions: Functions can also be presented on the map in the display, informing the driver of, say, car parks, restaurants or service stations.

• On-demand road junction zoom: This function automatically enlarges road junctions in the active guidance mode, providing helpful support above all at dangerous points where a road junction is unclear.

• Display presentation of traffic messages: The Traffic Message Channel (TMC) function presents traffic congestion on the map in the display (also showing the length and buildup of traffic jams) and allows the driver to follow a dynamic navigation process on the motorway. Pressing the Info main menu button, the driver is furthermore able to directly access text information. Using another separate button, he is also able to quickly determine and calculate another route avoiding local traffic congestion.

• Map scroll: Benefitting from the wider range of map options, the user is now able to shift the map display, scroll and position the map as required. This means he is able to navigate from his current location to his desired destination, checking out and memorising a destination by means of a reticule display, without having to enter the exact address.

• Offroad navigation in the Cayenne: This brand-new option on the Cayenne models is able to provide vital orientation in offroad motoring, allowing the driver not only to enter any destination required on the map by means of a hairpin finder, but also to apply a back-tracking function memorising the route covered and guiding the driver back to his starting point on the same route as before.

• Tour planning: The tour planning function allows the user to enter and memorise tours with up to 8 destinations in a row. When setting out, the system will automatically guide the driver to the individual destinations on the way, in precisely the order recorded in advance. Further processing options on such extended tours are also possible, such as adding information, removing destinations, changing the order of destinations on the way or skipping a certain point.

• Music played by the navigation CD ROM drive: Apart from the usual navigation function provided by a CD-ROM, the PCM system also allows memory-based navigation. In this case the user can remove the navigation CD after calculating his route or recording the route corridor, subsequently inserting an audio CD into the CD-ROM drive in order to enjoy music in first-class quality. And should it be necessary to reinsert the navigation CD, for example to calculate an all-new route, the system will automatically inform the driver by generating an optical and an acoustic signal.

New aerial systems

Apart from the proven radio aerial, the GPS aerial used for navigation purposes and the telephone aerial, Porsche Communication Management also comes with a diversity aerial system. This system is made up of four aerial wires also integrated in the windscreen and ensuring that FM signals are always received by the most appropriate aerial in the right position. The diversity aerial system controlled by a special aerial amplifier thus serves to further reduce any interference in radio reception.