I've had problems with getting the serial connection in the car to work. Putting a cigarette adapter in for the laptop solved that problem.

Hmm, I missed that. I've tried a few times to get into my empeg in the car with no luck, and was about to suspect pulled wires. My problem is that I can recieve text most of the time (the speed change sometimes throws the terminal and a close and open is needed for that), but I can never send back to the empeg. It's the same cable I used with the Mark 1, but a different laptop, (and empeg). I'll have to try this later today, as my serial cable and laptop power are always in the car. (Signs of a geek, I know. The other cable seen from time to time is a USB cable manually plugged in to sync a newly bought album.)