Just installed new NAV/DVD head unit (with pics)

[rrolff]

Originally Posted by Azimuth

rrolff, I contacted the dealership you mentioned to have an ebay listing created. If all goes well I'll have the plastic piece before the end of the week.
I am concerned about the trouble you are having getting the steering wheel controls working. Please update us if you discover anything new regarding any functionality on this HU.

I would also be interested in your thoughts about the reverse sensors. Have you made any progress in installing these?

We went on a nice 2 hr trip to 6 Flags today, so had some time tooling around to at least clear the steering issue - they are programmable, and work - now figuring out what to associate with what... Volume works as you'd expect, Ch+ Ch- work fine with track changes, but on FM, they just scan up or down - they don't cycle through your programmed channels (again likely a setup issue). Mode can be set to move through sources - but I think you have to then select the source - which means touching the display (again maybe a setup issue - you can program these buttons to many things).

Bluetooth sound is not great - sounds like a car speakerphone - even when streaming audio (???) - the workaround was plugging iPhone direct to iPod interface - the phone went into "airplane" mode, but then you turn it "on" and it goes on. The iPod streaming is nice, you can cycle through track, volume etc through steering functions...

DVD audio is real surround, but I htink I am missing the center channel - so voice is quiet sometimes - not sure how to set it into phantom mode. I know that THX sound thing that comes on at the beginning of a movie sounds real good... With there was a center speaker out..

I still have no contact from support - of course it's their weekend. I have pointedly asked that they explain how their support works...

I won't work on FM until I get the DTV antenna and backup cam (Frenchie pointed out I believe correctly that you must power the antenna). Though FM reception is pretty fine - not a deal breaker...

GPS: I am able to run iGO Amigo - but once I get it going, if I turn off the car, and start it again, I get a Win error regarding screen resolution, and it stops working, and makes me restart the software. So good news, I can run it, and play with it - bad news, I don't have it setup correctly for the 800x480 screen. I've read about drivers and skins, but don't have the time to figure it out... One of these days - it looks like it will be a killer app once it's running (Route66 is fine in the mean time) - it has many voice modules, 3d landmarks, 3d stuff, even game modules - there's like 1GB of add-ons (I bought a 4G micro SD to play with - it comes with a 2G.....

Still haven't touched the USB interface...

[Azimuth]

rrolff, thanks for the info. Great to hear that you got the steering wheel controls working.
That was my main deal breaker.
I hope that your experience with the BT streaming is due to a configuration issue, I was hoping to stream off my andriod phone with A2DP.
You may have stated before, but I can't recall: How long did it take from time to order until arrival for each of your items?

Edit: I'm so excited, this radio seems like a dream (1/3rd the price of the pioneer.)
Although I think the only thing I will miss would be real time traffic. - And A2DP if it doesn't work well.

[rrolff]

Originally Posted by Azimuth

rrolff, thanks for the info. Great to hear that you got the steering wheel controls working.
That was my main deal breaker.
I hope that your experience with the BT streaming is due to a configuration issue, I was hoping to stream off my andriod phone with A2DP.
You may have stated before, but I can't recall: How long did it take from time to order until arrival for each of your items?

Edit: I'm so excited, this radio seems like a dream (1/3rd the price of the pioneer.)
Although I think the only thing I will miss would be real time traffic. - And A2DP if it doesn't work well.

I'm not optimistic on the BT front... You have other options though - USB (still not sure what it does), and using the Aux input on the radio - or just getting an iPhone :-) Mine's on TMobile...

As for real time traffic, I *think* that is broadcast via FM, and *think* it is a software thing - so maybe iGO??????????????? I was thinking this today when I was researching more on iGO...

Time from order to me:
Radio/parking sensors - 3 bus days
Bezel - 2 weeks - but it seems it's down to 3 bus days if you order from a pre-existing auction
DTV - 3 days
camera - likely 2 weeks (still isn't here)
Antenna - likely 2 weeks (still isn't here)

[Azimuth]

The USB should let you access the music just like A2DP, Also you can read mp3's off any USB storage device.

[rrolff]

Originally Posted by Azimuth

The USB should let you access the music just like A2DP, Also you can read mp3's off any USB storage device.

