Thread: Kenwood Stereo/DVD/iPod/GPS/Bluetooth

Pictures?

What has happened to your others you techo?

Originally Posted by Remy

Pictures?

What has happened to your others you techo?

The pics in the first post are the only ones I took. Can you not see them? Unlike some of my other "projects" I didn't document the install of this one as I figured it was a bit too specific.

The original JVC unit ended up in my son's car until he can afford a MP3/iPod unit for it.

My JVC DVD/iPod unit has been relocated to the Astra - now my "other" car.

The $500 eBay all-in-one GPS unit is now sitting in the garage without a home. Tried to fit it in my son's EF Fairmont, but the shape of the dash stops the screen from opening properly.

Cheers, Paul.

what this, what's this .... a P38 "block upgrade" ...lots of new electronics on a faithful (faith-filled?!" platform? ...

Originally Posted by PaulP38a

The original JVC unit ended up in my son's car until he can afford a MP3/iPod unit for it.

The $500 eBay all-in-one GPS unit is now sitting in the garage without a home. Tried to fit it in my son's EF Fairmont, but the shape of the dash stops the screen from opening properly.

Devised a way of getting the eBay all-in-one in to the EF Fairmont Ghia tonight... simply don't push the unit all the way in... it sits about 2cm out of the dash and is secured at the sides by brackets that screw in to the unit itself and then anti-theft screws in the the dash behind the double DIN shroud. When the screen open out it just touches the soft dash of the car.

That's my bit done... the boy can pull the dash apart to route the GPS and TV antennae where he wants them.

Now it's the "orignal" JVC head deck, which was in the Rangie when I bought it from Hardy, that is without a home.

Cheers, Paul.

pics didn't come up before but are there now!

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Paul, any updates on this now you've been using it for a while? Likes/dislikes etc

Originally Posted by Aussie

Hey Paul, any updates on this now you've been using it for a while? Likes/dislikes etc

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being "brilliant", I'd give it an 8.

Easiest to list the dislikes and annoyances first:

1. the screen remembers its tilt position, but after engaging reverse it adjusts slightly and does not go back to the saved position
2. it takes about 10 seconds to switch on, and about another 10 for the GPS to fire up.
3. I have not found a way to disable the "safety warning" message each time the GPS boots up. I haven't actually read the message in full but I think it's the usual butt-covering rubbish that says something like "don't use the GPS while driving".
4. if you sit listening to the radio/whatever with the ignition in the Accessory position, and then start the car, it resets the GPS "safety warning" message.
5. the GPS module alone cost around $800 and the display is pretty chunky compared to modern stand-alone units. 3D view is a bit misleading and the zoom level never seems quite right.
6. GPS cannot read SD cards greater than 2GB
7. GPS speed/camera/navigation alerts mute the music... although it is configured to only use the front/right speaker.
8. the bluetooth module connects ok to my Blackberry Bold and sucks down the address book each time, but I can't read or compose SMS messages... I didn't expect it to synch my Blackberry email too, but that would be a nice touch
9. bluetooth hands-free distorts and sounds tinny while driving. I may be able to adjust this, but have gone back to using the earpiece until I can be bothered to fiddle.
10. iPod module does not always connect properly. Sometimes I have to physically disconnect the iPod from the cable and reconnect before it will read. I am using the same 3rd/4th Gen 30GB iPod as I had on the JVC unit and never had this problem.
11. To play music from a USB memory stick, the iPod connector has to be disconnected. Why not just supply a Y-cable instead? The Source Select screen already decides whether it is a iPod or USB stick...

Likes:

1. it looks inconspicuous when the screen is retracted.
2. with the screen out, I can still access stuff in the tray abover the stereo... but alas, my cup-holders no longer fit.
3. sound quality is good (but I think my old JVC sounded better).
4. GPS module can be tweaked with custom POI (point of interest) and keeps a bread trail of where you've been. Makes for interesting dot maps all over Canberra and Queanbeyan, especially as it extrapolates from last point (parked, ignition off) to point of acquiring satellites... shows trails through centres of buildings, houses and parks that I don't recall driving through
5. everything else works nicely.

So the list of "annoyances" is longer the list of "Likes"... it is still a very good unit.

Would I buy it again? Dunno... I bought the JVC KDAVX2 DVD/iPod unit about 3 years ago for $1000 and it has performed flawlessy, but does not have GPS and bluetooth.

The Kenwood system cost around $2000 in October 2009. I'm not sure that the extra $1000 for the 7" retractable touch screen, GPS and bluetooth is really worth it, but I will hang on to it until I find something better, such as a unit that has all the features of this one plus...

• display and input for a laptop/CarPC
• built-in hard drive for keeping favourite music and reference documents (e.g. PDF and HTML pages of common Rangie problems and fixes)
• WiFi to synch above files with home network, avoiding the USB stick/SD card shuffle
• built-in browser to take advantage of WiFi hotspots when stopped in traffic or other situations where this could be useful
• multiple camera inputs for "essential" off-road and city parking situations such as "diff-cam", "bull-bar cam" and "@#$%-that's-close-cam"
• a packet of Tim Tams that never runs out

Cheers, Paul.

Thanks Paul good read, I am looking at the Kenwood KOSL702(in dash). Its a toss up really between the unit you purchased and the KOS. If I go down the KOS road though I will need to hack the dash to get it in, I have purchased a spare dash which I will use to fit the screen into. I have also been looking at the JVC indash screen as it seems the bezel around the screen is smaller which should allow me too fit it easier.

Oh could you post some pics of the GPS in action please?