Posted: 6/12/2006 7:43:35 PM EDT
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Does anyone have this unit installed? I am thinking about getting an in-dash unit now that a lot of my time will be spent travelling from client to client and often spent in areas that I might not be familiar with at all. Does anyone have experience with the mapping schema "Tele Atlas"? Considered an external nav system, but I've pretty much ruled it out. Input on the Pioneer system or other in-dash nav systems you own? |
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It's a great unit. Pretty pricey... I've been considering it for my GTI. I recently used a Garmin NUVI. It's Fantastic. It's much easier to work than the radio face/screen. Since it's stuck to the windshield, it's easier to keep an eye on the road. I think I'll buy a high quality audio only radio and pick up a NUVI. You can also stuff it in the glove box when not using it. Nothing says "steal me" better than a big TV screen in the dash... 
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I'm concerned about it, but I'll just procure a sound equipment and broadcasting equipment rider on my car policy. The other units I have seen have no HDD, and the HDD is a major factor on this one. As is the proclaimed DVD upgrades that they want to release as the product ages. |
If Alpine offered in dash installation with HDD I would be on them, but the Master Alpine dealer I went to said they offered DVD only units with remote installation units. I like the 10GB of HDD space you can use to rip music to from your CD's. Cuts down on CD loading and unloading. ....HOWEVER, please do tell about the Alpine unit.... |
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When I bought the Alpine, I believe the Pioneer system require the nav disc to be in the player for the nav system to be used. With the Alpine, that is not the case. Yes, I was required to buy and mount an additional box for the nav unit in my trunk. But, that allows me to have a CD playing and the nav system on at the same time. That is the main reason that I went with the Alpine. What is way cool about the new Pioneer that you are looking at is the HDD. Pic of mine:  Here are the specs on the Alpine unit: For excellence in touchscreen controls, you won't find a better DVD receiver than the IVA-D310. Alpine's latest PulseTouch™ Display technology gives you unique touch-screen control over your system. Your fingers press the 7" flat-screen monitor, but it feels like they're actually touching real buttons and sliders. Read more Details: » DVD/CD receiver with built-in amplifier (18 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels; CEA-2006 compliant) » motorized, retractable 7" LCD monitor with PulseTouch controls » detachable control panel » white LED secondary display for use when monitor is retracted » plays DVDs, DVD-Rs, DVD-RWs, CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and MP3/WMA discs » direct-touch DVD menu control » Bass Engine Plus • 4-channel time correction • 3-position high-/low-pass crossover • bass and treble center frequency control • subwoofer level and phase control » MediaXpander » iPersonalize lets you create and download custom Bass Engine settings at Alpine's website, then upload them into the system » controls XM or SIRIUS Satellite Radio (you can add satellite radio for under $100, plus subscription) » CD changer/TV tuner controls » audio/video input » rear-view camera input » navigation input » compatible with Alpine iPod interface adapter » audio/video output » dual-zone mode » front, rear, and subwoofer preamp outputs » digital output for optional surround-sound processor » MaxTune SQ AM/FM tuner » 12 FM/6 AM presets » wireless remote » DVD/CD frequency response: 5-20,000 Hz » DVD/CD signal-to-noise ratio: 105 dB » FM sensitivity: 9.3 dBf » warranty: 1 year » Want more peace of mind? Extended Service Plans Available » designed for use with "Region 1" coded DVDs |
Part of why I am waiting a little is because I would rather have the Alpine, and I'm betting on them offering a HDD too shortly. The Alpine looks nice though...if I had a trunk I would probably go that way, but I like the self-contained HDD. |
IPOD? Why would I drop $1500 on a unit, then another hundred on a device to store music that will NEVER leave the vehicle? Why would I buy an in dash unit to mount to a detachable unit that AGAIN will stay in the car 100% of the time? Further, the Alpine STILL relies on DVDs despite being a remote unit. The HDD is much faster access to data, available all at once with no DVD interaction necessary. Seems like a pretty solid reasoning, TO ME, to stick with the HDD equipped unit. |
Eclipse only does Sirius, I do XM. I haven't seen the Kenwood. |
