A supply problem in 2012 for two of the components caused severe production delays and required modifications for Mediatronics:

Changes needed to be made to accommodate the unavailability of these two components.  Prior to the unavailability of the components, Mediatronics created a number of versions of software for my Version 2 PALs.  The latest version is 2.2.F132.  It has all of the latest features including the PAUSE button and activation of the two RCA auxiliary input jacks shown at the bottom of the above photo.  The software is stable with basically no problems noted.  

However, when the HIP was removed and replaced with some jumper wires, new software needed to be created to accommodate the loss.  The Corvette version created by Mediatronics for me is version 2.2.F132HA.  A minor improvement over 2.2.F132 was made to accommodate the use of long file names in iTunes.  This affects very few owners, but still, it was added as a performance improvement.

About 75 Version 2 PAL kits were shipped with the no-HIP boards and the 2.2.F132HA software.  Very few problems were noted with these PALs.

Not too long afterward, the AU's became unavailable.  The loss of this component had to be resolved by substituting other components mounted on a small "daughterboard", then mounting the daughterboard on the main board in place of the AU.  This substitution is, in theory, identical to the original AU.  So without a HIP, the same 2.2.F132HA software could be used.  A couple of hundred of these PALs were shipped before Mediatronics stopped shipping in December of 2012. 

In most cases, these PALs also worked well in the Corvettes, but a few customers have noted that they experience a loss of the XM1/2 buttons on their Nav radios - hence the loss of both XM and their PAL menus.  The only solution for remedying the situation is to reboot the PAL module by removing power to it - by either disconnecting the 16 pin connector at the PAL module or by pulling the radio (RDO/S-BAND/VICS) fuse in the passenger footwell fuse panel.  Removing the power for a few seconds reboots the module and brings back the XM bands on the radio.  While not a huge problem, this issue was to be corrected by Mediatronics last December when I placed a large order for more PALs.  To date, they have not fulfilled their promise.  This issue seems only to occur with the PAL boards using the 2.2.F132HA software and the no-AU daughter boards.

Here is a modified PAL circuit board with no HIP and the daughter board replacing the AU:

Interestingly, there are some variations of this board.  There is a version of the board with a HIP, but no AU (replaced by the daughter board).  Because there is a HIP, the older software version 2.2.F132 should work.  It turns out that it DOES work in the Colorado/Canyon trucks, but it will NOT work in the Corvettes.  We don't know why, and this was supposed to be investigated last December with the additional testing.  THIS COULD BE IMPORTANT TO YOU, SINCE THE MODIFIED BOARD WILL NOT WORK IN THE CORVETTE, if it has the HIP but no AU (i.e. replaced by the daughter board).  After inspecting a few Colorado PAL kits (GM part number 19245156), it appears that all of the remaining Colorado kits might have this modified board.

So for Corvette owners, the safest boards to use, if you can find them, are the original boards with both the HIP and the AU.  On these boards, the original latest software, version 2.2.F132, can be used.  The PALs will work great and they will have all of the latest features.

Click here for a description of some of the installation harnesses