Cool, so I think my real only big issues left are configuration/software:

Getting iGo going (I know this can be done - just don't know enough about the SD card setup, and setting up the 800x480 drivers - the MFG also confirmed it does work)
Getting Nav to work with radio (again, I know this works - just not how to make it work - PIP and the like)...

I'll play with the USB on my way shopping...

[kawita]

Originally Posted by Azimuth

rrolff, I contacted the dealership you mentioned to have an ebay listing created.

Ha, I did the same thing, it can be found here:
TOYOTA PRIUS RADIO SURROUND 55405-47080 on eBay (end time 21-Oct-09 11:35:34 BST)

$98 for the piece, $131 shipped

Still on the fence...

[Azimuth]

Originally Posted by kawita

Ha, I did the same thing, it can be found here:
TOYOTA PRIUS RADIO SURROUND 55405-47080 on eBay (end time 21-Oct-09 11:35:34 BST)

$98 for the piece, $131 shipped

Still on the fence...

Must be gold plated
That does seem high. I'm surprised.

[rrolff]

Originally Posted by Azimuth

Must be gold plated
That does seem high. I'm surprised.

Well - you can get your mud on, and save on shipping (they combine). On the bright side, it is stamped "made in the EU" - so you can add a little euro flair to your Prius.

[rrolff]

OK - so I've had some time to play and learn - I did RTFM - which helped a *very small amount*.

On the support front, sadly, I have learned there is not much - only emails to China - which get answered a day later, then the wrong answer, and I have to restate the question, then finally a real answer - 4-5 day turn around. Thankfully, I've figured most everything out - so that isn't a big issue...

On the GPS front, I got iGO 8 running yesterday - in 3D - with all the bells and whistles... Wow - a very nice nav package - nay - amazing. It has more crazy features than anyone would really need or want - but it is fun, useful, and easy to use! The 3D images are cool (driving by Disneyland, the airport, ...). Nav N Go - Software Development for Mobile Devices
It is supposed to warn about red light cams (haven't been through one), and warns when you speed (has gobs of POI stuff). It did warn me about speeding on my drive today

DVD works like a charm - at night the picture (800x480 resolution) is stunning.

iPod interface works fine - *except* with iPhone OS 3.0, I get a warning when I first plug it in - I have to press a button on the iPhone to ignore it - then the car has full control.

Steering functions work fine, and are programmable. There is no Bluetooth/call answer button on my stock package II car - so I have to answer the call on the iPhone, by the remote control, or by pressing the display.

AM works fine - 8 presets

FM works - but not perfect. I have not yet put power to the antenna yet - this should fix any reception issues.

Haven't played with the USB - but I'm sure it's fine - same with CDs and MP3s.

Bluetooth works seamlessly - with the exception of sound - it sounds like a car speaker-phone. So when you play music/podcasts, you get that sound on A2DP - it's fine for podcasts, but not for music - stick with an aux jack, or USB, or iPod cables.

Bugs - there are 2 i've found - which are annoying, but I will live with them - and maybe someday, I'll be able to upgrade and get rid of em (just a wish) - The radio has 4 pages of presets (1 Am, 3 FM) - each page stores 8 stations. You cannot store the 8th button - it is stuck on whatever it shipped with. Same on all 4 pages. The other is you may be listening to one station, and when you turn off the car, and turn it back on, that station says it is playing, but the radio changed the station. So, it can be confusing, I was listening to baseball, then I get back in the car - it says I'm listening to the station, but classical music is playing (my first hint that something is wrong). Simple to work around - just press the buttons to change station - but these are annoying.

The pros range from:
PIP (picture in picture) for nav/dvd/whatever, good quality sound (without replacing the stock speakers).
Easy to use interface (GUI)
32 station presets (24 FM, 8 AM) - more on this in the cons
Amazing GPS capabilities
Seamless and easy bluetooth
Nice iPod interface
Perfect and SIMPLE installation - no wiring
Nice sound
Ability to upgrade amps etc
Aux input for gaming (or in my case DTV )
Nice inputs for rear cam
Nice parking sensor package (shows distance on display - but you need to put 4 holes in your bumper).

The cons
Support (nice but SLOW)
(2) bugs (FM)
Sound streaming A2DP bluetooth poor
Doesn't charge the iPhone while connected

[walter592]

Thanks so much for all the work and info, the only thing stopping me from ordering this is the weak FM, please keep us updated if you get this resolved.