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I have an AVIC-N2..if you search this forum you should find the thread on it In my previous truck I had an N1. The Z1 looks nice but doesn't have some of the features of the N2 (now the N3 is out I believe). The Z1 is a niftier/cleaner package, being mounted flush in-dash...but I wanted all the bells and whistles the N2 gave me. I've tinkered with the Alpine set (a friend of mine has one)...the remote is ok, but it's nice having a touch-screen; no remotes to lose or batteries to die at an inopportune time. Hooked up right it's very accurate. The map package it comes with isn't the most up-to-date or accurate (roads that have been around for 4-5 years don't always show up, road construction done in that time as well (moving turns, etc) isn't always up to date either...probably an easy map update, but that's really my only gripe. Well, that, and you can't tune/adjust at what distances it tells you to start making turns. My unit likes telling you when you're 7/10ths of a mile away from the exit on a 65mph highway. When you're keeping up with traffic (75+ mph) and if you're in the wrong lane, making that exit is tough at best. I wish it would give the audible warning further out, but oh well. Easily gotten around by manually looking at the stupid map and hitting the button which tells you distance and what turn to take. The vehicle dynamics screen (dunno if the Z1 has it, but the N series does) is sweet, too, if you like that sort of thing. The meters are kind of skewed (you can peg the G-meter by spinning your tires on wet pavement), but all in all it's pretty neat. The N series has an internal hard drive which stores start and end points, and once it's calculated the route, stores it all on the hard drive. You can then pop out the disc and put in a music cd...or, if you spend the extra couple hundred, you can get an external CD juke, and just leave the dvd in the drive for nav purposes. I need to save up and get the XM / NavTraffic module for mine...probably never use the traffic module around here, but it'll come in handy for cross-country driving, as will XM. Tuning in radio stations when driving from MN to NYC sucks  |
In Washington state it is illegal. When we set up the system we take pictures of the connection that has been made to the e-brake wire, put our own seal on the connection and have the customer sign a disclaimer taht if the seal is tampered with we will not warranty the system. I think they all get tampered with. |
At any time, any officer can issue a "failure to pay time & attention" citation. This would apply to things like READING A PAPER MAP, make-up, fast food, cell phones, kids, dogs, arguing with passengers, etc.... It's stupid to make laws to govern every minute detail. Asinine at best. Also, I will be using it for mapping in general areas of which I am already somewhat familiar. I work in a 3 "state" area that includes MD, VA and DC. I need to get from one client site to another and don't always have internet to map the next location. I'd like to punch it up and get me close. I also have a Treo 650 phone that I can use to access the internet if needed. Carrying maps around is more distracting than an in-dash GPS Nav system. |
On Pioneer's GPS enabled units it locks out the dvd playback when you are moving. Only navigation would be shown on the screen. So far there have been several creative potential workarounds, but I don't think any of them work. |
I know the way to make the Pioneers work. 100% 
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What feed the video-out meant for the rear passengers into the video-in meant for a rear view camera then ground out the reverse wire? |
Bigscrun does indeed know how to make it work %100...so do I, thanks to him Yes, mine does work %100. DVD playback, etc. Still need to ground out the e-brake with his fix for full nav functionality, but that's par for nav systems anyway. Ever since mine was "fixed", it's been flawless, and it's been worth every penny. |
With no asnine workarounds? Nice, I might have to talk to you once I finally buy one. Here is a good question though, does the N2/N3 have the 4pin digital/optical out? I have a P9 setup and I want to run everything through that. |
If you can solder, it'll take about 15 seconds of your time. Just one connection, and it's in plain sight (mostly)..no need to disassemble anything. You'll still need to ground out the e-brake cable, but *shrug* I don't know if it does have the optical/digital out...best bet would be to go to Pioneer's website (I think it's still avic-n1.com) and look at the PDF docs they have online; all the manuals are there. It might! I do know you can add a 5.1 surround sound module, so I would expect it has a digital output somewhere. |